Opinion
Education Letter to the Editor

High School Reform’s ‘Missing Link’: Discipline

March 30, 2005 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

To the Editor:

In reading your front-page report “Summit Fuels Push to Improve High Schools” (March 9, 2005), the missing link I kept looking for was “discipline.”

In order for all that was discussed at the summit to translate into better-functioning high schools there has to be stricter enforcement of discipline.

Unfortunately, too many students in American high schools are battling daily with other students, teachers, and even administrators. At the high school where I teach, gang violence, drug use, teenage pregnancy, and total disrespect for school personnel are rampant. There is not one classroom where profanity has not been a constant problem. This has become the language of our children, and it affects and infects their attempts to express themselves in speech and writing.

Whatever happened to the little-red-schoolhouse mentality, in which principals administer, teachers rule the classroom, and students come to learn?

Now, educators must first address the ever-changing socioeconomic struggles of the young. Children are becoming less interested in education, replacing it with the trappings of their own youth culture.

Families that are dysfunctional and lack not only educational attainment but also such necessities as jobs, food, and housing add fuel to the fire. Too many children have been labeled and sorted as special education, and the system cannot handle all their emotional and personal issues.

How were issues such as these addressed at the summit, and what were the suggestions and recommendations offered?

No matter how much money or computer hardware Bill Gates and others donate to the schools, the country cannot build a future for its children if teachers cannot conduct the business of caring and teaching in a disruption- and violence-free environment.

Adrienne D. Watson

Chicago, Ill.

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Recruitment & Retention Webinar
Substitute Teacher Staffing Simplified: 5 Strategies for Success
Struggling to find quality substitute teachers? Join our webinar to learn key strategies to keep your classrooms covered and students learning.
Content provided by Kelly Education
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Artificial Intelligence Webinar
AI in Education: Empowering Educators to Tap into the Promise and Steer Clear of Peril
Explore the transformative potential of AI in education and learn how to harness its power to improve student outcomes.
Content provided by Panorama Education
English Learners Webinar Family and Community Engagement: Best Practices for English Learners
Strengthening the bond between schools and families is key to the success of English learners. Learn how to enhance family engagement and support student achievement.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Briefly Stated: October 2, 2024
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Briefly Stated: September 18, 2024
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
9 min read
Education Briefly Stated: August 28, 2024
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
9 min read
Education Briefly Stated: August 21, 2024
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
9 min read