Public Schools Suck

BassDude · 09-13-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlirtyChick

The policies should be reevaluated, and teachers given more latitude to decide if the child with the "weapon" intends to harm others. All this being said, these policies are designed to protect our children, and being a mom I am thankful that there are such policies. I don't want to get that phone call that my daughter was shot to death in the school library, or slashed to death in a restroom. But if I get that call that she is suspended for having a blade from her broken pencil sharpener the school officials will probably have me arrested for the wrath they will experience when I show up! Common sense. That's all the world needs more of! Conversely, where are the policies that prevent the teachers from harming students? Sure, they get in trouble after they have sex with a child, or ask students if they want to vote a child with developmental problems out of the classroom, or use a middle eastern child to demonstrate to students what a terrorist looks like. Adults contribute to what makes our kids want to shoot a whole cafeteria full of kids, whether it be the absent parent, the abusive parent, a molesting priest, a thoughtless teacher. The issue at hand is more complex than public schools suck; the shortcomings of the American educational system is another topic. There is an overall fundamental failure in much of our society to keep kids safe because so many damn adults shirk responsibility for the children they are raising, or scar them psychologically with abuse of authority.

Absolutely agreed. Well-said, FC. I would add that kids are scarred by all sorts of abuse.

BD

Morgan · 09-13-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlirtyChick

The policies should be reevaluated, and teachers given more latitude to decide if the child with the "weapon" intends to harm others. All this being said, these policies are designed to protect our children, and being a mom I am thankful that there are such policies. I don't want to get that phone call that my daughter was shot to death in the school library, or slashed to death in a restroom. But if I get that call that she is suspended for having a blade from her broken pencil sharpener the school officials will probably have me arrested for the wrath they will experience when I show up! Common sense. That's all the world needs more of! Conversely, where are the policies that prevent the teachers from harming students? Sure, they get in trouble after they have sex with a child, or ask students if they want to vote a child with developmental problems out of the classroom, or use a middle eastern child to demonstrate to students what a terrorist looks like. Adults contribute to what makes our kids want to shoot a whole cafeteria full of kids, whether it be the absent parent, the abusive parent, a molesting priest, a thoughtless teacher. The issue at hand is more complex than public schools suck; the shortcomings of the American educational system is another topic. There is an overall fundamental failure in much of our society to keep kids safe because so many damn adults shirk responsibility for the children they are raising, or scar them psychologically with abuse of authority.

:end rant before I go too far

Very, very well said.

FlirtyChick · 09-13-08

Thanks, Morgan.

heelfetish · 09-13-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnonymousOne

You do realize we're talking about one of these right?

I do, but I'll admit I didn't read the entire article. My first thought was, it really depends on what the child was doing with it. I didn't read enough to see that the child had no bad intent.

I had some rather 'bad' kids in school with me. I'm sure everyone else did too. But they would use items like that as weapons all the time. And their intent was not good. And does it really matter if the item was lethal? As a kid, it was terrifying to be threatened with any kind of object. The thought of being held down and cut by a bully was worse than the wounds themselves could ever be.

But I digress, in this case, I totally agree. It's been blown WAY out of proportion. The kid does not deserve the treatment and punishment that's been handed down. The point I was trying to make is that when you're a parent, you no longer just shrug these things off.

Poky · 09-13-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnonymousOne

Why be worried over something like this when a student can do more damage with his hands. You can kill someone with three strikes to the face, I wonder how many times you'd have to slash at someone with a pencil sharpener...

Actually, it only takes One strike to the face to kill a person if another person knows where and how to do it. It is much easier then you may think. Wonder no more how many times you'd have to slash at someone with a pencil sharpener blade either...It only takes One....

In the profession I have been in for the past almost 10 years, I have seen everything from a pencile to a home made gun (commonly refered to as a Zipgun) that has been used to harm another person. Anything and everything around you is a potential weapon, even a simple piece of paper.

Public school systems are good in some areas but are very poor in others. In todays schools, it's not the schools fault that such drastic measure have been taken to ensure all the students are able to study in a safe environment, but it is their fault when they lack the common sense of such trival issues as what remained of a broken pencil sharpener. Had the child been showing signs of aggresive behavior, that would have been one thing, but in this case, stupidity over ruled common sense. The suspension was harsh and could have been dealt with better. This could have and should have been dealt with in a more reasonable manner. To me, it sounds like this kid stood more of a chance of cutting himself then hurting another kid. Whatever happened to the common sense approach?? What's next, expel a child for having a broken ruler? That said though, the teachers do the best they can and in a lot of cases are stuck between a rock and a hard place, damned if they do, damned if they don't.

Public Schools Suck

Originally Posted by FlirtyChick The policies should be reevaluated, and teachers given more latitude to decide if the child with the "weapon" intends to harm others. All this being said, these policies are designed to