Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Responsibility

Didn't each of us as parents have to sign papers (and didn't our sons & daughters) also have to sign them about rules of conduct? Potential punishments were also spelled out with the rules of conduct.

We all have responsibilities (students and adults). We live in a society with rules. If the rules are fair, accurate and responsible we all (students and adults) have the responsibility to follow those rules. If the rules need to be adjusted then the public needs to be informed by the board as to what changes in the rules are being considered by the board and administrators.

If this student's signature is on file (as well as parent or guardian) they have indicated that they know the rules of conduct at the start of this school year and should be bound by their understanding of the rules they signed.

By time to evaluate

Don't Turn Your Backs

You can't just shut these types of kids out and turn your backs on them. That is no example to set for all the other students. That is what many want to do with these types of juveniles, but definately not what we would want done to ourselves. We are trying to fix these problems after the fact. Why not work WITH these children to determine what causes this type of behavior. More precautions do nothing in reality. Metal detectors and whatnot will guarantee nothing. If a student wants to bring a weapon into a school, they will do it, they will find a way. Thinking any other way is idealist. After Columbine, many more gun control laws were enacted and punishments stiffened. Those two boys broke 27 laws as it was. Had the new laws, controls and penalties been in place earlier would it have prevented that tragedy? We're fools if we believe that.

Secondly, do you have ANY idea what it costs you and I to send these students to another school? To say no school would take them is plainly inaccurate. These students (right, wrong or indifferent) are entitled to an education in this country. The district can send these student to another school, such as an alternative school. But realize the money comes out of the district's budget for each and every student they send to a ''high risk'' or ''alternative'' school and the cost to the district for this option runs in upwards of ten times per pupil what it does to enducate them locally. (Research it yourself. I won't spoon feed you everything.)

Now I guess it all depends on what price you're willing to pay for a ''safe'' school district. I know that is something you probably cannot put a price on and would be willing to open your wallet for the feeling of sending your child to school with a 'complete' sense of security. I bet you'd line up to pay to send this element of the student body elsewhere. Or would you? It took everything short of (but not including) lying, cheating and stealing to pass an operating levy. That was pennies compared to your solution. And now were ready to fund 10 times the avg cost/pupil to send students else where? You have to look at the BIG picture before you line up behind short sided, reactive solutions.

I don't like the idea of these kids being in my schools. But shipping these kids out and/or barring them for life instead of taking accountablity and personally getting involved by volunteering in our schools and doing everything we personaly can to insure EACH and EVERY student gets the attention they deserve seems to me to be the definition of an elitest attitude.