Educators, parents and students are hopeful Pilgrim’s reputation as a school of violence has come to an end with the announcement last week that neither the school nor police will tolerate student fights.

In an intercom address to students, Principal Toby Gibbons emphasized that fights won’t be tolerated. In a brief interview Tuesday he termed the incidents as “an uptick in violence,” but offered no suggestion as to why it happened and stressed that students should turn to staff when troubled.

“If you’re feeling anxious and conflicted, there are 130 adults in this building to help you navigate that. We’re here because we like it,” he added.

Based on posts on a private parent/student Facebook page and interviews, fights had become commonplace, causing parents to question whether they should take their children out of Pilgrim and causing some students to look forward to graduating and leaving.

The message that the fights wouldn’t be tolerated was reinforced last Tuesday and Wednesday when six female Pilgrim students ranging between the ages of 14 and 16 and two male students aged 17 were charged at the high school. One of the girls was charged with simple assault. The others face charges of disorderly conduct.

“No major injuries were suffered during the initial incidents,” Col. Bradford Connor said in response to inquiries. No weapons were found by police.  The incidents, that Connor and assistant superintendent William McCaffrey attributed to social media is largely confined to Pilgrim. Connor said ”Toll Gate HS has been quiet, as well as Vets. Winman has recently had two incidents (fights on March 8 and 11) that were documented with no arrests made.”

Pilgrim fights have sparked a brushfire of comments on a private Facebook page from students and parents with reports that fights at the school occur frequently. The reports were shared, but not made public. The Beacon, however, received several emails concerning the situation.

One commentator who said she has family connections to the high and middle schools reported fighting at all the secondary schools.

“Unfortunately parents these days expect the teachers and administration to fix children’s problems that they either are not fixing or can’t fix. Then the administration is stuck because there’s no accountability. These kids think they’re gonna get away with anything these days and unfortunately they are. Teachers and admin are not allowed to do what’s needed as accountability for the kids,” she wrote.

Good behavior starts at home

Sean Wiggins, the father of a Pilgrim student, offered, that the fights are  “due to relationship quarrels, bullying and/or these kids or young adults wanting attention with no care of the ramifications.” He went on to say he believes good behavior starts at home and that parents and guardians are responsible for providing guidance and teaching morals “and reiterating that bad behavior or actions have consequences. “ 

Neither McCaffrey nor Connor specified Friday what changes are being made in the wake of the fights.

In an email to the Beacon Tuesday, School Committee Chair Shaun Galligan wrote, “Our schools are a place of learning, and a place where all students and staff should feel safe, daily. The actions of a select few of students will not be tolerated, and that message has been made clear by Principal Gibbons."

He went on to say, "Though we are taking these steps to ensure a safe learning environment, which I deem will be effective, we still need the help and support of parents and guardians, to remind the students that there are significant consequences for their actions, and that they will be dealing with law enforcement personnel as opposed to school officials.”

McCaffrey said, “there is zero tolerance for bad behavior.” Punitive measures available to the schools, he said, include detention, suspension and transfer to another school.

“The school administration, police and the school safety officer are sending a clear message to student and parents, that his type of behavior will not be tolerated,” Connor wrote. Asked in a follow-up email if police were taking a more active role, he replied, “We will continue to handle each incident on a case by case basis and make the determination if anyone will be charged based on the facts at hand…we will coordinate our response, as always, with school administration to take the appropriate of action and.  The school department is still taking the lead on student discipline.”

McCaffrey, Gibbons and Connor did not see the fights as gang related.

McCaffrey added that bad behavior is usually isolated.

“We need to continue to educate the students that this behavior is unacceptable in the school environment and they could face criminal charges if it continues. To be clear, the vast majority of students are well behaved kids there to learn. It’s a small few that are causing the disruption and need to be addressed through the disciplinary process in the school and in the juvenile court system if need be,” said Connor.

“Our SROs will continue to be vigilant but we will not be adding police officers to the schools at this time, he said.