RSS Feeds
In In the News
In the past year, violent incidents inside or on the grounds of Chicago’s high schools rose by almost 20 percent, with students committing aggravated battery, drug-related offenses and fights with staff at an alarming clip.
And over the past three years, there’s been a nearly three-fold increase in the rate of category 4, 5, and 6 violations—the most serious violations of the school district’s discipline code—from 5,762 in the 2006-2007 school year to 15,094 in 2008-2009.
The beating death of Fenger High’s Derrion Albert has brought national attention to the problem of teen violence. Derrion’s murder took place off school grounds.
After submitting two Freedom of Information Act requests over the past year, I finally received a school-by-school breakdown of code violations on Wednesday. I am still in the early stages of analyzing and reporting on the data and will be writing updates in the coming days. A call and e-mail to CPS spokeswoman Monique Bond were not returned by late Wednesday.
Some of the difference might well be due to better reporting through the district’s new student information system, called IMPACT. I’ve been told that IMPACT provides a more accurate picture of what happens in schools and that, if anything, the old system under-counted misconduct reports. The figures also jibe with a steep increase in the number of suspensions, which we reported in the May/June issue of In Depth.
In announcing his safety and security plan, CEO Ron Huberman has refused to name the 45 high schools whose principals will have access to extra resources to create what he has called a “culture of calm.” But this data shows that many schools are having serious problems with violence: 43 percent saw increases in the rate of serious misconduct last year.
Fenger High, for example, has had a high rate of code violations for a number of years, but the rate has soared over the past two years. In 2006-2007, the rate was 16 for every 100 students; last year, it rose to 25.3.
The two turnaround high schools also have not been immune to problems. Harper High in Englewood saw a big jump, from 18 per 100 students to nearly 40. Meanwhile, Orr had a rate of 20 per 100. (It is harder to look at the change in the rate at Orr, which until last year was three separate schools.)
Digg
Del.icio.us
Mail
Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 8:35 AM
Violence on the rise inside Chicago high schools
Does anyone know the names of these 45 high schools that Huberman refuses to name?
Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Violence on the rise inside Chicago high schools
Dear Ms. Karp,
You wrote: “over the past three years, there’s been a nearly three-fold increase in the rate of category 4, 5, and 6 violations... from 5,762 in the 2006-2007 school year to 15,094 in 2008-2009.”
In March of 2007, CPS Safety and Security provided (via the Illinois Freedom of Information Act) a report of group 4, 5, and 6 high school misconduct counts for the first semester of the 2006-2007 school year (05 Sep 2006 to 26 Jan 2007). The report included the number of misconduct counts (#s of 4-1, 4-2, 4-3 ... 6-10) and number of "violent misconducts" and "total misconducts" for 101 high school units. No charter schools. There were a total of 3,289 group 4, 5, and 6 violent misconducts out of a total of 6,256 group 4, 5, and 6 misconducts. So your report for the 2006-2007 school year is interesting because apparently it shows fewer group 4, 5, and 6 misconducts for the entire school year (5,762) than CPS reported to me at the end of the first semester of that same school year (6,256).
The change and increase (“big jump”) in rates of serious misconduct counts depends on the completeness of the reported data. I don’t question that counts have increased. The numbers are very disturbing. But I’m not sure I believe they were really as low in 06-07 as your CPS file suggests.
A few months ago I also requested high school misconduct counts for the 06-07, 07-08, and 08-09 school years. I received my report at the end of September and only after appealing to the AG's office. CPS didn't provide complete data for 06-07 because CPS said most schools were not using IMPACT in 06-07. My file shows 12,058 group 4, 5, and 6 misconducts in 2007-2008 and 15,094 in 2008-2009 (similar to yours).
Orr Turnaround:
The three Orr school building enrollments and group 4, 5, 6 counts for 2007-08:
AASTA 488 and 14 misconducts rate 3 per 100
Vines 456 and 48 misconducts rate 10.5 per 100
Excel 431 and 89 misconducts rate 20.6 per 100
Compared to Orr in 08-09: enrollment- 1185 and 226 misconducts 19 per 100
It could be helpful to explain or list for everyone the particular misconducts CPS includes in its violent misconduct count so that we all know what’s being counted from year to year. For instance, a school can have a lot of fighting, i.e. group 3-3 “fighting two people, no injuries” but these fights often are not included in violent incident counts.
Ms. Karp, why don't you post the CPS high school misconduct raw data file online? Did your file include charter high schools?
CPS received additional funding last year – the YES grant? – which was supposed to help address violence among youth. Do you know how CPS used these funds?
Thanks
You wrote: “over the past three years, there’s been a nearly three-fold increase in the rate of category 4, 5, and 6 violations... from 5,762 in the 2006-2007 school year to 15,094 in 2008-2009.”
In March of 2007, CPS Safety and Security provided (via the Illinois Freedom of Information Act) a report of group 4, 5, and 6 high school misconduct counts for the first semester of the 2006-2007 school year (05 Sep 2006 to 26 Jan 2007). The report included the number of misconduct counts (#s of 4-1, 4-2, 4-3 ... 6-10) and number of "violent misconducts" and "total misconducts" for 101 high school units. No charter schools. There were a total of 3,289 group 4, 5, and 6 violent misconducts out of a total of 6,256 group 4, 5, and 6 misconducts. So your report for the 2006-2007 school year is interesting because apparently it shows fewer group 4, 5, and 6 misconducts for the entire school year (5,762) than CPS reported to me at the end of the first semester of that same school year (6,256).
The change and increase (“big jump”) in rates of serious misconduct counts depends on the completeness of the reported data. I don’t question that counts have increased. The numbers are very disturbing. But I’m not sure I believe they were really as low in 06-07 as your CPS file suggests.
A few months ago I also requested high school misconduct counts for the 06-07, 07-08, and 08-09 school years. I received my report at the end of September and only after appealing to the AG's office. CPS didn't provide complete data for 06-07 because CPS said most schools were not using IMPACT in 06-07. My file shows 12,058 group 4, 5, and 6 misconducts in 2007-2008 and 15,094 in 2008-2009 (similar to yours).
