Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 28, 1994 TAG: 9406300025
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By ONZLEE WARE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
I applaud the new superintendent and the School Board for implementing this disciplinary rule. All students have a fundamental right to a public education free from violence. The intent and implementation of the rule clearly shows the legitimate concern for our students' safety.
However, I'm concerned about the effect the rule will have on those students who will be punished as a result of their intolerable school behavior.
What happens to these students once they've been expelled? Is there a specific plan to ensure that they receive a public education, which is equally their fundamental right?
It was reported that alternatives for these students' educational needs are secure instruction for the remainder of the year at a private school, home-bound instruction, and application for enrollment in a different public-school system.
If it is as I suspect, most of these students are from low-income homes, which makes enrollment in a private school unaffordable to them. Nor is it realistic to believe that another public-school system would readily accept such a student. Further, home-bound study isn't an adequate alternative, due to a shortage of home-bound instructors.
What happens to the students? Over the past several months, at least three students have appeared before the Roanoke City Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court to face additional criminal charges for their infractions in their respective schools.
One student was suspended for up to one month from school for bringing a water pistol to school, even though he was a good student and never had been in any type of trouble prior to this incident. Fortunately, prior to a full hearing, it was decided that he wouldn't be expelled for this action.
The other students who appeared before the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court judges were prosecuted for their actions. However, in each case, the honorable judge asked the question of the principals: How are these students going to receive a public education? On each occasion, the answers were vague and uncertain.
I strongly urge the superintendent and the School Board to take every precaution prior to expelling a student.
It's a severe punishment that will affect these students for the rest of their lives. It will have a direct impact on our community if these students are put on the streets during the day, with nowhere to go and without adequate public instruction. If this happens, I believe we'll see many more of these students in our court system.
We shouldn't make such an extremely important decision as expulsion without first having in place a specific plan to educate students who, by virtue of their conduct, can no longer be tolerated in our public-school system.
Onzlee Ware is a Roanoke lawyer.
by CNB