STRONG MEDICINE

In addition, several teachers, including Susan John, have left the program out of frustration.

It seems doubtful that Medicine Wheel will survive in its current form.
The tribe's new education director, Ken Crowl, is described as a "law and order" type who has clashed with reform-minded teachers and workers. And lately, there has been criticism of the alternative program's de-emphasis on discipline and competition in the classroom.

"They've got kids that deliberately do bad in Mesa so they can drop out and go to our schools and have fun," says one tribal member, who asked not to be identified.

Susan John laments: "They're going to crack down a hell of a lot. What will happen is we'll lose the kids."

Crowl insists that everything is under control.
"Ninety-nine percent of our kids are successful," Crowl says. Later, he issued a memo prohibiting education department staffers from speaking to New Times.

The official word is "there's going to be changes made," says Janet Johnson, the tribe's spokeswoman.

@rule:
@body:Riley Briones hopes the changes won't come before he finishes school next spring. He's earned six credits at Medicine Wheel, and hopes he'll be able to earn what he needs to graduate at Mountain View High School--if that school will take him back. In case it won't, he'll need Medicine Wheel.

Riley's year at Medicine Wheel, away from racial and gang problems, gave him time to reflect. He says his gang friends are no longer interested in joy riding, drug running or turf battles--just surviving. When he speaks, he sounds much older than his 17 years.

"It's not a 'gang,'" he says. "We're trying to make things different. The killing is crazy. But you can't be by yourself and take on the world. It's just protection--we're not a gang that goes and steals cars. No narcotics and no coke heads."
He feels he has learned to be more tolerant. This summer, he and Carmen plan to marry.

"Before, my goal was to get through school. That's a pretty short goal," he says. "School's easy. Now I know to think ahead. Otherwise, you won't make it.