Posted on 04/10/2005 1:33:17 AM PDT by flying Elvis
Principal Glenn White says the offer to pay students is to prevent trouble – not in response to it.
Just like the FBI or other law enforcement agencies, Model High School is looking for information about criminal activity and is willing to pay for it.
Under a unique reward program announced by school Principal Glenn White, students could earn as much as $100 by providing school officials useful information about serious on-campus crimes from theft to weapons possession.
“It’s not that we feel there are any problems here. It’s a proactive move for getting information that will help deter any sort of illegal activity,” White said.
The school is offering a $10 reward for information concerning theft, $25 for prescription drug possession, $50 for felony drug possession and $100 for possession of a gun or other serious felonies, he said.
Rewards would be paid from the school’s general fund, which is collected from soda and candy sales, White said. Informants wouldn’t receive a reward if they also committed the offense, he added.
White drew his inspiration for the program from Cobb County’s Kell High School, where student tips led to an arrest of a classmate for possessing a handgun this winter.
Model’s school resource officer Ray Stock reported to White earlier this year that arrests declined about 50 percent at Kell High after the inception of the program.
White submitted a memo to Superintendent Kelly Henson, who approved the idea before White started publicizing it, the principal said. Henson couldn’t be reached for comment.
No one has received a reward yet, though White said he doesn’t expect the idea to really take hold until next fall.
A reward system is not in place at Rome High School, Rome City Schools Superintendent Gayland Cooper said.
“The school resource officer there develops a relationship with students that makes them feel comfortable in providing information,” he said. “We feel the reward is the kids knowing they have a safe school.”
Students at Model High had mixed reactions to the new program.
Senior Jaime Parris said most students probably would go to faculty anyway if they felt they were in danger.
“If it was something that could get people hurt, I would let someone know about it,” she said. “But if it’s not going to hurt other people, I don’t think many people are going to tell on their friends.”
Others worried the reward program sends the wrong message and makes it seem students are likely to be criminals.
“It makes me feel kind of scared,” said junior Kimberly Putton. “You hear rumors, but you don’t ever know if it’s true or not.”
Another student said he worries students will start rabidly ratting on classmates for minor offenses like “using chewing tobacco or stealing pencils” to make some quick money.
Jared Ivey, a junior, said he dislikes the new policy and doesn’t understand the need for it. “There’s really not any problem here with drugs or whatever,” he said. “I’m not sure why they’re so concerned about it.”
True, I know this school well. They do not have any significant problems.
I wonder what the reaction would be if some concerned citizen offered similar rewards for reporting school staff misbehavior; would official enthusiasm be unconditional and unrestrained?
Dont have to worry if you keeping you @ss inline. You are there to learn turds not to sell dope.
On the other hand I can see a lot of @ss beatings coming. Will they have a student witness protection program?
The silliness of this, is that while I am sure there are students there who use drugs, drug use is not a big problem at that school, nor is guns and other crimes. It's in a rural area and 99% of the kids are decent people.
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