Are city schools really THAT bad?

[squarian]

Of course, I'm having a bit of fun.

But there's no particular reason why we, as a society, have to accept the more arrant sorts of misbehavior which occurs in our public schools from time to time. Civility and social cohesion require social discipline, which in practical terms is almost always imposed from above. I see no reason why that's less important in our schools than anywhere else. And I do believe that for those who might lead, abdicating the social responsibility to impose discipline is one of the worst sorts of misdeeds.

Children? Depends on the circumstances - if it behaves childishly, then it's a child. If if totes a gun around or uses its fists to inflict grievous bodily harm, it's not a child and should be tried as an adult.

[MeinGlanzendMotorrad]

Originally Posted by squarian

Theoretically at least, not those which are understood as civil rights, which are meant to be inalienable, unquestionable and beyond the power of any authority to infringe - with the obvious exception of felony, which the law recognises as a special category of crime partly because it is sufficiently serious to warrant the infringement of the criminal's civil rights.

A misdemeanor is enough to strip you of your right to bear arms.

[Lobick]

Originally Posted by squarian

But there's no particular reason why we, as a society, have to accept the more arrant sorts of misbehavior which occurs in our public schools from time to time. Civility and social cohesion require social discipline, which in practical terms is almost always imposed from above. I see no reason why that's less important in our schools than anywhere else. And I do believe that for those who might lead, abdicating the social responsibility to impose discipline is one of the worst sorts of misdeeds.

I think this is a straw-man. Nobody is arguing that schools should be free of discipline and I've seen no serious suggestion that anybody within school administration is suggesting anything of the sort. I don't think society accepts it at all but I do think, in some instances, there are disagreements about the best way to remedy the misbehavior.

[squarian]

Your strawman is my statement of general principles. No doubt there will be disagreements, but I've made my views clear already: no tolerance for repeat offenders, find them a public works project, or for the more promising an apprenticeship in a useful trade.