mary

That is unfortunate. The TATE Center does serve suspended students. Usually those students are on juvenile probation...probation calls TATE and arranges for the student to attend.

I am sure SOME students do end up at home, unsupervised...perhaps roaming the streets but many do not.

Remember, part of a suspension is a consequence for the child and his/her parents. Obviously if the parents allow the child to treat the suspension as a "day off" then that is what happens. I know my parents would never have allowed that. I would have suffered at home during my suspension.

When students are constantly disruptive/disrespectful and other consequences fail to work suspensions may be used. At that point it is up to the parents to make sure the suspension is a consequence.

I still believe the district does a great job of serving these students. TATE allows for some flexibility. Perhaps the community needs more education on the TATE Center. Perhaps the gazette could provide that education.

pudssweetie, I am now in my second round of raising a child like your step-child. The first was my own daughter and the second my step-daughter. I have been battling with the schools for years and we keep hearing that they have consequences for a students actions based on the actions. One major problem is the lack of respect these kids have for their teachers. I know because I spent a day following my daughter around in high school and what was tolerated by the teachers was appalling. We have also encountered a bully situation where this bully had gone to a pre-explusion hearing last year only to be able to enroll in the other high school. This year the bully was allowed back at the first high school. There should be a zero tolerance for the students actions. I also know that drugs are a bigger problem than most people really know. These kids are actually dealing drugs and not just using. There are too many parents who bail out their kids when they get in trouble instead of making the child responsible for their actions. These kids are going to be our caretakers in the future and with the "I Don't Care" attitude, I think we are looking at a bleak future.

Beeferererererer- You are reeturdead (should be retarded).

Whythink I have had kids suspended and almost expelled so I have a little knowledge as to what programs were there and were not and several others I know that were suspended DID ROAM the streets.............. i guess if you havent been there with your child can to really see the outcome? Yes they do have programs for suspended students and sometimes they dont depending on the circumstances BEEN THERE.

Maybe looking into why the child behaves as such would be a good start It is not always the parents fault as some of you think. Some parents do everything posible and to no avail. The right to discipline our own children is an iffy touchy topic and what we as kids knew as discipline is considered abuse and I never once thought a firm hand on the behind from my parents was abuse as we were taught to respect our parents and elders and when we did wrong there were consequences for such behaviors. Today kids (IMO) dont have a clue to the word RESPECT. we can blame the world for all the bad breaks and misunderstandings but the bottom line is we all know right from wrong.

marymac

Most expelled students are on probation and few are able to just "roam the streets."

Between programs like TATE and Diversion, couseling and probation these kids do not have a lot of additional free time.

I will say this, many kids like the free time during a suspension but an expulsion gets old real quick. Most of the expelled students will eventually pursue an education within a few weeks. Very few simply sit back and enjoy it as a vacation.

IMO JSD has less tolerance compared to other districts And I agree there should be zero tolerance to some behaviors. Yet I feel if they are expelled for serious offenses they should face criminal charges and be held accountable, placed on probation with tight rules and not be allowed to roam the streets getting into more trouble.....

Thanks for clarifying that, Janesvillian. I've read far too many zero tolerance horror stories from other states. That being the case within JSD, any anti-expulsion outrage seems a bit misdirected to me.

SomeoneSpecial- Quote: I'm glad there(should be "they're") removing the problem! I Don't(Should be "don't") want them around my kid. Parents need to step up to the PLATE and deal with there (Should be "their") children and get them counseling. Tried(Should be "tired") of hearing about the "Blame Game"

Um, were you expelled?

fool-on-the-hill, there is a strict policy with multiple steps that must take place before an expulsion is even considered. These are not kids with isolated incidents of misbehavior -- they have been given warnings and second chances before and have proven impervious to lesser carrot-and-stick approaches, or have committed actual prosecutable crimes in some cases that require the district to act.
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I don't think our district expels students lightly.

Whythink: I understood what you were saying! They may have to attend some sort of classes for their behavior problems,but what will these juveniles do with ALL the free time? It's obvious that they go to school not to learn,to hang out and THINK their cool,but what is to prevent them from having the run of the house & town,they are going to get bored being alone. To do what you want,when you want,what kind of a punishment is that?? they will still be allowed to hook up with the other dead beats after school,and brag about how much fun he had NOT going to school.So the beat goes on,peer pressure for the BUD'S to act up,so they can get a peace of the easy life.

