'Troubled' Youths Blamed In Junior High Incidents

Several "emotionally troubled" youths were blamed by School Supt. W. Scott Westerman Jr. last night for recent attacks and incidents at two of the city's junior high schools. Westerman said he was prepared to ask the Board of Education to expel these students if the problems continue. In the past, expulsión has been a rarely used disciplinary measure. The superintendent explanation came in response to a father who at the school board meeting demanded that I quate protection' be provided for city students at the schools. The father criticized "unwarranted attacks by roving marauders" during the past several days, and told the school board he wants action, not talk. The incidents involved black and white students. Westerman told of a girl at T a p p a n Junior High b e i n g attacked in the hallway Monday by three female Tappan students and three girls from Huron High. The girls from Huron High also entered a classroom and "brazenly" took money from a pocketbook, Westerman said. The group then assaulted several students outside Tappan and apparently moved on to Slauson Junior High, where they attacked a girl and demanded money. The girls involved in the attack have been suspended and the schools are working with the police on the matter, Westerman said. Last week, another incident took place after a basketball game at Slauson when a white athlete was beaten by a group of black Forsythe yóuths. Westerman said people must understand tíiat the schools are not "psychiatrie institutions" nor "maximum security" buildings, and he castigated city and county agencies which forcé the schools to take the disturbed youths back before they are ready to return. The superintendent a d d e d that he and his staff are considering prohibiting the attendance of visiting schools at away after-school athletic events on the junior-high level. Last month, a new policy went into effect at the junior highs which allows only those students from the two schools competing who show their idëntifieation cards to be admitted.