Posted on 04/18/2005 11:47:58 AM PDT by Cagey
In Jillian Hatley’s opinion, the headlines have been unkind to Model High School students.
National news outlets such as CNN and Fox News called them snitches; others called them finks. A Rome News-Tribune cartoon replaced the school’s nickname, Blue Devils, with “Tattlers.”
“It’s really been frustrating that they’ve portrayed us like that,” said Hatley, a junior. “This was just about keeping the school safe, not getting kids to rat on each other.”
The national media’s Model High obsession last week grew from an April 10 article in the Rome News-Tribune describing the school’s innovative program that pays students as much as $100 from candy and soda sales for giving administrators information about drugs or weapons on campus.
Once The Associated Press picked up the story, it quickly spread to national news media organizations, and school board members were soon receiving telephone calls from MSNBC.
Some within the community felt embarrassed by the attention, while others were simply bewildered. While the coverage created a variety of reactions, Principal Glenn White said he isn’t changing his plans for the pay-for-tips program.
“To be honest, I was a little bit shocked about the coverage,” said White. “But most of the reaction has been positive. We’ve had schools calling us and asking about what we’re doing.”
Superintendent Kelly Henson also received a call from an MSNBC reporter and said he staved off the reporter’s at-
tempts to connect the program to the recent school shooting in Minnesota. White was talking to him about the program well before that, he said.
“I really thought it was much ado about nothing. I told the MSNBC guy, ‘Gosh, it must be a slow news day,’” Henson said.
Henson said he supports the program, and Model will continue to use it on a trial basis. If it seems to work, the program will stay, he said.
“One of the criticisms after Columbine was that the police should have known more, that the schools didn’t do enough,” he said. “This could be a way to get more information up front.”
Model senior Katie Burnes, on the other hand, said she enjoyed the media coverage because it’s showed the country the absurdity of the program. “It’s making it look like there’s a lot of crime and drug abuse when there’s not,” she said. “Everyone who has seen it on the news thought it was crazy.”
The school is offering a $10 reward for information concerning theft, $25 for prescription drug possession, $50 for felony drug possession and $100 for possession of a gun or other serious felony. Informants involved in the crime can’t receive the reward.
Model’s representative on the Board of Education, Mark Hufstetler, agreed that the school “isn’t full of criminals,” but said he will wait and see how the program works before making any judgments. “If it helps school safety, great,” he said. “I don’t mind rewarding kids, but at the same time they need to do what’s right anyway.”
I remember when the former Soviet Union used similar tactics. Something like 33% of the country was snitching on each other for increased perks.....
When is the government going to start paying kids to rat their parents out, ala Uncle Joe?
J'accuse. ..my père!
/abortion
/ACLU
/Adult responsibilities
/Adult PERSONHOOD (ie. Authority of parents)
....Welcome to the ACLU's Soviet America
...Stalin lives!
I think it is a good thing that these children have been given an opportunity early in life to decide which side of the law they are going to be on. The choices are clear, are they going to choose to be on the side of law and order, or are they going to be drug traffickers, common criminals, MSM journalists, and Liberal Democrats?
Would you like to buy an "/s"?
I agree. Unless I'm missing something, this program rewards kids that tell an adult authority if they see another CHILD with drugs or weapons. We had a TIPS program in my HS.
What am I missing?
The Nazis were strongly on the side of law and order, too.
Why can't Libs 'get it'. . .that the end; does NOT always justify the means.
Think it sets a disgusting example. . .
If this program takes hold; MONEY will decide which side they are on.
Whatever happened to 'principle' motivating one's behavior should one confront illegal or immoral behaviors.
Yeah. After all, it's working so well.
An unscrupulous drug dealer could probably make more money simply planting drugs on people and turning them in. That way he could $25-100 for that $3 xanax pill.
I dont like it.
Agree. . .there are a number of 'slippery slope' scenarios here. . .as always found, embedded in a "liberal cure'. . .
. . .and these kids thought the 'bully' was their worst nightmare.
Pavlik Morozov lives ... in our Drug-Free America.
Again. . .Liberalism creates a problem; then imagines it has the cure. . .which in turn; chicken/egg style. . .gives rise to another.
Am not against 'hot lines' et al. . .but am horrified at the prospect of kids 'dialing for dollars'.
Like I said, the nazis did it. . .but does that mean it was a good thing?
I'd be happy if my 15yo son turned in another student carrying a firearm at school, and considering that he is more street saavy than some adults I know, he would do it - without a bribe. Snitching on kids for having drugs at school is a real quick way to become really unpopular and maybe even hurt, -narcs- I believe is the word. I don't think that rewarding children for informing is a wise lesson. Children should learn to do what is morally right.
Might be amusing to try.
Dropping a dime on a drug dealer? A lot of kids pushing drugs are usually working for someone else. Sounds like a good way to get one of these kids killed since everyone will probably know he/she informed on them.
Our rural regional high school has a box where kids can anonymously claim other kids are involved with drugs. Superficially it might seem like a good idea, but apparently some kids are taking advantage of it to harrass or bully kids they don't like or kids they have a beef with.
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