THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 19, 1995 TAG: 9501170127
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 109 lines
NORFOLK SCHOOL officials got an earful at a community forum last week on how to improve discipline in the schools.
Ideas tossed out during the 90-minute ``town meeting'' ranged from outfitting kids in uniforms to requiring parents of misbehaving children to sit with them during a day of classes.
Speakers sounded a constant refrain: Parents should be held more accountable for their children's behavior, and teachers must be given more authority to enforce order.
``We tolerate far too much in our classrooms,'' resident Larry Gregory said. ``We need to get back to respect, responsibility and restraint - those three R's.''
About 150 people attended the meeting, which was called by a 15-member discipline committee appointed last fall by the School Board.
The panel, comprising school administrators, teachers, parents and students, will report its findings and recommendations to the School Board in March, board member and committee co-chair Anna Dodson said.
``We know we have more than turned the corner on violence in our schools,'' Dodson said. ``But we want to make discipline better.''
Superintendent Roy D. Nichols Jr. has made school safety a priority since arriving 1 1/2 years ago. He outlined more than a dozen initiatives put in place since then.
Several of the 24 speakers noted vast improvements in student behavior. But the majority said problems remain.
One of the most intriguing suggestions, Nichols said after the meeting, would require parents of disruptive children to come to school and spend time in class. Student misbehavior might drop dramatically if parents had to suffer the consequences, speakers said.
``That is worth talking about,'' Nichols said.
Requiring students to wear uniforms was another popular idea.
``We have a disparate population,'' said Sheila Morris. ``Uniforms give you a level playing field.''
Another speaker said uniforms would help school officials immediately identify students who belong there.
The efforts of Ruffner Middle School Principal Pamela Hoffler-Riddick to create a teacher dress code at her school also received praise.
``Pretty is as pretty does,'' said resident Clarence Sessoms.
It was apparent that the public expects a lot of teachers. Some speakers said teachers should be firm and consistent with students, while others said they also should be loving and nurturing.
But there was consensus that teachers deserve more respect and need more authority to mete out punishment.
``From a teacher's perspective, I think we're being held more accountable than parents,'' said Norbert Hopkins, a social studies teacher at Azalea Gardens Middle School. ``I've contacted some parents time after time, and I can't get them interested.''
Reducing the size of classes was viewed as an important way to help teachers gain more control.
Most speakers urged against suspension or expulsion of disruptive students because that could lead to more serious social problems. Instead, they said more alternative classrooms were needed for disruptive students.
Rather than housing such students in a separate building, which costs more money, one woman suggested that individual schools set up their own classrooms for the misbehavers.
Several speakers said school officials often seem wishy-washy about enforcing discipline and are inconsistent with punishment.
One parent criticized a new program at three middle schools for failing to live up to expectations. Students in the ``contract cluster'' program, along with their parents, signed contracts promising good behavior. But it hasn't stopped discipline problems, the mother said: Unruly kids in her son's cluster have been allowed to remain.
``If you're going to say it, do it!'' said the parent, Diane Shepheard. ``If you set up a program, you've got to have the consequences.''
Speakers said schools reflect a larger problem of violence in society. It will take a community working together before improvements occur, they said.
``The problem is family,'' said William L. Thomas Jr., a parent and an urban policy consultant. ``We've got to find a way to get families and churches reinvigorated with the school system.''
Marian Flickinger, president of the Norfolk Federation of Teachers, said after the meeting that she was encouraged by what she heard.
``This is one time the system should be given credit,'' she said. ``How refreshing: We got the public involved and we got some good ideas. When you have the community singing the same song, we have a chance for bringing change.'' MEMO: REDUCING STUDENT VIOLENCE
Superintendent Roy D. Nichols Jr. has made student discipline a
priority since arriving as the city's top educator a year and a half
ago. Steps taken to reduce student violence and discipline problems
since then include:
``Call back'' switches, which allow teachers to instantly alert
school administrators of problems, have been installed in classrooms.
Schools now offer Saturday detention halls to avoid suspending
students.
Middle school students who behave are eligible to participate in
after-school intramural sports.
Parents of children who are suspended must report to the school
principal before the child is readmitted.
Video cameras are being used at some schools.
Students receive training in conflict resolution.
Teachers have been encouraged to press charges when assaulted by
students.
More telephone lines have been installed in schools, making it easier
for teachers to contact parents.
KEYWORDS: NORFOLK PUBLIC SCHOOLS VIOLENCE DISCIPLINE by CNB