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Today (8/30), the Ledger reported on the Department of Education’s latest report on school violence, vandalism, weapons and substance abuse. The report contains some very troubling news for Ridgewood. This is regardless of the fact that the reporting across districts and counties may be flawed, though not flawed enough to render the report irresponsible. It would be wise for administrators to pay close heed to these findings and consider what they have done in the past that either has not worked, or may have inadvertently exacerbated the problem. Here’s a comparative look of four districts in the report: Glen Rock, Hackensack, Ridgewood and Newark.
Glen Rock, with an enrollment of 2,471 students, reported a total number of 8 incidences of the above
Hackensack City, with an enrollment of 5,059, students reported a total number of 24 incidences
Ridgewood, with an enrollment of 5,553 students, reported a total of 95 incidences.
Newark City, with an enrollment of 41,855 students, reported a total of 414 incidences (unless you’re terc impaired, you know that that would extrapolate to more incidences by percentage in Ridgewood).
Could it be that Glen Rock, Hackensack and Newark are drastically underreporting or does Ridgewood have more than a Starbucks’s problem? Regardless, our administrators owe Ridgewood parents and taxpayers a revealing discussion of this issue rather than the usual explaining away of what the numbers mean. The full report is available at:
https://www.state.nj.us/education/schools/vandv/0506/appende1.pdf
>between the dumb math and now a high rate of violence, its time for a CHANGE
so not only does our fireman boe president allow dumb dumb math, he’s allowing violence at an unacceptable rate – and is ALL of it being reported?
recall this BOE
shameful – too bad they are too stupid to feel shame
>Ridgewood school district better do something or we’ll end up like Camden, Paterson and Passaic.
>I recall that the District attempted to ascertain levels of miscreant behavior through a survey program that was an absolute indicator of where we were heading. Too bad the uber-vocal minority took such issue with the survey process and not the survey results.
>Ridgewood went from “23” instances of violence in ’02-’03 to “37” in ’05-’06. Substances for the same periods went from “9” to “14”. Most other districts went down. This does not bode well for Ridgewood.
Glen Rock, Northern Highlands and Ramsey are looking more appealing by the moment — AND — they also don’t teach TERC math — AND — their taxes are lower. Goodbye, Ridgewood!
It’ll be intesting to see the spin that the boe will put on this and we know they will.
>The infamous RHS survey of 1999 was a sham — many students (my children included) had a field day answering the questions. My daughter started the survey by indicating that she was an American Indian — not true.
The most shocking, revealing and truthful account of substance abuse at RHS came from an article in the RHS student newspaper in June of 2006 … the year of this Violence Report. As I recall, the co-principals threatened to not allow those students involved in the article to graduate because they would not divulge their sources.
Student surveys are worthless. The news article in The High Times was priceless.
>Close the campus and create a more supervised environment. Watch the incidents drop dramatically!
These students are not adults. Their collective behavior continually makes it clear that they require a more structured environment.
>The news article in the High Times was just as fabricated as your daughters’ American Indian status, I can assure you. Or at least that’s what one of the students responsible told me.
I WISH we could take this info and digest it and all sit down to analyze it and then decide as a community how best to respond. As the initial poster said, a close look at the methodology would be in order before jumping too far to conclusions.
That said, obviously we all should look into this…and not just knee-jerk jump to criticizing Mark Bombace and the BOE. Give me a break. Exactly which Board policy would you point to that would explain this data? Curriculum and school policies are FAR LESS likely to affect violent behavior, vandalism, weapons and substance abuse than our own parenting and community values. Sorry folks, but if anyone is responsible for this it’s going to be US, and we are going to have to do some soul-searching and community-building.
>10:28
Where were you? They DID the survey in 2000 and it was useless, just as the critics said.
If it were so useful, then how come we are where we are today?
What an idiotic comment you made.
>Hey 10:28 AM, I consider the DOE report a more accurate survey of actual facts. As I recall, the old survey that was done was self-reported data. In other words, the data are unreliable because its based on unpredictable levels or lack thereof of honesty in any given student or student body. BEtter to have an actual report to work with.
>there you go again bb ,perhaps we do need TERC in ridgewood after all acourding to some BOE members we are just like newark and patterson ,and the level of criminality woul be s out..nothing like pushing the blame off bb you guys wrecked the school system and now its everonelses fault oh brother ,yes it Bush thats right …well I guess it could be our fault we voted for you dolts ….
>Forget about the unreliable self-reported data from the students. We must look at the hard data: police & fire departments, hospital emergency rooms, school guidance counselors, doctors, social service agencies, mental health clinics, etc. These entities have the facts and without divulging the names of individuals they should be able to supply the numbers to our community.
>block scheduling + open campus = T-R-0-U-B-L-E
>so will the realitors turn on the BOE now that they have destroyed the school system
>Don’t the parents who raise these children have any responsibility???
>I know RHS has cameras placed in hallways ….. how many cameras I don’t know. As a parent I have no problem with cameras in and around schools ….. as long as they are not placed in locker rooms or inside bathroom stalls.
>Welcome to Montclair.
>I agree with 2:06 pm. The open campus situation invites opportunities for students inclined to poor judgment. They need to be supervised until they really are adults. That is why they are still considered CHILDREN.
BBwool (you’re back?): that IS a BOE policy right there.
>Hey, what’s with “you guys wrecked the school system?” I’m not on the BOE, and don’t work for the schools. Don’t lump me in with those guys! I’m just a parent — and one who doesn’t blame the schools for my kid’s behavior…and takes responsibility for teaching my kids values, e.g., violence at school = bad, vandalism at school = wrong, weapons at school = not allowed, and substance abuse = wrong again. It is not the school rules that are at the root of these types of behaviors. And can we please leave TERC out of ONE conversation, jeez! It’s really stretching to bring it into this topic!
>I, for one, subscribe to the notion of fixing the small things and the big will follow. I have friends who live elsewhere in Bergen County and their kids can’t wear hats or chew gum in school- our kids do both at MS and HS levels. The students think they can do whatever they want and act and dress how they choose. The attitude of entitlement grows from there. I WISH, PRAY, BEG for a stricter dress code in the schools. How can you fight it when the kids say, “we have no dress code” and I’m not talking about little ones that you can just put your foot down with…I’m talking about high schoolers and trying to choose your battles and all that. My daughter says kids sit in class with I-pods in their ears and hoods on so the teachers don’t see (or don’t care!). It’s disgraceful. To reiterate, if you fix the small things, the big ones follow. If they are expected to dress in a certain manner they tend to rise to the occasion and act in a certain manner.
My 2 cents…
>This would stop if they closed the darn campus and really kept track of the kids.
>Go ahead blame the schools again! Don’t take any responsibility for this as parents and residents. Remember the kids get it from somewhere. The apple never falls far from the tree…and what great role models you all are!
>Parents no excuses…. take responsibility for your own kids…. can not always be some one else who is at fault.
>I must go and read the article, I think it is irresponsble of PJBlogger62 to raise this issue without a detailed analysis of the data. Check again ‘school violence, vandalism, weapons and substance abuse’ – So writing on the bathroom wall is included with drug taking and shootings.Lets keep this in perspective and ensure that small minded egos and agendas don’t take over. Ridgewood is a great place.
>I must go and read the article, I think it is irresponsble of PJBlogger62 …here you dope now learn to read I hate these idiots form the BOE and the RNews posting stupid crap on your blog…
In today’s Star-Ledger there is an article entitled, “N.J. schools shake ‘persistently dangerous’ label.” Ridgewood did not fair well in this report.
For the academic year 2005-06 there were 5,553 students enrolled. During 2005-06 there were 37 acts of violence for a 1 year change in violence of +11. During this same year there were 95 instances of violence, vandalism, weapons and substance abuse for a 1 year total change of +41.
hows that for info jerk
>I love Ridgewood, but I’m the one that posted above about the hats and gum in school. Do you others have high schoolers? If so, there is no way to convince them to stay on campus if campus is “open.” Mine wasn’t, in high school, theirs is. How can I be a role model for my kid in this instance, I’m not THERE! It’s easy to criticize if you only have elementary or middle schoolers. What the hell are you supposed to do as a parent of a high school aged teen? Once they’re there at 7:45 they’re out of our hands.
