We are appalled by the outrageous number of fights in Youngstown city schools that were reported Feb. 13 in The Vindicator.

How can any student expect to perform at a high or even acceptable level when that student must constantly be looking over his or her shoulder for ensuing violence among classmates?

We applaud the NAACP for bringing attention to this issue that clearly has been festering for some time. While we salute the NAACP’s focus and call for help, we are disappointed that it took an outside organization to analyze the problem and then call a news conference to draw public attention to the issue, presumably hoping to trigger action.

In the NAACP’s review of violence inside Youngstown City School District, about 85 fights per month were recorded, including 770 fights in the most recent nine-month period. This problem is at a crisis level and never should have been allowed to get this bad. Reaction must be swift.

We understand that, sadly, many of these problems originate at home — or at least outside the school setting. For that reason, parents, guardians and families must become an integral part of correcting it. Administrators must demand that parents be involved in meetings when their child is involved in a fight. And if parents are inattentive or unresponsive, then the school will have no other choice but to remove the student immediately.

Additionally and undoubtedly, the city school district must eliminate tolerance for all violent behavior. The school district reported that over a five-year period, 10,417 suspensions already have been doled out districtwide. Yes, that is a significant number, but if regaining control warrants even more suspensions and expulsions, then so be it!

“If there are 770 fights, something is wrong with what’s in place and needs corrected,” said Jimma McWilson, the NAACP Youngstown Chapter vice president.

We agree!

School board member Jacqueline Adair also points out that “slaps on the wrist” often are the response.

“Teachers have been writing up students, sending them to the school offices and then seeing them sent back to their classrooms,” Adair said.

That response is ridiculous and serves no one — especially the students who really want to learn and prosper, but whose attempts to do so are being interrupted by others who should have been removed from the classroom and the school building.

Indeed, they suffer the biggest loss in this situation.

Youngstown City Schools has remained in academic emergency for so long that the state took over and still maintains control of the school district. If there is any hope of improving school report card grades and improving the school district’s overall learning environment, this issue of violence inside school buildings must be dealt with swiftly and completely.