The Need for More Alternative Schools

By Robert DeBlois

Since the tragedy at Columbine High School last spring, educators throughout the country have turned their attention to making schools more secure. In order to protect students and teachers from a kind of random violence that once seemed unthinkable, we have hired experts to help us develop crisis plans, identify seriously troubled students, and create programs that encourage all students to confide in adults when they have fears about safety.

These actions are understandable. No one wants to see his school on the evening news as a scene of death and mayhem. Unfortunately, however, most of the efforts we have taken address only the symptoms of the kind of problem that leads to violence in schools. Put simply, too many children become alienated and unknown in large traditional public schools, primarily middle schools and high schools.

With the exception of a handful of larger school districts in my state, most towns have just one high school and one or two middle or junior high schools. These same towns usually have at least five churches, several pharmacies, many restaurants, a few grocery stores, and perhaps even a shopping center. Why is it that we provide ourselves with many choices for worship, entertainment, and shopping, but only one choice for the...