January 17, 2008
from wvgazzette.com
Unions suggest path to safer schools
By Davin WhiteStaff writer
West Virginia teachers and bus drivers are no longer safe on the job, and lawmakers should work to correct dangerous school environments, union groups say.
The American Federation of Teachers-West Virginia and the state School Service Personnel Association on Wednesday recommended ways to fix discipline problems, based on a recent survey of service workers and teachers.
More than half of those surveyed said they have felt intimidated by a student’s behavior while on the job. Staffers also said the problems are worst at middle and junior high schools.
Of those surveyed, 83 percent agreed there needs to be stronger discipline policies or better enforcement.
The problems extend beyond the classroom, officials say.
“It’s also a problem on our school buses, in our cafeteria, in our hallways,” said Bob Brown, executive secretary of the service personnel group.
Judy Hale, president of AFT-West Virginia, said federal law also leads to weak reporting of a school’s discipline problems.
No Child Left Behind, the law that guides public schools, flags schools with recurring discipline problems, leading school administrators to underreport real problems, she said.
Delegate Ricky Moye, D-Raleigh, has been a school bus driver for nearly three decades.
He said that almost any problems he has on the bus could be handled with the child or the parent.
“It’s the student that is constantly, every day, doing things” who causes the most problems, he said.
The union leaders have four recommendations. Students should be exposed to a bill of rights and responsibilities that outlines what is expected of them. State lawmakers should urge or require that local school districts hold at least two town hall-style meetings a year to draw solutions from parents, students, school employees and others.
Also, the unions want principals and school administrators held accountable if they fail to follow the law regarding student discipline. Teachers and service workers would have oversight of a principal’s performance.
In place of habitual, off-and-on suspensions for disruptive students, the unions want more alternative schools or placement options to help correct a student’s behavior problems.
With the last recommendation, Hale asked lawmakers to dedicate some new money.
Gov. Joe Manchin noted in his State of the State address that he wants a commission to determine how best to correct school discipline problems.
Lara Ramsburg, a spokeswoman for Manchin, said the commission would have one main objective: “How do we change [the situation] to be the most effective and really make a difference?”
The commission also will look at new alternative settings, which Manchin said last year he supported.
In November, he heard directly from teachers at an education forum at the Charleston Civic Center. Teachers from across the state sounded off about their dangerous classrooms and failed discipline policies.
Manchin also wants to revoke the driver’s license of students who do not maintain a “C” average. Hale said that won’t help in middle schools.
To contact staff writer Davin White, use e-mail or call 348-1254.
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Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Safety in the school ...is it possible?
January 17, 2008
from wvgazzette.com
Unions suggest path to safer schools
By Davin WhiteStaff writer
West Virginia teachers and bus drivers are no longer safe on the job, and lawmakers should work to correct dangerous school environments, union groups say.
The American Federation of Teachers-West Virginia and the state School Service Personnel Association on Wednesday recommended ways to fix discipline problems, based on a recent survey of service workers and teachers.
More than half of those surveyed said they have felt intimidated by a student’s behavior while on the job. Staffers also said the problems are worst at middle and junior high schools.
Of those surveyed, 83 percent agreed there needs to be stronger discipline policies or better enforcement.
The problems extend beyond the classroom, officials say.
“It’s also a problem on our school buses, in our cafeteria, in our hallways,” said Bob Brown, executive secretary of the service personnel group.
Judy Hale, president of AFT-West Virginia, said federal law also leads to weak reporting of a school’s discipline problems.
No Child Left Behind, the law that guides public schools, flags schools with recurring discipline problems, leading school administrators to underreport real problems, she said.
Delegate Ricky Moye, D-Raleigh, has been a school bus driver for nearly three decades.
He said that almost any problems he has on the bus could be handled with the child or the parent.
“It’s the student that is constantly, every day, doing things” who causes the most problems, he said.
The union leaders have four recommendations. Students should be exposed to a bill of rights and responsibilities that outlines what is expected of them. State lawmakers should urge or require that local school districts hold at least two town hall-style meetings a year to draw solutions from parents, students, school employees and others.
Also, the unions want principals and school administrators held accountable if they fail to follow the law regarding student discipline. Teachers and service workers would have oversight of a principal’s performance.
In place of habitual, off-and-on suspensions for disruptive students, the unions want more alternative schools or placement options to help correct a student’s behavior problems.
With the last recommendation, Hale asked lawmakers to dedicate some new money.
Gov. Joe Manchin noted in his State of the State address that he wants a commission to determine how best to correct school discipline problems.
Lara Ramsburg, a spokeswoman for Manchin, said the commission would have one main objective: “How do we change [the situation] to be the most effective and really make a difference?”
The commission also will look at new alternative settings, which Manchin said last year he supported.
In November, he heard directly from teachers at an education forum at the Charleston Civic Center. Teachers from across the state sounded off about their dangerous classrooms and failed discipline policies.
Manchin also wants to revoke the driver’s license of students who do not maintain a “C” average. Hale said that won’t help in middle schools.
To contact staff writer Davin White, use e-mail or call 348-1254.
Click to Search for Related Stories in our Library
Talk Back: [write to the editor]
Sphere: Related Content
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