IN '92, MORE KIDS BROUGHT WEAPONS, DRUGS TO SCHOOL

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, January 12, 1993                   TAG: 9301120249
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY  
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium
IN '92, MORE KIDS BROUGHT WEAPONS, DRUGS TO SCHOOL
More than 1,100 children in Virginia middle schools were caught bringing weapons or drugs to school last year, a preliminary state report shows.
The study by the state Department of Education also shows more students are caught bringing weapons to school than drugs and alcohol combined.
Of 2,016 weapons brought to school during the 1991-92 year, 853 involved middle-school students, according to the Preliminary Report on Acts of Violence and Substance Abuse.
In high schools, 748 students were caught possessing handguns, knives or other weapons.
"The only thing that strikes you is where the ugliest incidents seem to be occurring," said Edward W. Carr, deputy superintendent of education.
He said middle school - sixth through the eight grade - is a volatile time for students. Middle-school students accounted for 287 of a total 802 drug possessions, while high school students were involved in 450 incidents.
Of 1,249 alcohol possessions, about 290 involved middle-school pupils and 890 involved high school students.
In kindergarten though 12th grade, there were 20,137 incidents of battery and 196 of sexual battery. State officials have not assembled statistics showing the students' grade levels.
The report said fights between students were the most frequent incidents of violence.
Schools reported 19,319 fights between students, 949 attacks on staff or teachers and 49 on students by nonstudents.
Sexual battery was defined as rape, statutory rape, forcible sodomy or other sexual abuse.
Education officials could not determine if any rapes had occurred. There were 196 incidents of battery, including 11 committed on staff by students.
There were 1.1 million students enrolled in state schools in 1991-92. Of those, 229,007 were in middle schools and 273,504 in high schools.
State law requires all Virginia school divisions to report criminal acts.
But the school divisions were not required to report whether arrests have been made.
The law was expanded in July at the recommendation of a subcommittee headed by Del. Alan A. Diamonstein, D-Newport News.
Keywords:
YEAR 1992

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB