The petition "was not sanctioned by or necessarily represents the views of PCYC," says the blog post, though the non-profit organization's website offers Troiano the platform to share the political petition and most of the signatures have been PCYC members.
According to the post on the non-profit organization's website:
The video has the same soundtrack as one recently viewed by the school board about preparing kids for the 21st century, perhaps this will also catch their attention: we can't prepare kids for any century if we throw them out of school
"We" really can't prepare kids for any century if they or their classmates are drunk at school.
Here is the full text of the petition:
We, the undersigned, are opposed to the expansion of Delaware Valley School District's zero tolerance drug policy.There are two issues that stick out to me. As I have written many times about multiple issues, I understand everyone is entitled to an opinion, though I think opinions should not overlook facts that contradict them.
We believe that the answer to the problems before us requires increased resources for prevention and treatment of substance abuse, not the continuation of an abusively punitive system as suggested - a system that lacks any evidence of effectiveness or deterrence value whatsoever.
Students who pose no substantial threat or disruption to others should remain in school and remain engaged, not outcasted for significant or indefinite periods of time. This is especially true under the current situation when no alternative education programs are funded or available.
While we recognize the seriousness of the use, possession, or distribution of drugs and alcohol, we are adamantly opposed to a disciplinary system that removes discretion from the school administration and places an undue burden on the school's Board of Directors as well as the students and their families.
The most important lesson a student can be taught is that they must learn from their mistakes. This is how growing and improving works. When a student falls, they must be picked back up by their teachers and administrators, not expelled and forgotten about.
We join with the American Bar Association, the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Psychological Association, and many other nationally renowned organizations and advocacy groups in our opposition to this policy which does not help, and perhaps even perpetuates, the problem of drug and alcohol use in our district.
First, is the ongoing complaint about the removal of administrative discretion and the lack of fairness of the policy. I think a due process hearing in front of a judge, in which legal assistance is provided to the student, is a much more fair and just way to determine guilt and a punishment rather than one principal pointing a finger and arbitrarily writing up a punishment on a disciplinary referral slip.
Second, the line about students being "expelled and forgotten about" may be misinformed. Homebound services can be provided to students who are expelled, and they also can apply to attend other schools, according to a student who has gone through an expulsion. Additionally, the administration said at the July school board meeting that the district actively contacts expelled students when they may be readmitted, and if they do not wish to return supplies them with the information and help they need to get a GED. Another student I know who was expelled wound up attending a community college after receiving a GED.
In any event, I find the petition ironic, since it says: "We believe that the answer to the problems before us requires increased resources for prevention and treatment of substance abuse." I agree with this, and so does the school board that says it is looking into new prevention programs.
The irony is that instead of taking a proactive approach with his non-profit organization, Troiano is butting heads with a school board that is powerful, firm in a pro-zero tolerance stance, and prioritizes the issue highly. When that combination of power, firmness and priority exists among players who support a policy, it simply is not worth the time, money and effort, especially not of a non-profit charitable organization, to add fuel to the political fire when agreeable proactive action can be taken instead.
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7 comments:
might as well rename your blog rbfornt at this point
YAY lets abolish a law that helps restrict drug and alchohol use and have everyone at Del Val run around drunk and high.
Good idea PCYC its good to see you spend your tme improving the community for young adults by trying to make it easier for them to drink and use drugs.
WAY TO GO GUYS
If this policy is so effective, Anonymous, then tell me why there were at least 20 drug-related expulsions in the 2007-2008 school year, almost all of which were in the latter half of the term. Seems like the threat of permanent expulsion isn't really doing much to ward off users, eh?
This has nothing to do with abolishing laws or making it easier for minors to break them. It has to do with preventing the passage of an archaic, illogical policy that ultimately hurts those exposed to it.
http://www.abanet.org/crimjust/juvjus/zerotolreport.html Do some reading, it'll improve your spelling and grammar.
The policy isn't causing the problem. Wouldn't it be better if we focused at the root of the problem and worked together, along with the powerful and firm backers of the policy, to attack it head on to alleviate the problem instead of arguing politics?
I disagree with the assertion that it "ultimately hurts those exposed to it," and the evidence I see and the evidence reported by the administrators at DV contradicts that statement. There are no repeat offenders, and the people I know who have been expelled receive homebound education, return and graduate on time, and some even attend college. Those words above make up a sweeping generalization, unless you've followed every single student who has been expelled from DV.
If you were drunk at work, you would likely get fired. Being under the influence or possessing an illegal substance at school and potentially putting yourself and hundreds of your sober schoolmates at a safety risk simply is intolerable.
In any event, like I've said, the policy is not the problem. Teen drinking, particularly teen drinking at school is the problem. Let's focus on alleviating it instead of bickering policy with the school board.
(And, as always, all are encouraged to stand behind their words with their names.)
How is any of this being pro-active at all?
I would be much more impressed if I was
reading about creative ideas of how this
youth group could possibly help out students
that make mistakes and get in trouble. Seems
putting your energies into that might be more positive.
it's pretty obvious who's seriously in love with nick troiano and brainwashed by his ideas
Couldn't you all atleast keep this somewhat professional and steer clear of the personal stuff. It is a shame that any of the nonsense has to be event mentioned as part of this blog. There are other ways to communicate these feelings. Let's stick to the topic at hand.
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