NORFOLK
The number of student assaults against Norfolk school staff rose significantly last year, and fighting, gang activity and weapons violations inched upward, according to a recent report by the school division.
However, the total number of incidents requiring discipline dropped from the previous year, as did the number of violations of law and instances of insubordination.
The report, which will be presented at today's School Board meeting, comes three days after a Booker T. Washington High School football game was moved because of a threat to a player, and at a time when South Hampton Roads parents, students and teachers are concerned about gang-related violence seeping into schools.
Since school started in the fall, Norfolk has moved two other games because of fears of gangs, and a football player at Portsmouth's I.C. Norcom High School was fatally shot. Portsmouth police said they considered him a gang member.
Six weeks into the school year, some in Norfolk already see signs of more clashes among students. "I've heard more this year, in this short period of time, regarding assaults and fights than I did last year at all," said Marian Flickinger, president of the Norfolk Federation of Teachers. "Are things going downhill? Or is this an anomaly?"
Louis Fisher, a Maury High School senior, said fights this year have been different because they tend to be between groups of students. "Fights usually start - someone's wearing a color that a certain group of people don't like," he said.
Parents and teachers plan to speak out about violence occurring at Maury at tonight's meeting, and Superintendent Stephen C. Jones has prepared a response.
Jones said Norfolk's longer-term discipline statistics don't reflect a clear upward or downward trend, however.
He blamed the misbehavior of some students on negative cultural influences and clashes among neighborhood gangs.
"We're in a society where kids act out because it mirrors what they see the adults doing," Jones said. "We can't spend the kind of time in values education that I'd like to spend time on."
Assaults on staff members rose to 92 from 59 last year. Michael Spencer, the school division's chief operations officer, said he couldn't identify a reason for the jump, even after reviewing many of the individual case files.
In March, after school officials adopted a new strategy to deal with assaults on staff, the number of incidents dropped off, Spencer said.
In the past three years, school officials have worked to make punishments more consistent and to reduce truancy. They're also addressing trends of student disrespect toward staff members and increased gang activity in Norfolk's neighborhoods, according to the report.
Last year, assistant principals and deans of discipline received special training on such topics as defusing incidents in schools. This month, they attended a gang prevention training session conducted by the Norfolk police.
Administrators and parents suggest a variety of potential solutions to gang issues. Jones said students should be provided alternatives, such as middle school football, and school staff members should work on building relationships with students and among them.
Flickinger said she wants to see a stricter enforcement of consequences and an effective alternative program for the worst offenders.
Fisher suggested offering more options outside school.
"Keep kids off the street," Fisher, 18, said. "Because if kids aren't in gangs in the first place, then we won't have it coming into our school."
Amy Jeter, (757) 446-2730, amy.jeter@pilotonline.com
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It only takes one gun in the wrong hands, to kill many students and teechers. I don't want that school parked vehicle to be the place where that gun is hidden. Yes guns can come from other students, and not in their vehicle, but we have to make as many baby steps as poossilbe to provide safety to our children and their teachers. When I know that law can be changed, and has been in other Commonwealth cities, then I'm going to make ever effort to work in getting it changed right here in Norfok. I want to close every loopwhole I can to eleminate gun violence at schools.
I appreciate your point...
but I am a realist. Students are not armed because of this law, anymore than they will be stopped from carrying weapons if the law is changed.
I'm sure that you and I can agree, as will everyone who has commented on this article, that violence in our schools is a huge problem that is growing bigger every day. When teachers and students no longer feel safe in their school buildings, I feel that as a community there are steps that we can take to rectify that situation, rather than spending the time trying to change a law that affects such a small segment of the school population anyway.
i respect your opinion
"My point was simply that we, as citizens, have to abide by the laws of our state, even if we don’t agree with or even respect them."
The fact is laws can be changed or revised. My primary concern is for the safety of students and teachers, and I do not feel school grounds is any place for a gun.