Orr Turnaround:
The three Orr school building enrollments and group 4, 5, 6 counts for 2007-08:
AASTA 488 and 14 misconducts rate 3 per 100
Vines 456 and 48 misconducts rate 10.5 per 100
Excel 431 and 89 misconducts rate 20.6 per 100
Compared to Orr in 08-09: enrollment- 1185 and 226 misconducts 19 per 100
It could be helpful to explain or list for everyone the particular misconducts CPS includes in its violent misconduct count so that we all know what’s being counted from year to year. For instance, a school can have a lot of fighting, i.e. group 3-3 “fighting two people, no injuries” but these fights often are not included in violent incident counts.
Ms. Karp, why don't you post the CPS high school misconduct raw data file online? Did your file include charter high schools?
CPS received additional funding last year – the YES grant? – which was supposed to help address violence among youth. Do you know how CPS used these funds?
Thanks
Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 12:09 PM
Violence on the rise inside Chicago high schools
Perhaps it's time to give up and simply hire the military to run our schools. Maybe the scary guns, the cause of all this violence, will help keep those violent kids in line.
Or, just perhaps, it's time to address the real and true reason this violence exists.
I run a children's charity which exclusively serves the children of Chicago's public schools. In my 8 years doing so, I have seen more violence than I could have imagined. I've seen grade school security guards violently whip a child against a wall. I've seen teachers and a myriad of staff members scream at children relentlessly. The times I have questioned this, I am most often told "this is what they get at home and all they understand." Well of course, if they are treated violently at home, why not treat them in the same manner at school?? Is this what they deserve or are we only perpetuating the violence these children face, thus, making them more violent?
Nearly 5 years ago, I may actually have saved a little boys life. I conducted a "young leaders" group at his school. Students needed to be nominated by their teachers to join as the group was a "perk" for children who were doing their school work and staying out of trouble. A little boy who was not nominated decided he was going to attend the after school meetings and he did. He did not complete tasks or participate much, yet he came. The other kids complained that he was a "troublemaker" and did not belong. I let him stay anyway as I knew he was somehow troubled.
One day, he hung around after school in a room I was working in. He sat there for the longest time before telling a parent volunteer to tell me he had been severely beaten the night before. I think he knew I cared and would help him. He had shared this with his social worker many times and she deemed there was "nothing more she could do" for him.
The principal had left for the day and the VP was still there. She did not want to call the police, as it was late in the day and "we'll be here until 6 o'clock!" I told her one of was calling, if not her, me. She called.
The police arrived a short time later. This little boys back looked like Kunte Kinte. He had been beaten with an electrical cord wrapped in duct tape. It was horrific and I actually saw it bring tears to the eyes of one of Chicago's finest. Even a cop was overcome with emotion after seeing this and God only knows what he had seen in his time on the force. Still, this brought him to tears.
The VP was right, it took a long time. I stayed until 5 at which time I went to the closest MacDonald's and bought the little boy something to eat. I remember driving home down LSD with tears streaming. I was heartbroken for this child and others like hiim and wanted to do something to help him, yet I felt helpless beyond what I had just done.
Oh yes, I forgot to mention: this little boy was living in a foster home after being removed from a violent home!
I gave it some thought and wrote a Positive Parenting Resolution. It addressed violence in the home and ways to help parent in a positive, non-violent manner. After speaking with several Alderman, Isaac Carothers agreed to sponsor my resolution. The city council meeting my Resolution was presented at just happened to fall on the same day of the White Sox ticker tape parade so few Aldermen were in attendance.
After hearing testimony from the many experts I brought in, including several adults who had been abused as children, my resolution passed overwhelmingly. Aldermen Mell was so moved that he stood up and said "I wish we had TV cameras on you right now and that this hearing was held last week or next week because of the parade. What you have to teach is important" I agreed.
After my Resolution passed, I attempted to find an alderman who would sponsor an actually Ordinance, making it illegal to hit a child. Basically, it affords children the same protection as every other citizen. If an adult hits an adult, it is assault. If an adult hits a child, its discipline? Something is wrong with this picture and it's time we opened our eyes to it. No Alderman would agree to sponsor, including the supportive Alderman Mell. I surmised it's not good for votes.
If the violence stops at home, it will also stop in the streets. I'm fairly certain if you give a gun to a child who has been raised with love, compassion and kindness, they likely will not kill anyone with it. Do the same with a child who has been beaten, degraded and abused all their life, and I'm not so sure. I'm far from an NRA activist but I believe that guns don't kill people, violent people with guns kill people.
Perhaps it is time to open that door and stop hiding from the ugly truth of children's backs that look like Kunta Kinte.
Until we do, the violence will surely continue, no matter how many police officers we throw into the mix.
Michelle DiGiacomo
Executive Director
Direct Effect Charities
A FACE TO FACE CHALLENGE
Or, just perhaps, it's time to address the real and true reason this violence exists.
I run a children's charity which exclusively serves the children of Chicago's public schools. In my 8 years doing so, I have seen more violence than I could have imagined. I've seen grade school security guards violently whip a child against a wall. I've seen teachers and a myriad of staff members scream at children relentlessly. The times I have questioned this, I am most often told "this is what they get at home and all they understand." Well of course, if they are treated violently at home, why not treat them in the same manner at school?? Is this what they deserve or are we only perpetuating the violence these children face, thus, making them more violent?
Nearly 5 years ago, I may actually have saved a little boys life. I conducted a "young leaders" group at his school. Students needed to be nominated by their teachers to join as the group was a "perk" for children who were doing their school work and staying out of trouble. A little boy who was not nominated decided he was going to attend the after school meetings and he did. He did not complete tasks or participate much, yet he came. The other kids complained that he was a "troublemaker" and did not belong. I let him stay anyway as I knew he was somehow troubled.
One day, he hung around after school in a room I was working in. He sat there for the longest time before telling a parent volunteer to tell me he had been severely beaten the night before. I think he knew I cared and would help him. He had shared this with his social worker many times and she deemed there was "nothing more she could do" for him.
The principal had left for the day and the VP was still there. She did not want to call the police, as it was late in the day and "we'll be here until 6 o'clock!" I told her one of was calling, if not her, me. She called.
The police arrived a short time later. This little boys back looked like Kunte Kinte. He had been beaten with an electrical cord wrapped in duct tape. It was horrific and I actually saw it bring tears to the eyes of one of Chicago's finest. Even a cop was overcome with emotion after seeing this and God only knows what he had seen in his time on the force. Still, this brought him to tears.
