News-Record.com

It is time that GCS establish a zero tolerance discipline policy, especially at the middle and high school level. The only money that should be spent is to establish an alternative school for students who fight, deal drugs, vandalize, and create constant disruptions to the learning environment both in and out of the classroom. If they don't make it at the alternative school, they should be expelled from Guilford County Schools. However, most of the time, problem students are merely shuffled from one school to another.

This might sound harsh and insensitive, but the discipline problem in GCS is deteriorating daily. Students know there is not really anything that they can do to get in trouble long-term. And many times, the parents are no help at all. If a parent can't control and discipline their own child, how can the school system be expected to deal with him/her.

The idea of hiring more social workers is a joke. Why? So they can ask Johnny why he keeps getting in trouble in every class? Or, why he keeps getting caught with drugs? Or, why he keeps getting in fights? Or, maybe so they can make one more parental contact and tell the parent what they've time and time again, that their kid keeps getting in trouble. Please. And a centralized mediation center. Give me a break. How about, "Hey, you get in trouble one more time and you're out of here!"

The purpose of any public school system should be to educate children and prepare them for college and/or to enter the workforce. It is also a time when they learn to socialize and participate in a civilized society, which means getting along with others and following the rules, AND understanding that their are CONSEQUENCES for bad and unacceptable behavior. As a tax payer and citizen of this community I'm tired of all the money being wasted on students who apparently have no desire to attend and graduate from school, and who are merely a hindrance to a healthy and productive learning environment. We here all this discussion about what needs to be done to help these students, but what about my kid who never gets in trouble at school. Aren't her rights to a safe learning environment and public education being violated by these other students who cause constant disruptions.

The educational community should do everything within its power to educate ALL students, and provide them guidance and ample opportunity to make the right decisions. However, there should be a line that students can cross. Public education is a privilege and right that should be afforded to all children, until by their behavior and actions they forfeit that privilege and right.

Then, when the parents complain about how their child has been treated unfairly and not given enough chances, tell them to go home and look in the mirror if they want to see what's wrong with their kid.

I attended most of the Task Force meetings, and attended the board meeting last night. Most of the suggestions are sound, and most are worth some consideration. Some might not be easily attainable, but should we just ignore common sense and not attempt to start with the obvious? Things are terribly wrong in our schools, and it is time that we change the path we are on and give some of the suggestions a chance. I commend the people that were involved, myself included. It took time, because we care. Doing nothing is so much easier, and is the reason that we are finding ourselves in the place we are at right now. It is just a matter of whether or not any of this will actually get through to anyone. Is GCS listening? I hope the effort will not fall on deaf ears.

Are you kidding? You think spending tax payers money is the answer? Where in the world do you think they are learning this behavior? I deal with the parents of these children. Let me tell you the apples are not falling far from the trees. These children need to be removed from the social setting of the school, and placed in an alternate school, if they can not behave in this setting they need to be removed from society where they have no chance of hurting anyone. Three strikes your out!
It is only a matter of time until someone is seriously hurt in school. I pray that my daughter graduates in June before that day comes. All children in this country deserve to go to school without fear, it is a shame it is not happening in our own backyard. I think every school needs a minimum of 3 school resource officers at all times, and they need to show force in our schools. There should never be a discussion of rather officers use force in schools, the staff, and innocent students safety should always be a concern. I think schools should be swept weekly with drug dogs, we have them, lets use them. We have the resources at our finger tips already, why are we not utilizing them?

"Bill Miller" and "A GCS Parent" took the words right out of my mouth.

Well said.

Agree 110% with "Bill Miller." I would vote in an instant for increased taxes for an Alternative School, but if and only if there were a zero tolerance policy for fighting, drug sales, and sassing of teachers by students. This would mean that the school board and the "minority" community would have to accept that the Alternative School population will be largely "minority" for quite some time. But with an Alternative School in place (I'd like to see it called a Discipline School, because I'm also tired of the PC euphemisms), the regular kids in the regular schools and the problem kids in the Discipline School would each finally get what they need. And lest anyone think I am picking on those not like me, I had cousin and friend in high school who were on the road to failure (the friend was on the fast track to jail) and they both found what they needed in terms of structure in the US Army, recommended by my uncle for my cousin and by the judge for my friend. My friend learned a professional trade in the Army. My cousin became a 20 year NCO with a post-retirement career. A Discipline School would provide a similar structure but at a much younger age, and immensely help the problem kids.

