Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Strict rules at Crown Heights charter school put 16% of students in detention every day

Strict rules at Crown Heights charter school put 16% of students in detention every day

Strict rules at Crown Heights charter school put 16% of students in detention every day

Tuesday, November 16th 2010, 4:00 AM

Wanda Boone stands with her daughter, Gianna, who serves detention nearly every day for such infractions as failing to look at teacher in the eye or address her as 'ma'am.'
Lanzilote/News
Wanda Boone stands with her daughter, Gianna, who serves detention nearly every day for such infractions as failing to look at teacher in the eye or address her as 'ma'am.'

She has served detention for slouching, humming and failing to look her teachers in the eye.

It's no surprise that former honors student Gianna Boone hates going to Achievement First Crown Heights Middle School.

The East New York Ave. charter school's strict rules have landed the 13-year-old girl in detention nearly every day this year. And her grades have dropped from an A average to a C.

"I get into trouble every time I turn around," said Gianna, an eighth-grader who has served detention at least four times every week since school began in August for humming, talking loudly in the bathroom and using a pen during math class. "It's killing me."

The five-year-old middle school hands out detention based on a system of demerits - which students earn for infractions such as putting their heads on their desks, not facing forward while walking in the hallway or going to the bathroom during class.

With every three demerits, a student must serve 45 minutes of detention.

Some behaviors are considered so bad - rolling their eyes, sucking their teeth or complaining after getting a demerit - students get an immediate 45-minute detention fo



Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2010/11/16/2010-11-16_strict_rules_at_crown_heights_charter_school_put_16_of_students_in_detention_eve.html#ixzz15Rycd7z2