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Students Walk Out of Class Protesting Educator's Remark; More Troubles at Marshfield School

Posted on: Wednesday, 5 October 2005, 09:00 CDT

By Shamus McGillicuddy; SHAMUS McGILLICUDDY

The Patriot Ledger

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[CORRECTION published 9/29/05: Marshfield School Superintendent Middleton McGoodwin said parents of students at Marshfield's alternative high school have not given changes made at the school a chance to succeed. Because of an editing error, a story on Tuesday attributed the comment incorrectly.]

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MARSHFIELD - The students at Marshfield's alternative high school walked out of class after a confrontation between a student and an administrator led someone to call police.

The walkout triggered a last-minute meeting of school officials as they tried to address what one school committee member described as a "crisis situation."

"All the kids walked out at 10:15 in the morning," said Robert Baker, a classroom aide at the school who was placed on administrative leave with pay yesterday. "Two of the girls had been suspended (prior to the incident)."

Baker said his leave resulted from a disagreement he had recently with School Superintendent Middleton McGoodwin about the school.

The alternative high school, in a small schoolhouse on South River Street, is for children with learning disabilities and behavioral and emotional disorders. About a dozen students attend the school, which is staffed by two teachers and two aides. Baker said high school Vice Principal Arthur Barry was at the alternative school yesterday, filling in for a teacher who was absent.

Baker said Barry got into a confrontation with a student who tried to touch his two-way radio.

Police arrived at the school, Baker said, and escorted the student home. After the incident, Barry made a comment to another student that upset the students so much that they all walked out, according to Baker and several parents.

One parent said Barry turned to another student and said, "You're next." But McGoodwin would not confirm that, nor would he comment on the specifics of the incident.

He said that all the students who walked out were suspended for one day, leaving the school empty today, except for teachers "regrouping."

McGoodwin said he met with the school's faculty, their union representatives, high school Principal Robert Keuther and other school officials yesterday to address the issues that led to the walkout.

McGoodwin said the meeting was devoted to re-establishing guidelines for the management of the school and to make sure the faculty formed a "united group."

"It's a safety issue," he said. "We have to create stability."

McGoodwin said he is going to ask the school committee for permission to hire an on-site supervisor for the school, something parents say the school has been lacking. [Correction: McGoodwin said parents of students at Marshfield's alternative high school have not given changes made at the school a chance to succeed.]

Earlier this month, The Patriot Ledger reported that many parents have been unhappy with the school since Keuther replaced retired Principal Peter Deftos last year.

"It's just out of control," parent Donna Phillips said yesterday. "I paid a visit last week. At 10:30 in the morning that school was in utter chaos. They were trying to figure out what (the students) were having for lunch. Elementary schools are not run like this."

Many parents of the school's students say they recognize that their children are difficult to handle, but they say the school must improve how it deals with their children.

Beth Gray, whose son attends the school, said many of the students were using foul language in class and misbehaving yesterday.

"The kids have to learn they have to smarten up and watch their language," Gray said.

Gray said the school needs another teacher who is certified in special education. Only one of the teachers is certified.

"They need a special ed teacher who can work better with them and be more positive with them," she said.

"We're dealing with a crisis situation, where kids need to be educated," school committee Chairwoman Marti Morrison said. "We need to have a safe and reasonable environment for faculty and students. We're dealing with a population of students who need a particular kind of environment, and right now the faculty and students are not in a position where they feel the environment is best for learning."

Keuther, the new principal, has introduced many changes aimed at improving the school. But he said many parents have assumed the changes wouldn't work. Shamus McGillicuddy may be reached by e-mail at smcgillicuddy@ledger.com.

Source: Patriot Ledger, The; Quincy, Mass.

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