Pam Pouchot is an activist that has gotten this same law changed in several cities in the Commonwealth. If it can happen there it can happen here in Norfolk, but we have to have people behind it in order to get that change accomplished. That's my point and my only point at this time. I am deeply concerned about the increase in violence in our schools, and I don't want to arm a student because of this law.
Gertz,
You don't need to tell me that gang members are in our schools, I teach in a Norfolk middle school, and deal with, on a daily basis, the issues of gangs and gang violence. And I also stated that as a teacher I am terrified at the prospect of a student retrieving a weapon from a car and bringing it into a school. My point was simply that we, as citizens, have to abide by the laws of our state, even if we don’t agree with or even respect them. To paraphrase Michael Douglas in the film The American President, the hallmark of true citizenship is being able to support the right of one’s adversaries to “advocate, at the top of his lungs, that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours”.
"not the students we need to worry about". -----c'ome
"I would bet that many students who choose to LEAVE the gun in the car have been raised and trained as I was, and that these are not the students we need to worry about."
I would bet that any gang member, and they are in our public shcools, would not hesitate to go to his vehicle and kill someone to settle a dispute. Until citizen, parents, teachers, PTA members and other students start to speak up nothing will change, but this law can be revised by the public demanding it. "The law is the law", well laws can be changed and this is one that needs to be revised. GUNS have NO PLACE on any SCHOOL PROPERTY FOR ANY REASON. .
92 Staff Members Assaulted? Gangs increasing?
Those are some horrific statistics, and they are probably just the tip of the iceberg. Norfolk needs real leadership at the school board to make all of our schools safer for our kids.
As a sidebar,
I wonder how people like Gertz can make blanket statements about other commenters caring more for gun rights than the lives of students and teachers. Since I was raised by GarryH40509, I can assure you Gertz that that particular statement is patently incorrect.
This may be a unique point of view but...
I am both a teacher and someone who was raised around (and with respect for) firearms of any kind. The teacher part of me worries about firearms on school property, only because I know that there is not much that will stop a student from going to their car, retrieving their gun, and bringing it back into the school to “settle” any disagreement they may have. However, the law is the law, and as long as the gun is secured in the trunk of the car, and its owner is over the age of 18, it is legal. In addition, I would bet that many students who choose to LEAVE the gun in the car have been raised and trained as I was, and that these are not the students we need to worry about.
As a parent of Maury students
In all of this tragedy and violence, try not to forget that there are children enrolled at Maury that are too afraid to go to school. Kids that are traumatized by the violence they see. The gang behavior seems to be making it "ok" for the not so bad kids to act a little crazy too. There are more and more incidents of bullying along with the violence. Add to that- classrooms that are out of control....teachers that are unable to maintain control of their students. Other school administrators undermining teachers which adds to the lack of student respect. Personally, I'm scared for my kids.
it's legal for an 18 year old student to keep gun in vehicle
If you read the article then you know IT IS LEGAL for an 18 year old STUDENT to keep a GUN in his/her vehicle PARKED on SCHOOL PROPERTY. Sorry, but I'm more concerned for student's lives than about the stupidity of this law. Apparently you care more about gun rights than you do about the safety of our children. Shame on you!
How childish can YOU get to ask me what color my sky is.
Gertz
I went back, and found the article of which you refer to. The MAN (student), I say man because he was of the age of 18 and therefore LEGALY in possession, followed the law correctly.
So, I ask again as I did on another article, just what color IS the sky in your world?
gertz-y, gertz-y
And what was the AGE of these students? It they are UNDER 18, they were illegaly in possession of a firearm. Which make them criminal in their actions. It seems that they must have been minors, of the Pilot" in their infinate wisdom, would have published the names. Did they do that?
How about YOU read a little better.
the article was October 13
"Activist Exposes Truth About Guns At School To Change Law"
" in 2006 for a student at Lake Taylor High School in Norfolk. Both students were charged with violating section 18.2-308.1 of the Code of Virginia, though the law allows firearms in Virginia schools if the weapons are in a vehicle in a "closed container," including a locked trunk. The charge was dropped in that case as well."
