Violence Outrages Woodland Hills Parents, Teachers
Posted on: Friday, 9 May 2008, 00:00 CDT
By Tony LaRussa
Woodland Hills teachers Wednesday night chided the administration for allowing a hostile working and learning environment to develop through its failure to address discipline problems.
Dozens of teachers -- many clad in aqua blue T-shirts as a show of solidarity -- joined nearly 150 parents who packed the administration building's auditorium in Churchill to express their concerns about the safety of the staff, many of whom have been injured while trying to break up fights.
Fights and assaults on teachers and students have not been limited to the junior high and high school, said Ed Nestico, a teacher at Rankin Intermediate School.
Out of a staff of 24 teachers at the school, nine teachers have been injured "in violent circumstances involving students," said Nestico, who noted that injuries have ranged from bruises to a broken hip, which drew gasps from the audience.
John Bonacci, a teacher at Dickson Intermediate School in Swissvale, said: "Teaching has become secondary to maintaining the safety and well-being of student and staff."
Bonacci blamed the problem on "inconsistent consequences," noting that students involved in altercations often are allowed to return to class shortly after an incident.
Bruce Fisher, a teacher at West Junior High School in Swissvale, said some students "feel they can do as they please," which has resulted in bullying and acts of violence.
"Students and staff get hurt, are placed in unsafe situations and feel unsafe going to a place where they should feel secure," Fisher said. "Students need to know that when they come to school they are going to be held accountable for their behavior and attitude."
The Allegheny County District Attorney's Office is investigating whether violence in the district's schools is part of an emerging gang culture.
Churchill police Chief Allen Park has promised additional deployments inside and outside schools for the remainder of the year.
Parents who attended the meeting expressed frustration that district officials have allowed the actions of a minority of students to create such a negative environment.
"Most of the kids are there to learn and follow the rules," said Mike Belmonte, who has a daughter in fifth grade, a son in 12th grade and two children who graduated from the district. "But the ones who don't -- and it's a very small percentage -- have been allowed to pretty much do what they please."
Tracy Bubin, who has children ages 7, 9 and 15 in the district, was "outraged" by the lack of action in dealing with the problems in the schools.
"We have some wonderful, dedicated teachers in this district," she said. "But they're not allowed to do their jobs because they have to deal with all these problems. I want this administration and school board to give me back what I signed up for when I bought my house in this district."
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Source: Tribune-Review/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
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