Allentown High School Case Study

Allentown School District or ASD has always struggled with internal conflicts, however, this year has been significantly worse. In this year alone, ASD has experienced in school riots, threats of teacher strikes, student walk outs, and to make matters worse, threats of freezing educator salaries. About two weeks ago, Trexler Middle School experienced a student riot where the eighth grade class assaulted teachers and other students. The police had to be involved and from this event alone, we can clearly see a reform is in order. However, this isn’t a single problem with a simple solution. Multiple areas of the school require work, especially the main office which houses the offices of secretaries, guidance counselors, the nurse, and an assistant principal. This area also includes a waiting area for students, mainly those dealing with mental instability and others being disciplined. The students are forced into the same space which allows for further distress on student having mental breakdowns and …show more content…
According to Ruder, a former middle school principle, when students are sent to the office, “They greet and interact with other students who have legitimate business in the office” (Ruder, Robert). This article discusses the problems of discipline that affects the entire school, especially students waiting in the main office. They clearly interfere with other aspects of the environment including other students, faculty members, and parents. A study conducted in three middle schools found that most altercations occurred in “an area with low adult supervision and high student foot traffic” (Nese, Rhonda). The current layout of the office provides students the perfect opportunity to increase distress among each other. The main office needs to be modified to increase efficiency and reduce conflicts among