School's lesson in foul language goes too far, parents say

With cursing becoming all too common at school, a Fresno, Calif., principal tried something unusual: He had teachers write obscene words on classroom white boards to let students know what they shouldn't say.

McClatchy Newspapers (MCT) - Ray Avila's idea at Tioga Middle School backfired. A 12-year-old's parents complained that the language lesson was just foul.

Education experts agree the Tioga lesson plan was flawed from the start, but it highlights a problem in schools nationwide: How to teach children appropriate behavior in an era when many children aren't learning those lessons at home.

"Unfortunately, some children aren't getting the skills they need to succeed," said Valerie Davis, a trustee with the Fresno Unified School District.

The district has aggressively pursued sex-education, drug-prevention and anti-profanity programs to try to prepare students for college and the workplace, Davis said.

Just this week, the Fresno Unified's school board voted to spend a $1.3 million on a five-year program to combat bullying, harassment and molestation on school campuses by getting parents more involved.

Fresno Unified's push to curb unwanted behavior appears to be supported by a December 2007 study by the Chicago-based Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning, a nonprofit group.

The four-year study concluded that schools where teachers instruct students on how to better manage their emotions and behavior often show improvements in the social climate and in academic achievement.

"Schools are expected to do more today than they have ever done in the past, because kids are under increasing pressure," said Jeanne Osgood, a spokeswoman for the education research group.

The factors are many: a national push for higher test scores; more violence and profanity on television, movies and music; and a declining percentage of two-parent households.

In 1980, according to the Chicago group's study, 77 percent of children, from infant to 17 years old, lived with parents who were married. In 2006, that figure was 67 percent, the study showed.

The bad economy also has prompted more parents to seek employment, leaving students to spend more time with someone else, Osgood said.

Teachers say they face a daunting task in trying to convince children that they could have a better life with improved behavior.

According to the California Department of Education, 85 percent of Fresno Unified students are eligible to receive free school meals. In Tioga, 100 percent are eligible.

Tioga, near First Street and Shaw Avenue, is a prime example of the challenges the district faces. The school has 820 students but no PTA or strong parent involvement. Instead, teachers and staff volunteer to mentor many students from single-parent homes.

Avila said he doesn't know why students curse so much. But he noted that there are seven group homes for foster children within the school's attendance boundaries.

Light Your Free Virtual Prayer Candle Today

The profanity lesson at Tioga appears to be an isolated experiment in the region, but schools elsewhere have tried the same type of thing.

In December, the principal of St. Clare of Montefalco Catholic School in Grosse Pointe Park, Mich., told students that cursing would not be tolerated. Just in case the students were uncertain, Sister Kathy Avery read off a list of words and phrases that she was banning.

Some parents were shocked, but others applauded, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Locally, school districts say they have had few or no complaints regarding sex education, drug prevention or character programs.

"It's a tough call, but our job is to create a safe and comfortable learning environment," and this includes instruction on proper behavior, Clovis Unified spokeswoman Kelly Avants said.

Typically, parents have to sign a permission slip to allow their child to attend these programs, Avants said. At Tioga, Avila didn't give parents that option _ prompting a complaint from the parents of 12-year-old Phoenix Hawkins.

"We have the right to protect our son's innocence," said Tim Baber, the fiance of Phoenix's mother, Erin Hawkins.

Avila said he made a mistake when he allowed teachers to show obscene words to about 200 students during the first week of school in late August. He also said the lesson _ which was intended to teach students that crude language can be offensive and hurtful _ won't be taught again in the same manner.

But Avila and other school officials shouldn't stop trying new methods to get children to behave, said Joe Parks, an education professor at California State University, Fresno.

"Parents aren't doing the job at home, so it has fallen on the teachers to do it," Parks said.

That's why Parks gives this advice to his students: "I tell them that they have to be mother, father, priest, counselor and friend to students."

___

© 2008, The Fresno Bee (Fresno, Calif.).