229:"While math scores are up 6% during Clark's reign, reading scores have barely budged: they remain in the bottom third of the nation's high school seniors. While a few more students are going to college -- 211, up from 182 in 1982 -- Clark has lost considerable ground in the battle against dropouts: when he arrived, Eastside's rate was 13%; now it is 21%." In 1986, he had the school's doors chained shut to keep intruders away, though city officials eventually ordered them to be removed, saying that the practice represented a violation of fire safety laws.
396:, July 1, 1990. Accessed March 27, 2018. "Was getting tough the answer for Joe Clark? The former high school principal and Army drill instructor made his name nine years ago in Paterson, N.J., as a hard-nosed disciplinarian.... All you have to do is call Central High School in Newark. That was an all-white school, and ironically I was No. 6 in my class."
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detainees in handcuffs for up to 11 days, or in straitjackets for up to a day; and in other instances, detaining some to their cells for 23 hours a day, for over a month in some cases. The state's
Juvenile Justice Commission also cited him for allowing the facility to be filmed for a television program.
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Clark was seen as an educator who was not afraid to get tough on difficult students, one who would often carry a bullhorn or a baseball bat at school. When criticized for this, Clark explained the bat was never meant to be used as a weapon, but as a metaphor for life: "A student could either strike
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During his time as principal, Clark expelled over 300 students who were frequently tardy or absent from school, sold or used drugs in school, or caused trouble in school. Though some argue that his tough practices made the school far safer, its academic accomplishments remained woefully inadequate.
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noted that the national dropout rate for such students remained high across the country and, with few alternatives available, each inner city school that had been able to reverse the trend had done so through "a bold, enduring principal" such as Clark. Further, he was "able to maintain or restore
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Separate criticism focused on the social impact of expelling delinquent students to improve test scores, claiming that "tossing out the troublesome low achievers" simply moved the problems from the school onto the street. Clark defended the practice, saying teachers should not have to waste their
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In 1995, he was appointed director of the Essex County
Detention House in Newark, New Jersey, a juvenile detention facility. He resigned in 2002, amid an investigation into whether he was allowing the use of excessive force and punitive punishments against detainees, which included placing some
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Other educators defended and praised Clark. "You cannot use a democratic and collaborative style when crisis is rampant and disorder reigns," said
Kenneth Tewel, a former principal. "You need an autocrat to bring things under control." Some critics focused on the fact that while Clark had
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magazine cover story, which noted that that Clark's style as principal was primarily disciplinarian in nature, focused on encouraging school pride and good behavior, although Clark was also portrayed as a former social activist in the film
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Clark defended his tactics, saying that the official guidelines were "anarchistic" and unsafe, and resigned in protest of the commission, who he dismissed as "regal-minded, nonsensical, condescending louts".
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in Los
Angeles, often cited as a contemporary of Joe Clark as a school reformer with a similarly outgoing approach, was also critical. "Our role is to rescue and to be responsible," McKenna told
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reestablished cleanliness and order, education scores had not substantially improved, which resulted in
Eastside High being taken over by the state one year after Clark's departure in 1991.
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from 1982 to 1989. He gained national attention for his unconventional and controversial disciplinary measures as leading the school, and was the subject of the 1989 film
247:. "Clark's use of force may rid the school of unwanted students," commented Boston principal Thomas P. O'Neill Jr., "but he also may be losing kids who might succeed."
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127:(May 8, 1938 – December 29, 2020) was an American educator and administrator, who was best known for his tenure as
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236:; in 1988, Clark was briefly considered for a position in the Reagan White House. He was the subject of a
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Clark began his career at the elementary school level, and later ran the camps and playgrounds system for
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311:, and J.J. Clark, his son, who is a track coach. He was also the father-in-law of Olympic track athlete
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538:"Commentary : 'Lean on Me': A Modern Myth? : Taking Artistic Liberty With Real Joe Clark"
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After his tenure as principal of
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Clark's tough tactics earned him substantial attention, with particular praise from
President
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259:. "If the students were not poor black children, Joe Clark would not be tolerated."
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322:, during his retirement. He died at home on December 29, 2020, at the age of 82.
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500:"Joe Clark, no-nonsense Paterson Eastside High School principal, dies at 82"
411:"Legendary N.J. principal Joe Clark, who inspired 'Lean on Me,' dies at 82"
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471:"Joe Clark, Tough New Jersey Principal Portrayed in a Movie, Dies at 82"
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177:, and an honorary doctorate from the U.S. Sports Academy. Clark was a
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161:, on May 8, 1938. At the age of 6, Clark and his family moved to
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order without abandoning the students who are in trouble."
592:"Disciplinarian For Juveniles Quits in Wake Of Censure"
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In 1982, he was appointed principal of
Eastside High.
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time on students who do not want to learn; however,
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169:. He went on to receive a bachelor's degree from
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409:Sheldon, Chris (December 30, 2020).
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332:List of teachers portrayed in films
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689:William Paterson University alumni
253:Washington Preparatory High School
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621:"Joe Louis Clark: A Local Legend"
536:GELLENE, DENISE (March 3, 1989).
684:People from Paterson, New Jersey
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709:20th-century American educators
165:, where he would graduate from
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714:People from Rochelle, Georgia
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18:American educator (1938–2020)
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279:Essex County Detention House
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80:William Paterson University
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520:, Time, February 1, 1988.
719:Educators from New Jersey
699:Rutgers University alumni
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354:Kozol, Jonathan (2005).
296:Clark was the father of
225:out or hit a home run."
211:Essex County, New Jersey
171:William Paterson College
679:Education in New Jersey
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358:The Shame of the Nation
251:, former principal of
189:. He was selected for
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468:(December 31, 2021).
175:Seton Hall University
89:Seton Hall University
633:on February 11, 2017
439:. December 30, 2020.
303:athletes, daughters
217:Eastside High School
137:Paterson, New Jersey
133:Eastside High School
386:Kwiatkowski, Jane.
195:Omicron Delta Kappa
167:Central High School
598:The New York Times
565:on January 5, 2016
559:www.mountunion.edu
477:The New York Times
417:. NJ Advance Media
388:"A Principled Man"
305:Joetta Clark Diggs
163:Newark, New Jersey
157:Clark was born in
466:Sandomir, Richard
320:Newberry, Florida
313:Jearl Miles Clark
159:Rochelle, Georgia
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60:December 29, 2020
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62:(2020-12-29)
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664:2020 deaths
659:1938 births
637:February 9,
569:December 7,
555:"Joe Clark"
309:Hazel Clark
197:in 1997 at
145:, starring
45:May 8, 1938
653:Categories
338:References
244:Lean on Me
153:Early life
142:Lean on Me
41:1938-05-08
129:principal
76:Education
326:See also
179:Sergeant
108:Children
421:May 15,
298:Olympic
181:in the
415:NJ.com
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205:Career
113:Joetta
103:Gloria
100:Spouse
70:, U.S.
51:, U.S.
631:(PDF)
624:(PDF)
301:track
117:Hazel
639:2017
607:2024
571:2015
486:2024
423:2022
368:ISBN
307:and
269:Time
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115:and
57:Died
31:Born
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