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Zero
Tolerance=Zero Common Sense=Zero Maturity
On
* 9/9/99 *
One of my sons (13 yrs
old) accidently dropped a note in a hallway
at school, he had
intended to throw it away!
It was written to
aggravate another student who had
Teased him unmercifully
last year and had started it up again this year.
I got the call to come
to the school.
When I saw how the
school and the police were treating my son,
I nearly had a stroke.
I do know that the
schools and the police must treat all threats
Seriously, but you could
tell that this particular piece of paper was
written like a story (journaling).
It looked like a bad
script for South Park.
The note was not **Addressed**
to the School
The paper was not posted
in the boys room or
placed somewhere so that
it would be deliberately noticed.
The police
never sent a bomb squad to the school or my home.
The Police Chief even
told our local paper that he knew this was
prank gone wrong, by a
disturbed student ,crying out for help.
My son never had in his
life one disiplinary problem at school.
With in two weeks
Eastern School Board
Lower Windsor Township,
York County, Pa. had
permanently Expelled my
son.
*My son had never had
any other problems at school.
The only reason he ever
had a detention was for Homework violation.*
Then they offered to put
him in learning *Alternative*
school
in
another district.
With delinquents and
behavior problem students.
I am not stupid I knew
exactly what they were doing.
They wanted to lable my
son as a risk to society.
He is not!!!
David returned to school in regular classes, September 2001 and his grades are fine. He has not even had a detention all year.
To make a
long story short
I have completely lost
faith in our public and private school systems.
We have an
excellant counselor who has helped the family
through this difficult
time.
She is the "grief
counselor" for our local hospitals.
Her name is Michelle
Siewart RN
Julie Swope M. Ed.
(York, Pa.) who administered the psychological testing
required by Eastern
School District.
My son passed and has an
IQ of 109.
There was NO evidence of
any psychological diturbances.
I refused to let the
public shool test my son as I believe that they are
prejudiced against him.
They have their own motives and
I truly believe those
motives are Not in the best interest of my son.
I know that I am not
alone. Since this has happened I have heard so many
Nightmare Stories from
other parents in this District.
*Update*
York Catholic School
denied my son admittance due
to the charges that have
not been dropped.
Red Lion Christian
School denied my son admittance due
to the FACT that they
will not take any child that has been
Expelled or charged with
a crime.
Jesse Jackson didn't offer
to help my son, I spoke to his press secretary for 45 minutes,
She listened with sympathy
and then said
"But I don't know what
we could do to help you."
"DANGEROUS
SCHOOLS":
ABUSE BY EDUCATORS, CLIMATE
OF ALIENATION
CAN LEAD TO VIOLENCE BY
STUDENTS, TEMPLE AUTHORS SAY
I highly recommend purchasing
Dangerous Schools
written by:
University school psychologist
Irwin Hyman,
a national expert on corporal
punishment and discipline, and
co-author Pamela A. Snook,
a psychiatric nurse and
doctoral student in school
psychology at Temple
---------------------------------------------------
Physical and emotional maltreatment by
teachers and administrators and the increasing use of police-like
disciplinary tactics contribute to the climate of alienation in
America's schools and often can lead students to commit violent
acts.
In examining the widespread--but often
overlooked--issue of educator-induced violence, Hyman and Snook
show that school-age children are more likely to suffer physical
and/or emotional abuse by their teachers and administrators than
they are to be killed or wounded in violent acts by their peers.
But the "toxic" climates in
most schools, created by teachers and administrators, have a
dramatic effect on students, leading some to commit extreme acts
of violence, while having a lasting impact on the physical and
mental well-being of others, and undermining the constitutional
rights of all, the authors say.
"Schools that permit or promote
alienation in any way create an atmosphere in which violence is
more likely. From the shootings in Littleton, CO to those in
Conyers, GA, all of the students who have committed violent
crimes in schools have one thing in common: They are alienated
from others," says Hyman, adding that alienation can even
occur in schools considered to have positive climates because
school officials are unaware of or "unwilling to be
proactive about alienated individuals and sub-groups within the
school culture."
Those climates begin at the top, with
those teachers and administrators who subject children to both
physical and emotional abuse, says Snook.
"Educator violence against
students, including verbal and physical attacks and the
undermining of students' constitutional rights, erodes school
safety," says Snook.
President of the American Academy of
School Psychology, Hyman says schools are relying on police to
deal with incidents, such as fights, that used to be handled by
administrators. Doing so, and invoking police "safety"
procedures such as metal detectors and strip searches, takes the
onus off administrators and has a negative effect on schools, he
maintains.
"School safety is beginning to
rival corrections as a major growth industry in America,"
says Hyman, director of the National Center for the Study of
Corporal Punishment and Alternatives at Temple. "An
overdependence on police intervention can decrease the
willingness of school authorities to develop alternative
preventive procedures to deal with school disruption.
Unnecessarily harsh and punitive disciplinary practices against
students create a climate that contributes to school violence."
Rather than relying on police
procedures, Dangerous Schools takes the stance that districts
need to commit to hiring more mental health professionals who can
help identify and assist at-risk kids, while developing school
climates that are positive and inclusive and promote friendly,
relaxed discussions and objective problem-solving.
To that end, Hyman and Snook have
developed the "My Worst School Experience Scale" (MWSES),
a "mental health audit" system which helps
administrators identify at-risk students and gauge school
climates. Additionally, the scale can be used to help identify
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in students who have been
subjected to school violence.
"The scale provides a measure to
identify alienating climates in schools and to diagnose
individual students who have been traumatized by educators,
bullied by peers and alienated from the system in general,"
says Hyman, who discussed the scale at the recent American
Psychological Association convention in Boston.
In addition to detailing the issue of
educator-induced violence, Dangerous Schools also documents legal
cases that have been brought against school districts, alleging
abuse from corporal punishment and strip searches to sexual
harassment, verbal abuse and punitive isolation. The book
provides parents and policymakers with information on how to
recognize and prevent abuse and how to take legal steps when
abuse occurs.
"The information for
parents makes the book even more valuable," says Snook.
"We give parents who face these issues some guidance and
some support. But we're also honest. We let parents know that
they will not have an easy time battling abuse charges against a
school district."
Proffessor Irwin Hyman spoke to
me at length about my son David
I am sure that very soon "Dangerous
Schools" will be a highly regarded
reference tool by parents,
therapists, lawyers, and politicians.
My Son's (hearing) was held
on January 24
I have respect for the Judge
He treated my son honorably
The School Principal
and
The Police Officer
lied about something that my son said during
his "interrogation"
We were very Proud of David
he held his head up....
he was humble
he was honest.... he spoke clearly
he showed respect to the judge and the court
The DA tried to get my son confused while
David was on the stand.
David handled himself well.
He was convicted of Terroristic Threats.
We are going to see if we can file appeal.
The adjudication will be sometime soon.
David is now finished with his punishment.
"Fairness in the Age of Columbine" by:Fran Valenta
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