NCJ Number
46265
Journal
Education Volume: 97 Issue: 3 Dated: (SPRING 1977) Pages: 252-256
Date Published
1977
Length
5 pages
Annotation
PROVIDING WHOLESOME, YEAR-ROUND SUPERVISED ACTIVITIES AT SCHOOL COULD ACT AS A DETERRENT TO JUVENILE CRIME.
Abstract
WITHOUT A YEAR-ROUND SCHOOL PROGRAM, PUPILS ARE UNATTENDED AND LEFT TO ROAM THE STREETS IN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO MISBEHAVIOR. THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE WHERE WORKING PARENTS ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE NECESSARY SUPERVISION. EXTENDING THE LENGTH OF THE SCHOOL YEAR PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH A REFUGE FROM THE STREETS AND OFFERS ACTIVITIES BETTER SUITED TO THEIR NATURE AND NEEDS. PROPONENTS OF A 12-MONTH SCHOOL YEAR SUGGEST THAT A MANDATORY ATTENDANCE PLAN COULD SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. IN ADDITION TO REDUCING JUVENILE CRIMES AND REVENUES SPENT TO COMBAT THEM, SUCH A MANDATORY ATTENDANCE PROGRAM COULD FURTHER REDUCE TAXES BY REDUCING SCHOOL OPERATING COSTS. A SURVEY OF 79 SCHOOL CORPORATIONS ALREADY CONDUCTING EXTENDED YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMS INDICATED THAT 60 PERCENT OF THE RESPONDENTS FOUND A DECLINE IN THE DELINQUENCY RATE OF STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM, WHEN COMPARED TO DELINQUENCY RATES PRIOR TO PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION. ONLY 7 PERCENT REPORTED INCREASES IN DELINQUENCY; HOWEVER, THE INCREASE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO REASONS OTHER THAN THE EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR. FURTHER, 51 PERCENT REPORTED A DECREASE IN SCHOOL VANDALISM, AND 44 PERCENT REPORTED NO DIFFERENCE IN THE AMOUNT OF SCHOOL VANDALISM. WITH FEW HOME AND AGRARIAN INDUSTRIES, TODAY'S STUDENTS HAVE INCREASING AMOUNTS OF LEISURE TIME. THEREFORE SCHOOLS SHOULD BE OPEN ON A YEAR-ROUND BASIS TO PROVIDE CONSTRUCTIVE WORK FOR OTHERWISE IDLE HANDS AND MINDS. SCHOOLS MUST ONCE AGAIN SHARE WITH PARENTS THE CHALLENGE OF MOLDING AND SHAPING THE CHARACTERS OF YOUTH, SO THAT POTENTIAL JUVENILE OFFENDERS WILL BECOME PILLARS OF RESPECTABILITY RATHER THAN ADULT CRIMINALS. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (JAP)