The VP was right, it took a long time. I stayed until 5 at which time I went to the closest MacDonald's and bought the little boy something to eat. I remember driving home down LSD with tears streaming. I was heartbroken for this child and others like hiim and wanted to do something to help him, yet I felt helpless beyond what I had just done.
Oh yes, I forgot to mention: this little boy was living in a foster home after being removed from a violent home!
I gave it some thought and wrote a Positive Parenting Resolution. It addressed violence in the home and ways to help parent in a positive, non-violent manner. After speaking with several Alderman, Isaac Carothers agreed to sponsor my resolution. The city council meeting my Resolution was presented at just happened to fall on the same day of the White Sox ticker tape parade so few Aldermen were in attendance.
After hearing testimony from the many experts I brought in, including several adults who had been abused as children, my resolution passed overwhelmingly. Aldermen Mell was so moved that he stood up and said "I wish we had TV cameras on you right now and that this hearing was held last week or next week because of the parade. What you have to teach is important" I agreed.
After my Resolution passed, I attempted to find an alderman who would sponsor an actually Ordinance, making it illegal to hit a child. Basically, it affords children the same protection as every other citizen. If an adult hits an adult, it is assault. If an adult hits a child, its discipline? Something is wrong with this picture and it's time we opened our eyes to it. No Alderman would agree to sponsor, including the supportive Alderman Mell. I surmised it's not good for votes.
If the violence stops at home, it will also stop in the streets. I'm fairly certain if you give a gun to a child who has been raised with love, compassion and kindness, they likely will not kill anyone with it. Do the same with a child who has been beaten, degraded and abused all their life, and I'm not so sure. I'm far from an NRA activist but I believe that guns don't kill people, violent people with guns kill people.
Perhaps it is time to open that door and stop hiding from the ugly truth of children's backs that look like Kunta Kinte.
Until we do, the violence will surely continue, no matter how many police officers we throw into the mix.
Michelle DiGiacomo
Executive Director
Direct Effect Charities
A FACE TO FACE CHALLENGE
Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Violence on the rise inside Chicago high schools
Dear Mrs. King,
I think I owe you a thank you as probably your pushing with the AG office helped me finally get the data.
And like your data, mine does not include charters. Charters don't use IMPACT, the student information system, and many do not abide by the same student code of conduct. The closest information about discipline that is available is on the charter school annual report posted on the ISBE website. But, the way I understand it, these are numbers that come from principals and directors filling out a form and we have no way of checking their veracity.
Some charters report relatively high suspension rates. For example, Perspectives says it suspends 23.7 percent of its students. But, according to the charters, they expell virtually no one.
Also, the YES grant was to help transition students from the juvenile detention center back to their home schools. We should do a follow up as to how that is working. There were probably numerous other violence prevention efforts underway last year and the year before. Over the next few days I am going to try to figure out what became of them. I will post the raw data once I get it in a friendly format.
I think I owe you a thank you as probably your pushing with the AG office helped me finally get the data.
And like your data, mine does not include charters. Charters don't use IMPACT, the student information system, and many do not abide by the same student code of conduct. The closest information about discipline that is available is on the charter school annual report posted on the ISBE website. But, the way I understand it, these are numbers that come from principals and directors filling out a form and we have no way of checking their veracity.
Some charters report relatively high suspension rates. For example, Perspectives says it suspends 23.7 percent of its students. But, according to the charters, they expell virtually no one.
Also, the YES grant was to help transition students from the juvenile detention center back to their home schools. We should do a follow up as to how that is working. There were probably numerous other violence prevention efforts underway last year and the year before. Over the next few days I am going to try to figure out what became of them. I will post the raw data once I get it in a friendly format.
Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 1:17 PM
Violence on the rise inside Chicago high schools
The suits are in charge, and they don't know jack.
Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 4:57 PM
Violence on the rise inside Chicago high schools
Thanks for the info Sarah. Unless someone addresses the rapidly deteriorating social conditions of the n'hoods surrounding many of these "problem" schools, things are going to substantially worsen. And worsen at a rate that far outpaces any of the misguided half-assed prescriptions coming from City Hall.
Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 6:55 PM
Violence on the rise inside Chicago high schools
Judy, great question about what happened to the YES program. If I recall correctly, that was a U.S. Labor Department grant worth close to $5 million targeting violence prevention/reduction not only for juvenile offenders, but for all at-risk students as well. Whatever happened to that program/money? I, too, would love to see a follow-up, Sarah!
Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 11:13 PM
Violence on the rise inside Chicago high schools
My child is extremely fortunate as he attends a sellective enrollment high schoolith a principal whi is kind and caring and runs a tight ship at the same time. While parent involvement is ALWAYSchallenging the parents who show up at SCHOOL EVENTS ARE THERE BECAUSE THEY WANT THE INFORMATION PRESENTED AND THEY CARE . I have to belief this as this is what motivates me to keep teaching. I HAVE DONE THINGS TO HELP CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THAT WEREN'T ALWAYS BY THE BOOK AS A job description but often what compelled me to act in what was necessary at the time and what was what was beneficial to the most positive outcome for all concerned.I think that everyone who has the slightest involvement or encounter at CPS IS AWARE OF THIS FACTOR AND WHY THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE AT cps with enormouisly big hearts for children and young adults.
I Continue to love what i do and consider with out being sappy that these are the simple gifts we are given as human beings every day.
I Continue to love what i do and consider with out being sappy that these are the simple gifts we are given as human beings every day.
Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 12:06 AM
.
This will be the fourth school year since we did the article in the suntimes about what would happen as the result of school closings. now the statistics prove what we predicted and had to live through.
CPS has ruined and damaged many lives with its policies.
John Kugler
kuglerjohn@comcast.net
below are excerpts from our article about the increase in violence due to school closings.
Schools close, violence spikes (Chicago Sun Times)
Monday March 13th, 2006
http://www.informationliberation.com/print.php?id=7858
The most dramatic example was Hyde Park, where the average number of reported violent incidents per month jumped 226 percent during that period, the analysis of CPS data showed.
In fact, Hyde Park was hit by a double-whammy, being forced to accept more than 300 students -- more students than any other receiving school -- in the past two years because two schools closed to freshmen: Englewood this school year and Calumet the year before.
