PUTTING STUDENTS IN "LOCKDOWN" IS GOOD POLICY

Here's a list of things some Denver high school students do when they
leave school during lunch recess:

Smoke weed, get drunk, have sex, fight, take the afternoon off.

And we're not talking about a handful of kids. We're talking large
groups.

I've witnessed it. Acquaintances and friends of mine who teach in
public schools describe the students who show up after lunch break,
reeking of marijuana. They sit, stare and occasionally giggle. It's a
distraction for the rest of the students, and they know the stoned
students aren't absorbing the lesson.

Students wouldn't be able to get high or skip classes if they were
put in "lockdown," the ominous-sounding term kids use for closed
campuses. Though the students may not like it, keeping them inside
the school building all day is a necessary evil.

I wish it weren't the case. But the truth is that the temptation to
engage in risky behavior and cut class is great at schools for
at-risk students.

Loosely defined, at-risk students are those who come from low-income
homes and whose parents are not well-educated. Their parents
typically don't have strong parenting skills and the students aren't
exposed to professionals.

These kids have a lot stacked against them: Myriad studies have shown
a strong correlation between poverty and neglect and/or abuse.

At-risk kids are children who shoulder so many problems, it's easy to
understand why so many want to escape. It's why that lunch-time high
is so appealing. And because at-risk kids might be angry and don't
know how to handle their anger they are prone to getting into
fights. Inside school, an adult will break it up. Outside, students
are likely to egg them on.

So why let students leave?

For that matter, why does state law allow students to drop out of
school at age 16? But that's a topic for another column.

Keeping students indoors is a smart move, even though as a teen I
hated it.

The superintendent of Aurora Public Schools announced last week that
he is considering keeping its high schools closed during the lunch
period. Michael Bennet, the superintendent of Denver Public Schools,
last year considered doing the same but instead decided to give
principals discretion.

West High School principal Pat Sanchez decided this year that only
seniors in good academic standing should have the privilege of
leaving school for lunch.

A girl I mentor who attends West believes it's unfair to juniors such
as her who don't like the cafeteria food. I tell her she can always
bring her own food.

I'm glad Sanchez decided to impose the rule. I say keep the rules
coming. Among the rules I'd like to see:

Uniforms for students. Not the plaid Catholic school uniforms I
endured as a kid, just basic dark slacks, shoes and a dress shirt for
both boys and girls. It takes away fashion competition and makes
students act in a more professional manner.

Mandatory after-school tutoring for students who are not performing
at grade level. Optional tutoring never works. The tutors just sit
around waiting for students who don't show up.

But there should be district rules for the schools themselves.
Teachers should be certified in the field they teach. Out-of-school
suspension should be abolished. Even in-school suspension hurts
students more than it helps them because they miss what happened in
their classes.

These policies have been studied to death. By now we should know that
punitive policies only serve to criminalize kids and make them feel
unwanted. They need structure, guidance, and professionals who
understand them.

If they're in a nurturing environment, students won't want to bolt at
lunch. They'll be happy where they are.