The problem with spending money (apart from the fact that you have to spend money to do it) is that any program on which money is spent will be a worthless program. Apart from the possible exception of an alternative school, any program requiring funding will do more harm than good. More social workers, more mediation programs, more role-playing puppetry, and so forth simply generate more machinery requiring misbehavior as its fuel. The cheapest solution is the best: suspend, then remove, students who won't conform to a certain standard of behavior.

Here's the amount: $19.95 Times the number of classrooms in the system. Put a paddle in every room and give the teachers power to use them since these kids don't get any discipline at home.

I'm all for alternative learning enviornments for the kids that don't know how to conform. I grew up here, and very clearly remember how affective "optional school" was. This was one of the strongest recomendations made by this task force, along with strict, universal enforcement in dealing with the trouble makers. I'm not sure if the whole report is available to read on the GCS web page, but there is much more there than the few points printed in the paper. I was just happy to see people ( parents, teachers, students, grandparents, police officers, you name it)do more than just complain. It's worth the read. Some of it leaves you going "yea, right" , but then again, much of it is exactly what we are all asking for. The GCS parent said that he didn't agree with spending our tax dollars, but then suggested sending these kids to an alternative school that doesn't exist. We as a community have to ask for what we know is needed to make changes. That is why I took the time to attend meetings and give my input. I will continue to fight for what I think is important to make change. I read this blog section all of the time, and have never made a comment. I often find myself looking around the ill attended meetings I attend and wonder where everyone is. I have three kids in the GCS system. I don't always have the time, but I try hard to make the time to be involved for my kids sake. If the money is spent for something like alternative schools, I won't complain about a tax increase either.

I am usually against any type of tax increase because government (at any level) is so wasteful, and the school system no different. GCS continues to fund some of the most ill-conceived and unsuccessful programs imaginable. However, I agree with" involved parent" and "High Point Parent," and would support a diversion of funds, or a bond, or possible a temporary tax increase to build an alternative school.

The school board cannot continue to deny a real and serious problem exists, and merely hope this problem goes away. I do give them credit for scheduling the meetings around the county to discuss discipline in schools and I appreciate the work of the school climate committee. However, a committee report and recommendations are going to accomplish absolutely nothing. And any course of action must hold both students and their parents accountable.

Sadly, parents did not come out and voice their concerns and opinions at the local meetings. The only way to foster significant change is for parents to get their heads out of the sand and find out what is really going on in the public schools. Most would be shocked and appalled if they really knew what happens on a daily basis in most schools around the county. But, many well-intentioned parents are too wrapped up in their own lives to give a fleeting thought to the welfare of their kids, at least when it comes to education.

It is truly time for descent people from all walks of like to come together and DEMAND change and accountability from the GCS administration and school board in respects to discipline and the safety of students in schools.

Time to play Devil's Advocate. While I completely support the idea of an "Alternative School," who would you find willing to work there?

It would have to be an attractive prospect - one rife with advancement potential, or laden with a higher salary or bonuses. What type of personnel should be employed? Typical teachers and/or principals? Should they undergo military or drill training?

I think it is a great idea, but there are so many small problems that must be worked out before this would ever be implemented, even basic transportation to and from school.

I would have no problem with teachers at an alternative school receiving not only special training, but financial incentives as well, probably in the form of a stipend. They would still have to be dedicated professionals who truly want to work in that type of environment, and not merely an educational mercenary. There would probably need to be an extra SRO on campus as well. Above all else, they would have to receive complete support from their school site administrators. Students would have to understand that the alternative school is the last stop with a less than zero tolerance policy.

