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Morgan,

This is a huge subject to start off the beginning of this work week!

Do you happen to know which specific GCS policy is cited in the attachmentment? Can you provide the policy number designator?

Also, I notice that the current policy outlines discpline associated with violoation of the policy. I did not see disciplinary action (outisde of a dress code warning for first offenders) mentioned in the proposed revised policy.

I would like to see very specific, objective discplinary action in any policy that is adopted by the board.

Since our public schools are used as a platform to initiate new members , I would say the Guilford County school system should not only take an active stance on this subject, I think they should be held liable if they choose to do nothing!!

I have had multiple parents speak to me of such "beat down incidents in our school"... Fights are not just fights anymore. They are initiations. We have one brother that was "beat" into the Crypts and another brother that was "beat" into the Bloods.

It is very difficult, especially for minority students, to avoid this situation...

Numbersgame,
The current policy is Rule 25 on page 53 of the student handbook.

Morgan,

Thanks.

For other readers: The Handbook is online. Go to Guilford County Schools, choose the "Students" tab and then select "Student Handbook."

Just read the policy....

It is Guilford County policies like this that have
me thinking it is time to take a loan out for a private school.....

Nothing to PROTECT the innocent kids......
Nothing to PROTECT the teachers...........

If they verbally threaten a student, they are going to be consoled and returned to class...you poor little gang banger...what can we do for you again today....

Once returned they will have ample opportunity to take care of the person they threatened and control the school.....

This is truly disgusting! The innocent students are suffering at the hands of these gangbangers. I would rather they be on the street then in school recruiting. For the kids who want to be in school, this could help protect them during the day. If the pipeline to prison becomes shorter, so be it.

Morgan, you have questions addresed to you on the SAT score strand. Can you answer please. There are many safety concerns out there.

Discipline issues need to be addressed by parents to the school board.

The School Board needs to write clear, consistent consequences for misappropriate actions by any student. Students should not be allowed to threaten or beat up other students at any time for not joining their gang. Children should not have to fear going to the bathroom in their school. Teachers should not have to be afraid of their studetns.

It would be better to remove these gang members immediately from our schools to stop the recruitment of new members. The gang problem will continue to grow if actions are not taken now.

Everytime I have seen parents address discipline issues to the school board, the school board either disrespects the parent or acts like the parent is blowing things out of proportion.

I would never go to any member of the school board with this type of problem, because their only state of mind is to keep the gang banger in our schools.

They do not provide administration with the manpower, tools, education, or facilities to deal with the type of social problems facing our students.

I agree sending them home is not a solution. I also agree leaving them in the general population where they are intimidating others and disrupting class is not the solution.

We need a solution to deal with these students....
I wish we had a public military school where these kids could be sent to live for a while. ....
but I forgot ... gangs are in our military also...
oh well....

I pray that I'm wrong, but I fear that it will take a tragedy to open the eyes of the Guilford County School Board and Administration.

And then it will be too late.

TRAGEDY..........

Everyone has forgotten the 5 homicides in Greensboro
All between the ages of 15 - 19.............

Former students of Guilford County.....

Disgusted,

Actually I have not forgotten those young students who were tragically killed this year. My comment was specific to having such a tragedy occur on school grounds during school hours.

Here's another question - what does the School Board and GCS Administration think about those 5 murders?

Morgan - your post is titled "District not oblivious to gang activity".

I would say the opposite is true - the GCS District IS oblivious to gang activity thus explaining the lack of action.

E.C. Huey, next year's school board candidate has some candid remarks on the same subject:

http://erikhuey.wordpress.com/2007/09/05/yes-virginia-there-is-a-gang-problem-in-gcs/

Why is that we cannot see the comments for this string?

What cant you see Joe?

Joe,
We have had some technical difficulties with our blogs, but it should be fixed now.

"I would say the opposite is true - the GCS District IS oblivious to gang activity thus explaining the lack of action."

Numbersgame, they are not oblivious to gang activity. Oblivious suggests that they are lacking conscious awareness. I don't think that is what it is at all. It is my feeling that they purposely ignore the truth of the gang problem so that their own agenda can succeed. They want to keep students in school at any cost. They have even been given an award for it. And, I suppose keeping the gangbangers in school is a result of "the district's innovative and effective approaches to keep students in school". Of course, does anyone really believe that GCS' dropout rate is really 2.98%?

From the GCS Website:

"District Receives Crystal Star Award from National Dropout Prevention Center

According to the North Carolina State Department of Public Instruction’s 2004-2005 dropout rate data, Guilford County Schools (GCS) is among the lowest in the state.

The district’s high school dropout rate of 2.98 percent was the lowest among the state’s largest districts and among the lowest in the state. It is also believed to be the lowest dropout rate among the nation’s largest 50 school districts. As a result of these efforts, GCS received the prestigious Crystal Star Award from the National Dropout Prevention Center. This prestigious honor recognizes the district's innovative and effective approaches to keep students in school and to recover them once they dropout."

"Decreasing GCS’ dropout rate and increasing the graduation rate are two of the Board of Education's strategic goals. “Our Board realizes that students who drop out of school have little chance for a bright future, Grier says. “We will not be satisfied until all of our students graduate from high school.”