NBC 4 - News - Parents Complain Prostitutes Operate Out Of High School BathroomParents Complain Prostitutes Operate Out Of High School Bathroom
Principal Says Problems Are 'Typical'
POSTED: 10:20 a.m. PST November 20, 2002
LOS ANGELES -- Is Washington Prep High School out of control? Some teachers say yes.
Teachers wrote a letter claiming major problems are plaguing the South Central Los Angeles campus including students who are gambling, drinking, cutting classes, using profanity, smoking marijuana, threatening teachers and committing sexual acts.
Several teachers told NBC4 they agree with the letter but only one would talk on camera if we didn't show her face.
"You can walk around campus and you're not sure when class is in and when it isn't because there's so many students roaming around. There's not a respect for authority," she said.
"That is not the average student at Washington Prep, but is it happening at all? Yes, on an isolated basis," school principal James Noble said.
Noble said the problems are typical of large urban schools. Parents say that's no excuse.
"There's been a lot of fighting and a lot of good teachers have left because there's no control up here," parent Pam Jones said.
The letter also claims that "students are robbed and beaten daily, black and brown conflicts are on the rise."
"Most of the time, the fights at the school are people around here who come up here and hop the fences," said student Jason Finn.
Noble held meetings with parents Tuesday night to address the concerns. He denied the charge that prostitutes operate out of the boys' restrooms.
Some students say a gang influence in their neighborhood is spilling over into their campus with threats and intimidation even against teachers.
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