Some folks say the increase in violence at receiver schools has contributed to higher teacher turnover and has worn down principals who retired unexpectedly. Students say the fighting makes school a tougher place to learn. And West Side community group leaders say they worry school closings could unintentionally lead to a higher dropout rate.
"They have opened a Pandora's box," said Khalid Johnson, lead organizer with Westside Health Authority. "[CPS officials] did not properly plan for the transition of these students.
"They are taking kids from low-performing schools outside of their neighborhood [to] areas where there are cultural differences, gang differences, and there are no supports for the students. Out of that comes increased violence, increased dropouts."
"I believe the violence is going to get more severe, and frankly, it's going to lead to the school being closed," said Hyde Park teacher John Kugler, the school's teachers union delegate. "We need help fast."
After more than 30 years as a Chicago public school teacher, Betti Ziemba decided to chuck it all and bolt Hyde Park Career Academy in midyear. Why?
"I left out of fear,'' Ziemba said last week. "I've had it. I quit. There's no way I'm going back there.''
Ziemba bailed out of one of eight CPS high schools assigned to take more than 150 kids each over the last 1-1/2 years as the system closed failing schools. It is an influx that even CPS officials say has contributed to increased violence at most major receiving schools.
'They are coming to get me'
But the last straw was an incident last October. A sophomore lingered in class after second-period English and told her: "Miss Ziemba, they are coming to get me.''
As Ziemba moved to close the door, a swarm of angry students mobbed the entry.
"Kids started to push -- I'd say 30 to 50 people, guys and girls. And I knew none of them,'' Ziemba said. "I was almost trampled.''
Seeing the stampede, union rep John Kugler grabbed a pipe and jumped in to help.
"They were actually trying to kill somebody in there,'' said Kugler, the architectural drafting teacher. "There was no stopping them. I had to have a pipe in my hand to drag people out of the room. They were crawling over the chairs to get him. . . .
"They were saying, 'Get him. Kill him. Jump him.'"
The mob was finally dispersed without injury, but even Kugler was shaken.
"I locked my door for two periods,'' he said.
Though she wrote up the incident, Ziemba said, administrators never talked to her about punishing the orchestrator, who lived in the Calumet High attendance area that's been sending freshmen to Hyde Park.
Eventually Ziemba told officials at the end of the first semester she wouldn't be returning.
But as a result, Ziemba said, "I'm unemployed. I have no money coming in. I have two car payments coming due. I was hoping to retire this year, but I can't because [by leaving in midyear] I won't have 34 years in. . . . I'm in limbo.''
CPS has ruined and damaged many lives with its policies.
John Kugler
kuglerjohn@comcast.net
below are excerpts from our article about the increase in violence due to school closings.
Schools close, violence spikes (Chicago Sun Times)
Monday March 13th, 2006
http://www.informationliberation.com/print.php?id=7858
The most dramatic example was Hyde Park, where the average number of reported violent incidents per month jumped 226 percent during that period, the analysis of CPS data showed.
In fact, Hyde Park was hit by a double-whammy, being forced to accept more than 300 students -- more students than any other receiving school -- in the past two years because two schools closed to freshmen: Englewood this school year and Calumet the year before.
Some folks say the increase in violence at receiver schools has contributed to higher teacher turnover and has worn down principals who retired unexpectedly. Students say the fighting makes school a tougher place to learn. And West Side community group leaders say they worry school closings could unintentionally lead to a higher dropout rate.
"They have opened a Pandora's box," said Khalid Johnson, lead organizer with Westside Health Authority. "[CPS officials] did not properly plan for the transition of these students.
"They are taking kids from low-performing schools outside of their neighborhood [to] areas where there are cultural differences, gang differences, and there are no supports for the students. Out of that comes increased violence, increased dropouts."
"I believe the violence is going to get more severe, and frankly, it's going to lead to the school being closed," said Hyde Park teacher John Kugler, the school's teachers union delegate. "We need help fast."
After more than 30 years as a Chicago public school teacher, Betti Ziemba decided to chuck it all and bolt Hyde Park Career Academy in midyear. Why?
"I left out of fear,'' Ziemba said last week. "I've had it. I quit. There's no way I'm going back there.''
Ziemba bailed out of one of eight CPS high schools assigned to take more than 150 kids each over the last 1-1/2 years as the system closed failing schools. It is an influx that even CPS officials say has contributed to increased violence at most major receiving schools.
'They are coming to get me'
But the last straw was an incident last October. A sophomore lingered in class after second-period English and told her: "Miss Ziemba, they are coming to get me.''
As Ziemba moved to close the door, a swarm of angry students mobbed the entry.
"Kids started to push -- I'd say 30 to 50 people, guys and girls. And I knew none of them,'' Ziemba said. "I was almost trampled.''
Seeing the stampede, union rep John Kugler grabbed a pipe and jumped in to help.
"They were actually trying to kill somebody in there,'' said Kugler, the architectural drafting teacher. "There was no stopping them. I had to have a pipe in my hand to drag people out of the room. They were crawling over the chairs to get him. . . .
"They were saying, 'Get him. Kill him. Jump him.'"
The mob was finally dispersed without injury, but even Kugler was shaken.
"I locked my door for two periods,'' he said.
Though she wrote up the incident, Ziemba said, administrators never talked to her about punishing the orchestrator, who lived in the Calumet High attendance area that's been sending freshmen to Hyde Park.
Eventually Ziemba told officials at the end of the first semester she wouldn't be returning.
But as a result, Ziemba said, "I'm unemployed. I have no money coming in. I have two car payments coming due. I was hoping to retire this year, but I can't because [by leaving in midyear] I won't have 34 years in. . . . I'm in limbo.''
Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 12:46 AM
Violence on the rise inside Chicago high schools
Both the problem and the solution to violence (in a kid's mind, in his/her actions, in his/her family, in the schools) is multi-faceted. Far beyond the suits who run the school system. I have soem thoughts on that, but they are too long for the space allotted here.
So, I will make but one comment: I would like to see one Chicago High School adopted by the "U.S. Peace Corps." This would do two things: 1. counter all the schools that are run by the armed services and 2. bring a whole different mid set of principles to bear on the problem.
Peace Corps participants are trained in an entirely different way and with an entirely different set of principles than are the men and women of the armed forces.