Redder: Schools are NOT quick to boot the little delinquints out of the district. Rest assured that they aren't kicked out for trivial reasons. School districts bend over backwards to set kids who are on the wrong track back on course. Often the parents of such kids demonstrate a complete lack of cooperation, which simply trickles down to the next generation of societal drop-outs to begin the pattern over again. Expulsion is the last straw after trying numerous interventions. Do you want these violent, sometimes sexual harassers in close proximity to YOUR child? Would you like to try to teach a class with the kind of disruptions these "poor little misunderstood" miscreants can cause? Would you like your child's education shortchanged because the teachers have to spend 80% of their time dealing with such disruptions? I know I don't want any child to have to deal with such a toxic environment. So support the administration when they say these kids have to go until they can prove they are worthy to attend a public school again.

I would like to know more details. Were any of the expulsions for first offenses or was each the last straw in an ongoing series of disciplinary actions? How old are the other four students? (Or should that sentence, "The latest round of expulsions includes two middle school students.", have been at the end of the paragraph?)

Parents are not always the problem. I have 2 step children 1 which lives with me and my husband. Both when living with their mother went to numerous counselors and had many counseling sessions and non worked. In order for counseling to work, a child needs to be open, honest need to be able to talk about their problems or issues, until then counseling will not work. Kid's today know that parents cannot touch them in any way shape or form and many will use that to get away with a lot of stuff. Kids today also have no respect for anyone and have the "I don't care" attitude which they carry with them in school or with obeying rules. My husband and I are having that same problem with his 15 year old who cares little about school and has little respect towards parents and teachers. We try very hard to try and set examples and place incentives in front of him so he will try harder, but that does not always work. Many kids are not taught these types of behaviors at home but rather are taught too them from the kids they hang with. Remember you are who you hang with.

redder

READ MY 1st POST!

Plus, there is a community program - the Diversion Program ran as a part of probation. The district is working with that program to ensure kids still receive an education.

People need to educate themselves before just ripping a district... or is the hate for teachers, the teachers union and the administration so strong that it doesn't matter...a chance to rip the district is going to be taken advantage of.

Send them to boot camp that will straighten them out the little S*Bs. Parents today do not know what is going on with their kids. Probably did not either realize or maybe did not care and used the same old line " we fought in school" etc. Schools are too quick to boot kids without a solution. We could all work together and get these kids straight alot of them are good kids just misguided. We spend enough money on programs that are not worth a crap WHY do we not have community sponsored programs to put these kids on the straight and narrow BEFORE they become the criminals of tomorrow. As for middle school kids I have one thing to say ARE YOU F*&$in kidding me. These kids are young enough to fix, give me a break that is a crappy system and poor administrators. I am sorry if you are expelling 10 year olds quit your job and go work at MC Donalds where you belong because you do not belong in the school system if you can not straigghten those ones out. Please and the Gazette acts like this is normal and prints it so matter of factly, lets see these people interviewed and put their feet to the fire they are messing with very young kids lives.

WOODSMAN

Read my post. JSD has a program set-up specifically to work with expelled students.

Some of the expulsion does involve sitting home because part of the problem is these kids don't realize how important their education is. Often the expulsion -especially the part where they are sitting home - is a HUGE wake-up call.

The system isn't perfect but neither is the criminal justice system. However, I strongly believe it is an effective system.

If they are a threat to other kids, then get them out of there. Sending them home may night be the right answer, but I don't know what is. I know one thing, they keep up that behavior, it will be real simple where they'll be going. The juvenile hall.

I think it is us as a community that we need to look at in how we treat people/strangers around us. In a whole. Of course counsiling and parents are an issue but again we all can help in how we treat others todays society can be very harsh and judging and negative.

I'm curious,what do the kids do when expelled? Sent home & get in more trouble! It's obvious that the parents aren't their for them,when their in school,so what changes? Is this like a big vacation,in their pea brains?

Are these students still counted in the official number enrolled here ... or ... are down by another six students now?

Let's remember the district of Janesville doesn't just throw these students out. This young person will have a chance to return to school next fall after dealing with his/her issues. The district's TATE Center program does an excellent job working with expelled students and helping them return to school and experience success.

Obviously this is not an ideal situation but with the TATE Center, the district can expel these students and the students still have a great chance of being successful in their school career.

Thank Goodness for the TATE Center and the incredible dedication of that staff.

(Parents need to step up to the PLATE and deal with THEIR children and get them counseling.)

We shouldn't be setting a bad example. (I'm glad THEY'RE removing the problem)

Come on you lazy people! I expected to see all kinds of finger pointing here. Are you all still in bed? What a disappointment.

I'm glad there removing the problem! I Don't want them around my kid. Parents need to step up to the PLATE and deal with there children and get them counseling. Tried of hearing about the "Blame Game"