At first the students gave Mendoza a variety of doubting or cautious expressions. The alternative education program takes in students whose repeated bad behavior has gotten them expelled from their home school systems.
The atmosphere there is no-nonsense. But it can get worse. If a student continues to have behavioral problems he or she can be ordered to attend class on the lockup side of the house. Here no one goes home at night. The concertina wire around the exercise yard looks like prison.
Mendoza told the class that what they are going through is baby stuff. If they don
