School district statistics on violent violations of the student conduct code show a mixed picture. <

For example, the number of students accused in violent incidents actually dropped from 1,264 incidents in 1995 to 1,237 in 2003, and boys during that time frame had an 11 percent decrease in violent incidents. In 1995, girls were responsible for 23 percent of all violent incidents, but their share rose to 30 percent by 2003. <

Experts say the trend for girls reflects society. The breakdowns in family, church, community and school that have long been blamed for violence among boys are finally snaring girls. "They're catching up a little bit, anyway," said Jim Moeser, administrator of the Dane County Juvenile Court. <

While the total number of students accused in violent incidents did not grow from 1995 to 2003, the resulting suspensions and expulsions did grow, according to School District statistics for the years 1992 to 2003. <

There was a 16 percent increase in suspensions to 4,011 in the district in 2003. High school suspensions increased 48 percent to 1,710, while middle school suspensions declined 19 percent to 1,606. <

As for expulsions, they rose from four in 1992 to 33 in 2003, a 725 percent increase. <

Valencia Douglas, assistant superintendent for middle and high schools, said suspensions and expulsions rose while the number of accused students remained flat because school district record-keeping has improved and because of a zero tolerance attitude since the April 20, 1999, Columbine High School shooting in Littleton, Colo. <

"Schools are not becoming more violent. We are recording information much more clearly than in the past," Douglas said. "Every year, our student code of conduct under goes revision and what is unacceptable now may have been dealt with differently in the past. Especially post-Columbine, when everybody's talking about zero tolerance, you're going to identify more and more children" for suspension and expulsion, she said. <

John Matthews, executive director of the Madison Teachers Inc. union, said teachers are telling him that some school administrators are far from zero tolerance. "I believe there are some principals who think if they have escalating (suspension) statistics, they're going to get in trouble with central administration and so they turn their heads away," Matthews said. <

Rainwater denied that any principals were keeping an artificial lid on suspensions. <

Matthews maintained, though, that some teachers are actually frightened of students, and the union got court restraining orders against "a half dozen" students who had threatened teachers with physical harm this school year. <

One teacher said, "when I'm in my classroom I love my kids and I feel safe. When I'm out in the hallway at passing time, the disrespect toward adults is huge. That's when I don't feel safe." <

"Things are different here than they were 15 years ago," the teacher said, asking that her name not be used for fear of retaliation from administrators. "Kids say the f-word all the time in the hall. The kids are just different. They're tough. It's a tough place." <

Gale Stone, a Latin teacher at West High, keeps a cell phone in her pocket at all times, so she can call 911 if she has to. So far, she hasn't. "I think things have gotten more violent (in school), as they have in our society in general," she said. <

Hallways at West "are chaotic," Stone added. "It's the same students all the time. They don't want to be in school and they want to make it difficult for the people who want to be in school. .

But Fred Rosevear, an East High chemistry teacher, doesn't see a problem with violent behavior. "The kids rub along together really pretty amiably," Rosevear said. "I would say the general attitude of kids as a whole and teachers as a whole are really pretty friendly. Any conflict or hostility between groups is something I don't see any evidence of." <

Kathie Nichols is a parent of an East High student and coordinator of the school's parent network. "I feel very confident my child and others are safe while they're at school," Nichols said. "I think East is doing a good job of maintaining a very diverse student body and helping students understand and appreciate each other." <

Clare Bauer, president of the parent-teacher organization at Madison Memorial High, said, "I've put three children through that school and never been witness to anything that could be seen as violent or scary behavior, and I'm in the school quite a lot." <

All 13 high school students contacted for this story said they felt safe at their school. Most said they would tell an adult if they were being harassed or bullied. <

Asked if bullying or harassment was tolerated at his school, West High senior Alexander Brazil, 18, said, "It's not tolerated, but it's done. Students have their different groups and the groups go against each other. Not gangs, but cliques." <

Abby Vogt, 18 and a senior at East High, said, "Girls were fighting a lot at the beginning of the year and then we started a group called Sister to Sister and that really cut that down. They meet and discuss what they think the problems are and talk things out so they don't have to fight about it later." <

School officials said the Sister to Sister program will be adapted for middle schools next year. <

"I don't think school is safe enough, but I don't know what you can do to change that," said Liz Flores, a 17-year-old junior at East High. "I don't know what drives people to be violent." <

Rainwater said the district continually works on maintaining a safe environment for its students and staff. "When we have 25,000 students and you look at the percentage expelled, it's a pretty safe place," he said. <