The Division of Youth Services is keeping a close watch on the mounting juvenile delinquency cases at Hopwood Junior High School, particularly those involving students under probation.<\/p>\n
According DYS Juvenile Correction Unit\/Probation Supervisor Sylvio S. Ada, Jr., since the beginning of the school year the agency has put extra efforts to monitor these students in light of the surge in juvenile-related offenses at the junior high school.<\/p>\n
In the past two months alone, the probation unit has conducted no less than six intervention sessions per week, Mr. Ada said.<\/p>\n
Several Hopwood students have been apprehended for offenses ranging from truancy, assault and battery, assault with a dangerous weapon, and illegal possession of harmful weapons.<\/p>\n
A former Hopwood student himself, Mr. Ada
\nexpressed disappointment over what’s happening at the lone public junior high school on Saipan.<\/p>\n
He said that during his time, the situation was not as bad as compared to what is currently happening at the campus.<\/p>\n
Barely a month ago, a misbehaving student had a teacher arrested for alleged assault and battery which was later cleared by the Atty. General’s office.<\/p>\n
Just last week, a Hopwood student was reported for throwing a pair of scissors at a fellow student.<\/p>\n
Citing his recent school visit, Mr. Ada said he witnessed students loitering around the campus during school hours.<\/p>\n
“I often wonder, do these kids go to class at all?,” he said.<\/p>\n
Mr. Ada said the problems plaguing Hopwood was largely due to overcrowding, a situation that is “a little too much to handle” for administrators of the junior high school.<\/p>\n
In the next school year, 676 more students are likely to enter the public junior high, according to Public School System statistics.<\/p>\n
Problems associated with overpopulation in the school will persist unless the new proposed junior high school is erected, PSS officials earlier said.<\/p>\n
PSS is expecting a three percent student population growth at HJHS in SY 2000-2001, or 1,236.<\/p>\n
The 10-year growth projection for Hopwood is 1,613 by SY 2009-2010.<\/p>\n
With the two public junior high schools on the island, a total of 1,800 students combined can be conveniently accommodated. The new junior high school in Kagman is eyed to accommodate at least 600 students.<\/p>\n
At the end of the fiscal year, DYS expects to record more mischief cases from last year’s figures. (MM)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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