The Express-Times reports today (read it here) that the federal lawsuit filed against the NASD by a student and his parents has been settled, but a confidentiality agreement bars discussion until terms are finalized.
According to the article, "The suit says district personnel invaded Christopher Klump's privacy, stole his identity, violated his civil rights and defamed him March 17, 2004".
The identity and civil rights came as a result of this alleged sequence according to the article and suit:
"A teacher confiscated Klump's cell phone, which was on his lap. The teacher and Assistant Principal allegedly used the phone to call other students, listened to voice messages and read text messages. The Klumps allege Grube made the calls because a suspicious text message appeared while the phone was in their possession. District officials believed it was code for marijuana. Cell phone records show Klump received that message the day before his phone was confiscated. Superintendent Lesky made defamatory statements to local media to justify the staff's actions suggesting Klump was selling or using drugs."
I would hope once the terms are finalized and concluded that the public will be informed of the cost to the NASD for these actions. I would assume there is insurance to cover the majority of the settlement. It is ironic, or maybe not, that while this suit is being settled the NASD is revising its electronic device policy.
Also of interest in this suit is the discussion of drugs in the schools. I've heard varying accounts of the current situation in Nazareth related to drugs and its rather troubling, particularly when the drugs being discussed are hard drugs like heroin and when the drug discussion is in regard to the Middle School (grades 6-8, ages 12-14).
I was told that last week following the shooting at Virginia Tech that a student was removed from the MS by the police. Immediate rumors were that it was drug or gun related and many were called into the office. Given it was a minor (and if you are commenting don't use names), I didn't expect to read much about it. It may have been completely unrelated to either assumption made that was fueling the rumors, but it does make one wonder.
Bullying has often been discussed as a major problem at the MS, but I haven't heard a public discussion on drugs there. I'm personally familiar with two instances of MS students being drawn into serious drug problems, the question that swirls in my mind is how widespread is this problem and what can be done about it?
If you currently have or had students at MS what is your perspective? Is the bullying and drugs as bad as I've heard or not? What steps do you think can be taken to improve the situation?
10 comments:
This MS is pulling students from a huge geographic area. In 6th grade, they are meeting other students that live miles away from them, not accessible by bike or walking paths. Therefore, a large portion of their time is now spent 'socializing' over the computer through avenues like myspace or IM. Written words are frequently misinterpreted, friends are easily blocked or erased. All of this drama is then carried into the school.
Technology is great, but sometimes is a double-edged sword. If you allow a computer to be your child's main source of social interaction, you are depriving them of developing the social skills they will need in life.
Look around your neighborhood-- how many kids do you see outside over the age of 10? I only see the teens on skateboards that everyone loves to complain about (at least they are outside interacting in person!)
What can be done about it?
Possibly more 'teen-friendly' community events that brings everyone together. Nazareth Borough has started some good ones (music/movie in the park, farmer's market in the circle, tree lighting), but unfortunately has had a relatively low turnout for some of these. Perhaps more advertising?
What about during the school year? Back to school ice cream social, Fall Carnival, Spring Carnival, Talent Show, Air band concert,another dance or 2, etc... It's a WIN/WIN -- parents get to socialize, teens get to socialize in a fairly unstructured, non-competitive setting face to face.
In regard to things to do, you/these kids, may want to check out the Nazareth News Agency's performances. I've been real impressed with the line-up they've put together.
There is a variety of different music rock, reggae, country, you name it.
There is a cover charge (nominal 3 or 4 dollars) and it gives people a place to gather and interact.
But I agree completely that they need to be in social situations - that doesn't involve zero adult supervision.
thanks for the comment.
Anonymous makes some strong points, and I agree with most of them. The only thing I'd add is that while electronic communication can be a detriment to social skills and friendships, in middle school it can be incredibly difficult for some people to be social in person.
I can't vouch for physical bullying, but mental/emotional and verbal abuse are rife at the middle school. I suspect this is true most places, as a function of the age group involved.
To give you some idea of what I'm talking about, middle school was the single most hierarchical environment I've ever been in. Certain students "ruled the school", could get away with a great deal, and constantly made fun of those students lower on the social hierarchy than themselves. The students being made fun of are generally those who receive substantially better or worse grades than average and do not indulge in recreational drinking, smoking, and/or drug use (all of which certainly happen among that age group).
