We can now add Eastern Guilford Middle School to the list of victims of Guilford County School's "non-policy" of retaining diruptive and belligerent students in the classroom according to an article in the N&R.
"Some parents blame the problems on what they say is a central office directive to cut down on suspensions, particularly for black males, who are suspended systemwide at five times the rate of any other group. However, Grier insists he's never told schools they shouldn't suspend problem students."
Aycock and Kiser parents have continuously complained about the practice all year. Parental frustration about how the policy is manifesting itself finally came to a head last week - about a year too late.
The article also tells of many parent's answer to the problem - they are leaving the public school system in favor of private schools. This is occuring at an alarming rate at Aycock and Kiser as well. I learned yesterday that parents of rising sixth graders from Irving Park Elementary, which feeds to mainly to Aycock, are enrolling their students in private middle school settings in record numbers to ensure their children are safe. We have to find a way to stem this tide.
If Dr. Grier or his staff did not instigate the retain-at-all-cost practices, then someone needs to address the problem in a come-to-Jesus meeting with the principals of all affected schools and set them straight - if a student is continuously disruptive - they must be removed from the regular classroom - expeditiously. That this hasn't occured before now is an indictment of our school's leadership.
Attention School Board: If we don't have a policy for dealing with these students, for God's sake create one.
9:15:21 AM 
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