Can Fayette County students be protected from random violence and harassment?

That's the question plaguing about 40 parents who showed up for the first meeting of SCAT (Students, Community Against Violence) Tuesday night at Starr's Mill High School's gymnasium.

A panel of legislators, school officials, students and counselors fielded questions and made recommendations during the two-hour session, which marked the first meeting of the grass-roots committee organized by Jennifer Hall, a Fayette County mother of two young children who has taken a stand for positive action.

"Now is the time for change in Fayette County; let Fayette County be the spark to light the fire across the nation," Hall said in her opening remarks. She said the meeting was meant to define questions and find ways to prevent terrorism, which she said goes beyond violence to include sexual harassment and excessive teasing. She wants to see a chaplaincy program established in all schools and is planning a "student appreciation day" picnic for the start of school in August.

Many of the panelists decried the apathy of parents and the students' lack of spiritual guidance. Griffin Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Chris Edwards chalked up the current social problems as "an abdication of authority by parents." He added, "If you want the truth, there's a spiritual crisis with a spiritual answer."

Wayne Robinson, director of secondary school operations for Fayette County schools, said instituting a chaplaincy program would raise legal questions, but suggested Hall pursue her plan with a proposal for the county Board of Education. Robinson cited the existence of Christ-centered clubs already in place in the high schools. "There are opportunities for students to become involved with the fellowships of Christian students and Christian athletes," he said. Robinson also noted the various times throughout the year youth ministers visited campuses, especially in crisis situations.

Dealing with more concrete issues, such as metal detectors in schools and cameras on buses, Robinson explained that all schools have hand-held metal detectors, and the alternative school has a walk-through metal detector. But having approximately 1,900 students pass through a metal detector installed at one entrance, would be a logistical nightmare, Robinson said. "We are putting together a task force to weigh the pros and cons," he said.

One of students sitting on the panel said she would feel safer with metal detectors in place. The issue of bus safety also was addressed by Robinson. "All buses are equipped with radios," he said. Drivers can contact the transportation director or law enforcement if there is a major disruption on the bus. There are currently 40 buses equipped with cameras; 76 will carry cameras next school year and by 2000-2001, all county buses will have cameras, Robinson said.

State Rep. Lynn Westmoreland explained several pieces of legislation aimed at safeguarding students. One law enacted three years ago is the "zero tolerance" law which prohibits any weapons or firearms within 1,000 feet of the school. A student caught in a Fayette County school in possession of a firearm will be suspended for at least a year.

A bullying law recently was enacted as a result of the death of a Cherokee County student attacked by another student at a bus stop. "We put teeth into the law," Westmoreland said. He suggested taking more preventive measures instead of "knee-jerk types of things."

Starr's Mill High School vice principal Sam Sweat wants to see parents take more responsibility for their children's actions. "I'd love to see it if the kid gets disciplined that the parents get some parental education," he said. "We need to make the family situation more accountable," Sweat added.

Additional suggestions of teen centers, more mentoring programs and a greater investment of time by parents in their children's lives brought one final comment. Howard Brown of the Redemption Fellowship of Fayetteville said he thought everyone was trying to return to the 1950s and the situation comedy life of Ward and June Cleaver.