ROTTERDAM District targets student behavior Dress code, bus rules toughened BY MICHAEL GOOT Gazette Reporter
Getting ready for school means checking to make sure you have fresh paper in your notebooks and fresh batteries in your calculator. But for Schalmont Central School District students it also means checking the length of their shorts and skirts. This clothing must pass the “fingertip test,” meaning it comes down at least to a student’s fi ngertips when that person has their arms at their side. Superintendent Valerie Kelsey said the district is trying to make its dress code more explicit after seeing what students were wearing during the past school year. “We found the skirts and the shorts just got too short,” she said. Schalmont was the subject of some attention during the end of the school year when a student called into the morning show on radio station WFLY-FM (FLY-92), saying she had been sent home from school because her clothing was too short. The district is including information about the dress code in a special back-to-school newsletter being sent home to parents. Among the items not allowed are pajamas, extremely brief clothing, hats and T-shirts that are vulgar or denigrate others or promote tobacco, alcohol, drugs or illegal activities. Students who are not wearing appropriate clothing will be required to change. “We want the kids to understand that school is their work and we want them to be prepared to come to work,” Kelsey said. School officials are also trying to tighten the rules for student behavior while riding the school bus. Last year, when fi fth-grade students were moved to the middle school, they were riding an elementary school bus that went to Jefferson Elementary School, then getting on a shuttle bus to take them the middle school. Kelsey said a lot of the disruptive behavior occurred on that 3-minute trip between buildings. This year, fifth-graders will be riding the middle school bus. Also, the district created a new behavior policy with three levels of discipline, depending on the seriousness and frequency of the offense: Level 1 offenses include loud or inappropriate language, eating or drinking, leaving trash, teasing or standing or changing seats while the bus is in motion. Level 2 offenses include using obscene language, bullying, running in the aisle while the bus is in motion, throwing objects, smoking, refusing to follow directions, vandalizing the bus such as writing on the seat, blocking the aisle or climbing over seats. Level 3 infractions include serious vandalism such as cutting seats, fighting, opening emergency exits, possessing a weapon, drugs or alcohol, throwing an object at the driver or monitor and disrespectful behavior including obscene gestures and language. Students can also reach Level 3 if they commit repeated Level 1 or Level 2 infractions. Punishment can include a talk with the student, assigned seating, detention, a parent conference, community service, withdrawal of bus privileges and suspension. “The bottom line is we’re not going to tolerate a kid throwing a bottle out a bus window and hitting a car,” Kelsey said. Board member Robert Sheehan said he supports the standards. “The only concern that I might have is perhaps that bus drivers may get a little omnipotent and rightfully so,” he said. Kelsey added that the newer buses come with cameras and if the district is encountering a problem on a particular route, it can switch to a bus that has a camera to document the problem.
too bad the school has to regulate these issues.....where are the parents?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Does Rosary Boy still go to school there? Wearing his "necklace" ??
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
what happens if a kid is doing something wrong and they have a powerful parent? Who is assigned to cover that up?
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
the kids do what they want......for years they dressed, behaved , in a disrespectful way......BULLYING is the biggest problem.....
no one has ever taken care of that issue....
Just for clarification...Who exactly do you expect to "take care of that issue" - the same government "officials" that currently populate all government agencies? That is the problem with the psychology of people, they reflexively clamor for the same government to fix social problems they are responsible for creating. That is why we are stuck in the perpetual cycle. Stop looking for government systems and threats of force to correct these social problems. People respond to arbitrary governmet rules of behavior modification like you respond to the Town Board’s arbitrary rules - with resistance and contempt.
I've been in some of these public schools. If they want to address the dress code issue, how about they start with their own teachers that dress like SLOBS? Male teachers should wear collared shirts WITH A TIE, and a sport jacket. Female teachers should wear blazers with collars and an appropriate neck line and appropriate skirt length. I've been to strip clubs that show less cleavage and leg.
The kids dress and act this way because the "role models" they are exposed to are just as immature and unprofessional as the children they are teaching.
I've been in some of these public schools. If they want to address the dress code issue, how about they start with their own teachers that dress like SLOBS? Male teachers should wear collared shirts WITH A TIE, and a sport jacket. Female teachers should wear blazers with collars and an appropriate neck line and appropriate skirt length. I've been to strip clubs that show less cleavage and leg.
The kids dress and act this way because the "role models" they are exposed to are just as immature and unprofessional as the children they are teaching.
couldn't be any truer...except those teachers just left the campfire
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Cicero.....you berate when you should keep silent about those who make comments.......it is theresponsibility of all to keep our children safe and to teach
right from wrong.....when you have professionals being complacent then what do you have.....chaos, undiciplined and ruthless bullies....that is what this
society has become and led by those in government......and the TB has nothing to do with this.....are you there??? do you voice your opinion???
you are part of the problem.....someone with such intelligence should step up to the plate.......set a role model for all of us please.....just sayi n'
Does Rosary Boy still go to school there? Wearing his "necklace" ??
Nope
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Have to agree with cic on this one.............teachers should have to follow a dress code AND code of conduct as well. Some of them are beyond reproach!!
When the female teachers come to school with tight tank tops and the male teachers look like slobs and when the elementary teachers are telling their students what their favoite alcoholic beverage is and what bar they frequent...........who the hell are they to tell the kids how to dress? Are the teachers protected by their union?
How bout we start with the parents setting a dress and conduct code for the teachers FIRST, with suspension without pay if violated...............then you can move on to the kids!!!
And lets not forget when the schalmont teachers all wore their UNION SHIRTS during school hours while teaching the kids!!!! If the teachers can display freedom on speech/expression............it only proves that the kids can too..................yes?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
Logged
