Posted by M. Wright | Filed in: Memphis Politics
Great letter on school safety in today’s CA:
I applaud Mayor Willie Herenton for his leadership and concern for our plight as educators (Feb. 14 article, “Beefing up school safety” ). Metal detectors and more police reinforcement seem to be the way of large urban school districts. These strategies will definitely quell the violence. But is this what we really need in our schools?
It has been my experience, as a principal, assistant principal, teacher and football coach, that high expectations and character education for all students make schools safe. Students rise or fall to expectations set for them.
We do not have a Memphis Police Department officer assigned to our school. Instead, my staff members are asked to mentor one student. We believe high expectations are taught through good teacher-student relationships. At East High School, we expect our students to conduct themselves as members of a civilized community.
When I arrived at East there was much chaos with an officer assigned to our school. Some students who have succumbed to a lifestyle of gang violence may see it as a “badge of honor” to be arrested or to challenge police authority. It has continued to be my observation that corporal punishment and a stronger Memphis police presence in the school lower expectation. This is evidenced at East High School, as we have experienced decreased numbers of Memphis police calls and discipline referrals over a three-year period with no police presence and no corporal punishment.
We have maintained high expectations for our entire student body, and they do a great job of governing themselves accordingly.
I also believe children must be taught how to behave. We have found that teaching them to “use your inside voice, tuck in your shirt, and walk to the right of the hall,” are important elements of behavior for children.
Methods we use to teach good character and behavior include requiring our students to learn the school creed and school poem, “Invictus.” We also enlighten our students school-wide through announcing daily character words, having character assemblies, and showing great movies like “Akeelah and the Bee.”
Older students at East mentor and tutor younger students after school through our “Peer Power” program. We use “Trust Pays” as a tool for students to take ownership of their school. They are rewarded when they report instances of crime and graffiti to trusted adults.
I am convinced that high expectation and good character translate into a safe environment. I am proud to report that these things work for us at East High School, and can work at all high schools.
Frederick W. Curry
Principal, East High School
February 21st, 2008 at 7:25 am
Perhaps if the ‘educators’ hadn’t lowered expectations to begin with…..
February 21st, 2008 at 3:08 pm
“Character development” is taught very early on…at home.
It frustrates me when I watch the news and there is a story about school violence and a parent is interviewed…blaming the school/teacher/principal for the students’ behavior.
February 22nd, 2008 at 6:05 am
School Safety Planning without Assessment: Guessing is not planning
You go to the doctor because you feel sick. When the doctor enters the examination room the doctor tells you that he is giving you a prescription for to medicines. Confused you ask, “But you haven’t examined me yet to diagnose my problem?” The doctor replies, “Don’t worry I have a pretty good idea what is wrong with you so I’ll just wing it”.
How fast would you run out of there? This is how most school district design school safety plans. They use a little bit of internet information, a little bit of other districts information and a lot of guess work. This is not professional or effective planning.
Without a compete assessment an effective plan cannot be designed. Most districts have had safety assessments conducted by local people or companies. The problem is that these assessments are superficial and general ineffective for planning purposes or problems solving.
Most of the security assessments that have been performed in U.S. schools have focused either on security hardware [cameras, locks, etc.] or exterior crime prevention. Since school safety is primarily about the management of a school environment and the people in it, an accurate assessment of safety must include analysis of the management systems in place on a daily basis that affect daily security issues.
The following is a list of what a proper school security audit should include:
• Each audit / assessment must be custom designed to the school facility structure and personality. For example California style [one floor, flat or shallow roof] buildings present different security problems than a school facility that have multiple floors. Socio-economic aspects of the community and the surrounding area also set the personality of a school.
• A complete audit must also include interviews with key community people regarding juvenile crime and social problems related to children.
• The audit must seek out key personnel within each school for extensive interviews. These key personnel provide much of the relevant usable information for the audit.
• An audit of sub social groups must also be conducted.
• An audit of management structure related to security is also vital in a proper audit.
• An audit of the relationship and communication between staff and students must be properly conducted.
• Student movement and classroom management must be audited.
• An audit of disciplinary issues must be conducted.
• Finally, the audit must provide specific issues with specific solutions must be designed for each school facility.
http://www.SERAPH.net
February 22nd, 2008 at 9:35 pm
I read this letter and then I found it on the Commerical Appeal’s website. I find it interesting because everyone is searching for answers and solutions to the violence. Risky activities can expell a student. I believe that everyone could find a plan that will work and enforce and stick to it then it may work. I made a post response to this letter to the editor on my blog. East High’s principal thinks the mayor is doing a good job at getting a grip of the violence. I do agree since it is out of control to the limit of the mayor stepping up to fix things. Some way, some how there is a way where everyone can work as a team.
February 24th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Parents need to be more involved in the school system to make it a safer place and they need to back up the teachers instead of tearing them down. I, myself, have a son who is schizophrenic and did not make it in the county school system no matter how hard I tried to work with the school and with him to make it work; however, I believe that a part of this blame lies with the legislators who makes these “no child left behind” laws then fail to financially support the school system to the extent to make the classroom size small enough to really help special needs kids! I was a special education teacher at one time and now I am a counselor working with these children…so I’ve been on all sides of the desk…teacher, parent, and other helping professional…that’s my two cents worth.