24 Student Rights Handbook young learn from their own peer groups; and pre-figurative, where the old learn from the young. She says we are now strongly moving into a pre-figurative culture. So it becomes more and more important for you to know your rights under the law. You will be setting the pace and the style of the future. We think it is important to remember that the idea of "student rights" is a frightening thing to parents, teachers, and administrators, but that they have to be convinced that to give students rights is not to take away parent, teacher, and administrator rights. In a book called In Defense of Youth, Earle C. Kelley wrote: "Hostile attitudes on the part of the elders are quickly sensed by youth whose response in many instances is hostility and aggression. The conflict between age and youth is one of the saddest aspects of our culture. And the saddest fact of all is that age always strikes the first blow." There are many fine teachers and administrators in the Dayton system who will help you. There are also some who will be afraid of you and work against you. Using this book, you can defend your rights within the bounds of the law. That is the only kind of lasting and meaningful defense that I know. Use this book as a tool to defend your human rights in school. Do not use it as a substitute for a lawyer. There are two reasons for this. First, the law, by its nature, is constantly changing. Although several attorneys helped write this handbook, only an attorney who knows all the facts of a case can fully advise you of your legal rights. Second, there is a crucial difference between legal theory and practice. How people enforce laws in a community is often more important than what the Supreme Court says in Washington. We at the Center love, trust, and respect you and have Student Rights Handbook 25 confidence in your ability to use this book to make democracy for the young a reality. The handbook was developed with the assistance of many people. Among these were: Robert Bowman, Walter Brooks, Ruth Burgin, Joe Cannon, Ames Chapman, Michael Geltner, Ellen Hanson, Larry Hillman, Ellis Hutchinson, Ted Lauer, Richard Menefee, Donnie Moore, William Patterson, Carolyn Peck, James Phillips, Paul Piersma, Carolyn Russell, John Saunders, Robbie Smith, David Turner, Claudius Walker and Ferieda Walker. The following organizations and individuals played a major role in the development of the Student Rights Center. Their hard work and dedication is tremendously appreciated: The Dayton Model Cities Planning Council, The Community School Councils, Marcia Brockenborough, Edgar Cahn, Jean Camper Cahn, Patricia Clarkson, Steve Huber, Michael Kantor, Bruce Kirschenbaum, Terry Lenzner, Troy Overby, Elliot Stanley and Nancy Stanley. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER ... BE THE BEST OF Yours in the struggle for the best possible Aithn E. Thoma 28 Student Rights Handbook Staff Center For the Study School Officials These are the officials of the Dayton Board of Education and Administration. Offices are located at 348 West First Street. Telephone Number, 461-3850. Members of the Dayton Board of Education Leo A. Lucas*, President (45408) Joseph G. Seaman*, Vice President 4373 Riverside Drive (45415) 274-9172 Josephine Groff 607 Otterbein Avenue 613 Watervliet Avenue |