Alternative School Splits Candidates

A majority of the candidates for Ann Arbor's Board of Education do not support the idea of an alternative school for disruptive youths as discussed at recent board meetings. The alternative school was among the topics discussed at the first of two candidates nights sponsored by the Parent Teacher Organizaion (PTO) Council. It was held Tuesday at Huron High. The second PTO-sponsored candidates night I will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Forsythe Junior High School. I Monday Ann Arbor District voters will elect three trustees to serve three-year terms on the Board of Education. Also on the ballot will be an 11.66 mili renewal for operating the schools and a 1-mill levy for the library. The audience of a little more than 100 persons, including Sen. Gilbert Bursley, R-Ann Arbor, chairman of the Senate Education Committee, heard three candidates express support for the alternative school. They were: Wendy Barhydt, Merrilyn "Terry" Martin and Paul Weinhold. Those who -expressed dissatisfaction with the alternative school for disruptive youths were: Henry Alting, Diana Autin, Patricia Pooley, Charles Votaw and Judith Wood. Alting said because of his experiences living in Europe he shudders at the idea of establishing a school similar to a detention camp. If such a school is established and he is elected to the board, Alting said he would try to make it the best school in the system so everyone would want to attend and then it would no longer be a school for disruptive students. Miss Autin said as a Human Rights Party candidate she believes compulsory school attendance is one of the major causes of discipline problems in the schools. Students who are forced to tend school until they are 16 act out their hostilities towards other students and the buildings, she said. Mrs. Barhydt, who said she supports the present discipline policy and the establishment of an alternative school, added she could not support the idea of a "reform school." The former teacher said it is obvious students who are violent toward others are not learning in the present situation and should be given special help. Mrs. Martin said she supports the idea of an alternative school to help "problem children and children with problems" to provide supportive, not punitive, help for students. Mrs. Pooley said rather than establish an alternative school or separate discipline measures for students who are labeled disruptive she would like to retain supportive services of social workers and other professionals in Pupil Personnel Services and lower the student (CONT'D. ON NEXT PAGE)