Alcon, it's not fair to say that I don't know what I'm talking about on this. I have heard of enough cases to know that school discipline is not what it should be, and that in certain types of school districts, it is very difficult to enforce a standard of discipline high enough to allow for a productive learning environment. My comment about needing to blow away the teacher was a deliberate exaggeration to make a valid point -- that student misbehavior has to rise to a very high level before a school is allowed to take any real action. I stand by that point.
It's just sometimes hard to see where the hyperbole ends and your beliefs on issues like these start. To what extent do you believe behaviour is out of control, and teachers are powerless to deal with it? Going to a public school with a significant level of poverty, I've seen the situations these kids are coming to school with. They no longer care about anything. I'm not sure why they bother coming; I suppose they see it as some socialisation. But about 20 percent of students pretty much refuse to ever do anything.
Few, however, are violent. This is partially to the school district's credit. There is some very tough enforcement that I've seen. When you are dealing with 2,000 students (as some inner school cities are), and even 20% of them have behaviour problems, that adds up quickly. Oftentimes schools have just one or two people who are set to handle kids with these issues. Punishment alone is not going to prevent their behaviour, because they just see it as a deterrent to their social lives.
If your school doesn't have this problem, that's wonderful. There are many that do. I know that school districts sometimes make mistakes, but most are not looking for excuses to get rid of good or even mediocre students.
They should not be looking for excuses, period. If a student has a valid behaviour problem, it is not all that difficult to remove them,.
In the district next door to mine, there has been a 72% increase in violent incidents in the high schools in the past 3 years. When the schools started to crack down, they were beseiged by complaints from the parents that the schools were 'giving their kids criminal records.' Typical no responsibilty responses from irresponsible, lazy and stupid parents. How about recognizing that their kids were earning their own criminal records. I know a woman with a son in one of these schools, and she is absolutely miserable about it. I feel very bad for her, since I live in a district with excellent schools.
It's a difficult balance, granted. For each expulsion, there has to be a hearing - by law, at least here. This has a valid point; it is intended to prevent cases like my friend's. However, the school officials involved all have to show up for it. That's a lot of time in what is already a demanding job. Sometimes, it is just seen as "not worth it," especially if the parent is aggressive, which they often are.
I hope we can agree that if we're going to expect schools to deliver education effectively, they must be given the tools they need to maintain the order required for a productive learning environment.
Amen.
But, truth be told, I don't think that current levels (or at least appropriations) of funding are reasonable enough to get the job done.
