New Haven Independent

Posted by: Esbe | August 2, 2006 8:13 PM

I only recently became aware that the NHPD has basically abandoned its acclaimed Community Policing strategy, instead using resources to flood high crime areas with police offers and to focus on (traditional) rapid response to problems via officiers in patrol cars. These strategies probably do reduce crime in the short term, but in the longer term police become detached from neighborhoods. Useful tips stop coming in and the police don't really know the problem kids and families.

I fear that we are now paying the long-term price of the "new" strategy. Maybe today's emphasis on Community Policing-style foot patrols will mark a return to the previously successful strategy.

Posted by: Alice Cortigiano | August 3, 2006 11:03 AM

As a New Haven Public School teacher, I notice that many of our students are angry and full of hostility. Whether it is due to family problems, school stresses, or low self esteem there tends to be an increased amount of student put-downs, insults, and blatant disrespect towards peers, teachers, and administrators. How can teachers bring up the academic scores of students who are out of control and disrupt classrooms consistently? I speak from many years of teaching experience and feel that most teachers would support this observation. It is important that we support kids when they are out of control and provide incentives to behave in and out of school. These incentives might include in-school social events, after school movies, clubs, field trips and other activities.

I know that many schools have In-House Suspension workers but I have yet to see how this effectively changes the problems that many students face. I have said on more than one occasion that it does very little to remove a child from a whole day of classes because of a problem caused the day before in math class. But, if we could remove that child immediately to go to a room with a caring adult for a period of time to talk about the problem and then provide time for them to complete their assignment it might help to change the behavior. There are so many reasons for misbehavior and unless we find the time to meet and talk to our students we can rest assure that nothing will change. Suspensions may temporarily eliminate problem children from the classroom for a day or two but it does not change the behavior which generally repeats itself again and again.

As the school year approaches I hope that more teachers/administrators begin to look at the social development of our students more closely. Our Social Development Program needs to become a priority in our classrooms. Why not have members of the NHPD come into our schools to meet with small groups of at risk students who have difficulties with self control, bullying, and disrespect on an on-going basis?

Academic success means nothing if our students do not possess the social skills to get along in society. As the school year approaches and the news of violence pervades our newspapers and local TV news channels, I hope that we are ready to seriously address the needs of these students who need the support.

Posted by: Jeff Klaus | August 3, 2006 5:38 PM

Alice,

As a citizen who is not a teacher, but is very concerned about our public school students, I am encouraged by your comments. Clearly, you are a teacher who is very interested in helping to make things better for kids both in and out of school. Poor behavior and lack of discipline among the students is without a doubt a huge barrier standing in the way of academic achievement. But how important is this problem to you? ( When I say "you", Alice I don't mean to direct this specifically at you per se, but to well-intentioned teachers in general) And more importantly, what are you willing to do about it? Is it important enough to you to use your individual voice to influence your colleagues (I am assuming that you are a member of the New Haven Federation of Teachers)and collectively insist that district leadership partner with the union to identify, train teachers, and implement successful and proven strategies around discipline, school culture, and classroom management? You probably know that there are successful models around discipline that exist today in public and private schools all over CT.

But success in this area doesn't come without a cost. Are you willing to put in more hours after the school day is over to work with the tough cases? Are you willing to put in more days prior to the beginning of the school year at the end of August to orient students to the desired culture of the school? Are you willing to pitch in and oversee lunch and bus duties and other jobs that may fall outside your role according to the terms of your collective bargaining agreement? Are you as a teacher willing to support your principal around these goals? These strategies will absolutely involve the buy-in and strong commitment from the principal of the school to ensure that discipline is consistently maintained throughout the entire school community, with the same standard for each child, in each classroom, and among all teachers. As a teacher, will you be committed to "sweating the small stuff" by not tolerating even minor things like eye rolling, "tsking", or larger infractions like showing disrespect towards another student, or certainly a teacher.

Are you willing to accept accountability for the success or failure of this effort? Are you willing to accept the responsibility of creating success with a tough population, and never blame the failures on the parents, lack of adminstrative leadership, or lack of money? Are you willing to work hard to encourage parents to become involved with their child's education, but if they can't, pick up and do whatever it takes to reach that child? Will the pay-off be measured for you in upfront dollars in exchange for the longer hours, or will it be measured by the successful results that you want to see as described so well in your letter? How far are you willing to go to create the change that you desire? How far are your colleagues willing to go? Are you willing to break the mold?

Posted by: eli | August 3, 2006 7:57 PM

another shining example of how john destefano has as much business running for gov. as i do judging olympic gymnastics. the man can't even take care of his own city.
say what you will about former chief pastore, the man had a plan, a good plan, a plan that worked. the police became members of the community.
get the cops out on the streets, meeting neighbors, business owners, kids. where the hell did the bike cops go? where are the mounted officers? it there shame in a police officer walking a beat? didn't johnny harken back to his dad's days of walking a beat in his t.v. add?
and get these kids something to. midnight basketball, more boys and girls clubs. maybe a summer job program that starts at 6am so they're too tired to stay up past ten. try something, and let the kids have some input on how to do it. make it fun and fiesable.
and make their parents accountable. even if there's only one. a good swift kick in the ass and a home by dark policy worked in my house. if you can't take care of your children, then call DCF and tell them you tried, but just can't raise them.