Poway school district adopts hate behavior policy

By: SHAYNA CHABNER - Staff writer
Officials will take tiered discipline approach to incidents | Tuesday, February 12, 2008 11:47 AM PST ∞

SABRE SPRINGS -- After several racial incidents and months of discussion about hate behavior in schools, the Poway Unified School District adopted a revised hate behavior policy Monday night.

The revised policy, which outlines disciplinary actions and training, takes effect immediately and was approved unanimously by trustees and the board's five student board members during meeting in Sabre Springs, one of the communities served by Poway Unified.

The student board members, who worked with district staff members, parents and community groups in developing the policy, were not required to vote, but were invited to because of the direct impact the policy would have on students.

"I like the policy a lot and I especially like the attention that was put into things," said Zara Vakharia, a student representative from Mt. Carmel High School.

The board's vote on the revised policy came in the wake of four racially related incidents last fall.

Those included the hanging of nooses, one in the boys bathroom at Poway High School and another backstage in Rancho Bernardo High School's theater, where racial epithets also were written.

Additionally, a student at Westview High School wore a Halloween costume that some people have said resembled a Ku Klux Klan outfit.

Just days after the board looked at the first version of this policy in December, a swastika and profane message were found written in feces on the windows of Westview's student store.

The new policy includes a definition of hate behavior and harassment, an outline of disciplinary action and a plan for annual training and instruction for students about tolerance and diversity.

Enforcement of the policy extends to all campuses and school-sponsored activities in the 33,000-student district.

"We need to be very clear about the implication of actions and the expectations," Superintendent Don Phillips said while presenting the updated policy. "The behavior that is clearly intimidating (or) harassing will not be tolerated."

District officials said they developed a sliding scale of consequences to best assess the appropriate action for each incident.

The most severe cases -- including threats of hostility, such as the nooses, physical assaults, posting of swastikas and wearing of white sheets seen earlier in the school year -- would result in an automatic suspension and possible expulsion.

On the other hand, inappropriate remarks that are not hostile would result in a suspension only when other means of discipline did not work.

"We wanted to deal with this in the most serious manner possible, and there was a call for zero tolerance. Š (But) the difference is not as clear," Eric Lehew, an assistant superintendent of learning support, said in explaining the tiered discipline approach.

At several board meetings in the fall, parents and students, largely representing the nonprofit community group Concerned Parents Alliance, turned out to raise their concerns about the incidents and encourage the board to act.

The primary focus of the group was on the need for stronger discipline -- such as a zero-tolerance policy -- accountability and tolerance training for students and staff.

Unlike previous meetings, however, only a handful of parents attended Monday night, with three of them addressing the board on this issue.

Most everyone agreed that the policy addressed concerns that have been raised and said they appreciated the attention that was placed on education.

Some said, however, that an even greater focus could be placed on educating students about hate behavior before it escalated to the point of the incidents in the fall.

They also said that training staff would likely be more difficult than enforcing the policy on students.

"I think we are close here," said parent Marc Cammell. "I was very happy to hear that there is going to be some sensitivity and diversity training. I think that is where we can take effect."

-- Contact staff writer Shayna Chabner at (760) 740-5416 or schabner@nctimes.com.

14 comment(s)[-]Go to Top

Shayna more info please wrote on Feb 12, 2008 3:31 AM:Did the Poway School District attorney approve the policy. In the previous century parents practiced tolerance and so did their children. Hate is passed from parents to children. Teachers need to teach and parents need to raise their children with "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it." In the previous century parents picked sensible clothing and shoes for their young children. Seems that children today rule and have tons of money to purchase 'nasty, rude' clothing as well as overpriced designer clothes.

James wrote on Feb 12, 2008 6:59 AM:

The Poway attorney is the Stutz law firm of Daniel Shinoff, same one that represented PUSD in the Harper v. PUSD and now pending in the 9th Circuit Court is this correct? Interesting, Harper v. PUSD is questioning PUSD right to make policies that protect students’ rights and Harper is questioning PUSD policies in contrast with his First Amendment Rights. What is going on with this suit Shayna? Update?