An alternative school could also be used for students serving school suspensions from other schools. If a student gets suspended 10 days, then he doesn't go back to his regular school until he attends 10 days at the alternative school.

And parents of students who are assigned to alternative school would have to be held accountable as well and understand that the school was not just a baby sitting service, but that students would be expected to complete work.

To answer the question, Where would you find the money to build a alternate school". By the time you removed the children from school that needed to be in an alternate school, you would have enough space in one school, to have an alternate school. I can think of 150-60 children at my daughters school who would qualify and at least another 75-100 at a friends daughters school. Who are we kidding here, it is widespread all over this city. I have watched these children be removed from the school in handcuffs and three staff members try seven phone numbers to contact a relative, to no avail. Within two days they are back in class due to a "flaw
in the system. Does anyone see something wrong with this picture..

Let me also say with less anger about the situation, the same people who are deciding how to spend our tax dollars should take some blame for the shape our schools are in. They made the decision to redistrict years ago, taking children from neighborhood schools, dropping parental involvement in half. They have tabled discussions time and time again about uniforms in schools, you could remove gang symbol clothing if they all dressed the same, Here are some ideas that could work without costing us taxpayers money!
Instead of seeking private donations for championship rings for schools, let's seek private donations for metal detectors to keep our children and staff members safe. Let's look into utilizing what resources we have at our finger tips. Just yesterday I passed a police officer sitting in his car filling out paper work a block from my child's school. I thought, hey go do that in the cafeteria, where they can see you and you could still answer a call if your needed. Come on people start thinking outside the box.
I spend hundreds of dollars on school clothes each year. I would be happy to cut that in half and buy a few uniforms, I know most parents would be happy to do the same. There are many ways to make changes without spending millions to do it. Like I mentioned before, we have drug sniffing dogs right here in Guilford County, lets utilize them, use them in every school in this county, and sweep them every week, or at least every other. When their presence is known and their is a zero tolerance the problem will end. When you start out with zero tolerance, you have no issues.

GCS Parent,

You are operating under the assumption that the school board and our elected officials have a modicum of common sense. The GCS school board and administration are dominated by politically correct thinkers who actually believe that every child can and wants to be educated. They are not willing to make tough decisions about the schools and a small percentage of the students who are constantly in trouble in order to ensure that the vast majority of students have the opportunity to receive a quality education in a productive and safe learning environment.

Until the citizens of Guilford County elect school board members that aren't obsessed with their own political or social agenda, the governing body will never make educationally sound decisions.

Bill Miller

You are a smart man, and if you ran for the school board, I would not only vote for you, I would run your election campaign!!
I only wish those elected officials had half the wisdom you seem to hold.

Most of the elected officials in Guilford County do not visit a school in the district, let alone take a phone call from a parent. I remember on one occasion we invited a member to a PTA luncheon at a middle school, she declined on 13 different occasions. She still holds her seat. The best thing that is happening this year is Terry is going west, now if he would only take the others with him.

I would help to run it with you! That is the most discouraging part of it all. We can't count on hardly one of the members to make an impact by making the right decisions for us. I try not to let that discourage me, but at times I find myself saying "whats the use". I still trudge along in hopes that the fighters will prevail! I have a child that was deeply impacted by the poor decision making of GCS. I'm in it for the long haul. It's nice to hear intelligent comments about something that has had to become such a big part of my life. Encouragement that I am not the only one looking for common sense to play a part in this all.

"The board asked the task force last year to recommend ways to improve student behavior and discipline." Humm, what's wrong with this request? First, is it the school district's responsibility to 'improve' student behavior" Maybe, I'm old fashioned, but isn't that the parent's responsibility? Second, isn't it the school district's mandate to educate our children? Why are we not studying ways in which to improve education? The public schools are not and never have been charged with raising our children, only educating them. Why did we commission a year long study, which according to Terrina Picarello, was not enough time to examine this issue when we should be focused on education?

What am I missing - we are not a nanny state, at least not yet...Here's a novel idea; how about taking responsibility for your own actions rather always seeking out ways in which to blame others...This country was a much better place when we lived by this forgotten value.