During classes, the school, for the most part, is quiet and orderly. The hallways are empty and appear to be buttoned up. Lockers and classroom doors are shut, and hallways are free of trash and debris. The principal delivered that message personally to several students after a recent fire alarm gave way to a fight. The alarm went off around noon on a chilly, gray day in March.
Students burst into the hallways and, along with teachers, streamed out of the school.
One student dropped some paper onto a neighbor's front lawn, the man became upset, and a fight broke out, involving 10 students. A teacher was slightly injured in the fracas. Mason says he spoke with students at length about his disappointment in their behavior. I told them this was a situation where we've taken five steps forward and two steps backward. I told them I had expected more from them.