Citizen-soldiers of the New Jersey National Guard spend two weeks at Fort Indian Town Gap, Pa., in preperation for going overseas to three bases in Iraq. There's a lot of shooting and excercising, and a little bit of fun. 

SOMERDALE -- When 11-year-old Matthew Dieterle played trumpet in the Somerdale Park School holiday concert, his father held a cell phone in the air so his mother, who was home, could hear him play.

When it was time for parent-teacher conferences, Laura Dieterle told her husband, David, what to ask their children's teachers. And for Matthew's first basketball game, David Dieterle had to cheer loud enough for both parents.

"It wasn't the same when my mom wasn't there rooting for me," Matthew said. "She always used to be there all the time, and now she can't come on school property. So yeah, it's tough."

In a move that some education law experts say may be the first of its kind, the Somerdale school board unanimously voted in September to ban Laura Dieterle, 37, from school grounds.

CAMDEN  --  The scaffolding, teachers say, tells the story.

This temporary frame has surrounded the entrance of Camden High School all school year, holding up the school's facade as the inside crumbles: Graffiti is not just on the walls, but also on some ceilings, windows and floors. Drop ceilings have panels missing, allegedly because students kick them out for fun, and some bathrooms are missing paper towels and soap.

Beyond the deteriorating physical state of the 1,500-student high school, there are fewer teachers and security guards this year than last -- a fact that some staff members believe contributes to the recent violence.

A melee Dec. 14 ended in six arrests, arson forced an early dismissal Thursday and, so far this year, at least three teachers have been injured in altercations involving students, the district said.

Now, unusual steps are being taken to address the troubled school. During a 2 1/2-hour closed-door meeting Monday at the Camden High auditorium, more than 100 staff members told Superintendent Bessie LeFra Young and other district officials of their grievances.