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TBtollB Comic* By Mark Smith Herald staff writer "What are these schools coming to? Why, when I was in school..." Grandparents, aunts and uncles, and even parents can be counted on to fall back on this saying at -one time or another. However, signifi­ cant changes have been occurring in school discipline in recent years. Among ones "school days" memo­ ries is probably the scene of a school teacher writing on the chalkboard, then turning quickly to throw a chalk eraser. A student who was misbehaving is startled to attention after getting hit on the head. Catho­ lic schools were sometimes stereo typed, with nuns running around rapping students on the knuckles when they acted up. Those days are gone, however. While corporal (physical) punish­ ment was used Infrequently in schools, most districts now have pol­ icies against its use at all. According to Marvin Krause, as­ sistant principal at Central High School, the two high schools in Crys­ tal Lake and the school in Cary all •Save policies prohibiting teachers from using corporal punishment on students. Krause feels it was really a combination of factors that lead to policies prohibiting corporal punish­ ment in most schools. v "People were complaining and fil­ ing lawsuits against teachers," -Krause said. "Teachers are very cautious about it now," He also feels corporatyutfishment isn't effective. • "It didn't do any good at home, so bow is it going to do good here?" Krause explained. "The student gets a spanking and it's over with. They think 'OK, it's over, let's go on."' Roger Wilson, principal at Wood­ stock High School, said his school also has a board policy prohibiting corporal punishment. The policy was originally adopted on Feb. 2, 1978, and it makes a distinction be­ tween "corporal punishment" and "justifiable use of physical force." Justifiable force is force used to restrain a student from hurting him­ self, other people, or property. Wilson agreed that lawsuits ptayedrrbigpart ifcthe change, but PEOPLE TALK added that changing views on disci­ pline in the home have simply car­ ried over into the school. "Parents are changing their disci­ pline at home," he explained. "The parents feel 'We don't use it (corpo­ ral punishment) at home, so we don't want the school to do it.'" According to Ron Svoboda, super­ intendent of Montini Catholic Schools in McHenry, even private schools are getting away from cor­ poral punishment. Svoboda feels the main reason for the change was theology. "How can you teach the students to 'love your neighbor' and then, two minutes later, walk up and wrap them one," he asked. Gone too, it seems, are the days of "socially" punishing students in schools. When students are caught chewing gum, no longer are they forced to stick it on the end their nose. If they shoot spit wads, they are no longer forced to crawl around on their hands and knees and clean up the whole room while class continues. "Most of the discipline in the classroom is handled between the teacher and the student," krause explained. "We don't try and embar­ rass the student. We advise the teachers to talk to the student out­ side of class. Some of the rules we used to have cttti$'t make sense. I had to defend them as an adminis­ trator, but when I look back now, I kind of have to laugh." Svoboda said a similar philosophy is followed at Montini. "We recommend that if a student is acting up, the teacher Just write his or her name on the board and put a check by it," he explained "That way the teacher doesn't interrupt the class. Normally, when they act up it's to get attention, even nega­ tive attention. If you interrupt the class to stop them, you are in a sense, playing right into their hands." Wilson added that the problem is also more likely to be resolved one- on-one, rather than in front of the class. The student is less likely to back down in front of his or her peers for fear of losing face. The situation is more likely to escalate in front of the class. What most schools are turning to instead, is a system of detentions. Generally, what happens is that the student is first warned. If the behav­ ior persists, then the student is writ­ ten up for a detention. Most schools still use an after-school detention, but some are beginning to use a -•* Saturday detention instead. "Discipline here is handled with a referral method," Krause explained about Crystal Lake's policy, "The first contact is between the student and the teacher. The parent is also notified of the problem at that time. In most cases, it stops right there. "In step two, now the counselor gets involved and the student, teach­ er, parent and counselor all meet. Step three, the assistant principal is called In. If it gets to step four, we remove the student from the class and put him or her In a study hall. We issue an In-school suspension. It's a very logical discipline policy. We try to involve more and more people (as the problem persists)." Krause said, for the lesser of­ fenses, students are usually given Saturday detentions. Saturday de­ tentions are used, he explained, be­ cause they have been found to be more effective. "When they have to come in on Saturday, they don't like it," Krause explained. "We don't tend to have repeaters. After-school