Alternative middle school would aid in discipline

Alternative middle school would aid in discipline

June 9, 2001

When I read the article, "Misbehaviors at CMS earn unusual penalty" in the May 12, 2001, Saturday edition, I had to blink my eyes and read it twice. I still have a hard time believing the extreme form of discipline discussed in this article is really happening.

I am fully aware of the current discipline problems that plague the K-12 school system. I have worked individually with behaviorally challenged students, have been a short-term middle school teacher as well as a substitute teacher, and have researched and written papers in graduate school concerning the at-risk student population, among other experiences.

Assistant Principal Tom Burris is absolutely correct when he summarized that current disciplinary actions concerning children exhibiting extreme behavior problems in the school system are not effective. However, the practice of isolating this student population on a public school field, in the hot sun, sitting on a bucket (of all things) is not only ethically and morally wrong, it is an accident or a lawsuit waiting to happen. Moreover, the potential for devastating and permanent psychological damage is greatly exacerbated, versus more traditional types of disciplinary actions.

I believe it is time to look at WHY there are so many discipline problems in the school system, particularly in the middle school population. In consideration of the extensive literature concerned with this student population, it seems fair to assume that CMS quite possibly has not done its homework. One size does not fit all. There are myriad cause-and-effect examples, and harsh disciplinary practices, based on my research, has not solved any of these problems on a long-term basis.

One solution that comes to mind is the creation of alternative schools for the middle school population. I believe that the current alternative school in Cortez is limited to the high school population. The Civil Rights Project website is produced by Harvard University and is available at http://www.law.harvard.edu/groups/civilrights/conferences/zero/append3.html. As noted on this website, disciplinary measures required under state law (individual school districts may have more expansive disciplinary codes than required by state law) for Colorado include: 1. Reasons for suspension-"Continued willful disobedience or open and persistent defiance of proper authority; willful destruction or defacing of school property." 2. Reasons for expulsion-"Continued willful disobedience or open and persistent defiance of proper authority; willful destruction or defacing of school property, carrying, bringing, using or possessing a dangerous weapon; sale of a drug or controlled substance; robbery; assault." 3. Availability of alternative education programs-"Mandatory." There are numerous additional links, which discuss the issues surrounding zero tolerance discipline policies and their devastating consequences.

It would behoove CMS to consider creating an alternative school for the middle school student population in question as soon as possible. I realize this is no small feat, but the problem has been building for quite some time. Now that the situation is near "out-of-control" status, time is running out. These students will return to school in the fall and will likely bring these same problems with them. If the staff and administrators at CMS have justifiably exhausted their resources, perhaps it is time to bring in educational psychologists and other trained professionals to alleviate the current pressures.

In the above-mentioned article, CMS Principal Byron Wiehe stated, "People don’t understand what’s going on." As a parent of a public school student, mirroring the comments of many other such parents, we do understand what is going on and we are more than concerned! We are not only concerned about the diminished quality of our children’s education while teachers are forced to spend too much time disciplining students, we are very concerned about the safety and well being of our children, both physically and psychologically.

It is clear that CMS is overwhelmed and needs help in creating preventive, disciplinary, and alternative education programs. I sincerely hope that the administrators seek the help they need before tragedy strikes again.