So if I read wrote on Feb 12, 2008 7:59 AM:this right, if a group starts saying death to infidels or bring their religious books to school endorsing said behavior, we can then have the school distirct prosecute them?

jeffreytg wrote on Feb 12, 2008 8:04 AM:I recall wearing a sheet with holes cut for eyes and my mouth to school when I was in 3rd or 4th grade, this was close to 30 years ago and I do no recall it being an issue. What has changed? People have nothing better to do than to look for offense? There will always be someone who choses to be offended by something. Being offended is a CHOICE. As a society we keep taking away freedoms little by little in order not to offend.

Chase wrote on Feb 12, 2008 10:49 AM:The death penalty is too good for Racists, as to hate is to murder, but I hope this policy goes both ways as I have met more racists of color in this county than the few white racists that we hear about over and over and over again. I clearly see both teachers and the police departments favoring, excusing,even encouraging, colored racists.

To Shayna more info please: wrote on Feb 12, 2008 12:29 PM:Right on! I couldn't have said it better! you hit the nail on the head in every word! Thank you! It IS the parents (or guardians?) who need to WAKE UP and teach their children/grandchidren! In the last 'century' WE DID! Now, they get cars, video games, cell phones, and as you say, free choice on nasty, rude clothing and accessories. Four (or more by now?) school shootings in TWO DAYS? Think about it before you call someone a"fat face hog" - that may be the last straw for that vicitim - BAM you're dead!

Knots wrote on Feb 12, 2008 12:35 PM:Difficult to believe that the tying of a knot, something we used to do all the time just for the fun of it, can now be used to accuse one of some sort hate offense. And I believe that one incident that led to this part of the policy was found to be baseless, i.e. no hate involved. Because of all the hoopla, now the district is stuck. If they ban the knot, it's really an over reation to something that wasn't intented to offend, but if they don't ban the knot, then some racist (and there are still plenty out there) will use it as a loophole to commit a real offense.

Sean C. wrote on Feb 12, 2008 12:57 PM:If God exists he is made up of all races being that he is the father of our world. So white power black power tan power & yellow power all need to unite & grow up. Typically racists are not the sharpest tool in the shed & they are unhappy in their lives. We should really pity them

Sassy & Cute wrote on Feb 12, 2008 2:53 PM:Yes, it’s time to unite & grow up people. This is one of ways the human race will survive, so taking these kinds of steps in schools helps, and protect our kids, even the racist’s kids, from getting beat up.

Proud Black Man wrote on Feb 12, 2008 3:11 PM:Listen to you haters "colored racists"??? WTH??? Convenient for whites to take the most superficial defintion of racism as they one they adhere to. Racism is about power and who gets it. The political/economic systems of the USA have always benefitted certain white groups while enslaving (literally) others. Just because slavery is gone doesn't mean the after effects of that injustice have faded. The racist system is still there, just less obvious. In this sense, BLACK PEOPLE CAN"T BE RACIST IN THE USA...because they are the historical victims of the racism system. Any action by us "colored" people is in response to the initial white racism that brought us here in the first place.

to Proud Black Man wrote on Feb 12, 2008 4:12 PM:You need to get over yourself. ANYONE can be racist. If fact, you are being racist towards yourself! When you start thinking about yourself as a Proud Man rather than a Proud Black Man, I might start listening to your opinion.

Re: to Proud Black Man wrote on Feb 12, 2008 7:53 PM:Well said!!!!

Can`t we ? wrote on Feb 12, 2008 9:04 PM:To P B M, what are you doing about the atrocities committed by the evil rebels back in Africa ? The definition of a racist is one who hates or does not like another human simply because of their color or creed

Christian wrote on Mar 18, 2008 4:31 PM:Blacks can't be rascist? So if a black attacks an asian or latino that's not rascist? Rascism is attacking someone over the percieved difference of race. By shouting "BLACK CAN'T BE RASCIST because of lack of power therefore their acts of hatred are excused you will eventually destroy the progress we have made as a society. If you try to have things the all your way we will go backwards. Please don't take this as white boy fear. Blacks in America are only 13.5% of the population now and will max out at 14.7% estimate by 2050. What I fear is the return of the KKK, or similar organization, that I want to avoid as the frightened majority always takes it out on the minority who frightens them. Doubt this message will get through, but I have to try.

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