>In response to “rik mayal” one can only say ‘Dope’ and ‘Jerk’ arn’t very useful terms in this discussion, I assume you were not educated in Ridgewood. The real Rik Mayall would be disappointed!
>I assume you were not educated in Ridgewood…rik I guess your not kissing up enough ,sorry he is rght the post is very obvious read the article ,and the report is linked the facts are the facts ,I think rik is POed that so many attack the messanger instead of try to fix the problem ,dont attack the blog and i will repeat
In today’s Star-Ledger there is an article entitled, “N.J. schools shake ‘persistently dangerous’ label.” Ridgewood did not fair well in this report.
For the academic year 2005-06 there were 5,553 students enrolled. During 2005-06 there were 37 acts of violence for a 1 year change in violence of +11. During this same year there were 95 instances of violence, vandalism, weapons and substance abuse for a 1 year total change of +41.
read the facts then we will see who is “irresponsble” star with the parents or the BOE
>Open campus is not the problem — it’s been ‘open’ for 30 years. Like a previous poster mentioned, try fixing the small things first. Start reining in the children (yes, they are still children) with regard to chewing gum, using ipods/phones, etc. first. Then tackle dress codes and see where we are. Once they realize that they do not rule the universe, Ridgewood teens may start to make an attempt to behave. Parents, feel free to step in at any time — thanks!
>Parents are trying, but when there is an open campus and only 45 minutes for lunch a lot of kids won’t walk back. Sorry BB Wool, but that’s the schools responsibility.
I can deliver my child and pick them up, but if the school can make sure they aer in class and tell me when they cut, that’s there fault.
Ramsey has a system that enables parents to log in to see their kids attendence and up to date test scores.
I thought the BOE purchased this when it purchased the SASI system.
But there are not parent logins and the progress reports and teacher communications come too late to make any adjustments as parents.
There’s two BOE items – open campus and parental logins like Ramsey.
How about starting there?
>Lets all move to Ho Ho Kus not a single incidence!
>But that article you keep quoting doesn’t give enough info. What are the definitions, for the purpose of this data, of violence, vandalism, weapons and substance abuse? And instead of lumping all four things together, was there one area where the increase was greatest? That would interest me and give some context. I had/have kids in the high school and while I have heard things here and there, the idea that there were 95 “instances” of these things does not jibe with what my kids know/see every day. Maybe they are out of it, but they are fairly involved, connected kids. Without some context, this kind of raw data is not helpful. We need more info before we can attack the problem.
>When we were kids and didn’t follow the rules we got “wacked”
(not like Sopranos do) with the back of the hand, we are not violent because of this. In general we conform and do the right things. Sure maybe we did a little grass, but we didn’t beat people up to get it.
Its time that todays parents spend some time with their kids.
and teach the values that were passed on from our parents.
By the time our kids reach HS they have the values that they learned from us. If they learned at all.
WAKE UP FOLKS its YOUR fault that the kids are the way they are today.
NOT THE SCHOOLS.
Its too late for the middle school kids right now. But do your job for the grade school childern NOW while you can.
YOU TEACH THEM VALUES.
>You’re right. 6:23
Get rid of the nanny and spend time with your childern. You can do this with out help. Your mother did it and so did her mother.
And they didn’t need to medicate to cope.
Teach your childern to behave and they won’t give you a headache.
Playing tennis is ok but you need to spend QUALITY time with the kids too.
>Two thoughts –
When I moved to Ridgewood I applied to become a substitute teacher until I could find a full time teaching job. I worked at the High School and I was shocked at the attitute of not only the students but some of the techers. When I took attendance the students then just walked out, or they brought friends into the classroom, or they listened to their i-pods or ate or played card games. If you pulled them up on it you just got attitude – from both student, teacher and admin.
My own highschool kids say that happens all the time!
Enough is enough – there should be better leadership from admin after all they get paid the big bucks. They should expect be unpopular with some of the people in the community but in the long run the students would benefit.
As a parent of highschoolers I hate the block scheduling and long lunches because my kids are constantly coming home or into town. How can I keep track of them when even the school can’t. What happened to in loco parentis. I let the school have my kids in their care and expect them to look after them as I would – which means knowing where they are at all times. How can the school safe guard my child when they don’t know where they are.
