HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977 12-28 PTA area council looks at vandalism THE REVIEW PTA Area •
Council looks O«ag
at vandalism //9T7
The PTA Area Council meeting held 1....-
recently to discuss vandalism brought outtwo or three important points,according .to Priscilla Olson,member and publicist.Vandalism in the schools is not any --
greater than in the past—the greatest -- ?'`
problem being glass breakage—and the
Sonitrol detection system is working well. -
"Children and the Law" program is -
beneficial where it is used,Olson noted.
The greatest problem noted was van-
dalism in the community parks where
supervision is a problem.It was agreed a
greater emphasis should be placed on
working with youngsters in the"Children
and the Law"programs to bring"out-
side"people in to discuss their problems
with the children.
Carl Holmstrom, director of elemen-
tary education in North St. Paul-
Maplewood School District 622,led the
informative program.Each school gave a
report of the vandalism problems.It was
agreed much of the outside light breakage
is not caused by elementary children and
that break-ins were a costly item in the
past,now cut to a minimum (or non-
existent)with the detection system more
than paying for itself.
Wylie Haukland of the district reported
dollar figures which showed the amount
of vandalism that could not be detected
was down for the schools. Haukland,
assistant maintenance director for the
district,said"Nothing is vandal proof,
but in trying to solve the problem,items
purchased are more costly.For instance,
larger trees must be purchased so they
can't be swung on."
Neoma Jeans, Community Resource
coordinator,said much material exists as
do resource persons to help with the
problem.Films,speakers,the"Children
and the Law Program"(coordinated by
Fred Tarnowski)are used.
Tarnowski explained the program is
open-ended,with six films shown in a six
week unit.The teacher is free to bring into
play actual problems in his or her own
school.
There are visits to court settings,
children meet a judge,there are student
manuals and workbooks and parent
brochures — with the materials pur-
chased with Ramsey County Corrections
funds with the help of Ramsey County
Lawyers'Wives.The program has been in
operation for three years in the school
district.
Tarnowski reported when students are
apprehended they are warned,but it has
to be serious before they are brought into
court. For other youth — those in
secondary grades—a solution has been to
seek restitution—paying for damage
done.
If students are caught in the act of
vandalism,police have been cooperative
in letting them"work off"the amount of
damage.
Eric Blank, representing the
Maplewood Parks and Recreation
Department, said the $20,000 a year
damage to parks,with$2,500 to replace
lights in a park, is an amount which
cannot be tolerated.
"It all starts in the home and respon-
/ sibility begins there,"Olson reported the
group agreed.