BARNEGAT – Not surprisingly, a number of students at the Russell O. Brackman Middle School have plenty to say concerning the good and bad happening within their school.
A United States Department of Justice program earlier this month gave 45 seventh and eighth graders the opportunity to have their voices heard. According to Brackman Vice Principal Brittany Schork, staff members recommended the participants based on their leadership potential.
The same group also suggested solutions for problems they identified as part of their involvement in the DOJ’s School-Student Problem Identification and Resolution of Issues Together (School-SPIRIT) program.
Rather than use district staff members, the Department of Justice requested involvement from community members. When one of the outside facilitators was unable to attend, Barnegat Township School District Supervisor of Guidance Dr. Leah Purpuri stepped in as a last minute replacement. The balance of the adult participants came from diverse backgrounds.
Dr. Roxanne Barnes and Jen Saropolous are both local business owners. Agent Michael Colwell participated in the program on behalf of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s office, while Michael McManus represented the Barnegat VFW.
Michael David and Matthew Lattimer of the Department of Justice led the program, which began with training the facilitators the day before they met with the students. Many already had familiarity with dispute resolution.
During the two consecutive mornings, the facilitators paired up in teams to engage the students in small groups concerning the issues they found most pressing in the middle school.
Among the major complaints that surfaced focused on the school’s disciplinary procedures.
“How many of you guys get called down and written up for stuff you don’t deserve?” asked one male student. “You get points and there may be teachers that have it out for you and they get away with it, because they’re the top authority.”
Eighth grader Aiden Saropolous said he also said it didn’t make sense that you could get written up twice for the same thing. Others suggested it amounted to a form of double jeopardy.
“Plus, it’s harder to work down points than it is to get them,” Aiden said. “The whole point system in general is very biased and extremist at some point.”
An accumulation in points can result in lack of privileges like the inability to participate in school trips or dances.
Students suggested they should have the ability to reduce points by volunteer time, cleaning up or helping teachers.
Other program participants complained that the whole school seems to get punished for the actions of a few. They cited the closing down of bathrooms because of problems with vandalism propagated by TikTok challenges.
“The school changes so many rules due to one person’s actions,” agreed an eighth-grade student. “One person will get in trouble and the whole school will have to pay for it. It’s unfair because I didn’t do anything wrong, and I get good grades and do my schoolwork.”
The seventh and eighth grade students also cited issues with a math program called My Path, and wanted their FLEX time changed to something more geared to free time.
“There should be more diversity in what we talk about as far as African things,” said Nazir King.
Damenonah Loftland said that she’d also like to see more teachers that looked like her discussing some of the subject materials. She thought it would be more comfortable when someone that looked like her talked about slavery since it was something that happened to her culture.
Male students admitted that they found the school’s dress code to be unduly hard on girls, although they didn’t like the school’s position on hoodies. While they acknowledged that it was originally initiated as a safety issue when masking was in place, they thought the restriction should be lifted.
Students also discussed issues regarding bullying and disrespect from peers. They felt that an adult should intervene in circumstances that can’t be ignored or that peer mediation might also help.
The Brackman School received national attention when a Lakewood school district attorney said the girls’ basketball team directed racially motivated slurs against the visiting team.
Barnegat Township school district leaders conducted an internal investigation and determined that the allegations against the team were unfounded. It appeared the inappropriate remarks came from spectators at the game.
Lattimer, who works as part of the DOJ’s Community Relations Service, contacted the district and offered to partner with the SPIRIT program.
In breakout rooms, students said they felt the overwhelming majority of their friends agreed that it was inappropriate to use racial slurs.
“It’s most probably something they hear at home,” one eighth grader remarked.
“You know after third grade they stopped those cool assemblies where they told us we needed to be good people,” said Aiden. “It really shows. We’re not all that kind to each other and I think we need to be reminded that kindness is key.”
A majority of seven grade students, as well as some eighth-grade students were selected to join the SPIRIT council to work with school administrators to improve the school’s climate and culture.
“You guys have the ability to make change above anyone else,” reminded Colwell. “…You guys and gals will make that change, especially in the areas we talked about as far as how we treat each other. I heard a lot of kindness and treating people with respect….I am very impressed and just remind you to be very reasonable when you’re trying to make your changes.”
“Always be reasonable,” Colwell continued. “Remember the other side too, has some limitations.”
Writer Stephanie A. Faughnan also served as a facilitator at this event.
