Warren Central High School is well-known for its diversity and inclusion. However, students' behavior and actions outside and inside the school’s walls sometimes negatively affect outsiders' views of the school and community. Despite all the different perspectives, though, Warren Central is a good school with various opportunities and possibilities.
Student behavior affects the school in several ways, but one of the main causes is students fighting.
“Most fights happen because of stupidity,” sophomore Katia Fokam said. “It’s annoying because people act and sometimes behave like it’s something good to witness.”
Fights are so common that in a representative sample of WCHS students, not one person didn’t witness at least one fight or argument.
“Unfortunately, we have a handful of individuals who believe fighting is their only option versus utilizing the resources and processes set up in school to keep them safe,” Principal Masimba Taylor said. “What is even more disturbing is we have some parents and guardians who support the "fight first" mentality, which can make it difficult for administrators to keep students safe. I believe it takes two to argue, and most altercations start with a verbal altercation. If one person had chosen to walk away, the situation may have been avoided.”
Despite the many unwarranted fights and conflicts, Warren Central is a good high school. Many people, including sophomore Monisha Xavier, share this belief.
“Warren is a good school,” Xavier said. “It’s just the student's behavior and attitude toward school that sometimes make it a difficult place to be.”
According to senior Kevin Benson, teachers and administrators are guides who strive to build a foundation through students.
“I’ve been going to Warren Central since ninth grade,” Benson said. “I’ve never felt embarrassed to be a WCHS scholar mostly because all the teachers and adults around me in the school environment bring positivity and support through their actions to ensure we accomplish our goals.”
Students' behavior varies from proper and controlled to sometimes wildly inappropriate. It’s nothing rare or new; however, most times they lack to see how it affects their teachers.
“I’ve been here a long time, 17 years to be exact, so it’s hard to identify specific incidents,.” speech teacher Susan Kalbrer said. “There are many examples with different outcomes that affected how I view students, but what I take from them is that our students are individuals, all dealing with different sets of circumstances at any given moment, and they’ve all been put in this building together. As adults, it’s up to us to protect and teach them, regardless of their circumstances.”
Teachers play an important role in advising and pushing their students in the right direction befitting them. It’s no surprise that most kids have that one teacher they favor somewhat. However, Assistant Choir Director Kelsey Coram is a prime example of encouraging her choir kids to maintain the same attitude with other teachers as well.
“I’ve had students who behave very well in class then found out they give a different energy to other teachers,” Coram said. “ Sometimes I’ve had to privately talk with these kids to figure out why they're great in my class but behave differently in others.”
There are also many in the community who have opinions about the school, such as Warren Regional Library of the Indianapolis Public Library Branch Manager Connie Scott.
“Most of the Warren students are good and accommodate the rules,” Scott said. “Some are bored and like to see something start or come with a bad attitude. Some just don’t have any respect for others using the library. Students love to socialize in and outside the library. A few do homework or study tables while others wait on transportation from parents and caregivers after work. The disrespect of some students disrupts the library environment and other users such as families with young children, tutors, and senior adults.”
She further emphasized how the library can be a safe and secure environment for Warren scholars.
“I try to speak with some of the parents and caregivers of the students in the library when they are picked up from the library,” Scott said. “I inform them of their behavior and our policies along with the consequences. It is also an opportunity to get to know students’ names and hopefully make a positive connection. Students come into the library hungry, restless, and tired. Hopefully, they see Warren Branch as a place of safety and support.”
Despite how some might view Warren, they are still Warriors, and the positive will always outweigh the bad.
“We will never really change people’s opinions until local, mainstream media stop painting us negatively, which they intend to do,” Kalberer said. “We can continue to use our own media outlets to focus on all of the positive, wonderful things happening here at Warren.”