Students asked to change clothes to avoid brawls<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Two city councilors are recommending that
\nschools have students switch from their uniforms to regular
\nclothes after classes in an effort to curb the escalating number
\nof student street brawls.<\/p>\n
Secretary of Commission E for social welfare affairs Agus
\nWaluyo and member Sulaiman S.B. Ismaya said that all students
\ninvolved in the fights were attired in their uniforms.<\/p>\n
Fights mostly occurred after students identified counterparts
\nfrom rival schools by their uniforms, they said.<\/p>\n
\"As far as I know, the student uniform is a main factor
\ncausing the brawls because students sometimes do not recognize
\ntheir enemy but their uniform,\" Agus said.<\/p>\n
\"I therefore hope that this time such a drive could succeed in
\neasing the brawls as it has been proven that no student brawls
\nhave been recorded during school holidays, when there is no one
\nwearing school uniforms on the streets.<\/p>\n
Sulaiman, himself secretary-general of the Indonesian Teachers
\nAssociation (PGRI), said the problem was so pervasive that some
\nJakartans associate particular schools with brawling.<\/p>\n
\"Many people are afraid of being surrounded by particular
\ngroups of students in their uniforms. They are worried that a
\nbrawl or another kind of crime will soon occur.\"<\/p>\n
Requiring students to use civilian clothes instead of their
\nschool uniforms after school hours \"will benefit not only
\nstudents but also people at large\", Sulaiman added.<\/p>\n
Student brawls, sometimes resulting in fatalities, have become
\na fixture of daily life in the capital along with street
\ndemonstrations.<\/p>\n
Mediation efforts, such as holding joint competitions among
\nrival schools, have proven ineffective over time.<\/p>\n
Last month's brawls alone claimed the lives of Alfian Rusjdi
\n-- a 16-year-old student of state vocational high school SMK 5,
\nshot dead on Jl. D.I. Pandjaitan, East Jakarta -- and Andi
\nSyahrizal, freshman of STM PGRI 12 in West Jakarta, who died of a
\nstab wound to his head on Jl. Daan Mogot, also in West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Public bus drivers are also afraid to pick up students because
\nof the fear of fights.<\/p>\n
Many students have practiced the councilors' proposal for
\nyears to avoid becoming involved in brawls.<\/p>\n
In many cases it works, but troublemaking students will often
\npick on others based on their appearance alone.<\/p>\n
Both Agus and Sulaiman said their proposal could be
\ntemporarily implemented to gauge its effectiveness.<\/p>\n
\"It could be continued only if it's found to be effective,\"
\nAgus said.<\/p>\n
He said school authorities should not overlook the provision
\nof changing rooms for the students. (ind)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/students-asked-to-change-clothes-to-avoid-brawls-1447893297",
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