At last night’s Portsmouth School Board meeting, tensions were high as parents and school board members debated a new measure that would require students with disciplinary problems during the week to attend a school session on Saturday.
In response to increased disciplinary problems in the last year, including smoking in bathrooms, School Board member Tim Steel proposed a slightly unorthodox idea that would replace detention during the week with attending extra school on the weekend.
Steel cited the climbing statistics of disciplinary issues as justification for the measure. In the last year alone, 154 students were required to serve what is known as ‘in-house’ suspensions, meaning they had to spend a full school day in an empty classroom under the supervision of a faculty member.
Punishing student disciplinary problems outside of school hours proved to be a divisive subject, with many parents on the opposing side.
Parent Peggy Bacon voiced a concern other parents no doubt had as well. “I work six days a week – including Saturday morning,” Bacon said. “It’s bad enough to get my son off to school Monday through Friday. Why should I have to worry about Saturday as well?”
For Bacon and other residents, time constraints were not the only issue. “The parents are going to have to pay for it – in higher taxes as well as in ruined Saturdays,” Bacon said.
Steele admitted that the plan inconvenienced students and parents, but stated his belief that it would be better in the long run to help end disciplinary problems. “I know this isn’t good news for parents,” Steele said, “but I hope the threat of Saturday classes will make the students think twice before breaking the school rules.”
Other Portsmouth residents agreed.
Resident Bob Farley voiced his approval of the measure and shifted blame on the parents. “It’s time parents in America were made to take a little responsibility for their kids,” Farley said. “Parent’s aren’t teaching their kids any discipline, so the kids have no respect for the rules. Maybe if they have to miss a few Saturday morning cartoons they’ll wise up.”
Bacon maintained that even if her son has a disciplinary issue, she would still not make him attend the session. “I know my son isn’t perfect, and I know he’ll probably wind up on the Saturday list at some point,” she said, “but I’m not going to force him to go. I just don’t think it’s going to make any difference.”
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