Did you hear the bad news? Illinois has the highest ratio of criminal gang members per capita. Scary, huh?
The Mayor, the Sheriff, the Police Chief and two congressmen held a press conference wherein they all agreed - gangs are a threat. The Mayor believes that the Derrion Albert incident was "just an extension of what we've been seeing in the Peoria area." What is that - are they trying to scare us out of town? With all the school consolidation issues they know gang violence is foremost in most Peorian’s mind.
The Mayor has met with Arne Duncan, the press conference is over and now it’s time to put together a cohesive plan to tackle gang violence in Peoria. Here’s a suggestion…
The City of Peoria should open up a Charter School for Children with discipline problems. We need both a charter middle school and a high school, if you would please, Mr. Mayor. The schools should be located Downtown (close to the Police Department and CityLink). Hey - how about that old Cohen’s building!?
Is it really the duty of the school district to know how to deal with something as massive and violent as the gang culture our leaders spoke of in the press conference?
Instead of District 150 Watch Group being enraged at the BOE for all of the discipline problems the teachers are dealing with, maybe they should take your fight for an alternative school down to City Hall? It's on the City and the Police Department to control violence, isn't it?
The concerns about violence when high schools are merged are valid. Is the District putting together a school violence program? I haven’t heard – have you? Are they even capable of putting together something like that? They haven’t given any indication, one way or the other.
Teachers and parents are frustrated by the lack of discipline. They have been pleading with the BOE to find a solution. Maybe they are pleading with the wrong people. If an alternative school for children with discipline problems is what you want, the answer could very well be at a City Council Meeting instead of a School Board Meeting.
1 comment:
Emerge, I'm not sure where you are going with this; however, I will give you my opinion. I have talked to Jim Stowell about this--I think we agree. Both of us recognize that there are severe emotional, psychological problems with many of these young people--their problems won't be solved by discipline, etc.--but they can't continue to destroy the educational success of the other kids--most of whom are black. Like it or not, the parents of the white kids seem better able to find a way out for their kids. I actually discussed this with Dr. Royster--about a young lady in my class who had severe anger problems--and was continually in fights at school but always returned to start all over again. I recognized that these young people need some real help and hope that the kind of alternative school established would be one that would work with local social agencies to get these young people the help they need. I don't want a dumping ground--punishment only--kind of alternative school. Do I trust 150 to get this done? What do you think?
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