WHAT KIDS DO TO SCHOOLS AND WHAT SCHOOLS DO TO KIDS, PART 1

• NCJ Number: 51418
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 20 pages
• Corporate Author: George Washington University; National Public Radio
• Sale Source: National Public Radio
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: OPTIONS IN EDUCATION TRANSCRIPT, JANUARY 23, 1978

Annotation

THE TRANSCRIPT OF A PUBLIC RADIO PROGRAM ON THE PROBLEM OF VIOLENCE, VANDALISM, AND DISCIPLINE IN THE SCHOOLS INCLUDES COMMENTS BY STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND ADMINISTRATORS AT A CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL.

Abstract

THE TRANSCRIPT IS FROM A PROGRAM CALLED 'OPTIONS IN EDUCATION,' COPRODUCED BY NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO AND THE INSTITUTE FOR EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP OF THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (WASHINGTON, D.C.). STUDENTS AND SCHOOL PERSONNEL AT GEORGE WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL IN LOS ANGELES, CALIF., ARE INTERVIEWED ABOUT VIOLENCE AND DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS AT THE SCHOOL, PRIMARILY THE PROBLEM OF STUDENT ASSAULTS ON TEACHERS AND ON EACH OTHER. THE SCHOOL'S PRINCIPAL, WHO HAS BEEN ASSAULTED BY STUDENTS TWICE, ADVOCATES RESTRAINT IN HANDLING DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS, NOTING THAT HE COULD HAVE AVOIDED ASSAULT HAD HE HANDLED THE SITUATIONS BETTER. A TEACHERS' UNION PRESIDENT SAYS THAT ADMINISTRATORS NEED TO TAKE A HARD STAND ON STUDENT VIOLENCE. SOME STUDENTS SUGGEST THAT MOST OF THEIR WHITE TEACHERS ARE AFRAID OF BLACK STUDENTS SIMPLY BECAUSE OF RACIAL STEREOTYPES. ONE TEACHER NOTES THE EXTENT OF THE SCHOOL'S ABSENTEEISM PROBLEM. STUDENTS DISCUSS THE PROBLEM OF THEFT AND OTHER CRIMES PERPETRATED BY STUDENTS ON EACH OTHER. TWO TEACHERS WHO HAVE BEEN ASSAULTED CRITICIZE THE SCHOOL'S SECURITY PROGRAM, AND A SCHOOL SECURITY AGENT COUNTERS STUDENT COMPLAINTS OF BRUTALITY AND TEACHERS' CLAIMS THAT THE AGENTS ARE NOT DOING THEIR JOBS. THE SCHOOL'S PRINCIPAL EXPRESSES SKEPTICISM ABOUT FREQUENTLY POSED SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE, NOTING THE NEED NOT TO EXAGGERATE THE PROBLEM, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING A POSITIVE APPROACH TO DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM WHERE IT DOES EXIST. A BLACK TEACHER WHO WAS BEATEN WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO BREAK UP A FIGHT BETWEEN TWO STUDENTS EXPLAINS WHY HE FEELS THAT TEACHERS CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO PLAY THE ROLE OF POLICE OFFICER IN THE SCHOOL. THE PROGRAM CLOSES WITH AN INTERVIEW WITH A SENIOR STUDENT, WHO EXPLAINS WHY HE SELDOM ATTENDS CLASSES AND YET EXPECTS TO GRADUATE. THE STUDENT IS GIVEN A PASSAGE TO READ. HIS DIFFICULTY IS SAID TO REFLECT A DIFFERENT KIND OF CRIME: THE CRIME OF FAILING TO TEACH CHILDREN TO READ. SEE NCJ-51419 FOR THE SECOND PART OF THE PROGRAM. (LKM)