Rochester students return to school in need of emotional and academic tutors

Rochester, N.Y. — A week into the school year the principal of Victor High school sent letters to parents about fighting in the halls, vaping, vandalism in the bathroom and cafeteria, and warning of consequences for students.

In a presentation, to Rochester Rotary the superintendent of Rochester City Schools said: “We’re seeing more outbreaks of fights and violence in schools because our students- our scholars- have been cooped up.”

This fall, getting kids back to the classroom was a major goal for districts. The number of fights and disruptions is increasing. Students happy to be back with friends are now struggling to get back into the routine many of them got away from while learning remotely.

According to school safety organization tracking, these incidents found that nationwide fights are up 21% from the fall of 2019, just before the pandemic hit.

“Disruptive behavior is always indicative of deeper issues,” said Bonnie Rubenstein.

Counseling expert at the University of Rochester’s Warner School of Education says children with anxiety and stress trigger their survival instinct. ‘When they’re in the incident the emotional response overpowers their intellect.”.

When asked how the pandemic has complicated this, Rubenstein replied “The kids lost a sense of normalcy. Routines were disrupted.”

Students who excelled at remote learning may also be struggling. “They were regulating themselves. Now after 18 months they’re coming back and they have adults telling them what they can and can’t do,” said Myers-Small.

Myers-Small shares words from a student: “It will probably take us some time to remember what it’s like to be a normal teenager and get readjusted to life as it should have been.”

RCSD will use stimulus funds to provide the equivalent of mental health or emotional tutors.