Sunday, August 27, 2006

128 Students Suspended at Ind. School

HAMMOND, Ind. (AP) - Classrooms were a little less crowded at Morton High School on the first day of classes: 128 students were sent home for wearing the wrong clothes.
Fed up with inappropriate outfits, the principal suspended the students for one day Wednesday, minutes after doors opened at the school. Those suspended represent more than 10 percent of the 1,200 total students.
The offending attire - including baggy pants, low-cut shirts, tank tops and graphic T-shirts - are banned from classrooms. Students were also cited for cell phone use.
"This was the worst year I've seen in a long time," said Principal Theresa Mayerik. "It's gotten out of control, and we needed to send a message that we're not messing around."
The Hammond school usually has 20 dress code violations a day.
Mayerik said the infraction would be removed from students' records in 12 weeks if they had no other in-school violations.
School board members said they support Mayerik and the mass suspensions. "I'd be supportive if half the school was sent home, because 99 percent will get the message our schools are for education," board president Rebecca Ward said.

This story is interesting to me because most people will read it and think the principal did what he was supposed to and that is what always happens in school.
Well, that is not what happens in school at all. The kids understand that if they all act poorly, most of them will get away with it.
Most of you think: "Well, keep suspending them all until they understand the rules." That is not how it works. Administrators do not want to suspend too many kids, because then it looks like they do not have control of the school. I know it is backward, but just remember this situation as you are criticizing MPS teachers for not teaching, they are constantly stuck between a rock and a hard place.
The teacher can suspend half the class every hour for not wearing proper clothes, swearing, eating, drinking and using cell phones...and then get yelled at by administration for suspending too many kids. So, what do you do?

15 comments:

Jim said...

Blame it on the liberals, of course!

But seriously, I see your point. It's a tough decision, but I believe the students have to get the message.

Marshal Art said...

Laws regarding student discipline have been out of wack for some time. Frankly, I don't care who was behind it, but they went too far, and that's for sure. It's difficult to teach the concept of respect for law when there are no infractions for breaking laws (or "rules" in this case). And, unfortunately, the punishment has to "hurt" in some manner so that the perpetrator no longer wants to chance another infraction. At some point, the parents must feel it, too.

Now this article may only speak of dress code infractions, but the numbers speak to only one manifestation. And as insignificant as this infraction may seem, it is still a rule that has most likely been made well known. For the sake of those students who truly wish to learn, rules must be enforced firmly.

jhbowden said...

It is about damn time. Hopefully their self-esteem won't be damaged beyond repair. :p

Thanks for the article, game.

The Game said...

your welcome...

The Game said...

luckily you are not a teacher

Ron said...

Discipline out of wack? Correct! Respect for authority lacking? correct!
Self esteem must be earned not given? Correct!

Dedanna said...

Shouldn't matter if it's one infraction, or ten, or a hundred. It should be dealt with before it gets out of hand, and it shouldn't make a damn how it looks. Kids are being raised these days with no sense of right and wrong, and no sense of what's moral and what isn't.

True, morality is all in one's individual perspective, but there is a hidden "code" if you will, between all human beings of at least the basics.

It's time mommy & daddy started teaching these basics at the very least, instead of teaching the opposite. It's time that kids were raised with a conscience of when they've done wrong, and feeling it strongly when they do, to where it hits home with them. The schools should do the same for each and every infraction, be it small or large. The problem being, that in the schools, discipline has become so lax out of fear of the kids in general (reprisals from gangs, etc.), that the kids think they can get away with anything, and they do.

SPANK THEIR ASSES, OR DO WHATEVER IT TAKES, PEOPLE!

Thank the gods that be that my daughter started very early with my grandson, or I'd have no hope for either one of them. At just over a year old, he's more well-behaved than most adults I know these days.

Dedanna said...

Doesn't matter what they are, or what you, me, Ron, or anyone else is -- makes no diff.

These brats need to be put in their place, big time.

Dedanna said...

And I don't care how it looks.

What matters, is what's best for the kids, and for the schools.

Ron said...

Yes game we know, all things bad in the world are the fault of the liberal. I can't even agree with you without getting bashed..Thanks a lot pal.

Ron said...

Its a good thing you aren't involved nin government. You would never be able to reach a consensus. No diplomatic ability whatso ever You are embarassed not glad when the other side agrees with you..or is that angry..which is it game...what is your freakin problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get ahold of your brain man. Who do you ever hope to bring to your side? Or are you happy just preaching to the choir. That is a perfect example of why I find you a waste of time. Yep, just wasted some more.

The Game said...

ohhhh...I hurt Ron's feelings.
One of the things that gets me the most mad in the world is how I see liberalism ruin the lives of pretty much every single person in the inner cities on a daily basis. When I write about it I get very few comments from liberals because I think deep down you know that all the failed liberal programs, and the learned helplessness that liberals teach inner city minorities guarantees that they will never get out. That is why I point out that failed schools and disapline are run by liberals.

Marshal Art said...

Easy Ronny,

Game wasn't rippin' ya. At least I didn't take it that way. (Perspective, you know) He merely stated that you sounded conservative on this issue, which, should be taken as a compliment at worse (from your perspective), or an acknowledgement that there's agreement at best.

Ron said...

In other words game can't have a one to one conversation he can only generalize to maintain his trained behavior.

Dedanna said...

LMAO