Also as an open campus there is so little security it is a joke. You can get in any door without being asked what you are there for and the students often open doors for their friends
>You’re on the right track. Open Campus and Block Schedules should be a topic of discussion. The world has changed over the 30 years since Ridgewood opened its campus. Lets all accept this and perhaps identify if tightening things up will help.
While I agree with the posters who say “Raise your own kid the right way..,” I also understand that my HS student is out of my hands while school is in session. What I see, even at the middle school level?
Disrespectful kids. Teachers and administrators who are, at times, afraid to crack down on bad behavior. They arent afraid of the kids, at least not yet. But they are afraid of the parents… the “How dare you???” Entitlement crowd, who immediately go to the principal or their friends on the BOE and claim the rights of their precious student have been violated.
Lets have a dress code. No hats or hoods on inside the building. Thats called respect for the institution. No IPODS allowed in the classrooms. Thats called respect for the teacher. No gum in the school building. If your child doesnt like it? Simple answser: Too bad.
If we allow the middle schools and RHS to tighten things up? Many of our kids will actually breath a sigh of relief. The peer pressure to show disrespect to authority will quickly go away, once that same authorty can be demonstrated.
>Even though I grew up in Ridgewood and am a proud graduate of Ridgewood High School, a few trips to Ridgewood parks convinced me to raise my children in another town. You want to fault the high school teachers who don’t do anything? Look at the parents who REF– USE to discipline their children, who get OFFENDED when you tell their children to stop hitting yours. How do you think those parents react when teachers report bad behavior? You want to blame open campus? If the problems are happening as students stroll to Renato’s, why are the reports AT THE HIGH SCHOOL? You want to blame the Board of Ed? They’re not raising these kids with the nasty sense of entitlement and disregard for others, the parents are.
The administration and BOE should be blamed for fearing parents so much that they don’t effectively discipline the students. Of course, seeing what happens to district employees who incur the wrath of the parents, it’s easy to see why they don’t.
>9:12,
You hit the nail on the head with your comments! I couldn’t have said it better myself!
Thank you for your insight.
>First, bbwool you were outed on this blog for lying so I’m surprised you’re back. Second, your call for “more info” is not genuine because PJ’s post provides the link to the DOE’s report. All you have to do is go and read it. As for lumping things together, the breakdown is right there for you to ponder.
Usually, with miscreant behavior in a school population, it’s often a small percentage of children that become repeat offenders and increase reported incidences. Largely, parents are doing their jobs, but some parents have lost control of their children and those children are in our schools, like it or not. The schools know who these children are and should be able to monitor them closely and protect the student body at large. That is why we have so many administrators at great cost to the taxpayers.
School policy, however, is a great contributor to the socially permissive atmosphere that used to exist at the HS. I say “used” to exist because the new principal has made a complete right turn on this and I expect we will see results and improvements in next year’s report.
The BOE needs to provide much support to his efforts. They can also encourage middle school principals to deal early with these few repeat offenders.
Everyone in the school system knows who they are. Other students have given them names: ever heard of “the juvees” in middle school? The administration didn’t need a “survey” to find them. They are right in front of their noses.
They must deal seriously with these students and must involve their parents in helping to keep them in line.
The past leadership at the HS was the worst I have ever seen. Clueless administrators and leaders who ignored the problems. I personally went to the HS two years ago and told the administrators that my children couldn’t come there unless things changed.
I think they fnally have. Thanks to Jack Lorenz.
The fact that the BOE let the zoo continue for as long as it did is a derelection of duty. None of them should keep their positions for having presided over this.
>And this from bbwool: “The news article in the High Times was just as fabricated as your daughters’ American Indian status, I can assure you. Or at least that’s what one of the students responsible told me.”
Given your penchant for lying bbwool, no assurance from you can ever be believed.
>”Don’t the parents who raise these children have any responsibility???”
Yes, but this is a report on SCHOOL violence not HOME violence. Parents are not in school with their children. Therefore the BOE must take ultimate responsibility for what has happend in our schools. They select and hire the administrators, many of whom are not up to the task.