This results in a very real pressure to use these substances and, for the students with better-than-average grades, to drop them into the average range. This pressure is exacerbated by the lack of any real program designed to recognize and salute those who achieve at high academic levels. In the middle school, there is almost no external incentive to put effort into academics.
Back to the subject immediately at hand, however, I was in the high school when Chris's phone was taken. I remember being furious; in one of my classes the day I found out about it, we were studying the Bill of Rights- and here at the same time the administration was completely ignoring a student's right to privacy and immunity to illegal search and seizure. That is not the sort of thing that inspires trust in a student's mind.
And Marge Grube's reward for setting this excellent example? She was moved into an unneccesary (i.e. redundant) administrative position. I was amazed that they were talking about taking out $50K from the athletic budget (until they found $1.2M) yet they had fat to cut in the admin ranks.
I mean it is good that they moved her into a role where she has limited contact with students, yet I think she should have been promoted similar to Jack Boyd - out the door.
Having worked with Jack I can say that it is not an easy position - being the one handing out punishments, but I think all in all he did a good job.
I can also say that he was not fired, he left as I recall when Judy Swigart became permanent principal of the HS.
The athletic budget not withstanding, I don't believe the laptop stations for three elementary schools were added back in and if we cut her new position we could pay for it this year and something else that would benefit the kids in following years.
People do get fired for less and IF what is in the suit is true, it was a big mistake that is also likely rather costly, which is unfortunate for taxpayers.
Ross, I guess you missed some of the Slate Belt news. Boyd was recently suspended for his conduct as a Bangor administrator.
While he was not fired, the NASD didn't want him around anymore. He took a lateral position to a less paying school district that is farther from his home.
If you were impressed by him, then you are easily impressed.
I'm sorry, I didn't see where I said I was impressed, the point I was making was that you chose to knock someone who had no part of the conversation and I felt it was unfair of you to do so.
I do believe in general the vp gets more abuse because the role is primarily one of discipline.
Additionally, to say the NASD wanted him gone was probably less accurate in his case than my own, though I wouldn't argue there were individuals who did want him out.
The administrative turnover we've experienced tells me there is a problem, but that is a topic for another place.
What I was interested in learning was if there is a drug problem in the MS with drugs beyond what might be considered recreational.
Any insight?
I'm not sure what you mean by "beyond what might be considered recreational." I feel that any drug use at the middle school level goes "beyond recreational." Brains, bodies, and personalities are all still malleable at that age, and any drug use can have serious repercussions.
What I honestly find most frustrating about the situation is how available the substances are. If I had wanted to get alcohol, marijuana, even harder drugs, when I was in the middle school (and to a greater extent, the high school), I could have probably found someone holding anything I wanted inside of a day. It's a prevalent part of adolescent culture.
To give another example, I once had someone offer me $50 to smoke a marijuana cigarette because they wanted to see what I would be like if I got high. They didn't understand or respect the reasons I gave for not taking them up on the offer, and eventually I had to walk away. It never crossed their minds that I actually *didn't want to use*. That's a bad sign.
Curiously, ANON 8:44's point is completely missed.
In reality, a lot of the behavior points directly back to the parents in my humble opinion.
There is a very anti-social attitude that I see almost on a daily basis in this area.
Walking down the street, people would rather look away than possibly have to say "hi" to someone. Parents drop there kids off without bothering to stop and meet the parents where they are dropping them.
Try to engage someone in a store in light conversation and you get a look like you have grown a third head.
This is not my imagination. I have heard others make similar commments.
The point is, kids learn from there parents. If they don't have social skills, neither will there children.
I grew up in this area, and honestly am blown away by the way I see adults behave on a day to day basis. Just go to any sporting event and listen to and watch the parents.
I am not surprised by the behavior being shown in the middle and high school.
And yes, I do have children in the middle school and hear many of the same things expressed in the initial post.
If you are waiting for the school to take over your parenting responsibilities, then maybe you need to take a closer look at yourself.
For an area that has so many churches and so many people that define themselves by the church they attend, maybe they should start listening on Sundays, because I just don't see the teachings put into practice.
I am sure there will be many heated rebuffs to my comments. To those, I suggest you pay a little more attention to your surroundings and what is going on. You will be surprised by what you see.
I will say that I do see a group of older kids, on a regular basis, playing football at Nazareth Hall Park. And they play in the area that was slotted for the new municipal center. What would they be doing if that center had been built there?
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