Violence in the school system: What is the solution?

Our definition of follow-up is not to have another meeting or create another committee to address violence in the schools, but to get to the root of the problem. For years, parents have brought to the attention of the school system that violence in the schools is a countywide problem. We must seriously look at what the school system has put in place to ignite this problem. Adding more police and security in the schools is not the solution. Think about it, when looking for a school, would you like to visit a school and see a lot of police in the schools? Wouldn’t that be a sign there are major problems, and the leadership in the school can’t seem to handle this without police presence? Also, if police are following your children around all day, this may subliminally imply they have criminal tendencies. Remember, this is a school, not a detention center or prison.

So why is it that our leadership does not understand? Where were our CEO and school board chair when this ‘‘state of emergency” meeting was held at Largo? We can’t continue to ignore the problem and dress it up with fancy programs, we must implement real solutions! So what is the solution?

First, we must not continue to run our schools like a prison — students travel in packs, there is no social time during the school day, you can’t talk at lunch and recess does not exist in middle school and high school. When an incident occurs, the entire school or [cluster] goes on lock down. We constantly reprimand all the students for the unwanted incidents of just a few, and we yell all day long at the students as if that is the only form of communication they understand. The school system has created this ‘‘state of emergency.” The students, parents and teachers have told the school system what it will take to curtail the violence but the system is not listening.

Second, the students have asked to be treated with respect, stop interrupting them all day long telling them where they need to be and what they need to do, and cease lumping all students together and blaming them for the behavior problems when the majority of them are on track. They also want to have representation at the table when policies and decisions are being considered.

Third, the parents are asking that their children be kept safe by removing the students who continue to cause the disruptions and violence in our schools. Provide our children with a first-class education and options for technical and vocational training. Also, we need quality leadership and stability in the classrooms and effective parent communications.

Fourth, our teachers have asked to be provided with the necessary tools and resources to educate our children. They ask that we send to school students who respect adults. They want to feel safe in the classroom and not verbally and physically attacked by students. Last, the school system must appoint a principal at Largo and all schools with demonstrative leadership ability, capable to guide and direct the staff, encourage and motivate the students, and form a relationship with parents where their input is respected and valued.

Sandra Pruitt, Mitchellville; Kevin Martin, Upper Marlboro; Terence Lewis, Upper Marlboro; Jerry McLaurin, Fort Washington; Crystal Williams, Accokeek; Zalee Harris, Temple Hills; Tamara Davis Brown, Clinton; Bill Jones, Bowie; Ken Johnson, Mitchellville – People for Change in Prince George’s County.