Talking about sexual assault at schools is uncomfortable. It can be much more so for teenagers. However, not talking about it, doesn't make it go away. Just in 2018, there were 70 incidents reported in North Carolina alone.
On the third episode of our Radio 101 series, School, Interrupted, youth reporters Leah Fisher, Ian Doss and Trey Shore look into the culture that allows acts of sexual misconduct to go unchecked in our schools.
Every year when school starts, students are given a copy of the parent and student handbook. This is a set of rules and guidelines aimed at creating a positive learning environment. It includes things like: what happens if you are caught smoking on school property, or if you violate the dress code, or if you are disrespectful to a teacher. But school administrators have a lot of leeway interpreting those rules and deciding on the appropriate punishment for any given violation.
On this second installment of our Radio 101 series, School, Interrupted, we delve into one of the most common, and yet very obscure disciplinary actions used: in-school suspension. It started as a promising alternative to students missing class time. But as youth reporters Alana Eddleman and James Barnwell find out, it has quickly become an ineffective way to deal with behavioral issues.
Schools are safer now than they've been at any point in the past decade. That's according to the latest data from U.S. Department of Education.
Schools across the nation have tighter reins on who has access to the classroom. More security cameras, school resource officers, and active shooter drills are also ways to keep students safe. However, the question remains: Is it enough? To answer this we went to the source. During the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you stories produced by our Radio 101 students about what gets in the way of a good learning environment.