LOS ANGELES (AP) — Civil libertarians are criticizing a
questionnaire designed to give school officials a snapshot of student
behavior that could help determine if any are prone to violence.
Mosaic 2000 is a new version of a questionnaire law enforcement
agencies, government offices and some businesses have used for nearly
two decades to identify people prone to spousal abuse or workplace
violence.
The school version of the survey recently was given a three-month
test at two Orange County schools. It will spread to as many as 30
schools nationwide in the next few weeks, including 10 in Los Angeles
County.
The 40-question format includes the following questions: Has the
student made references or threats about committing suicide? Has the
student experienced victimization by peers within the last 18 months?
Has the student made threats to harm others?
The questionnaire expands the inquiries principals, teachers and
counselors already make when confronted with a student who could be a
safety threat, said security consultant Gavin de Becker, whose firm
developed the test.
``What it compels is that the right question be asked,'' he said.
Critics say the method could lead to some young people becoming
unfairly stereotyped or wrongly characterized as harmful.
``Are we going to start singling people out and equating someone
being different with someone being dangerous?'' said Michael Fleming,
spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California.
Also troubling to critics is that students most likely will not be
asked the questions. Administrators or teachers will fill out the
questionnaires in their absence.
``Shouldn't we be talking face-to-face with our kids about what's
going on in their lives? Fleming said. ``The human element seems to be
missing in this equation.''
The questionnaire does not score the answers, make recommendations or
issue predictions. Instead, school officials can use the information to
decide whether counseling or any other action is necessary.
``These evaluations are going on all over America, anyway,'' de
Becker said Tuesday at a news conference at the District Attorney's
office. ``They're just going on without a strategy.''
