Editor:

I am a concerned parent of students in the Antioch school district. I see so many problems creeping into our district, and I seriously fear for our city’s future. There are those who see things through rose-colored glasses, and feel that our school district is improving, but our children see things differently.

My high-school-age child was called out of class because he didn’t have his identification lanyard. He actually owns four of them because every time he forgets one, he is forced to go to the security office and get a new one, for which he will pay $5.

My oldest son went the entire school year last year with a picture of a World of Warcraft character taped over his ID picture. This son forgot about the detention, so has now been given Saturday school. If he is late, or doesn’t go for some reason, he will be suspended two days. Two days … because of not wearing a lanyard. Two days of no school, and no learning.

I ask myself how lanyards could be this valuable to the school. They certainly don’t really protect the students. My sons have let friends borrow theirs if the friends had forgotten their own. Clearly, the lanyard itself doesn’t guarantee that the student is even who they claim to be. But wow, think of all the money the school is making from kids who forget their lanyards.

Too bad many of these kids can’t even afford school lunch, but they must pay for a new lanyard. In addition, when they leave class to get the new lanyard, they miss valuable class time. And people question why our test scores are dropping. Maybe the school thinks that lanyards will keep non-students off campus. I don’t know about other kids, but my kids could make a fake lanyard in a few minutes time on the computer.

The other day my son was with some friends at school, and some other students threw plastic water bottles at them. One of his friends was hurt. My son was angry, and thought about retaliation. I counseled him to seek out the school security instead. Security was informed about this behavior, but did nothing about it. This is probably because throwing things at people isn’t as bad as not wearing a lanyard. Today my son told me that one of the kids, who had spoken up to the kids doing the harm, was ganged up on by those kids and beaten today. His nose was broken. But don’t worry, my son is doing Saturday school to make sure he is wearing his lanyard. Antioch is safe from my criminal son, right?

This is how Deer Valley is set up. It has two co-principals, who run the school. Remember, those are two salaries. My question is, what is the duty of the vice principals? Why not use these vice principals to do the work of one of those co-principals, and save that salary money to improve the school? Meanwhile, the vice principals are safely tucked away in the head office.

If trouble arises, one of the security ladies (the only security I’ve ever seen were older ladies. Bless their hearts, they try, but they need help) run as fast as they can to try to help. If the vice principals were out and about, they could help, but unfortunately they are safely seated in the office. The teachers don’t feel safe; there is no one to back them up in case of emergency. But don’t worry, we have those lanyards, we should feel safe.

This school district is falling apart, and the teachers will leave if things don’t change. Why doesn’t the press take notice of the vote of no confidence that the teachers issued about our superintendent? If so many teachers are unhappy, there is a good reason. The teachers are the most highly educated employees in the school district, but their opinion is largely ignored.

I for one would like to believe that Antioch can change, and that my children will have good teachers in the future, but frankly, I see a different future coming. I worry that all of our wonderful teachers will get fed up and leave. It’s a sad thought, but don’t worry, I’m sure each kid will be safely wearing their lanyard.

Delores DeVictoria

Antioch