Portsmouth students may be faced with Saturday School as members of the School Board consider a new disciplnary measure that would keep students with disciplinary problems on weekends.
Portsmouth School Board member Tim Steele made a motion at Monday's meeting to approve a new policy be instituted requiring students with disciplnary problems during the week to return to school for a special Saturday morning session. The session would run from 8 a.m. through to noon several weekends during the year. It would require an allocation of about $3,000 per year for staffing, Steele told the School Board.
Steele justified the rule by explaining that the new disciplinary measure was being proposed in an effort to reduce the number of in-house suspensions. In-house suspensions are given automatically to students caught inside or outside of Portsmouth High School.
Portsmouth School Board member Tim Steele made a motion at Monday's meeting to approve a new policy be instituted requiring students with disciplnary problems during the week to return to school for a special Saturday morning session. The session would run from 8 a.m. through to noon several weekends during the year. It would require an allocation of about $3,000 per year for staffing, Steele told the School Board.
Steele justified the rule by explaining that the new disciplinary measure was being proposed in an effort to reduce the number of in-house suspensions. In-house suspensions are given automatically to students caught inside or outside of Portsmouth High School.
In 1995, 154 students received in-house suspensions, requiring them to spend a school day under close supervision of a faculty member in an empty classroom. Students are also not allowed to make up any outside class work they missed during that day. This new program, according to Steele, would mean students would miss no school time, "I know this isn't good news for parents, but I hope the threat of Saturday classes will make the students think twice before breaking the school rules."
One outraged parent, Peggy Bacon, argued against weekend detentions, "I work six days a week - including Saturday morning - and its bad enough to get my son off to school Monday through Friday. Why should I have to worry about Saturday as well? Why do we need a change? I know my son isn't perfect, and I know he'll probably wind up on the Saturday list at some point, but I'm not going to force him to go. I just don't think its going to make any difference, and the parents are going to pay for it - in higher taxes as well as in ruined Saturdays."
Another local resident, Bob Farley had a differing opinion, "Parents can whine all they want about this, but maybe it's time parents in America were made to take a little responsibility for their kids. That's the whole problem - parents aren't teaching their kids any discipline, so the kids have no respect for rules. maybe if they have to miss a few Saturday morning cartoons they'll start wising up."
One outraged parent, Peggy Bacon, argued against weekend detentions, "I work six days a week - including Saturday morning - and its bad enough to get my son off to school Monday through Friday. Why should I have to worry about Saturday as well? Why do we need a change? I know my son isn't perfect, and I know he'll probably wind up on the Saturday list at some point, but I'm not going to force him to go. I just don't think its going to make any difference, and the parents are going to pay for it - in higher taxes as well as in ruined Saturdays."
Another local resident, Bob Farley had a differing opinion, "Parents can whine all they want about this, but maybe it's time parents in America were made to take a little responsibility for their kids. That's the whole problem - parents aren't teaching their kids any discipline, so the kids have no respect for rules. maybe if they have to miss a few Saturday morning cartoons they'll start wising up."
Five high school students attended the meeting. Lisa Gallagher, a senior, spoke against the rule. "In 12 years fo school I've never served a detention, and I don't intend to. But I don't like this idea. I think it's just being done to make life easier for the faculty, so they don't have to deal with detentions during the week. Anyway, what if someone skips school? What are they going to do, make them stay all weekend?"
Steele responded, "if a student skips Saturday School
The board voted 5-3, with one member abstaining, to table the issue until its next meeting March 7.
Steele responded, "if a student skips Saturday School
The board voted 5-3, with one member abstaining, to table the issue until its next meeting March 7.
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