Editor's Note: The following article is part of an ongoing series the Source will be publishing over the coming weeks to spotlight the work of student journalists at the University of the Virgin Islands.

Violence among youth is an ongoing issue everywhere but the violent incident of Central High School students attacking the bus driver on St. Croix Oct. 2, indicated that something in our local youth may have changed. Upon interviewing three high school teachers, Juanita Frett, Zenicque Fleming-James, and Chevell Simeon, there are some things one should consider: the effect of isolation, accountability, and compassion.

All teachers agree that they observed significant behavioral changes among young adults after the pandemic. For example, many students' tempers have been short compared to their responses before the two-year break and lack of social interaction from authorities and their peers. The isolation from others may have stunted the conflict-resolving skills of these students, making them more confrontational and prone to resolving conflict with violence.

All three teachers said this 2024 school year has not been as bad as the initial return of students in 2023. However, they continue to hope for a greater decline in the violence.

In addition, the teachers interviewed believe that students often may not be held accountable for their actions. Simeon pointed out that there are times when adults are trying to connect with students, but they end up being too lenient with them. Some adults try to play the "cool adult" role but may lack the balance needed to be friendly and still be able to properly discipline the students when necessary.

Similarly, Frett hopes that the students who attacked the bus driver are made as an example of what not to do in hopes that it prevents or at least makes students reconsider violent actions.

Thirdly, the violence we see may stem from a lack of compassion. Not every student comes from a loving, caring, understanding, or sympathetic household. Some students go home and face real issues that even some adults cannot fathom. Then, they go to school, and as Fleming-James said, "They can't understand their feelings, so they resort to the next best thing, violence."

Students with bad home lives may rely on school as their escape, but without compassionate adults who see that these students may have their own internal struggles or even professionals who can help them resolve them on their own, all these students may know is how to act out. Frett brought up a great point that the schools do not have the right resources to help students mentally.

"We do not have enough professional psychiatric providers available. We have regular counselors on campus but not a psychologist, like someone who can really speak to the students and figure out what's going on mentally."

That said, they were then asked what they think they can do to help students in hopes of reducing the likelihood of their students acting out violently. They mentioned that even as adults, they know that many others believe that they can treat students or children in whatever manner because they are the ones with authority, hence why these teachers try to be more understanding. "You have to approach teaching as not 'I'm the teacher, you're the student.' You have to have compassion," Frett said.

Simeon took the question a step further and said, "Not only teachers, but all adults who engage with young people must do so in a way where we are modeling expectations and behavior..."

"I feel that a lot of the adults that work within our schools sometimes don't address students in a way that demonstrates acceptable behavior," she added. Simeon presented her argument in greater detail, "We tend to forget that respect is a two-way street, and many young people will blatantly say that they do not respect adults who do not respect them."

There is a delicate balance in holding a respectable authority position, but it is important to remember that young adults are still people who are deserving of respect, compassion, and accountability.

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