School violence

I came across this website, http://stoptheschoolviolence.com/ while visiting http://www.postgazette.com/. I applaud your initiative in attempting to rectify the problems that affect our nation’s public schools. I am saddened to see Woodland Hills name in the papers for something other than academic, performing arts, or athletic success. I am sure that some of these stories are embellished or are aberrations to the daily routines at WHHS.

I realize that some of our schools are in complete shambles. There are many factors for this. However I truly feel that the root of this is community wide. Many parents lack involvement in our schools. They work so hard to provide additional opportunities and income for their children. To do this parents are often working 12 hour days or longer. These parents leave home before their children leave for school and do not arrive home until the late evening. As a result they are missing some very basic things in their children’s lives. During this time their children are being influenced by TV such as Springer and MTV, which glorifies violent and other poor behaviors.

Other parents feel that it is more necessary to spend big time dollars so that their son or daughter can be the next big thing in athletics, performing, etc. Many parents feel that college will be paid for through extra curricular activities or that stardom is right around. Unfortunately these parents seem to lack the vision and knowledge that these opportunities are few and far between.

The lack of parental involvement however is not the only reason for dysfunctional schools. The No Child Left Behind act has also had a major impact. What administrator wants to see his or her school not make annual yearly progress? They look back as administrators and have to micromanage so many things that were unheard of years ago. They have to consider ways to improve test scores, which regresses some of the brighter students. Boredom sets in and students begin to create their own fun. What kid wants to sit through this?

Did you know that some states track suspensions as part of AYP? Too many suspensions could put your school on the “dangerous schools list”. What administrator wants to be responsible for their school’s entrance to this list? This of course causes some administrators to bend rules or provide inadequate consequences for poor behaviors. One school I have been told could have 250+ kids in the hallways between classes? Seriously that is a problem. However as an administrator which of the following kids would you suspend if you can only dish out 1 per day?

Student A: a frequent discipline problem, classroom distraction, often “cusses out” his/her teacher and can single-handedly stop classroom instruction

Or

Student B: A student who comes to school high on drugs

Or

Student C: a student who chronically (15 times in a 45-day marking period) comes to class a minute after the bell, completes his classroom assignments, and is a courteous student with college potential?

The answer is not easy. There are several problems but only one can be addressed.

Another issue that faces our schools is the mandatory graduation requirement of passing the PSSA, HSA, Regents, California Achievement test, etc. Some students have fallen so far behind that they realize that graduation may not be a realistic goal. They do however go to School because it provides a social outlet and in some cases a market for the goods they push. Drugs are not entirely what I am getting at. Stolen CDs, Ipods, candy, and other things allow our young entrepreneurs to make some quick cash. Either way there are some aspects of the education that allow those who do not want to be there, those who cause problems to ruin a good environment.