Fire bad people and recruit good people; that is their first responsibility. Sadly, I think they can’t tell the difference. Look at their support for Ives and Botsford, both of whom are failing up quickly.
>wow with all this violence can we qualify as an ‘abbot’ district and get some $$$ from the state? that would be a positive outcome of the negative report.
>9:55
Childern learn at home first, then go on to school to misbehave.
This is not about home violence but about teaching your kids AT HOME right from wrong so that they won’t be violent in school.
It’s not ALL the kids, but enough of them so that this situation at the schools stands out to make the news.
IT’S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SCHOOL, BOE, TEACHERS OR ADMINISTRATORS and everything to do with how the kids are raised ( or not raised) by their parents.
The parents need to do a better job with the k-5 kids so that by the time they get to middle school they know better.
TAKE THE TIME AND TEACH YOUR OWN KIDS!!
>I teach my kids – manners, proper behavior, respect, math, grammar … what am I paying this town for? my well behaved kids are constantly subjected to the poorly behaved kids – simpleton teachers believe the good behavior will rub off – time to crack down – teach, kids in desks, less group work, and those misbehaving can go sit with the principal.
>agreed 1139. but if the teachers start to actually work, then they will demand MORE money and threaten ANOTHER strike and use the bullshit tactics as before (such as refusing to write student recommendations for college..which IS INEXCUSABLE)but since they act like garbage truck union members rather than professionals….you see the results!
>11:39
How would you like it if the TEACHER said to your kid “Behave or get out of my class”.
This would be the teacher’s fault?
How about if the teacher slapped your kid’s hand and said “put that pencil back were it belongs”.
NO CAN DO.
BUT YOU CAN. and it’s FREE no tax dollars there.
We don’t pay top dollar in school taxes to have Gestopo type teachers and to have our kids yelled at by the teachers or even (God forbid) physical contact.
We pay for GOOD teachers and Good programs.
If you want someone else to teach your kid respect, manors and discipline then send them to a southern military school.
Otherwise it’s your job.
>Have you all thought about the possibility that the increase in reported incidents have to do with a zero tolerance in the High School?
I know Mr. Lorentz runs a tight ship, he is fair but tough. In my mind the increase in incidents may well be that he, and the adminstrators working for him, have demonstrated to the student body that that type of behavior will not be swept under the rug. Good for them! I look forward to better statistics next year.
>1:55 This report does not deal with Mr. Lorenz’s time at the HS. He wasn’t there yet in 2005-6.
This is the previous administration which was, to say the least, inept at just about everything.
>The BOE likes to think of itself as “progressive” which is a kind way of saying Left wing. And it favors progressive left wing policies. That’s why we have TERC and Open Circle, etc.
But Left wing anything, especially cities, are total failures — Detroit comes to mind. Look at New York City under Dinkins. Total disaster.
It took a completely Right turn to make NY livable again. I know because we fled the city when Dinkins was mayor.
It will take a similar change in direction of our local gov’t to embrace sound principles of leadership–they will also save money. Otherwise the inmates will continue to run the asylum.
>9:12- well said! (Jersey Girl!) For every parent that wants their child effectively and appropriately disciplined in school, there are probably 5 who wouldn’t think twice of bringing a lawsuit upon a teacher or the district. I have seen it happen. In another Bergen County town, the student was walking out of a teacher’s detention, she pulled his backpack, he kept walking and it must have left a mark and the parents called the police! She had to leave school and couldn’t come back until she cleared a psych exam and had to give statements to the police and such. She has been teaching for 30 years. So, it works both ways. The next time a teacher calls home to speak to you about your child, are you receptive? Many are, some are not and it’s those “some” that make it a very difficult job.
>Ah, but the left wing from the Upper West Side of Manhattan will never allow their so called “progressive gains” be undermined by common sense and morals.
They believe in socialism, and that they know best for us mere hayseeds out here.
They have made a stake here, like they did in Montclair. Upending them will be very difficult. They always trot out racism and intolerance when challenged.
Who needs that. Time to leave Ridgewood for Allendale and the northern towns of Bergen County.
Besides, those places have lower taxes and better schools.