Dear Valdosta City School Parents and Guardians,
As the proud superintendent of Valdosta City Schools, I am honored to say that we have some of the most talented students in our great nation. Our students excel in every area, whether it is academics, athletics, the arts, and even as community servants. Valdosta Wildcats are Champions who model the winning ways that we are accustomed to here in our school system.
Regretfully, not all of our students are always living up to their fullest potential. A recent data analysis has revealed that the biggest disciplinary issue we are currently seeing in our elementary and middle schools is student incivility. Attendance/skipping is the number one issue in our high school with student incivility being the second greatest infraction.
“Student incivility” is defined as, “Insubordination or disrespect to staff members or other students; includes but is not limited to refusal to follow staff member instructions, use of vulgar or inappropriate language, and misrepresentation of the truth” (Valdosta City Schools Code of Conduct, Event Code 33: Student Incivility-State Reported, 2023-24, page 41). This is the infraction that is coded when students are disrespectful and disobedient to our faculty and staff.
Student incivility is such an issue that many of our teachers do not feel that they can provide the highest quality of instruction due to frequent disruptions and a lack of respect from students. These disruptions interfere with the learning of other students, which cannot be tolerated. The time has come for the disrespect of our teachers to end. Effective immediately, students who are disrespectful and/or disobedient to teachers will be punished. Upon investigation, if it is discovered that an unprovoked student has been blatantly disrespectful to a faculty or staff member, that student will face suspension or other similar consequences.
Our teachers want to be able to teach, and they have the right to do so in a safe environment. I am sincerely asking parents to talk with your children about proper behavior at school. And just as important, we need our families to make attendance a priority for each of our students. If a student misses even one day of instruction, those learning losses can be detrimental. Learning how to respect authority at a young age will help students lead a more successful and prosperous adult life. As Frederick Douglass once said, “It is easier to raise strong children than to repair broken men.” We must teach our children VALUES now so they will not unduly suffer the cruelties of society or worse, the justice system.
I believe in the talents and abilities of our children. However, we must train them in the way they should go so that they can live rewarding, fulfilling lives. We need your help to make sure our students’ futures are the brightest they can be. Thank you for your attention to this serious matter, and thank you for your support of our teachers.
Respectfully,
Dr. Craig Lockhart
Proud Superintendent of Valdosta City School
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