About 20 demonstrators greeted students and staff as they filtered into Haven Middle School Monday morning with posters and picket signs that said “No illiteracy” and “We don’t want punch cards,” protesting the lack of communication between parents and administrators and the unequal treatment of racial minorities.
Advocates for Students and Parents and the Evanston chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People organized the demonstration, which was triggered by the in-school arrest of a 12-year-old boy two months ago and by a controversial new punch card system that rewards students for good behavior.
“The Haven School thing is just another incident (of minority students not being treated fairly,)” said Bennett Johnson, president of the Evanston branch of the NAACP. “There’s a need for a systematic change in the educational process.”
Johnson supported the picket line and said its “sole purpose to upgrade the education of African Americans” was legitimate. But Haven math teacher Katrina Moore said the protest was unproductive.
“Many of the issues could be addressed easily, and this small group has not given Haven the opportunity to respond,” Moore said.
Haven Principal Scott Waller said communication within the school has been a problem. When the 12-year-old boy was charged with vandalism and destruction of property, Waller admitted he failed to follow procedural guidelines which require him to notify the school’s superintendent about the incident.
The guidelines were established about a year ago in reaction to the arrest of a 9-year-old boy at Willard Elementary School. The NAACP said the arresting officer used excessive force in subduing the boy.
Haven school officials also failed to communicate with the pubic in regard to the punch card issue, said Haven parent and ASAP board facilitator Peggy Tarr. She said she was poorly notified of the the school’s decision to implement the card program at the beginning of the second semester.
Waller said students receive new cards every week and can earn up to 10 punches for being on time, as well as preparing for and participating in class. Students can earn an extra punch for committing a “random act of kindness” such as holding a door open for another student or helping a teacher after class.
“If students receive eight out of 10 punches, they receive a reward,” Waller said.
Past rewards have included special permission to attend a dance and gift certificates from a local electronics store.
Tarr said she is not pleased with the program of positive reinforcement “because it does not address the behavioral problems at Haven.” She said attempts to voice concerns have been met with unsatisfactory responses. Tarr said any efforts made by the school to reach ASAP were “muddy” and the purpose of meetings was “unclear.”
Former Haven PTA President Betsy Scherrer said ASAP has been the non-communicative party, and she applauded Haven administrators for “trying their darndest to improve Haven Middle School.”
Superintendent Hardy Ray Murphy encouraged a continuation of dialogue at the meeting. Waller said he plans to meet with ASAP members on Wednesday.