detention al­ most became an extra-curricular activity for students that misbe­ haved. It became a competition to see who had the most detentions." Krause said Saturday detentions, on the other hand, take a bigger bite out of the student's social calendar, and the students don't want to give up any portion of their weekend. At Montini, Svoboda said after- school detentions are still used. Each teacher clearly posts his or her rules for behavior In the class­ room. If a student breaks a rule, he or she is then given a detention. The student's parents must sign the de­ tention slip and make transportation arrangements for the student to get home after the detention. In this way, the parent li made aware of DISCIPLINE -- Page SB Opera without Pavarotti? Tenor Luciano Pavarotti is less than a month away from his 50th birthday and admits the thought of retiring has a certain appeal. "I think of maybe retiring in five years and perhaps do what I've wanted to do for some time, take it easy and ride my horses, play tennis and relax," he told the New York Daily News. "You know, there is so much work in being in opera, constant studying and rehearsing." Pavarotti, who currently is rehearsing for Monday's opening of "Tosca" at the New York Metropolitan Opera, says he realized he was blessed when, at age 12, he almost died from complications of a soccer injury. "I thought I would die, but then someone brought penicillin and it saved my life," he said. "They gave me great doses, something like 3 million units. God saved me and I have believed since than that I must work hard and study hard." Aid for aging Kirk Douglas saw bow the elderly live in nursing homes while researching a movie role and he told a congressional committee he didn't like what he saw. Douglas, 66, who plays the title role In "Amos," an upcoming television movie about patient abuse in old-age homes, found "things that appalled me." In an article written for The New York Times Douglas said the abuses he saw had to be toned down to make them acceptable for television. "Someone must be held responsible," he told the House Select Committee on Aging. "We must have consistent, nationwide laws for criminal prosecution of people guilty of these crimes." Douglas said 56 people died in one Texas nursing home, allegedly from neglect and mistreatment and the home was fined $100,000 -- "less than $2,000 for each human life," he said. Dump the Rolls The fish off Palm Beach will soon have the most elegant artificial reef around. Hairdresser Greg Hauptner, 39, donated his 1967 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow coupe as the first item for the county's new artificial reef program. "They're really going to make a big -- and pardon the pun -- splash of It," he said. Within a week, county officials plan to deep-six Hauptner's two-door, $25,000 Rolls in 83 feet of water. It won't do much for revitalizing the reef, but it will provide a publicity boost for the program. ""As a reef it's not worth a damn," said John Rybovich, a member of the Artificial Reef Committee. "It'll be rusted through in no time. But it'll be a good way to start off the program." I vant to be in alone Greta Garbo wanted to be alone on her 80th birthday Wednesday, but residents of Hogsby, Sweden, her hometown, are excited that she might want to be with them soon. "We have sent a birthday present, a folding chair made of teak, to Garbo's address in New York," said Nils-Erik Gustafsson, head of the Municipal Council in Hogsby. Swedish journalist Sven Broman ran into Garbo in a Swiss alpine village near Davos this summer, and interviewed her. "She wants to come home," he said, "but she is afraid of all the publicity that would follow. She wants to be left alone." Broman described Garbo as a "warm, fine and natural person­ ality" but looking tired. "She is tired of being Garbo," he said. McHenry County Historical Society hosts heritage fair An all-day program of demonstra­ tions and speakers is slated for Sat­ urday, Oct. 5 at the McHenry County Historical Museum in Union. Called a "local heritage fair" by its plan­ ners, Its purpose is to demonstrate and highlight for educators some of the history of towns and farm areas for learning purposes. Classroom teachers, scout and 4-H leaders, and just .plain people will find plenty of Ideas and resources for using local history at this event," says organizer John Shiel of the Mc­ Henry County Conservation District. "The local heritage fair in Union will be a showcase of resources that can make McHenry County' past come alive for learners of all ages. The opening session will feature Craig Pfannkuche, a social studies teacher and an active member and Officer of the local Sauk Trail Chap­ ter of the Illinois Association for the Advancement of Archeology. "Local history as an educational resource: Why bother? should make a prova* cative start to the day. School Days -- 1850" will feature anthropologist Jean Dunkerly as "Miz' McCaleb" providing an orien­ tation for the semester that includes gathering walnuts and vinegar to make ink, chopping firewood and sweeping out the classroom. A "Culture History Mystery" uses simulated artifacts from different prehistoric periods to allow students to become archeology detectives. This activity kit will be