As part of the school's training programs, homerooms, or whatever--maybe the central theme and radiating out from there-- would be the concept that other means of addressing and answering differences beside stiking out in violent word or deed would be studied, observed, taught, practiced, and implemented all across the curriculum.
Bob Keeley
So, I will make but one comment: I would like to see one Chicago High School adopted by the "U.S. Peace Corps." This would do two things: 1. counter all the schools that are run by the armed services and 2. bring a whole different mid set of principles to bear on the problem.
Peace Corps participants are trained in an entirely different way and with an entirely different set of principles than are the men and women of the armed forces.
As part of the school's training programs, homerooms, or whatever--maybe the central theme and radiating out from there-- would be the concept that other means of addressing and answering differences beside stiking out in violent word or deed would be studied, observed, taught, practiced, and implemented all across the curriculum.
Bob Keeley
Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 1:18 AM
Violence on the rise inside Chicago high schools
It is regrettable that Sarah Karp made these assertions, " violent incidents inside or on the grounds of Chicago’s high schools rose by almost 20 percent", and "difference might well be due to better reporting through the district’s new student information system, called IMPACT", even though she's "still in the early stages of analyzing and reporting on the data". IMPACT may, at some point in the future, provide better and more accurate data, but to use this data to make any generalizations about the state of CPS schools, or comparisons to past years is inappropriate.
During my time at CPS, I found IMPACT Misconduct data, and particularly data on Violent Misconducts, to be unreliable. The uniform application of this new Misconduct reporting system, though improving, was still problematic. Checks of that data by my team at Safety and Security revealed cases of multiple Misconduct violations assessed to a discrete individual for a discrete incident. So where it appeared that there were three separate acts of Misconduct by one individual, there were in fact multiple Misconduct records for one individual involved in one incident. Also, there were cases of multiple individuals involved in one incident being assessed multiple Misconduct violations that were in fact committed by all of the other individuals in the incident, as well as the particular violation they committed. Of course, many of the violent incidents involved one Misconduct violation by a discrete individual in a discrete incident, but the multiple counts skew the data and inflate the numbers. Conclusions based on such inflated numbers are misleading.
Finally, the IMPACT module that recorded Misconducts had a steep learning curve, required re-training of users, and there was much trial and error by school administrators who were using the system. The major consequence of these difficulties is that data from the early implementation of IMPACT is more sparse and less reliable than the data from the past school year. In many cases higher numbers simply mean more data being entered via IMPACT, and not necessarily a higher incidence of violence.
The reasons I've outlined above caused me to avoid using IMPACT Misconduct data when making data driven decisions about CPS schools during my tenure as Officer/Director of Safety and Security. Sarah Karp should do the same until IMPACT does become the premier source of reliable Misconduct data that it was intended to be.
During my time at CPS, I found IMPACT Misconduct data, and particularly data on Violent Misconducts, to be unreliable. The uniform application of this new Misconduct reporting system, though improving, was still problematic. Checks of that data by my team at Safety and Security revealed cases of multiple Misconduct violations assessed to a discrete individual for a discrete incident. So where it appeared that there were three separate acts of Misconduct by one individual, there were in fact multiple Misconduct records for one individual involved in one incident. Also, there were cases of multiple individuals involved in one incident being assessed multiple Misconduct violations that were in fact committed by all of the other individuals in the incident, as well as the particular violation they committed. Of course, many of the violent incidents involved one Misconduct violation by a discrete individual in a discrete incident, but the multiple counts skew the data and inflate the numbers. Conclusions based on such inflated numbers are misleading.
Finally, the IMPACT module that recorded Misconducts had a steep learning curve, required re-training of users, and there was much trial and error by school administrators who were using the system. The major consequence of these difficulties is that data from the early implementation of IMPACT is more sparse and less reliable than the data from the past school year. In many cases higher numbers simply mean more data being entered via IMPACT, and not necessarily a higher incidence of violence.
The reasons I've outlined above caused me to avoid using IMPACT Misconduct data when making data driven decisions about CPS schools during my tenure as Officer/Director of Safety and Security. Sarah Karp should do the same until IMPACT does become the premier source of reliable Misconduct data that it was intended to be.
Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 9:54 AM
Response to Andres Durbak on IMPACT
Andres: Thanks for your comment. I would like to respond to your take on the unreliability of IMPACT.
As Sarah and I edited her story, she and I discussed the roll-out of IMPACT and the possibility that the increase might be somewhat inflated due to better report. But if principals are now being more diligent about recording incidents of misconduct, that signals one thing: Violence has been more prevalent than previous data showed all along.
As for the learning curve with IMPACT--the first-year data do appear to be unreliable. But the increase holds true year-to-year since then.
Finally, as I understand your explanation of multiple misconduct reports, there could be some inflation of the numbers because school administrators recorded several incidents involving one student instead of several characteristics of an incident involving one student. For example, a fight would be recorded as one incident and one violation. But if that same fight involved a knife and a threat to a teacher, that would result in three incidents and three violations being recorded, instead of just one incident involving several violations.
I can see how that might happen, especially in the early stages of the IMPACT rollout, and could inflate the numbers. In that case, perhaps the numbers have not increased--but the seriousness of violence has. I would argue that we ought to be just as concerned about more-vicious fights, as more fights in general.
As Sarah and I edited her story, she and I discussed the roll-out of IMPACT and the possibility that the increase might be somewhat inflated due to better report. But if principals are now being more diligent about recording incidents of misconduct, that signals one thing: Violence has been more prevalent than previous data showed all along.
As for the learning curve with IMPACT--the first-year data do appear to be unreliable. But the increase holds true year-to-year since then.
Finally, as I understand your explanation of multiple misconduct reports, there could be some inflation of the numbers because school administrators recorded several incidents involving one student instead of several characteristics of an incident involving one student. For example, a fight would be recorded as one incident and one violation. But if that same fight involved a knife and a threat to a teacher, that would result in three incidents and three violations being recorded, instead of just one incident involving several violations.
I can see how that might happen, especially in the early stages of the IMPACT rollout, and could inflate the numbers. In that case, perhaps the numbers have not increased--but the seriousness of violence has. I would argue that we ought to be just as concerned about more-vicious fights, as more fights in general.
Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Violence on the rise inside Chicago high schools
Mr. Durbak, It is nice to hear from you. I wish I had your contact information so I could have interviewed you for this item. As it was, my calls to current CPS officials were not returned. I could have sat on the information, but, the way things go these days, I would have no guarantee that someone with some real knowledge would speak to me. Then, the question becomes, How long do I wait?
That being said, I have spoken to some folks deep within the research and accountability office who seem to think that IMPACT is picking up more of what is going on, as opposed to less. If you have proof of otherwise, I would like to see it and report on it.
Finally, IMPACT, which cost $60 million to develop and implement, has been in place for two full years now. At some point, we have to present the information that is turned out from that system. What else can we do? We have no alternative for information and we can't let years go by without checking the district's progress on measures, such as discipline, misconducts, on-track rates and absences. Can we?
That being said, I have spoken to some folks deep within the research and accountability office who seem to think that IMPACT is picking up more of what is going on, as opposed to less. If you have proof of otherwise, I would like to see it and report on it.
Finally, IMPACT, which cost $60 million to develop and implement, has been in place for two full years now. At some point, we have to present the information that is turned out from that system. What else can we do? We have no alternative for information and we can't let years go by without checking the district's progress on measures, such as discipline, misconducts, on-track rates and absences. Can we?
Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 11:56 AM
Violence on the rise inside Chicago high schools
How hard is it for an investigative reporter to find Andre Durbak????
Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 12:26 PM
Violence on the rise inside Chicago high schools
It is not hard... I will call as soon as I fish up his number?
Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 2:08 PM
Violence on the rise inside Chicago high schools
mr. durbak knows quite well that what ever stats are out there, they are a small percentage of what actually gets reported. In my experience maybe 10-25% of what happens in a school gets reported the other events are either ignored or settled without paperwork.
There is actually a state laws governing the reporting of violence in schools. It would be interesting to compare these two data sets and see if they are the same.
(105 ILCS 5/10‑21.7) (from Ch. 122, par. 10‑21.7)
Sec. 10‑21.7. Attacks on school personnel.
(a) In the Section, "school" means any public or private elementary or secondary school.
(b) Upon receipt of a written complaint from any school personnel, the superintendent, or other appropriate administrative officer for a private school, shall report all incidents of battery committed against teachers, teacher personnel, administrative personnel or educational support personnel to the local law enforcement authorities immediately after the occurrence of the attack and to the Department of State Police's Illinois Uniform Crime Reporting Program no later than 3 days after the occurrence of the attack. The State Board of Education shall receive monthly as well as annual statistical compilations of attacks on school personnel from the Department of State Police through the Illinois Uniform Crime Reporting Program. The State Board of Education shall compile this information by school district and make it available to the public.
(Source: P.A. 91‑491, eff. 8‑13‑99.)
There is actually a state laws governing the reporting of violence in schools. It would be interesting to compare these two data sets and see if they are the same.
(105 ILCS 5/10‑21.7) (from Ch. 122, par. 10‑21.7)
Sec. 10‑21.7. Attacks on school personnel.
(a) In the Section, "school" means any public or private elementary or secondary school.
(b) Upon receipt of a written complaint from any school personnel, the superintendent, or other appropriate administrative officer for a private school, shall report all incidents of battery committed against teachers, teacher personnel, administrative personnel or educational support personnel to the local law enforcement authorities immediately after the occurrence of the attack and to the Department of State Police's Illinois Uniform Crime Reporting Program no later than 3 days after the occurrence of the attack. The State Board of Education shall receive monthly as well as annual statistical compilations of attacks on school personnel from the Department of State Police through the Illinois Uniform Crime Reporting Program. The State Board of Education shall compile this information by school district and make it available to the public.
(Source: P.A. 91‑491, eff. 8‑13‑99.)
Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 2:53 PM
Violence on the rise inside Chicago high schools
CPS is supposed to report various incidents to the state police via the Illinois State Board of Education. CPS has been non-compliant for several years. ISBE and ISP are aware. Good luck getting ISBE or ISP to do anything about it.
http://www.isbe.net/accountability/html/sch_incident.htm
http://webapps.isbe.net/sirs/webreports.aspx
Judy King
http://www.isbe.net/accountability/html/sch_incident.htm
http://webapps.isbe.net/sirs/webreports.aspx
Judy King
Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 5:58 PM
state law
no outside clowns who steal the money and run.
no cta cronies doctoring up data and documents.
do they follow state laws? i think not.
john kugler
kuglerjohn@hotmail.com
(105 ILCS 5/2-3.131)
Sec. 2-3.131. Persistently dangerous schools. The State
Board of Education shall maintain data and publish a list of
persistently dangerous schools on an annual basis.
(105 ILCS 5/10‑22.24b)
Sec. 10‑22.24b. School counseling services. School
counseling services in the public schools may be provided by
school counselors as defined in Section 10‑22.24a. School
counseling services include but are not limited to:
(4) developing and facilitating anti‑violence education or conflict resolution programs, or both;
(5) providing crisis intervention programs within the
school setting;
(105 ILCS 5/10‑22.34) (from Ch. 122, par. 10‑22.34)
(b‑5) A school board may utilize volunteer personnel from
a regional School Crisis Assistance Team (S.C.A.T.), created
as part of the Safe to Learn Program established pursuant to
Section 25 of the Illinois Violence Prevention Act of 1995, to
provide assistance to schools in times of violence or other
traumatic incidents within a school community by providing
crisis intervention services to lessen the effects of
emotional trauma on individuals and the community. The School
Crisis Assistance Team Steering Committee shall determine the
qualifications for volunteers.
no cta cronies doctoring up data and documents.
do they follow state laws? i think not.
john kugler
kuglerjohn@hotmail.com
(105 ILCS 5/2-3.131)
Sec. 2-3.131. Persistently dangerous schools. The State
Board of Education shall maintain data and publish a list of
persistently dangerous schools on an annual basis.
(105 ILCS 5/10‑22.24b)
Sec. 10‑22.24b. School counseling services. School
counseling services in the public schools may be provided by
school counselors as defined in Section 10‑22.24a. School
counseling services include but are not limited to:
(4) developing and facilitating anti‑violence education or conflict resolution programs, or both;
(5) providing crisis intervention programs within the
school setting;
(105 ILCS 5/10‑22.34) (from Ch. 122, par. 10‑22.34)
(b‑5) A school board may utilize volunteer personnel from
a regional School Crisis Assistance Team (S.C.A.T.), created
as part of the Safe to Learn Program established pursuant to
Section 25 of the Illinois Violence Prevention Act of 1995, to
provide assistance to schools in times of violence or other
traumatic incidents within a school community by providing
crisis intervention services to lessen the effects of
emotional trauma on individuals and the community. The School
Crisis Assistance Team Steering Committee shall determine the
qualifications for volunteers.
Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 6:33 PM
Violence on the rise inside Chicago high schools
I hate to pour salt in a wound, however, if you think that the violence in the high Schools are bad you would be very surprised to know that the middle schools are probably tied or running a close second. Because of the lack of police, an inappropriate middle school curriculum
and a lack od support for teachers, many of our middle schools are the catalyst for the violence you see at the high school, level.
If Huberman wants to truly fix the schools and not just have a band-aide approach, he must address the violence in the middle schools first.
Also, Huberman needs to support teachers and stop attacking teachers when children threaten them and assault them.
This seems the be the strategy that he thinks will work.
When students learn that they can attack adults threaten them and verbally and physically assault them, I'm surprised the situation isn't worse than it is.
With the new attitude at CPS where they believe that hard working teachers are the root of their problems. They continue to encourage disgruntled students who are constant behavior problem in school to tell lies on teachers and staff. In several instances a teacher reported that a student threatened to stab her in the chest, this teacher filled out a police report and followed proper protocol. However, when the student said the teacher called her a named, the Law Department suspended the teacher without pay. Since then the principal has given this same girl 4 expulsion hearings for assaulting her. The Law Department has supported this insane principal. Also, I cannot tell you the number of honorable teachers that have been attacked by these students and the CPS Law department. The Law Department at CPS should be ashamed of the way that they have supported these violent students. In many cases they are encouraging this epidemic of violence and deserve whatever happens!
and a lack od support for teachers, many of our middle schools are the catalyst for the violence you see at the high school, level.
If Huberman wants to truly fix the schools and not just have a band-aide approach, he must address the violence in the middle schools first.
Also, Huberman needs to support teachers and stop attacking teachers when children threaten them and assault them.
This seems the be the strategy that he thinks will work.
When students learn that they can attack adults threaten them and verbally and physically assault them, I'm surprised the situation isn't worse than it is.
With the new attitude at CPS where they believe that hard working teachers are the root of their problems. They continue to encourage disgruntled students who are constant behavior problem in school to tell lies on teachers and staff. In several instances a teacher reported that a student threatened to stab her in the chest, this teacher filled out a police report and followed proper protocol. However, when the student said the teacher called her a named, the Law Department suspended the teacher without pay. Since then the principal has given this same girl 4 expulsion hearings for assaulting her. The Law Department has supported this insane principal. Also, I cannot tell you the number of honorable teachers that have been attacked by these students and the CPS Law department. The Law Department at CPS should be ashamed of the way that they have supported these violent students. In many cases they are encouraging this epidemic of violence and deserve whatever happens!
Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 6:41 PM
Violence on the rise inside Chicago high schools
The title of this piece rather irked me. Whether there are 38 or 45 schools on Huberman's list of schools that need violence intervention programs, it is still a minority of the high schools.
I teach in one of the larger high schools, and I don't see an increase in violence over the past decade at my school. Granted, that's anecdotal, and I don't mean to gloss over the fact that there are indeed both acts and threats of violence. It's important to note, however, that my school has been free of the ramifications of CPS policy regarding turnarounds, school closings, and the like.
The Impact results may provide raw data, but are too unreliable to provide any useable information or analysis. Mr. Durbak cites a very credible explanation of the "three-fold" increase in incidents.
Sarah Karp is one of the better education beat reporters in this town, but this story is not an example of her better work.
I teach in one of the larger high schools, and I don't see an increase in violence over the past decade at my school. Granted, that's anecdotal, and I don't mean to gloss over the fact that there are indeed both acts and threats of violence. It's important to note, however, that my school has been free of the ramifications of CPS policy regarding turnarounds, school closings, and the like.
The Impact results may provide raw data, but are too unreliable to provide any useable information or analysis. Mr. Durbak cites a very credible explanation of the "three-fold" increase in incidents.
Sarah Karp is one of the better education beat reporters in this town, but this story is not an example of her better work.
Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 6:57 PM
REALISTIC VIEWPOINT OF CPS SCHOOLS.
I want to thank Sarah KARP FOR THIS REALISTIC VIEWPOINT OF CPS SCHOOLS. Although many of our schools and teachers up north enjoy the pleasantries of normal high school life. Turnarounds and school closing have perpetuated a culture of anger and hatred of children and staff that are employed at these schools. Instead of giving these courageous teachers a standing ovation for having the guts to teach in these horrific environments that CPS has created, they have the audacity to fire them. These cowards that sit behind their desk at central office and create a sense of instability and pandemonium in the lives of these 'At Risk" students deserve a special place in hell!
Sarah can you do a piece on the CPS Law Department and how their attack on teachers help to fuel the violence?
Sarah can you do a piece on the CPS Law Department and how their attack on teachers help to fuel the violence?
Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 9:21 PM
Violence on the rise inside Chicago high schools
we should investigate the law department and see how much time and resources the send on internal spying and political work rather than student advocacy. I would be interesting to quantify how much they have spent on me. last I checked was two years ago they had one full file box collected on me, by now it might be two or three.
The saddest thing is that we are talking about violence in a system that could have been prevented if the proper people and resources were in place managing the school district with the students' interests and safety a priority, rather than profit and gentrification.
John Kugler
Displaced Carpentry Teacher
kuglerjohn@comcast.net
The saddest thing is that we are talking about violence in a system that could have been prevented if the proper people and resources were in place managing the school district with the students' interests and safety a priority, rather than profit and gentrification.
John Kugler
Displaced Carpentry Teacher
kuglerjohn@comcast.net
Sat Oct 17, 2009 at 8:09 AM
Violence on the rise inside Chicago high schools
Why won't Ron Huberman tell us the names of the 38 or 45 high schools that don't have a "culture of calm"? Is it a secret? Inquiring minds what to know! Investigative reporters do your job!
Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 4:56 PM
Violence on the rise inside Chicago high schools
It is interesting that Zeta should bring up the question of teachers making charges against students for aggravated assult under 720 ILCS 5/12 (3) which was specifically written for school employees who are at work. Assult without battery is defined in the law as follows: "A person commits an assault when, without lawful authority, he engages in conduct which places another in reasonable apprehension of receiving a battery."
Only last week I was involved in a case relating to a charge of aggravated assult against a special education teacher by an adult student with a disability. This student swore at the teacher and when disciplined said "You will get yours." The student in question had a history of abusive language along with an emotional behavior disorder. The preliminary hearing was to be heard at Cook County Circuit Court Branch 50 located at 5555 West Grand Avenue.
We waited most of the day for the hearing but neither the teacher nor arresting officer appeared for the hearing and the case against the student was dropped. The student was represented by counsel which I had helped the family get. I must admit I was upset, the family was upset, and the student was upset. The lawyer representing the student was not in the least upset and said she was not surprised neither the teacher or any one from CPS appeared.
I do not believe that the officer who made the arrest had probable cause to make the arrest at the high school based on the teacher's statement. I would have liked for the family to have filed charges of false arrest against both the school and the officer. I was advised by the lawyer I was over reaching, that the standard for false arrest was far too high to even consider such an action. So I guess there are some times very different perspectives on what actually is reasonable apprehension of a teacher being attacked and hence aggravated assult.
Sometimes the CPS law department, and or the State's Attorney may not agree with a teacher that there really was "reasonable" belief that the words of the student, no matter how disrespectful actually formed the legal basis for a charge of aggravated assult.
When I was a high school teacher I know I felt threatened several times by students and had several students suspended for their verbal conduct. I do know the feeling of going to your car at the end of the school day and wondering if some one is going to come up behind you. It is not a good feeling. But those words never became actions and if I had these students arrested for verbal assult it would have been wrong.
Rod Estvan
Only last week I was involved in a case relating to a charge of aggravated assult against a special education teacher by an adult student with a disability. This student swore at the teacher and when disciplined said "You will get yours." The student in question had a history of abusive language along with an emotional behavior disorder. The preliminary hearing was to be heard at Cook County Circuit Court Branch 50 located at 5555 West Grand Avenue.
We waited most of the day for the hearing but neither the teacher nor arresting officer appeared for the hearing and the case against the student was dropped. The student was represented by counsel which I had helped the family get. I must admit I was upset, the family was upset, and the student was upset. The lawyer representing the student was not in the least upset and said she was not surprised neither the teacher or any one from CPS appeared.
I do not believe that the officer who made the arrest had probable cause to make the arrest at the high school based on the teacher's statement. I would have liked for the family to have filed charges of false arrest against both the school and the officer. I was advised by the lawyer I was over reaching, that the standard for false arrest was far too high to even consider such an action. So I guess there are some times very different perspectives on what actually is reasonable apprehension of a teacher being attacked and hence aggravated assult.
Sometimes the CPS law department, and or the State's Attorney may not agree with a teacher that there really was "reasonable" belief that the words of the student, no matter how disrespectful actually formed the legal basis for a charge of aggravated assult.
When I was a high school teacher I know I felt threatened several times by students and had several students suspended for their verbal conduct. I do know the feeling of going to your car at the end of the school day and wondering if some one is going to come up behind you. It is not a good feeling. But those words never became actions and if I had these students arrested for verbal assult it would have been wrong.
Rod Estvan
Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 5:13 PM
Violence on the rise inside Chicago high schools
Dear Rod
At any time during your long wait for the hearing did you or
anyone else call the school? Many times nobody notifies the
officer or teacher of the time of the hearing. In some cases
the wrong date is posted.
At any time during your long wait for the hearing did you or
anyone else call the school? Many times nobody notifies the
officer or teacher of the time of the hearing. In some cases
the wrong date is posted.
Tue Oct 20, 2009 at 5:56 PM
Violence on the rise inside Chicago high schools
coordination is left to the teacher. i was assaulted by two students pressed charges and at no time did i get any support for the law department nor the union. both plead guilty to assault on a protected employee.
Wed Oct 21, 2009 at 1:52 PM
Violence on the rise inside Chicago high schools
I was not at court to support the teacher who brought forward the charges, I was there on behalf of the student with a disability. Why in the world would I have wanted to call the school when the teacher did not show? But if the teacher was serious, the teacher could have easily found the date and time of the hearing from the State's attorney. When you bring forward charges against a student teachers have an obligation to appear in court.
As the lawyer told me legally this did not equate to false arrest, but from my perspective I think it was just a tactic to push a very difficult student out the door of the school. What the teacher should have done was to fight for either far more support for this student or for the student to be placed in a special day program. The student's mother had been asking for such a placement. The family is moving to Country Club Hills and the school district there will most likely be placing the student in a therapeutic day school according to the student's mother.
Rod Estvan
As the lawyer told me legally this did not equate to false arrest, but from my perspective I think it was just a tactic to push a very difficult student out the door of the school. What the teacher should have done was to fight for either far more support for this student or for the student to be placed in a special day program. The student's mother had been asking for such a placement. The family is moving to Country Club Hills and the school district there will most likely be placing the student in a therapeutic day school according to the student's mother.
Rod Estvan
Wed Oct 21, 2009 at 3:53 PM
Violence on the rise inside Chicago high schools
Thanks Rod
I couldn’t have put it better myself.
I couldn’t have put it better myself.
Wed May 5, 2010 at 4:36 AM
Violence on the rise inside Chicago high schools
<a href="http://www.weddingdressescustom.com/sexy-wedding-dresses_c240">Sexy Wedding Dresses</a></p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.weddingdressescustom.com/simple-wedding-dresses_c241">Simple Wedding Dresses</a></p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.weddingdressescustom.com/casual-wedding-dresses_c242">Casual Wedding Dresses</a></p>
<p
<p>
<a href="http://www.weddingdressescustom.com/simple-wedding-dresses_c241">Simple Wedding Dresses</a></p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.weddingdressescustom.com/casual-wedding-dresses_c242">Casual Wedding Dresses</a></p>
<p
By using this service you agree not to post material that is obscene, harassing, defamatory, or otherwise objectionable. Catalyst-Chicago reserves the right to delete or move any material that it deems to be in violation of this rule, and to ban anyone who violates this rule. Reader comments are limited to 500 words.
