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Speak Out
Suspending students is not the answer
Why is suspension [Sun, March 22] always the first response to problem children at school?
* It puts them on the street (parents still have to go to work).
* It removes them from teachers' and principal's control (of course, that's much easier on principals. And teachers are not allowed enough authority these days to discipline kids anyway).
* If they don't like school, it's a reward, not a punishment.
* It puts them behind. Many problem children are already behind and missing school days will not help their behavior. Suspension will not improve any child's behavior. For children that come from problem homes, suspension will take away the one place where someone offers a structured and controlled environment. This is especially problematic with long suspensions. Reducing a kid's chance to graduate will not help solve any problems, but creates only more problems in the long run.
In all the schools I went to, kids who didn't follow the rules were put in detention. We had to clean school yards, wrap library books, or do some volunteer work under teacher supervision. In my case, working in the library for an afternoon with the teacher I had been rude and insubordinate to did not only take away my precious spare time, it also got me to know the teacher and I found out he was a nice man who shared my love for books.
Valerie Haecky
Sunnyvale
Pets are good, but opinion was wrong
As in TV Guide, I'd like to present both a "cheer" and a "jeer." Cheers to the new "Pet of the Week" column. I think it's absolutely super, and I'm sure it will help many deserving pets obtain a good home. Jeers to the "Voters duped by Prop. 21" letter in your March 15, issue. I totally disagree with Ms. Linda Chiancone of Glen Allen, Va., who was incensed that voters in California passed Prop. 21, which allows more teens to be prosecuted as adults rather than juveniles. Chiancone asked the question: "Wouldn't you become more violent and not care one bit about the people of the community who allowed you to be placed in a place where you were abused, tortured and raped?"
In my opinion, it's about time people start caring about victims instead of those who victimize. When teenagers care about the people of the community, they don't commit crimes against those people. If someone--even a teenager--does the crime, they deserve to do the time, especially if the crime is murder. And if they don't want to be placed in a place where they are abused, tortured and raped, they should think about that before they indulge in criminal activities.
Why should anyone in California give a hoot about the opinion of someone who lives across the country in Virginia? Believe me, those of us who voted for Prop. 21 were not duped. We're sick of seeing teenagers, especially those associated with gangs, murder people and then be turned loose to murder more people as soon as they turn 21.
Carol Franks
Sunnyvale
Student suspensions a proper reaction
I recently read the article on the Fremont High School student suspensions [Sun, March 22]. I do not believe that the school administration or police overreacted and feel they acted very accordingly until all the facts could be brought out.
Miguel Flores has to remember the police are not judge and jury. They are the initial investigators and the District Attorney's Office makes the final determination on whether or not to file charges. By issuing citations, it forces the issue to go to court where the facts will come out.
I believe that a boxing match by students should not be condoned by the school district or anyone else, unless it is sanctioned and takes place where medical personnel and parents can be present. I think Flores fails to realize that if students are boxing and someone gets injured, I can promise you, the parents will file a suit against the school and want to know why something like that could happen. I believe the school was being proactive and not reactive.
Flores' insinuation that the second group was treated differently because they were Latinos is off base. The first group was also a "racially mixed group." Had the exact same thing happened to the second group, I believe they would have been treated the same way. It just didn't work out that way.
Flores has a "preconceived notion" that the second group was treated differently because they were Latinos. Sure, both groups were treated differently, that's because there were two different outcomes with the police.
I completely concur with Pete Tuana in the respect that it is his job to provide students with a safe learning environment. School is not a place for violence.
Bob Long
San Jose
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Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