available for loans to schools and organized groups after Oct. 5 a tour of the historical museum, a field trip to the old homeslte excava­ tion at the Hollows Conservation site, and many other sessions are [>art of the entertainment and en* Ightenment of the local heritage fair on Oct. 5. Co-sponsors are the McHenry County Historical Society, the McHenry County Conservation District, the McHenry County De­ fenders and the Sauk Trail Chapter of the IAAA. Participants should pre-reglster by sending $4 (Payable to MCCD) to "History Workshop," MCCD, Ring- wood, II. 60072, Complete schedules are also available, detailing sessions from the 8:30 a.m. kevnote by Pfannkuche, through the late after­ noon session choices. Participants should bring a sack lunch or plan to eat In one of the Union's cafes. Call 815/338-1405 for more information. Childbirth classes offered Drunk drivers to face stricter penalties CHICAGO -- Governor James R, Thompson has signed a series of bills which will deter drunk driving in Illinois, including legislation de­ signed to provide stricter penalties for those arrested for driving under the influence. "In December 1983,1 appointed a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Task Force, headed by Secretary of State Jim Edgar, to combat the con­ tinuing problem of death and serious injuries caused by driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. After a year of study, public hearings and legislative work, several bills emerged to address needs in this area," Thompson said, "and Illinois is now in the forefront of the crack­ down on drunk drivers." "I applaud the efforts of those who have worked to achieve a fair and effective tool for removing the men­ ace of drunk driving from Illinois highways. In signing House Bill 1841. I know we are taking a great step toward making Illinois safer," Thompson added. House Bill 1841 requires the auto­ matic suspension of a driver's li­ cense for driving under the influ­ ence. The bill provides for a three- month suspension for failing a chemical test, and a six-month sus­ pension for refusing to take the test. Under the legislation, driving privileges will be suspended within 45 days following a DUI arrest and within 30 days following such an arrest after Jan. 1, 1987, unless a judicial hearing finds no probable cause. "This law fulfills my goal of swift and certain punishment for drunk drivers but it also guarantees the right to a judicial hearing before driving privileges are taken away," Edgar said. V "The National commission Against Drunk Driving reported re­ cently that with enactment of HB 1841, Illinois would have one of the best DUI laws in the country. I am pleased to see us move to that posi­ tion today," Edgar added. In addition, House Bill 1841 defines "being under the Influence" as a reckless act, makes records of je- venile reckless homicide available to the Secretary of State, includes provisions protecting DUI victims' rights and increases penalties for other DUI offenses. House Bill 1841 was sponsored by Reps. Thomas McCracken, West- mont; Alfred Ronan, Chicago; Rob­ ert Churchill, Antioch; Roger McAu- llffe, Chicago; Sam Wolf, Granite City; and Senator David Barkhau- sen, Lake Forest. The bill takes ef­ fect on Jan. 1,1986. Thompson also signed House Bill 737 which increases recovery limits from those serving alcohol under dram shop liability statutes. Under the bill, the recovery limit for loss of the means of support from death or injury of any person is raised from $20,000 to $40,000 and the recovery limit for injuries or property dam­ age is raised from $20,000 to $30,000. The legislation was sponsored by Reps. John Countryman, DeKalb; Timothy Johnson, Urbana; Kent Slater, Macomb; and Sen. Arthur Berman, Chicago. The bill takes ef­ fect immediately. In addition, Thompson signed House Bill 430 which provides that persons under 21 be issued color- coded driver's licenses or identifica­ tion cards by the Secretary of State which are distinctly different than those issued to persons over the age of 21. The legislation was sponsored by Rep. John Matijevich of North Chicago and Sen. Clarence Darrow of Rock Island. The bill" takes effect on Jan. 1,1986. In addition to HB 1841, HB 737 and HB 430 were also drafted by the DUI Task Force. Registration for childbirth educa­ tion classes at Saint Joseph Hospital In Elgin is now being taken. The four-week childbirth educa­ tion class Is scheduled on Thursday evenings, Oct. 3-24, at 7:30 p.m. The two-week class is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Oct. 5 and 12. Both classes offer breathing and relaxation exercises, a tour of the obstetrics department, a discussion of physiological changes during pregnancy, and other concerns of expectant parents. the two-week class is suggested as an alternative to the evening class or as a refresher class for persons who have taken a childbirth education class previously. Both classes are open to women In ther last trimester of pregnancy and their support person Pre-registration is required To register or for more Information, call the community relations depart­ ment at St Joseph Hospital (312) 931-5510. INDEX/SECTION B OBTHWEBT REWSPAPERS School discipline changes with the times TRENDS Monday, September 23,1985 Section B \. i