MM> Tom, School policies mandating zt and expullsion in addittition to
 MM> arrest pose an interesting situation.
Twenty or thirty years ago, they went to reform school, and there was some
attempt at continued education. Today, they commit burglaries while other
kids are in school and parents are out making a living. They also sell drugs,
the younger the better. The street gangs have the system all figured out, and
they use the younger dropouts. They wake up one day, possibly, at age 18 or
19 in prison, and some of them actually figure this out. Many others are
lucky to have an 8th grade education and never figure it out. Their choices
are limited when they get out, and many of them only continued their street
education. They go where the big and easy money is and either land right back
in prison or in the graveyard. They may even enjoy elevated status in the
gang because of their trip to prison or the crimes they have committed. I
would vote for a return of the reform schools and at least get them off the
street and attempt to give them some form of education. This would at least
prevent many crimes and give the young criminal additional choices for life.
The system is definitely failing them now.
Tom Rightmer - A Victims' Rights Advocate
... Frigerobics: Leaning, bending, stretching while looking in the fridge.
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