OF PLASTIC BAGS THANK YOU FOR
WATCHING.
I'M ANGELA DAVIS.
TODAY WE'RE GETTING A LOOK
INSIDE A ST. PAUL HIGH SCHOOL
THAT'S BEEN MAKING HEADLINES
FOR DISRUPTIVE STUDENT
BEHAVIOR.
TODAY I HAD THE CHANCE TO
SIT DOWN WITH THE PRINCIPAL OF
THE HIGH SCHOOL AND A
BEHAVIORAL SPECIALIST AT THE
SCHOOL TO TALK ABOUT THE
CHALLENGES STUDENTS ARE FACING.
THERE WAS A SERIES OF FIGHTS
AMONG STUDENTS EARLIER IN THE
SCHOOL YEAR.
TWO STUDENTS WERE CHARGED WITH
ASSAULT AFTER BEING ACCUSED OF
PUNCHING A TEACHER.
THERE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT
WALK THROUGH THESE HALLS AND
WEAR THOSE EMOTIONS ON THEIR
SLEEVES.
SOMETIMES THAT WILL RESONATE
SADNESS.
THOSE EMOTIONS WILL SOMETIMES
RESONATE FRUSTRATION OR I
THINKER.
SHE SAID THIS SCHOOL YEAR
HAS SHOWN MANY TEENAGERS ARE IN
CRISIS.
I CERTAINLY THINK OUR
TEACHERS ARE VERY MINDFUL OF
THE NEEDS OF OUR CHILDREN.
SOMETIMES OUR TEACHERS MAY FEEL
VERY OVERWHELMED IN TERMS OF
WHAT CAN WE DO FOR THEM.
SO YOU'RE PASSING UP A MEAL,
RIGHT?
YES.
HE'S A BEHAVIORAL
SPECIALIST.
IT'S HIS JOB TO TALK TO
STUDENTS AND HELP THEM HANDLE
CONFLICT.
WE'RE STARTING TO DEAL WITH
KIDS THAT ARE NOW RAISING
THEMSELVES.
WHEN YOU RAISE YOURSELF, THE
STANDARDS OF RESPECT AND THE
STANDARDS OF WHAT COMMON
RESPECT IS IS NOT THERE
ANYMORE.
HE SAYS THE BEHAVIOR IN
SCHOOL IS OFTEN A REFLECTION OF
WHAT'S GOING ON OUTSIDE OF
SCHOOL.
WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE
CONTINUOUSLY GETTING TOUCHED OR
DISRESPECTED OR JUST FORGOTTEN
ABOUT BECAUSE WE DEAL WITH THE
SITUATION WHERE THE PARENT IS
NOT THERE.
HE SAYS HE SEES A GROWING
DISCONNECT BETWEEN STUDENTS AND
TEACHERS, LEAVING EACH SIDE
FEELING MISUNDERSTOOD.
HOW DO WE BUILD THOSE
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR STUDENTS
TO BETTER UNDERSTAND OUR
STUDENTS TO MEET THEM WHERE
THEY'RE AT THERE'S A CULTURAL
SPECIALIST, GUIDANCE
COUNSELORS.
