NCJ Number
35176
Journal
Security World Volume: 11 Issue: 2 Dated: (JANUARY 1974) Pages: 18,44 AND 45
Date Published
1974
Length
3 pages
Annotation
AN ACCOUNT OF HOW ONE LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, ACHIEVED A REDUCTION OF DRUG ABUSE AND VIOLENCE, BY THE SECURITY CHIEF WHO AUTHORED THE NEW POLICY.
Abstract
THE FIRST PHASE WAS TO GAIN THE TRUST AND RESPECT OF THE STUDENT BODY BY DEVELOPING A REPUTATION FOR STRICTNESS, FAIRNESS, AND HONESTY. NEXT, A SPHERE OF CONTROL WAS ESTABLISHED, BY ENFORCING LOITERING CODES TO KEEP OUTSIDERS AWAY FROM THE SCHOOL, AND TOLERATING NO INTERPERSONAL DISPUTES WHICH WERE ACTED OUT ON SCHOOL GROUNDS. NEXT, A FEELING OF GROUP WORTH WAS FOSTERED, THROUGH STRESSING GROUP IDENTIFICATION WITH THE SCHOOL AND CHARACTERIZING EDUCATION AS THE MEANS OF ESCAPE FOR THE LARGELY UNDERPRIVILEGED STUDENT BODY. FINALLY, ONCE THE EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS OF DRUG ABUSE WERE ELIMINATED, STUDENT DRUG ABUSERS WERE TREATED ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, WITH EMPHASIS ON INDIVIDUAL CAUSES AND INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT. STUDENT ATTITUDE IS SAID TO HAVE IMPROVED, AND DRUG ABUSE IS SAID TO HAVE DROPPED BY ABOUT EIGHTY PERCENT. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE FOR IMPLEMENTING SUCH A PROGRAM IN OTHER SCHOOLS.