The student walkout at Totem Middle School is breathtaking. It challenges the imagination to picture 200 students demonstrating in support of increased discipline in a public school.
Protesting the schools alleged lax treatment of violence, alcohol, marijuana, intimidation and gangs and surmising that we think people are going to bring it to the next level and bring guns and knives to school, these students demand ouster of trouble making students.
It appears these students think they have a right to a safe and orderly learning environment.
I completely agree.
Here is presented the rare opportunity for administrators to move decisively to bring order to their school. This opportunity may knock but once.
Administrators should not squander this golden opportunity to transform the disciplinary culture of the school. They should go beyond their current proposal for an occasional breakfast meeting with students.
Administrators should seize the opportunity, strike while the iron is hot, and take immediate action to create the safe and orderly learning environment these students rightfully demand.
John Koster, County Councilman
First Council District
Marysville