Editorial: Rules help Rogers High take control, foster success

Defenders of public schools make a valid point that educators cannot control the myriad factors that affect students outside of classrooms, but that is not to say that schools cannot do better.

Rogers High School in Spokane provides a shining example.

The school is situated in a generally impoverished area, where many families struggle to stay together and stay safe. Difficult socioeconomic circumstances have long spilled over into the school, creating a chaotic atmosphere that challenged even the most determined students.

Rather than surrender to those corrosive forces, the district and school leaders fought back, took control.

The Spokesman-Review’s Jody Lawrence-Turner reported on the recent transformation, finding that once order was restored and enforced, the school was able to focus on success. The key, administrators found, was to hold students accountable and raise expectations, rather than fall back on excuses that improvement was out of their hands.

It helps that district and school leaders are also being held accountable as a part of education reform.

As a result, Lawrence-Turner reported: “Attendance is up, Advanced Placement enrollment is up, college entrance exam testing is up, and police calls to the school are down.”

Administrators were added to enforce attendance and discipline. Another resource officer was added for safety. The school itself was renovated, giving everyone a morale boost and a concrete starting point to revive pride.

As one student said, “You could do so many things back then and get away with it. Now, there’s no room. You are held responsible for your actions.”

Leaders didn’t merely impose discipline for the sake of punishment. They made sure that restrictions were consistent with their overall educational goals.

They found that in-school suspensions were more effective than short-term removals. The change keeps students engaged in their education, rather than giving them an excuse to check out. Students were punished not just for getting into fights, but for watching them. The school found that when the audiences dwindled so did the number of altercations.

Though some students might find the new rules oppressive, others find them liberating because they remove distractions to learning. Plus, the community as a whole benefits from a lowered drop-out rate, a challenge at the top of many civic groups’ priority lists.

Once school leaders regained control, they were able to offer more challenges. All seniors are expected to have a post-graduate plan, whether it’s college, worker training or the military. The school follows through with counseling.

Rogers High School has a long way to go, but today’s seniors see a big difference from when they first arrived on campus. The most significant change is that the school has not given up on them.