Sammy D Foundation says Glenunga International High School students fight at Frewville McDonald’s ‘heart-breaking’

The violent punch-up at a McDonald’s in Adelaide’s east left an adult bleeding and sparked reactions from anti-violence campaigners, school and governent leaders.

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Some of the high school students at the centre of a punch-up in the carpark of Frewville McDonald’s this week “didn’t have the skills” to deal with the situation, according to an anti-violence campaigner who is pleading for schools to address the issue.

On Monday afternoon, a Glenunga International High School student was among a group who entered the carpark of the fast food restaurant on Glen Osmond Rd before a violent altercation ensued with a 52-year-old man.

Other students, some dressed in full uniform, watched on as the scuffle, which left the man bleeding, unfolded in front of concerned witnesses after school.

Glenunga International High School principal Wendy Johnson scolded the students who “did nothing” to stop the violence.

Glenunga International High School principal Wendy Johnson, in a letter sent home to parents on Thursday, hit out at the students who stood and “did nothing” but watch the violence.

But Jannine Jackson, chief executive of the anti-violence charity Sammy D Foundation, said while the incident was “heartbreaking”, the students were ill-equipped to approach the situation any differently.

“We saw some young people doing the right thing and that’s encouraging, but others clearly didn’t have the skills, the tools or the confidence to act differently,” Ms Jackson said.

“You can’t just tell young people to ‘do better’, you have to show them how.

“If people don’t know what to do in a conflict, they’ll copy what they see, or freeze.”

Ms Jackson said lifesaving programs, which help young people navigate confrontational environments, remain unfunded.

“We’ve shown that these programs work, that they change lives and prevent harm,” she said.

“What we haven’t seen is action.”

Education Minister Blair Boyer said violence involving students was “also incumbent on parents” to provide guidance. Picture: Keryn Stevens

While schools have “a role to play” in managing behaviour, Education Minister Blair Boyer said it was “also incumbent on parents and the wider community to provide strong leadership and guidance, particularly when issues occur outside of school”.

He said the government had “invested a huge amount into supporting students” including a mobile phone ban, which led to a drop in violence.

Since he became minister, the child safety curriculum had also been updated, which means teachers explicitly teach positive behaviour for learning.

Staff are provided with resources to teach bystander intervention skills in schools.

Originally published as Sammy D Foundation says Glenunga International High School students fight at Frewville McDonald’s ‘heart-breaking’