Student discipline in schools needs the support of parents

As the Youngstown City School District strives to stabilize its finances and reverse its academic decline, the lack of student discipline in the classroom is like a malignant tumor sucking the life blood out of the system.

Unruly students bent on disrupting school decorum must be dealt with aggressively and even harshly. Otherwise, the perception will remain that the schools in the worst academic performing district in the state of Ohio are not conducive to learning.

Indeed, the exodus of the students to charter or parochial schools, or even to be home schooled is the result of parents worried about the safety of their children because of the bad behavior of more than just a few young men and women.

Consider these startling statistics: In the 2008-09 school year, there was a total of 5,615 student suspensions, and 238 expulsions. Most of both were at the high school level.

Indeed, in late 2007, Superintendent Wendy Webb, discussing the creation of an alternative education program for high school students who fail to correct their disruptive behavior, made it clear the district isn’t about to give up control of its schools to those who don’t want to learn in the traditional environment.

This sound philosophy should guide a committee that is currently examining student discipline policies and how they can best be implemented.

The panel has found that the policies now on the books are appropriate, but that they need to be implemented uniformly. A list of recommendations has been developed for the school board to consider, but Judy Hatchner, committee facilitator and former school board administrator, said that each one needs to be studied in detail.

That is good advice, but board members must also know that time is not on their side. Changing the fiscal and academic direction of the district has become a matter of great urgency.

Thus, when dealing with the issue of discipline, the role of parents or guardians must be taken into consideration.

In 2007, Dr. Webb said she was looking for parent volunteers to help monitor school hallways and rest rooms. Parents were not to be in the buildings to administer discipline, only to keep an eye on pupil movement.

Code of conduct

One of the recommendations that has been submitted to the board of education calls for providing informational meetings for parents and students regarding The Student Code of Conduct and related policies concerning discipline.

While it is worthwhile to inform parents about what is expected of their children with regard to behavior in school, the situation in the Youngstown district makes it clear that more is needed.

The message that must be conveyed to parents and guardians is that misbehavior of any kind in school will not be tolerated and that they will be held responsible for violations of the code of conduct.

The only way the Youngstown system will emerge from academic emergency is if students are able to learn in the classrooms. Disruptions must end.