The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1954-03-20
"Toughs Pose Problem
In N. Y. Schools!
Beat Pupils And Scare leaders,!
By GEORGE BLISS

BY GEOKGE BLISS
"A tcen-age crime wave which has stung Chica TO-
Cook county, and officials into breakdown campaign
counterpart in New York City where teen-age hood
um have almost taken many public schools.
IAN investigation by the New York Daily News show
ID young hoodums have become almost unmanag BILE
roblem for school authorities.
Teachers have been threatened and beaten, pupils
abbed and shaken down, and girls raped while school
authorities have pursued policy of appeasement because
ef fear of publicity"
"POLICE MAKE COMPLAINTS!
New York police have complained that attempts to
attack the problem have been met by well handle this
ourselves attitude by school officials. Police, whenever
learning of crime being committed at school, have had
title cooperation from school heads there. This has
to situation in which young toughs have had free
run of the schools and have terrorzed orderly pupils
TEACHERS found that when their actions ased
pupil, they WOULD BE DISCIPLINED either by the
school pupils! The rigid spare the rod regulations of
the New York City board of education coupled with the
control toughs have gained have placed teachers In a diff
cut situation
STEP UP BUILDING OF CHURCH SCHOOLS
New York News reporters found where teach
refused press charges against toughs who had
ed them because of the pressure of school authorities
ind the fear Of reprisals by the toughs gang Many teach
nhave retired and have obtained other jobs Pupils,
attempting escape the terror have transferred to pa
Ochal or private schools.
Church schools, because of the enroment have
stepped up building programs throughout the city while
their present facilities have been overcrowded Al the
same time public schools far under capacity.
Reporters found the ugliest condition in the schools
involved and morals School authorities rarely reported
these to police because of the publicity
Boys and girls were pettng in front of junior
senior high schools turnout the city Lavatores
techools used for gambling and drinking.
"a teachers face clswed by girl when he at
bas k.~I
room The incident reported
"TOUGHS BEAT TEACHER!
Teachers have become exasperated that they have
taken the attitude of live and let live They said they
longer bother with the bad pupils the hope that the good
ones will continue show interest in their class work
II you wallop pupil you're in trouble, and if you
don you're trouble because you lose the respect of the
koushneck and the others too teacher told reporter.
ouve got to be careful offend tough because his
|sang will waylay you'
"A teacher in a Queens high school was beaten by
hree toughs in the school corridor and aho he suffered
severe cuts, he failed report the incident to poicei
In some elementary schools, mothers have organized
patrols which guard all school entrances because Of
'e"nquents frequently prey on their children
teachers travel in protective groups to and from
'ner homes and keep of corridors
curing class breaks because their fear of being bumped
anroned Teachers have been accidentally knocked
Town in the halls and accidentally stepped on!
"TOUCHS VISIT TEACHER"l
In junior high school in Brooklyn a principals
schooase visited the father for the day. Roughs
grabbed the boy ripped off his threw them out of
the window and then paraded the terrified boy thru the
corridors
Pupils have threatened and beaten teachers who
would not graduate promote them! teacher who
ported group of vandals visited in his school room
The next day and told he would be thrown out win
oow the time he snitched New teachers put in
he fret. III he akion
Moved
Although parallels to the New York school scan
Gals were discovered here, Investigation by THE TRI-
SuNE found that rowdyism and vandalism in Chicago
schools the whole decreasing despite the rise in
juvenile delinquency turnout the city.
In a subsequent article THE TRIBUNE will relate
now close cooperation between school officials and the po-
lice have kept gangs of ough from operating within the
schools"