Courant.com
POLICY IN WINDSOR
Windsor Teens Face Fine For Swearing In School
By DAVID DRURY
Special to The Courant
11:38 PM EST, February 4, 2010
WINDSOR
Why, you stupid #&#!&@#!!
That will be $103, please.
Under a new campaign against bad language at Windsor High School, students caught swearing at a teacher or classmate will now be ticketed for creating a public disturbance, an infraction carrying that mouth-clamping fine.
Principal Russell Sills notified parents that town police in the school would start issuing the tickets this week.
Students "who use profanity directed toward a teacher, toward another student in class or during a verbal altercation in the hallway or cafeteria," will be ticketed, Sills informed parents in a letter dated Jan. 28.
When he introduced the policy at a student assembly last week, Sills said he emphasized that profanity simply has no place in a school.
"I told the kids we all know all these words. The reality is you make a conscious choice not to use those words here. We're hoping we don't have to hand out a lot of tickets."
No tickets had been issued as of Thursday, he said.
Student groups will lead an educational campaign designed to get students thinking hard before they cut loose with a stream of cuss words that could lighten their or their parents' wallets.
The ticketing policy received mixed reviews from students. Some said Thursday it was necessary and will change behavior. Others questioned its fairness.
"I don't have $103. That's too much. We've got enough problems already. I can't even afford lunch," said Tyshawn Hicks, a junior.
Sophomore Alisha Perreira, 15, said the size of the fine should certainly have an effect.
"It's a lot of money. I would learn my lesson not to swear anymore," she said.
Justin Borawski, a senior who learned Thursday that he had been accepted to West Point, said the amount of the fine was reasonable "especially when it comes to swearing at teachers."
Still other students complained that the policy was one-sided that teachers who use profanity in front of students escape punishment.
The practice of having police ticket foul-mouthed students has been used at other area high schools, including Hartford Public and Bulkeley in Hartford, and was practiced at Windsor High in previous years.
"We've done this in the past on a number of occasions," said Windsor Police Chief Kevin Searles. "By issuing an infraction, it kind of alerts the youngster that, 'Hey, this is a serious thing you're doing and you have to be held accountable.' In the past it was very effective."
Students who receive tickets can pay their fines by mail; no court appearance is required unless there is a failure to pay or enter a plea.
An existing rule calling for a five-day suspension for swearing at a teacher also still applies to all students.
Gregory Carter, Windsor High's resource officer, recalled issuing tickets for profanity six years ago during a prior assignment at the high school. The problem with abusive language resurfaced at the school, he said, and it was felt that ticketing should be reinstituted.
Sills said the vast majority of parents and students who have spoken with him about the policy support it. He said no single incident prompted his decision.
"It's an area of concern we've had, something we're trying to tighten up," he said.
Carol Sama, president of the Windsor High School Parent-Teacher-Student Association, said that at the association's executive board meeting earlier this week, several members expressed some surprise over Sills' letter, since there had been no communication about what led up to it.
Asked whether she thought the ticketing policy will be effective, Sama said, "I guess you have to wait to see how it plays out."
Board of education President Milo "Rusty" Peck, who has a daughter attending the high school, said he has heard anecdotally of profane confrontations at the school and that the ticketing policy may force some parents to become more involved in their children's discipline.
"It was an attempt to help the atmosphere at the school. It brings forward the lessons of what is appropriate behavior," Peck said.
Copyright © 2010, The Hartford Courant
Although one ticket was their responsibility (expired tag) and I did not get punished for that. My lazy stepfather finally got his but in gear and got me my tag. The illegal turn--lost my license for a couple of months. No more tickets while under their roof since I did not have a way to pay for the fines.
They are "white boards" I think.
