Opinion: Loudoun Schools Lack Basic Elements of Justice
Recent allegations, truancy rules raise questions for one former school board member.
When does school discipline policy discretion become an overreaching abuse?
During my eight years on the Loudoun County School Board I had always wondered why fundamental contradictions in law versus school practice never seem to get resolved. I don't remember ever hearing a candidate for office run on the platform of expelling children from school when no emergency was occurring, no imminent harm was caused and, in some cases, no intent on the part of the student to violate any rule whatsoever. Do you check the contents of your car trunk before allowing your child to drive your car to school on a weekend? The Virginia Board of Education seems to focus its guidelines for codes of conduct on "preserving a safe, non-disruptive environment for effective teaching and learning." Locally we've all heard the over-stated prologue to almost every school activity especially during budget time that "Its all about the children."
So one may ask, “Where is this contradiction?” Let me explain by asking a series of questions rather than making accusations. Can an action be disruptive if nobody even noticed it on the date it occurred? The legal system provides statutes of limitations meaning if you don't present a claim within a reasonable period of time you lose the right to make such a claim.
Should children have the same right as long as nobody was harmed, nothing was disrupted and perhaps the violation wasn't even intended? Why do parents have no right to appeal an in-school discipline? Why do parents have no right to appeal a 10-day suspension to the school board? If your child brings in a bag of oregano to school showing it to one friend making believe its something else and that friend tells the administration a month later, should school administration be warranted to put the student in a room and force a confession? Or would it be more appropriate to acknowledge a statute of limitations for punishment and apply corrective action, instead such as calling the parent asking for a meeting?
Should small children put in these situations be forced to comply with administrative directions to supply a written confession or be disciplined for failure to be cooperative, while not having access to contact their parent, and perhaps missing their bus home while this untimely interrogation is proceeding?
In a state that will bring charges against parents who fail to abide by truancy regulations, how can schools still dish out suspensions when there is no unfettered right of appeal, no time limit to redress, no immediate harm to the learning environment, no intent by the student to violate anything, no access to parental support while using coerced confessions? Consider this as you listen to budget deliberations professing EVERYTHING is in the best interests of children.
Is such discretion necessary, or is it really a continuing overreaching abuse when such discipline occurs without any simultaneous occurring event? Even the legal system doesn't punish individuals BEFORE appeals have been heard but school discipline is immediate and as the appeal proceeds the period of time the student is ostracized from the school system continues.
Michael Kimmel
8:37 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
Bob,
While I do not have the details on any of the specific situations you refer to so I can't speak to those cases, I feel a general comdemnation of the actions of LCPS does not seem warrented. Why is it that kids who do the wrong thing or parents who continuely do the wrong thing (the truency issue) should not be punished. That attitude is one that drives rule followers nuts. The claim that "my kids are only a few minutes late so what's the problem" drives the feeling that rules are only guidelines that need to be followed when I can. Kids showing up " a few minutes late" takes time from the office personnel in the school as well as is disruptive to the classroom. If it happens once or twice in a year, it can certainly be understood and forgiven. When it happens on the average 2 days a week out of 5, that's just rude and disrespectful to the teacher and the students in the class.
I'm not saying the teacher or school is always right, but it is my belief that they are right much more often that the student. Students feel thay do not have to take responsibility for their actions and it is a learned behavior. If someone makes a mistake, that responsibility for it and face the music. The are thousands and thousands of students in LCPS and the safety and education of all students is the priority, not the coddling of a few. Just my opinion.
D. Connor
10:39 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
What if the bus is late? What should be the punishment for the bus drivers? Kids are in school to learn. If they were perfect they wouldn't need to be there. A few minutes late doesn't matter. If they are truant they should receive more school, not less. Stop punishing kids for being kids. A little common sense lesson is all that is necessary.
Michael Kimmel
2:36 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
If a bus in consistantly late, the school distrcit will remedy the situation by adjusting schedules and if necessary personnel. Students being a few minutes late does matter and is a disruption to the learning process of the students who are in school on time. While I agree summons and tickets are an extreme action to be taken, without knowing all the details of intermediate steps taken, I can't say if it was inappropriate.
PepperGirl
7:13 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Previous posts seem to be missing the point ... LCPS exercises discipline practices that are often times overreaching. This article doesn't suggest that we have a school system free of rules, but one that complies with its mission, fairness, and common sense when enforcing the rules.
Eva Long
10:21 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Please answer why there is a start time? If compliance to a time to begin is not enforced, then why not come whenever one pleases. What is too tardy? Occasional tardiness has minor consequences but it appears excessive times of tardiness is disruptive. Does there not seem to be an issue with the parents when a child is so often tardy/truant? I do not have a problem that questiions are raised as to appropriate action, however, i cannot understand why some feel such excessive noncompliance is harmless. If we want the best for our children, we need to prepare them for their roles in life. The schools are not perfect but I would really like to see some of our citizens deal with what they face daily. It apears the school system does a good job please do not send the message to our children that they have no responsibility to comply to rules or to show respect. Overreaching? The public has no access to confidential files that serve to protect privacy, that might be enlightening.
PepperGirl
12:45 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
as demonstrated by the truancy case, parents are held accountable for their children's attendance, academic readiness, and conduct. in contradiction, it makes you wonder why parents are excluded from the discipline process. LCPS mandates a partnership between parents and schools, but then refers to involving parents in discipline issues "impractical". most parents believe that they will be notified if their child is removed from class to serve an In-school suspension. Not so. Most parents also believe that they will be contacted if their child is involved in say.. a suspendable or expellable incident. Not so. It won't be until after your child has undergone lengthy questioning, told a story (sometimes true, sometimes coerced, sometimes what the admin wants them to say), has provided a written statement, and, in some cases, is turned over to the police. then you'll get your call. there's your partnership.