Pubdate: Mon, 05 Feb 2007
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2007 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Cindy Rodriguez
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

PUTTING STUDENTS IN "LOCKDOWN" IS GOOD POLICY

Here's a list of things some Denver high school  students do when they
leave school during lunch recess:

Smoke weed, get drunk, have sex, fight, take the  afternoon off.

And we're not talking about a handful of kids. We're  talking large
groups.

I've witnessed it. Acquaintances and friends of mine  who teach in
public schools describe the students who  show up after lunch break,
reeking of marijuana. They  sit, stare and occasionally giggle. It's a
distraction  for the rest of the students, and they know the stoned
students aren't absorbing the lesson.

Students wouldn't be able to get high or skip classes  if they were
put in "lockdown," the ominous-sounding  term kids use for closed
campuses. Though the students  may not like it, keeping them inside
the school  building all day is a necessary evil.

I wish it weren't the case. But the truth is that the  temptation to
engage in risky behavior and cut class is  great at schools for
at-risk students.

Loosely defined, at-risk students are those who come  from low-income
homes and whose parents are not  well-educated. Their parents
typically don't have  strong parenting skills and the students aren't
exposed  to professionals.

These kids have a lot stacked against them: Myriad  studies have shown
a strong correlation between poverty  and neglect and/or abuse.

At-risk kids are children who shoulder so many  problems, it's easy to
understand why so many want to  escape. It's why that lunch-time high
is so appealing.  And because at-risk kids might be angry and don't
know  how to handle their anger they are prone to getting  into
fights. Inside school, an adult will break it up.  Outside, students
are likely to egg them on.

So why let students leave?

For that matter, why does state law allow students to  drop out of
school at age 16? But that's a topic for  another column.

Keeping students indoors is a smart move, even though  as a teen I
hated it.

The superintendent of Aurora Public Schools announced  last week that
he is considering keeping its high  schools closed during the lunch
period. Michael Bennet,  the superintendent of Denver Public Schools,
last year  considered doing the same but instead decided to give
principals discretion.

West High School principal Pat Sanchez decided this  year that only
seniors in good academic standing should  have the privilege of
leaving school for lunch.

A girl I mentor who attends West believes it's unfair  to juniors such
as her who don't like the cafeteria  food. I tell her she can always
bring her own food.

I'm glad Sanchez decided to impose the rule. I say keep  the rules
coming. Among the rules I'd like to see:

Uniforms for students. Not the plaid Catholic school  uniforms I
endured as a kid, just basic dark slacks,  shoes and a dress shirt for
both boys and girls. It  takes away fashion competition and makes
students act  in a more professional manner.

Mandatory after-school tutoring for students who are  not performing
at grade level. Optional tutoring never  works. The tutors just sit
around waiting for students  who don't show up.

But there should be district rules for the schools  themselves.
Teachers should be certified in the field  they teach. Out-of-school
suspension should be  abolished. Even in-school suspension hurts
students  more than it helps them because they miss what happened  in
their classes.

These policies have been studied to death. By now we  should know that
punitive policies only serve to  criminalize kids and make them feel
unwanted. They need  structure, guidance, and professionals who
understand  them.

If they're in a nurturing environment, students won't  want to bolt at
lunch. They'll be happy where they are.
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MAP posted-by: Derek