Controversial Action at Sparkman High - Harvest, Alabama

Sparkman High School is not situated in a bad area of town. It stands, in fact, in the midst of picturesque fields and woodlands dotted with affluent new housing developments. Yet at least once a week as I drive by a see the local news crew out getting the latest scoop on some incident that has occurred; there have been twelve bomb threats since the fall semester started, a spray-paint bottle explosion in the bathroom, numerous fights and brawls, and at least half a dozen arrests. I can't offer an explanation for this level of violence that even overshadows the local inner-city schools, but one thing seems clear: officials appear to be at a loss as to how to keep control of the student body.

The incident that exemplifies this was not reported on the local news. I heard about it from a friend, a teacher who was an eyewitness to the event. It started as a fight between some of the football players, and grew to involve at least ten people, some of whom were apparently standing too close to the fray and received stray kicks or punches, causing them to retaliate on their unwitting attackers. By the time the Sheriff's department arrived, my friend tells me, the violence had escalated and the hallway was strewn with books, papers, and blood. In order to break up the brawl, the Sheriff's deputies pepper-sprayed the entire area.

As a result, the violence was quickly extinguished, and several arrests were made, including several prominent members of the football team. By using pepper spray in such a wide and crowded area, however, the deputies inadvertently sprayed students who were not involved in the fight. After returning to class, some students became ill and started vomiting; others complained of stinging eyes and noses. Although not reported to the community at large, the incident has become controversial: were police justified in the means they took to end this student fight?