Teachers Union President Wants Alternative School for Disruptive Students

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by Lesley R. Chinn

Chicago Teachers Union president Marilyn Stewart said disruptive children prevent students from learning and prevent teachers from teaching in the classrooms.

Addressing civic and business leaders at a City Club of Chicago gathering downtown last week Stewart asked, Would a judge allow anyone in his or her courtroom to be disruptive? Why then should a teacher be forced to have students remain in the classroom if they are constantly disobeying the rules and making teaching and learning nearly impossible?

Stewart spoke at the City Club to announce a proposal for an alternative school for chronically disruptive students. The proposed alternative school would serve students in grades sixth through eighth and take disruptive students out of the classroom. Under Stewarts proposal, chronically disruptive students would receive immediate placement in the alternative school, which would offer students the kind of intervention and support they need. This school would provide comprehensive direct behavioral intervention daily by specially trained teachers, counselors, and behavioral specialists.

Currently, Stewart said it takes anywhere from 90 school days to six months to remove a disruptive student out of the classroom. Students are acting out because of social and emotional reasons at home or outside the classroom. But no matter what the reasons are, they are preventing teachers and other students from learning. Furthermore, they are not getting educated themselves, stated Stewart, a 30-year classroom veteran. These children need separate placements so they can learn to manage their behavior and get the education they need and deserve.

Stewart described the classroom disruptions ranging from physical and verbal assaults against teachers to throwing objects and furniture. She said these everyday classroom disruptions are a far more prevalent problem as the life-threatening incidents involving weapons, drugs, and other contrabands often portrayed in the media. She also made a clear distinction between chronically disruptive students and the guntoting individuals who are committing crimes around Chicago Public Schools.

Once the team of specialists sees an improvement in a students behavior, the student would be returned back into a regular school setting the following year, under Stewarts proposal.

The Chicago Public Schools, Stewart said, currently has some alternative schools and programs. However, they target students who are dropouts, delinquents, and those who have diagnosed behavior disorders. If Stewarts proposal is approved by the district, a pilot program could begin as soon as next year with a few hundred students. If the school is successful, similar schools could be constructed citywide.

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