Pagr 221:

The Herald And The l-anlern

May 17. 1979

An Epidemic?

School Violence

•TV traditional and accepted concept of •chpol't and educational inatitutloni is a place of quiet study, where the exchange of ideas and intellectual interplay produces a generation of people with greater knowledge and a higher appreciation for the individuals who populate the world around them. That concept has been shattered with the startling revelations that quiet study is the exception, rither than TV rule; that the exchange of ideas has been replaced by the exchange of physical blows, that intellectual interplay has all . but disappeared; that knowledge has become the will to survive yet another day. apd that only those who do share in a sense of appreciation. A State Department of Education T^sk Forereport, released last week, described as the most urgent goal of the state's program of public education bringing a halt to violence and vandalism in New Jersey schools. The task force buttressed its case with a study conducted by the Ui>. Department of Health. Education and Welfare which reported that, on a national level, more than 5,000 classroom teachers, are assaulted by students and more than 6/MX) are robbed each month. A school building, the HEW report said, is five times more likely to be burglarized than a business establishment. The state task force

recommended a serie* of new. tougher regulations as well as strengthening existing laws to deal with the rising tide of violence and vadalism — a problem which, the report said, is much more serious in schools In inner-city areas of the state. T h ^ panel recommended that: -Student attacks on teachers be classified as aggravated assault, a more serious charge than existing law. — Schools carry insurance coverage to protect teachers who are subjected to legal judgments or damages as a result of responding to violence or vandalism. ^A state office of school crime and prevention be established. - Regional ‘alternative’ schools be created to serve students who are expelled from regular clasafooms. -Teacher education courses be expanded to include instructions on handling disruptive students. Anti-crime and vandalism expenditures be exempted from the spending limit, or ‘cap* in .the law. -Parents or guardians be held liable for property damage committed by their children. -FVnalties be increased for those convicted of selling alcohol or drugs to juveniles, -'Hie State Department of Education offer state aid funds to help local districts to Tight violence and vandalism. The task force has submitted a broad

program and one'which it estimates will cost some $2.5 million per year for at least the first two years of operation to implement. This expenditure, however, must be seen In its proper context; namely, against the fact that in the 1974-75 school year, vandalism to school property cost the state’s taxpayers nearly $18 million. It is, of course, very difficult to calculate the financial loss to the 'taxpayers caused by lost teacher timf due to injuries, or by the devastaion of a proper

learning atmosphere. Violence and vandalism has been proven conclusively to be a severe drain on public funds in addition to being harmful to morale and physical and mental health. TTiere are, admittedly,a great many factors involved, including the environment in the home, something which, in most cases, is beyond legislative or administrative reach. At the lame time, however, there are steps which can be taken and, it seems to me, the task force report just issued is an exceptionally worthwhile starting point.

Ed. Task Force Reports On . J -

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School Funding

Unequal

School Violence

OH ’EM ROLUNO

TRENTON - The New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) recently issued a statement praising the work of the State Department of Education’s Task Force on Violence and Vandalism. Cal ling for a ‘mobilization across agency line,’ NJSBA President Linda Albert explained, ’Our Association, which is composed of over 5v000 local school bbard members, has been deeply troubled by the emerging pattern of violence and vandalism in our schools and our society. For the past several years we have been ♦■studying the situation in depth and we now find that the conclusions and recommendations of the State Task Force very closely parallel our own.’ According to Lloyd J. Newbaker, Executive Director of the Association, committees composed of local school board members from throughout the state conducted two related studies • one on vandalism and one on violence in the public schools • both of which were adopted as Association policy by NJSBA Delegate Assemblies. ‘Extensive surveys were made of school administrators which resulted in 200 pages of data plus conclusions and recommendations,* recalled Dr. Newbaker. ‘All of this material was transmitted to the SUte Task Force at the very outset and eventually came to constitute over one third of their own 270 page report.’ ‘Most of the specific recommendations made by the State Task Force relate very favorably to NJSBA positions,’ declared Executive Director Newbaker. ‘In fact, there are no recommendations in the report which directly contradict any of

CAPE MAY

Democratic Assembly candidate Jerry G. Livingston said that the New

, Jersey Legislature "made a

ourpositions. mistake" when it .changed Dr. Newbaker cites funding formula for the several . major areas of so-called Thorough and agreement and emphasis, Efficient Education Law (T

such as a call for andE)

coordination of efforts to "Under the original combat violence and proposal." said Livingston, vandalism by a variety of "the cost of an educational agencies and the need for system with several sending closer cooperation districts was divided equally

between schools and law among all pupils,

enforcement agencies. “Under the revised

system, a complicated

Both groups also called formula was substitued for: establishment of which bases the costs in part statewide as well as local u P° n th® ralables a paradvisory committees; ticular ending district has improvement of training The . mwre ratables per

fair to me.” continued Livingston. "I agree with Mayor Arthuri Blomkvist of Cape May that this system should b<* changed." His running mate. Randy Wilhelm, said that "although we can agree with Superintendent Ephram Keller from Lower Cape May with Cape May City we intend to do more if elected as legislators and work to change the situation." Wilhelm said that Cape May County has a special probjem because it is the only county in the state which presently does not have a fulltime resident serving in the Assembly.

The more ratables

■for" principais Tn how'to "' ud, ' nl *-"1 proportionately cope with violence and mnn ' lhal <™ r P un ">' vandaiiam; reev.lo.tion of ^ un ,. lirn „ s 0 , lhls can the State, juvenile tutice ^ shown b whal is „

system; reconsideration of ign riRhl hCTl .

he question of parental £ * city." continued

liability and establishment Livingston,

of an office or bureau The Lower Cape May within the Stat^ Regional School District. Department of Education explained the candidate, to confront violence and serves three municipalities, vandalism and to serve as a the city of Cape May. West clearinghouse of Cape, and Lower Township, information. Under the current

arrangement, the city of

‘The Task Force report Cape May pays 27 percent of repeatedly refen to the taxes although it ‘requiring’ certain actions provides only 17.5 percent of vfyiyS and programs.’pointed out the youngsters. *

the Executive Director. “Thic H«a.cn

•While the NJSBA agrees with virtually every concept proposed, our members would leave the option of choice - of selecting the best remedies for their own communities - open to the local school boards. Not all of these approaches will be appropriate or necessary for all New Jeney communities. ‘We would therefore ask the State Board of Education ^ and the Commissioner to consider each remedy carefully before actually mandating programs for school districts,’ 1 concluded Dr. Newbaker. ‘Instead we would urge the State to offer support and assistance to local communities and their -school boards as they combat violence and vandalism in New Jersey’s public schools.’

This doesn't seem quite

ft* SOVEREIGN STATE of AFFAIRS

BOYDS WOOD

DO YOU THINK THE CALIFORNIA RATIONING PLAN WILL WORK?

YOU MEAN WHERE THE ODDS" GET GAS ONE DAY AND THE "EVENS" GET GAS THE NEXT?