School out of control

Northeast Middle School in Northeast Minneapolis was the scene of a mob attack on a student from outside the school. One kid that was already out of school was outside NE Middle reportedly taunting some NE students after class was over for the day. A mob of NE students attacked the kid and broke his neck. The Minneapolis Shadow finds this incident appalling, however not surprising. As I have stated before the main problem with most Minneapolis Public Schools is one of discipline. When the kids run the schools nothing gets accomplished. The administrators take the discipline, or lack thereof, issue way too lightly. I’m not in favor of running a military camp, however some of these students may need that. NE Middle has had a history of problems with not only academics but one of discipline for years now, and the administrators have turned a blind eye to the problem. The current principal looks towards programs for answers, but the only program she needs is one to re-program the school system’s approach towards handling behavior in the classroom. Without a tougher stance on behavior in the classroom, and the school grounds, nothing will change on the academic side of the ledger and incidents such as this one will grow in frequency. What good is a school if the kids are under threat during and after the school day on or near school property? Remember the northside program “Safe Paths to School” or what ever they named it? The police standing guard as kids walk to school. This sickens me to no end, and the city and school board are as much to blame as the kids involved in this. Now you have a kid in the hospital with a broken neck because the school board refuses to take the steps needed to solve the behavior problems. Sickening, just plain sickening!