As I said it isn't my phobia.
garry
It isn't my phobia. You need to read other articles the Pilot has had in the last couple days to understand students CAN keep a gun locked in their vehicle on school property and it is perfectly legal. I want people to understand this, becaus it came as a shock to me to learn this. It's not my personal agenda, but I think people need to understand what they are up agains. Please try to find the other articles the Pilot has had and read them for yourself. It's shocking!
Gertz-y, gertz-y,
will you STOP with the gun phobia propaganda, please? First, it is NOT legal for "students" to keep guns in their car. Second, you have to be at least 18 to own a handgun. And last, if their 18 and in middle or high school, the systems already failed them, put them out!, and remove a small part of the problem. They SHOULD, however, give the teachers and administrators the ability to defend themselves against the heathens that are forced to be in their classrooms.
Kids hitting teachers...
It begins by pushing the boundaries bit by bit. Talking back, walking away, cursing, threatening and being empowered by lack of consequences. It actually emboldens students to take it a step further. A teacher can be shoved, hit and then have to justify why they would "want to take a kid to court" when what they would most like is to have the student removed from their class permanently and relocated to a facility where some discipline/ self control issues can be dealt with. Kids who do this have not been raised to respect adults. When you attend a court session in which a student has hit a teacher, you are likely to witness the parent disagree with the events being presented ( denial), attempt to blame the teacher saying they "provoked it" ( placing blame except where it is due), etc. I understand that many kids who hit others are/ have been hit at home. Establish boundaries. Be the adult. Be the parent. Take away priviledges. The best coaches in the world say that the key to success is to see the big picture but to focus on the fundamentals. Enough for tonight. I've got lesson plans to do. I'm a teacher because I love kids and I'm going to keep on teaching. Society needs us. Supp
Let the Disciplinarians do their job..
Discipline folks in schools have their hands tied by so many regulations it's nuts. The pressure is on to "leave no child behind" but we leave teachers behind every day when we don't support their authority in the classroom. We pretty much invite disrespect when we don't address misbehavior. Kids usually report to school in the fall feeling pretty optimistic about the school year- as do the Teachers.
Shortly thereafter, a few incidents happen; the teachers write referrals and the disruptive, cursing, walking-out-of-class kids who want to roam the halls "smell" that there will not a consequence.
Children crave structure and boundaries. When you have a child in front of you who misbehaves and you don't address it, you have pretty much taught them that they aren't capable of better. This is the parents JOB to begin with. That is a large part of what the schools are trying to make up for. Beef up the alternative schools, i.e. offer more options as they do in VA Beach schools, and allow those who want to learn and can function in a traditional school setting to flourish. God bless the folks at Maury. At least they are putting it out there and trying to address it.
63impala
"Your comments about gun advocates thinking there is "nothing wrong or illegal" about allowing guns in cars on school property are misleading and foster a "sky is falling" mentality. Fact is, there isn't anything illegal about it. This "revelation" did not just materialize out of thin air. It has been that way far a long time now."
The fact that students can legally keep guns locked in their vehicles on school property, happens to be news to me and I'm quite sure others as well. Just because it's been out there for a long time does not make it right, and concerned citizens, parents, and teachers, armed (no pun intended) with knowledge will work with our politicians that our gun laws need to change. I'm sure teachers can sleep better tonight knowing it's legal for students to keep guns in their vehicles. NOT! Thanks for telling students who read this they have that right. DUH!
sad but true...
Someone mentioned that a death will have to occur before anything really gets done - I am sure this is exactly what will happen! It has already happened off of school grounds so it is only a matter of time before it actually happens on school grounds. There is so much not reported in the newspapers. I have a child at Maury and I hear stories everyday about the disrespect towards staff that goes without any discipline. You ask why? Fear for their lives and they also know that nothing will really be done but a slap on the wrist and back in the same teacher's classroom where they are free to terrorize the teacher and other students!!! Do something Norfolk School Board before you really have a tragedy on your hands! Don't be guilty of wearing blinders. It can happen in Norfolk, VA and it most likely will!
