(Letter to the Editor - Graphic Illustration/MetroCreativeConnection)

Just read an editorial where the subject of school discipline is discussed. As a former West Virginia elementary principal/teacher, I dealt with discipline problems on a daily basis. While the percentages of various groups may be interesting to site, the numbers cannot enter in a decision to apply discipline. My philosophy was that no matter what color, creed, or sex or whatever they were; the punishment would fit the deed without regard to their background, home life, economic status, etc. It seems that the West Virginia BOE does not want that to happen. They want numbers equal to the percentage of persons in a specific race, creed, or whatever to affect the discipline outcome.

Administrators and teachers cannot adhere to such a plan to address discipline problems. Misbehavior needs to have a consequence and to say that because a certain subgroup is only so large, then the percentage of suspensions must equal that same percentage is insane.

Let us just apply that same system to our police departments. An officer pulls someone over for speeding, but because he/she is a member of a certain society subgroup; they might not even be cited. Perhaps the officer should have a chart of all societies’ subgroups with percentages, and once the limit has been reached, then future offenders cannot be charged because there are no “slots” left in which to place them. Do you know how stupid and impossible that would be to enforce?

What the West Virginia BOE does not want to address is the issue of home life. If a student does not have a positive role model in the home, does not have parents who actually care about teaching morals and values, then the same lack of parenting will manifest itself in wrong behaviors in public schools. In other words, if a parent is a poor parent, usually the student will be a poorly behaving student in the classroom and will ruin the education of the others. I have seen it happen time after time.

We cannot blame the principals for the misbehaviors of some students, any more than it is the police officer’s fault for criminal behavior. The expression “if you do the crime, then you do the time,” still applies. Discipline standards must be applied equally to all. That is the only system that works.

Parents need to teach their children about Jesus. He is the answer to our problems.

Robert Sadler

Marietta