Kindergarten Cops

By Adrienne D. Coles

Los Angeles

Four years ago when Anna McLinn became principal of Marvin Avenue Elementary School, students were running wild, graffiti marred the school from top to bottom, gang members were doing drive-bys, and crack dealers were plying their trade across the street.

Such were the images students saw each day as they made their way through the troubled Mid-City neighborhood to get to school. The effects were visible. Many of the 1,100 students in the K-5 school were exhibiting poor self-image and were acting out in class, leading to repeated suspensions. "The youngsters were in...