Hhmmm .... what do ya'll think bout this ??




By DOUG GROSS, Associated Press Writer

ATLANTA - For a growing number of students, the easiest way to make a couple of hundred dollars has nothing to do with chores or after-school jobs, and everything to do with informing on classmates.





Tragedies like last month's deadly shooting at a Red Lake, Minn., school have prompted more schools to offer cash and other prizes — including pizza and premium parking spots — to students who report classmates who carry guns, drugs or alcohol, commit vandalism or otherwise break school rules.


"For kids of that age, it's hard for them to tell on their peers. This gives them an opportunity to step up if they know something that will help us make an arrest," said James Kinchen, an assistant school superintendent in Houston County, Ga., which earlier this month started offering rewards of up to $100 for reporting relatively minor crimes like vandalism or theft and $500 for information about a crime, or plans for a crime, involving a gun.


Critics call them "snitch" programs, saying they are a knee-jerk reaction to student violence. Some education professionals fear such policies could create a climate of distrust in schools and turn students against each other.


"There are very few things that I can think of that would be more effective at destroying that sense of community," said Bruce Marlowe, an education psychology professor at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I.


About 2,000 schools and colleges, from Honolulu to Palm Beach County, Fla., have adopted Student Crime Stoppers programs like Houston County, according to the nonprofit Crime Stoppers U.S.A., which began helping schools set up such programs in 1983.


Most schools offer an anonymous phone line or a school drop box for tips. Rewards range from cash to gift certificates to free parking passes.


Elsewhere in Georgia, Model High School in Rome uses the proceeds from its candy and soda sales to pay students up to $100 for tips about drugs or weapons on campus or other crimes.


The goal: "Heading off some problems rather than waiting until they happen and responding afterward," said Tim Hensley, a school system spokesman.


Some students fear classmates with a grudge or set on making some quick money may level false accusations or plant drugs or weapons in their lockers.


But Houston County's Kinchen said: "That will sort itself out. Our officers deal with these kind of things every day; they can find out which kid is being set up and which kid is telling the truth."


At Model High, some of the 650 students complain that the program wrongly implies their school is dangerous. In a Rome News-Tribune cartoon, the school's official mascot was mockingly changed from the Blue Devils to the "Tattlers."


No one has received a reward yet at Model High.


"Everyone just thinks it's a joke. No one is going to tell on their friends for cash," said senior Katie Burnes, president of the school's National Honor Society chapter. "If someone brings a gun to school or is doing drugs in the bathroom, no one has to pay me to let the teachers know."


Frank Farley, an educational psychology professor at Temple University in Philadelphia, said students should be taught to speak up without being offered a reward.


"This idea of surveillance — there's something unsavory there," Farley said. "We're familiar with the history of that in the former Soviet Union and Nazi Germany." He added: "I think it's bad civics."

i can see telling about guns and things that will hurt other students but not the little shit that typical teens do, that could start a growth of enemies. its not good to tell everything. they are teaching them a bad habit.
[Edited 4/26/05 12:03pm]

i see it as a great thing theres no reason in the world to keep secrets that are negative or involve hurting someone.. it would bring the children forth to let them know who was tearing up the environment that they live in - thats a great thing - who needs their own living area fucked up ???? guns... lets not even GO there - thats a fantastic idea


but, then, who's gonna protect them for telling ???? dont they think that the kid they tell on is gonna be kinda pissed off for that ??? that could be kinda dangerous...


all i know is that here, in my house, i teach my kids that the only 'secrets' you are allowed to keep are those that involve gifts, say for christmas or someones birthday... parties for family and friends... or kind guestures.... other than that, its my belief that no good can come from "secrets"
[Edited 4/26/05 12:21pm]

The education system actually offering cash and gifts as incentives sends the wrong message. Both kids and parents should worry about their OWN education and lives, and try to make a difference instead of creating drama for parents/kids who choose to take the wrong road. That's up to THEM to change their lives. Guns are different, obviously.

The only reward a student should get is knowledge and self esteem. It's up to both the parent and student to see that he/she recieves it.

Thread reported.

2the9s said:

such wit!

LiveWithIt said:

yes, thats totally true... BACK IN THE DAY... but, we arent in the 50', 60's, 70's, 80's and half of the 90's anymore sweetie this shit out here is FOR REAL !!!!! these kids MEAN what the fuck they say - one of those kids looks at you and says, i like that coat, bet i can get it from you..

they aint talkin fighting for shit anymore... now days the little motherfuckers will stab you or shoot you for what they think they want !!!

i say, fuckem all !!! get rid of the kids that cant handle themselves in public.... whether its the parents fault, kids fault, tv, radio, movies, video games... i could give a fat rats ass !!!!! if you CANT FUNCTION in public, TAKE YOUR ASS HOME !!!!



(btw.. the emotions here were not directed AT you.. they were directed at the whole fucked up situation that our babies are faced with every damn day they go outside our homes to recieve an education... and, i'll say it again, there may very well come a day when i face the decision to bring my babies home to teach them - theres just some nasty ass kids out there, and its scary as hell to think that my baby could be sitting next to the next 'school shooter' - no thanks, i'll teach them at home.. )

nakedpianoplayer said:

Talk about taking the easy way out. No offense. I was an extremely introverted kid, but got over it through therapy. My mom was addicted to drugs, as was I.

There was plenty of guns,drugs, and crazy kids. There have been two mass shootings in how many years? I was in LA, went to school 23 years ago, it was gangs, measuring up, bullying, all the same crap.

In retrospect I wish I would have had a stable upbringing but didn't. It was MY CHOICE after the age of 16. I stayed addicted and somewhat depressed for most of my adult life. I was able to lifted myself above that with reprogramming, instead of knee-jerk reactions and blaming the rest of the world, after a life of doing just that.

In a weird way I had to go thru all that for me to be able to come out on the other side, and want to help people deal with their lack of self worth.

LiveWithIt said:

and i am so happy that things turned out the way they did for you honey that sounds like it was a lot of work to rise above... and you have my deepest congrats on that ... i mean that sincerely

but, i guess MY knee-jerk reaction is to get all the crap out of the way for the kids that actually are trying to do something with themselves there are children that are sitting in school right now, dreaming of who they can beat up after class, trying to figure out if they could get away with bringing a gun to school, or worse yet, making diagrams of buildings and how they can get to the select few they think they should kill

and yes, you are correct, there has i believe only been 2 major shootings in the past few years, and im sorry, but i think thats 2 to many !!! i dont understand how when you are a parent, you are to protect your babies from strangers, weather, disease, violence, hardships, keep them warm when its cool out.. and cool when its warm out, shelter their young minds from everything that is cruel and nasty out in the world...

yet, send them to a school where children are allowed to walk around planning who to shoot next ???


im sorry, my level of understanding is not very high, and im really noone important, just the mother of 2 thats scared as hell to let my babies out in this world sorry for being so jumpy - it wasnt directed at you and again, congrats for your achievements

That makes you VERY important!

Part of me says you have to do what works, if this is working for now, so be it, and another part of me rejects the idea and labels it unethical.

I think that the student teacher relationship is one that should not have to be purchased, but if it's gonna stop kids from shooting up schools, what can you do?


But whata I know?

i think tattling is ***AWESOME***

mixed feelings. on one hand we want kids to alert us to what might be dangerous. we want them to communicate.

but pitting them against each other figuratively speaking breaks them apart, breaks them down. i'd be interested to see more on exactly where and how these programs have been implmented.

2the9s said:

* hands 9s $100 *