-Caveat Lector-
"The profile lists 16 features that may distinguish violence-prone
children. Among them are: social withdrawal, feelings of rejection, and poor
grades."
Well, that narrows it down -- to only 99% of high school students in
America ...
Schools Begin 'Student Profiling'
By BRIGITTE GREENBERG
.c The Associated Press
WALLINGFORD, Conn. (AP) - Much like the FBI developing psychological profiles
to track terrorists and serial killers, school psychologists are putting
together checklists of characteristics common among students prone to
violence.
With the pain of the deadly shootings at Columbine High School in Littleton,
Colo., still fresh, Wallingford Superintendent of Schools Joseph Cirasuolo
said he would be remiss not to adopt ``student profiling'' in his district of
7,000 pupils.
``Our purpose in doing that is to intervene well before they ever decide to
go out and buy a gun and do some damage,'' he said.
The profile of a potentially violent student will be given to staff
throughout the district's 12 schools. If someone fits the description, the
student's parents will be notified, Cirasuolo said.
``We intervene early if we think a youngster has reading problems. We
intervene early if we think a youngster has adjustment problems and matters
of that type,'' he said. ``So why shouldn't we intervene early if we think a
youngster may be prone to violence?''
There are similar efforts across the country. In Granite City, Ill., school
administrators are measuring students against a behavior checklist that
includes abusive language, cruelty to animals and writings reflecting an
interest in ``the dark side of life.'' Students who fit the profile can
undergo counseling, be transferred to an alternative education program or
even be expelled.
Critics call ``student profiling'' an overreaction to the rash of school
shootings, including the Columbine attack in which 15 people died. They fear
that children who do not reflect an image of the perfect student could be
unfairly labeled.
``Different doesn't mean dangerous,'' said American Civil Liberties Union
spokeswoman Emily Whitfield. ``Not only are students being unfairly targeted
but, in some cases, there's not a whole lot of thought going into it.''
Nevertheless, there is increasing demand from school districts for training
on warning signs.
FBI agents led conferences on school violence recently in Hamden, Conn., and
Lansing, Mich., instructing teachers on behavioral science and psychological
profiling.
Peter Blauvelt, president of the National Alliance for Safe Schools in
Slanesville, W.Va., said he has spent the summer crisscrossing the country,
giving workshops in schools from Georgia to Washington state.
``I wouldn't call it panic, but people are saying, 'Look we realize that we
are not prepared to deal with a major crisis and we need to be prepared,'''
he said.
There are plenty of character checklists for teachers to draw from. The
National School Safety Center in Westlake Village, Calif., has created a list
of 20 warning signs. The American Psychological Association and MTV produced
a guide called, ``Warning Signs.'' In ``The Memphis Conference: Suggestions
for Preventing and Dealing with Student Initiated Violence,'' criminologist
William Reisman lists 50 telltale indicators.
``Metal detectors, video cameras - all the equipment creates a false sense of
security,'' Reisman said. ``The problem is the heart and mind of the kid.''
One publication widely read by school administrators this summer was ``Early
Warning, Timely Response: A Guide to Safe Schools.'' The guide from the
National Association of School Psychologists, the U.S. Department of
Education and other agencies was commissioned by President Clinton last year
and distributed to schools nationwide.
The guide has 16 features that may distinguish violence-prone children,
including social withdrawal, feelings of rejection, and poor academic
performance. But association spokeswoman Elizabeth Kuffner warned that the
guide should not be used to predict which students will go on a rampage.
``Definitely there are warning signs. Definitely there are things to look
for. But to just say a kid fits this profile, we don't think is a good
idea,'' she said.
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic
screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters
and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright
frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects
spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL
gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers;
be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and
nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html
http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
