| By Bob Weaver
Bullying and bad behavior is such a serious problem in West Virginia schools that more than half of school employees report that they have felt intimidated by students.
Seventy-four percent of teachers and school service personnel say they need stronger disciplinary policies in West Virginia schools.
The survey says students lose a full day of instruction each week because of disruptive children.
Two state education groups, the West Virginia American Federation of Teachers and West Virginia School Service Personnel Association, say schools need "discipline without delay."
With values and culture changing, middle schools across America have reported an increase in behavioral problems, a problem Calhoun Middle School principal Carla Taylor defines as "disrespect for the rules, procedures, teachers and other students."
"Fortunately, it is a minority of students," said Taylor, who indicated about 5% of the student population are frequently disruptive, with "a few students repeating the bad behavior over and over."
There are problems in high school too, according to the survey.
Lawmakers said they need to know why school leaders are not taking action before they can improve the school safety.
"Is it perhaps just a fear of the family," said Delegate Joe DeLong, D-Hancock, who now tend to support students bad behavior.
"Or is it more of an administrative type fear? Are you going to lose funding or is it going to create problems for your school?," said DeLong, with educators worried about passing No Child Left Behind.
WVAFT President Judy Hale says teachers are concerned more about the constant disruptions than they are about the school safety issues many people talk about.
Hale says discipline problems go unreported because administrators don't want to get on the bad side of "No Child Left Behind."
"No superintendent, or county board or principal wants their school tagged as persistently dangerous," she said.
State School Service Personnel Association Executive Secretary Bob Brown says 56 percent of the survey respondents said discipline has gotten worse.
"The overwhelming majority of school employees really don't believe they are getting the support at the top," Brown said.
Brown thinks the legislature should create more opportunities for alternative placement of troubled students.
Carla Taylor, Calhoun Middle School principal, said her school experienced a loss this year with the cutting of the In-School Suspension room, which required monitoring by a teacher. The cut was made because of tight finances, she said.
Brown says it would be a good idea to hire extra personnel to be in charge of those students in what are now empty classrooms in school buildings all across the state.
Calhoun's Middle School started the Respect and Protect program over a year ago to try and help the problem. Parts of the R & P program are now included in the high school.
Taylor says the program has helped significantly.
"There has been a decrease in detention, suspensions and expulsions," she said, with most parents approving the program, according to a survey.
In less than one year in-school suspensions went from 191 to 138, and out-of-school suspensions dropped 41 percent. Expulsions dropped 71%.
Eighth grade teacher at CM-HS Stephanie Carpenter, a member of the R & P core team told the Herald, "It's important to recognize that most students are respectful and present few problems."
"Working with problem students, we want them to see a light at the end of the tunnel," she said, noting the program is based not just on punishment, but positive rewards.
Principal Taylor says Calhoun's Respect and Protect program is being adopted by the WV State Department of Education. | 
