A fellow forum member had a post on Americans cancelling trips to the U.K. because they didn't feel safe travelling to England. roll
How about this? WINSLOW TOWNSHIP, N.J. - Two girls provided high school officials with a tip that led police to charge four boys with planning a lunch-period massacre, the school’s interim principal said.
Do you feel safe sending your children to school in this country? If yes/no explain your views. And what do you think could be done to prevent such tragedy from happening?
I am glad those girls went to the school principal...
Having worked with teens in this country I can see why these things would cross their minds, such a shame...
Yes, I feel my children are safe in their schools. Why - it isn't something that is easy to answer and there isn't just one reason. I think it is a combination of how the whole school system works here.
for one thing, we are a very small school district by US standards. Because of this, teachers, staff and leaders get to know each child better. The school advisors/counsellors meet their children regularly and talk to them about anything.
NYstate requires all students to take the health program which includes very detailed explanations on every aspect sex and teenage life. They will talk about rape, homosexuality, healthy living, and how to include and accept others. I believe this stops some of the teasing by kids because they all know the facts properly and who they can talk to safely. But also, each teacher that teaches the health program is either a phys ed. teacher or counsellor so they are in an ideal position to notice if a child reacts to certain subjects and then they can follow up on anything.
Also, there is a bullying program going through each year of school where the children are told exactly what bullying is, how to deal with it (tell a teacher for example) and how to be respectful to others so the bullying stops.
The middle and high school are not geared to one set of kids - I hear many times how this country is hung up on sports and sports only. This is not the case in our schools. the school musical is more popular than football and just as popular, if not more so, than baseball. the kids that get the lead parts are admired for their abilities by the other kids.
The school offices where the social worker, super intendent and other people who run the school district, are attached to the middle school which is next door to the high school. Having this hands-on approach allows any problems that may develop get sorted immediately.
And all the teachers and principals respect the kids and parents but don't put up with any nonsense. the discipline policy is good.
I think that's all for now grin
[quote="Ben @ Sun Apr 09, 2006 1132 am"]NYstate requires all students to take the health program which includes very detailed explanations on every aspect sex and teenage life. They will talk about rape, homosexuality, healthy living, and how to include and accept others. Also, there is a bullying program going through each year of school where the children are told exactly what bullying is, how to deal with it (tell a teacher for example) and how to be respectful to others so the bullying stops.
Good to hear you like the school system where you live. But certainly this isn't my case, I live in Virginia, Loudoun County and sex education is part of the curriculum but the school cannot talk about rape and homosexuality roll This is a very conservative county with redneck views on various issues, and they forget that teens need guidance not discrimination.
My daughter was offered to sniff something in school this past week (she is 14), she did exactly as we instructed and went to her counsellor and school principal. Now she is being harassed by this other teen and the school won't do anything to the girl involved. It just makes me wonder if they really care at all, next it could be something like it someone planning to shoot around the school and would they investigate?
I am pulling my kids out of the public system, because of other things, like the change of boundaries 4 times in 6 years. Here in Loudoun they have a motto "Where children come first" but I think it is all BS if you ask me. I don't feel safe sending my girl to school with this crazy kid there, but until I find an alternative she'll have to go to school...
As I said, I have worked for the county and with a high school and in my opinion, the principals, teachers and parents need to be more involved with the children. Not to brag here, but when I left the school system to stay home with my twins, the children were begging me to stay, I think it had to do with the fact that I wanted to know more about how the children felt inside, genuinely cared about their day-to-day. Is it something I see here, in this part of the country? My answer is sadly, no.
posh2, I can understand what you mean. We were in NJ before moving to NY and the school district my children were in there, although supposed to be absolutely excellent and one of the best, I felt was terrible. too big, no one cared about the children etc. Everything you mention. My youngest, at 4, was disciplined for touching a child's shoulder, I was told by my eldest's teacher that it wasn't good for him to be off school - he had a double chest infection, lost his voice and an ear infection! And there was more concern in the school over the displaying of a menora and whether it was considered a religious symbol or not! evil And don't get me started on the bullying that went on! They were more interested in their test results and being the best on paper, than anything else. The school district we are in now is not the best academically. It is in the middle. the middle school has won the blue ribbon award of excellence but not for academics but for being all rounded.
If you go onto the American expat site in the UK they encounter similar problems in the UK too.
I have to agree, having 2 teens in school, that being in the right school district makes all the difference.
We moved states as my kids were heading in to middle/jr. high. The school in NH was well known for it's bullying and drugs and nothing beimg done about it.
Here in ME it's very different. My kids hae't escaped times of tribulation in this schoolbut it would have been somuch worse had we not moved.