Pupil Discipline Plans Cited

Ann Arbor Public Schools Supt. W. Scott Westerman Jr. and school board Trustee Ted Heusel spoke to members and guests of Ann Arbor Western Kiwanis this week, and both had remarks to make on the subject of school discipline. Last week the same club heard Larry Clark of Ann Arbor state tHat school authonties are ignoring violence and drug abuse in Ann Arbor Junior and Senior High Schools. Supt. Westerman stated that the problems of discipline are recognized, and that plans to deal w i t h these problems include "helping teachers" to work with students who are failing under the present system, and a liaison officer to work with the courts in cases of students who are already in trouble with the law. Westerman stated that discipline problems also arise from students who do outstanding work in school, but who also tend to particípate in demonstrations and other disruptive tactics. He said school discipline problems are part of this country 's social upheaval, inj which people's attitudes toward traditional institutions such as marriage, family life, religión, education, public obscenity andl many other traditions have] undergone astonishing changes. j Trustee Heusel stated thatl "headline news stories" aboutl violence in public schools canl largely be traced to a total ofl not more than 25 teenagers inl Ann Arbor. While their mis-l deeds are widely reported andl "played up," thousands of Annl Arbor students are receivingl recognition and honors tha reflect the good instructio: they are receiving in ou schools, he said. Heusel encouraged parents t 1 e t teachers, administrator and Board of Education mem bers know that the good perfor manee of the vast majority o students is appreciated. Thi people responsible for the oper ation of the school systen deserve the plaudits along witl the criticism, Heusel said.