How good”. or bad is student discipline in the secondary schools of Central Utah? There are problems to be sure – perhaps more numerically than in yesteryear because there are more youngsters. But by and large, the situation is not crucial. in fact, spot checks by the Herald awhile back in the Utah County school districts indicates that the over-all discipline problem generally has diminished from the national “protest years” in the late sixties and early seventies. It’s quite possible some teachers may disagree. Indeed, the situation could vary somewhat on a school-to-school and room-to-room basis. School administrators interviewed agree the situation never was as bad here as reported nationally, to the credit of the young people of Central Utah. But even on the national basis, negative attitudes seem to have been reversed in many areas, although violence in the nation’s schools is still a problem, according to a survey by United Press Intemational. UPI said spot checks showed that violence against teachers and among students is down from last year in Chicago, Miami, Memphis, Detroit, Little Rock, Portland, and Birmingham. Among cities checked, the situation appears to have deteriorated in Newark and San Francisco. And troubles are “leveling off” in Boston, New York, Albuquerque… and in Los Angeles where spanking soon will be permitted with parents’ permission. In many cities, though, police and armed guards are maintained on grounds of troubled schools. Persons interviewed by the Herald in three Utah County school districts agree there are more brilliant students, more high achievers than in the past, again, to the credit of today’s youth. TIIBTEVS a feeling certain aspects of the drug problem are diminishing from peak years, but this is still something that needs watching. The parental role continues vital. Said one official: “Too many parents sidestep their responsibility for the manners and conduct of their children. Too often they ask the teacher, ‘What are you going to do about it’?’ We think it is appropriate to ask the parent the same question.” Certainly the solution to questions involving student education, discipline, manners and citizenship require team effort involving the home, schools, churches, and community. In recognition of this, a number of programs are underway in the area involving student peer groups, parents, law enforcement agencies, youth councils, etc. In Pleasant Grove, the over-all problem is being attacked through a parental – educational advisory council which meets regularly. Represented are elementary, junior high and senior high schools, the parents, the PTA, the city, churches, clubs, and lay peo p e. Through united effort the council tackles such problems as school rowdiness, foul language, smoking, alcohol – drugs, tardiness, cheating, etc. Marked improvement has come about through the program, a spokesman said. We like the concept of the principal who said: “The schools belong to the public. The people must decide w at kind of schools they want, work at grass roots level, reflect on the good and the bad, and participate affirmatively in helping achieve the goals.” When problems and challenges before the schools are ap roached on that kind of basis, witll sincere concern by students, parents, faculty, administrators and others with a stake in the program, we can be pretty-well assured of positive results.