Larry Sand
In December Education Week The survey, teachers and administrators reveal this Students’ behavior deteriorates. Since the prepandemical time of 2019, “there has been a clear increase in behavioral problems, from minor interference in class to more serious students’ fights broadcast on social media.”
The results of the survey show that 72% of teachers Say that students in their class, school or district behave badly either “a little” (24%) or “a lot” (48%) more than in autumn 2019, in the last semester before the Covid-19 closures start.
Problem in Los Angeles It is particularly gloomy. In the school year in 2023-2024, a district School survey Shows that only 58.5% of basic students, 55.2% of high school students and 51.6% of high school students reported that they feel secure in their schools – a significant decrease from previous years. Their fears are justified because “the fight and physical aggression increased by 16.8% from the 2022-2023 school year to 2023-2024, while threats increased by 28.5%.”
Nevada does not deal with this problem irrelevant, transferring the problem with children to another school, and the former paraprofessional suing the school district of Washoe to say that “the system system shifts dangerous students between schools Without the proper notification of the staff of their behavior and ended with retaliation. “
The school district in North Carolina tried to improve the discipline by implementing a policy for which he paid a non-profit organization over USD 800,000 to assist create it. Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools less miniature and long-term suspensions In the school year and no excretions, part of a wider change towards “fair discipline”.
It didn’t work. The district has reported a higher crime indicator than in the previous year. Critics claim that the changes have worsened the conditions for students because the interference is not removed from the class.
Then there is a constant statement of education that clay at school is not necessary. But in fact, teachers do not want them to be removed. Heritage’s study only showed it 7% of teachers He answered the confirmation to the question: “Do you think that Defunding school resources officers will make schools safer?”
Similarly Edweek Research Center survey From 2020, it was found that only 20% of teachers, directors and district leaders have completely or partially agreed that armed policemen should be eliminated from public schools.
Parents do not like this idea either. In Los Angeles, a A survey conducted by the district stated that 72% of Asian parents and Pacific and Pacific Islander, 67% of Latin parents, 54% of white parents and 50% of black parents He agreed that the presence of the police makes schools safer.
Whatever. Educational bureaucracy, under the powerful influence of teachers’ relationships, prefers a low -sensitive method of dealing with children that work, regardless of its effectiveness.
In Los Angeles, the school district lowered 133, or about 40%of its school cops for the Kinder and the Milder “Climate trainers“In 2021, it was also decided that the police not patrol campuses And he would be called to answer personally in emergency.
What should you do?
Real -time police capture has become very popular recently. The survey from the University of Maryland showed that almost 90% of respondents support body camerasincluding 85% of Republicans, 86% independent and 94% of democrats. It is in line with the Cato Institute survey, showing this 89% of Americans support “the requirement from the police to wear body cameras To record their interactions.
If this is a good idea for cops, why not teachers whose government entrusts public service?
In fact, several schools in England already apply this technology as a way to limit attacks on teachers. Larry Davis, deputy director of Southfields Academy in Wimbledon, said that the apply of body cameras by a miniature number of employees “behavior has been improved and reduced the number of dangerous confrontations because they were introduced at the beginning of the school year. “In addition, a school official said that the police” found evidence from body cameras, was more useful in arresting and that their presence stopped destructive behavior … “.
Another alternative to the status quo is the “without excuses” model. Writing RealclearinvestigationsVince Bielski Describes A typical day at Columbus Collegiate Academy MainCharter school in Ohio, where the order is displayed. “Students in Khakis and blue tops carrying bulging backpacks go vigorously in the line through the front door of a one-story brick building-like young people who really want to be there.”
“In class, after classes, mainly black and Latin body of students seems seriously involved, with pencils in the hand or fingers on the keyboards. Teachers move quickly through lessons. Hands shoot to answer questions. Nobody cheats or disturbs others, which seems unusual for a junior high school full of teenagers. “
Columbus Collegiate Academy Main is not unique, but one of 1000 Highly competent urban charters that operate in the No Excuses model. His behavior rules require students to sit at the desks, remain hushed, unless they are called and respect each other, which creates optimal learning conditions.
The “without excuses” model was created in the 1990s, when anarchy in urban schools prevented learning. . Zeitgeist Not much has changed since then.
Bielski Continues, “The lessons are tight script To the clock to press as much learning as possible. Teachers, not students, move through shiny, tidy corridors from class to class during the day, because it takes less time and causes less confusion. Children change rooms to classes such as physical education.
“In the first three days of the school year, students will learn the rules of behavior, such as the knowledge of the teacher and the pencil for ready, and why these rules are the key to meeting high academic standards. Then they practice these skills, for example, show respect to teachers and peers before they open the textbook. “
Parents of course like this style because there is a waiting list to get to school, which students are chosen by the lottery.
What a concept! Now, if we can simply cut all the sensitive, obsession with racing, anti-COP Edu-Fads and return to the basics, we can have a world-class education system, as it used to be.
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Larry Sand, a retired 28-year-old teacher in the classroom, is the president of a non-profit organization California network of strengthening teachers -a non -party, nonsense group dealing with the provision of teachers and the total society of reliable and sustainable information on professional relationships and positions in educational issues. The views presented here are strictly his.