Publius, just courious if you withdrew all your investments
out of your holdings last week? Only reason I ask is that is what millions of Americans did during the economic crisis in 1929 and it precipitated the fall of the entire banking industry. Same can be said of the educational industry. If you advocate removing all students from the public school system then wouldn't you just as easily precipitate the wholesale collapse of the public school system? I'm not saying its all roses as it is, but to completely abandon the system in favor of vouchers and private schools, you could very well start the landslide that will spell the end of public education in this country. Not sure I want to think about a nation whose children and future leaders are all products of the wealthy elite and only those who can "afford" to be educated. But then, isn't that how our nation was founded...only those who could afford to be educated had the knowledge to draft our founding documents of democracy? Guess we aren't as smart as we used to be.......
This train has been coming and WE built the tracks
lpfrognmac hit it on the head. Why can't we enforce uniforms all the way through graduation? Why, because we don't want our children's feelings hurt. That's why.. No colors, less problems.. There is NO backbone in the School Boards that were hired to take control of these situations.. The children make the rules.. Funny but true.. So, if you don't attend your childs PTA Meetings and YOU don't know your child's teachers and faculty, you should.. Bottom line. Get involved, make sure they know YOU are watching, go to the schools, walk around. VOLUNTEER.... Do whatever it takes to make these school boards listen to you, the parents...
It does not suprise me when
It does not suprise me when you force "children" with court orders due to convictions to attend our schools. There are too many kids who do not want to be at achool or who continually cause problems that are given chance after chance. Why? So the drop out statistic numbers look good. The system continues to allow these trouble makers to stay. They are expelled one year and back the next. Let the kids who want to learn and follow the rules have a peaceful environment, and get rid of the ones who consistenlty fight, abuse teachers/staff, never do any class or homework.
Security at Maury
The focus seems to be only at Maury. Students do what they know they can get away with. They obviously have no fear of administration or formal cahrges. At my high school, you got suspended then charged with disorderly conduct.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT?
This article serves as another reminder to get your children out of urban school districts. If at all financially possible, send your child to a private school, where a superior curriculum and learning environment is afforded all students. If not, look to suburban school districts for hope. (Although, you would have to move and this poses a significant economic barrier.) Whoever the next President of the United States is I hope they strongly advocate the private school voucher program and its implementation.
violence against teachers
Just listened to the 12 o'clock news and violense against teachers seems to be the main focus. I'm sure all teacher will sleep better tonight knowing it's legal for students to have guns in their vehicles on school property.
Gertz, compare apple to apples please.
Your comments about gun advocates thinking there is "nothing wrong or illegal" about allowing guns in cars on school property are misleading and foster a "sky is falling" mentality. Fact is, there isn't anything illegal about it. This "revelation" did not just materialize out of thin air. It has been that way far a long time now. Comparing the actual instances of gun violence on school grounds to those with Norfolk neighborhoods by gang members, it doesn't appear that the law allowing a gun in a locked trunk isn't statistically significant with respect to school violence with guns. I would be more concerned about why the attacks on staff memebers has almost coubled. Expecially since no one can attribute it to anyhting specific, even after doing the research. Also the school administrators concerning themselves with gang activity in the 'hood needs to be addressed in concert with law enforcement heavily involved, not just from a shoolboard perspective. There isn't any "magic bullet" to solve this issue (no pun intended this time!)
School Violence
One way of reducing fighting that has been sparked by the color or styles of clothing worn is to require uniforms. I know school uniforms - yes, even in high schools, would help my budget for a growing 15 year old boy!
gun violence
According to some, on the gun advocates articles, there is nothing wrong or illegal with students keeping guns in their cars. With this kind of mentality, I can see violence (killings) increasing in our public schools. We cannot allow this to happen. What kind of society will allow guns in students cars on school property?
t rod
I guess like everything else in this God forsaken city, someone has to die before the officials figure out there is a problem. It will be eons before they figure out how to stop the problem.
Homeschooling seems to be appealing for those who can do it and for the safety of your kids.