Crazy Things Kids Are Being Arrested For

[Richard]

endoftheamericandream.com/archives/19-crazy-things-that-school-children-are-being-arrested-for-in-america

[BlueLotus]

Sad but true. That is why my Son goes to a private school. Always has. His Pre K education cost me 400$/week but now he wins state awards for educational achievements every year.

From the day he was born I told him "half (his) genes were mine and they were not allowed to sit on their bum!" I got lucky most parents don't have that option I had a crap job but it paid well with the OT to allow me to do that for him. I might have missed his first steps, first words and all kinds of other things but I look at it as an investment in his future. When I have more kids I will do things exactly the same way.

The only thing I would perhaps do differently is make sure that his classmates are all of the same social standing. My son's Pre K had a "Scholarship" program which enabled low class (read from Detroit) kids into the school, the only kids that were ever a problem. Smart maybe, hard to tell when the entrance exam is ABC's and 123's. Were they nice? Not so much. I have never wanted to string a child up by their toenails until I met them... Now I can see why they don't live very long compared to other groups.

Thankfully we moved out of state at the end of that year, now he is in a great school and there is not a "Scholarship program" There is however a scholastic merit award that is given out based on grades, GPA, and testing scores. If the child can't make an 80% with at least a 3.5 GPA they can't get in no matter what. I really like it that way!

However, I went to public schools, and I have to agree with the article they stink to high heaven. My baby sister has slipped through the cracks so much that when she transferred schools (public to public) that they told our mom that they were going to demote her back to the 8Th grade. She is in 9Th.

We had to hire private tutors 5 days a week to try and get her caught up again. IDK how well it is going to work, sis is not "into" school. Has no plans for college and is fine working as a dental assistant for the rest of her life. I wish she would aim a little higher. It kinda breaks my heart, like if I still lived near home I might have been able to help her... I know that's not the case but still.

Things were bad when I was in HS, I can't image what it is like now. Poor kids, between the punks, the pedophiles, and the arrest first figure it out later mentality of this country most of them don't have a chance. I had a principal (from Detroit) that moved into our district when our old one retired. I remember I had a Dr's apt, an urgent one I had given my note to the school etc first thing in the AM. Now the sad part of all this was I was Pregnant (Yes I know don't get me started, but, I was also emancipated and married!!!) That jerk had security (we had never had nor needed security until he showed up) hold me literally by the arms and refused to let me leave to make my apt. Until my mom called. My MOM really dude get a freaking clue!!!!

When I tried to lodge a formal complaint I was told to "get over it" I left school by the end of that week and never went back. I enrolled in an adult program finished my education and graduated with as Salutatorian of the Adult High
and Valedictorian of the nursing class I took while there all while holding down a full time job and raising a newborn.

Bottom line listen to your kids, if they are really unhappy chances are they are right. Yes sometimes the other options out there mean eating Ramon Noodles every day but you know what, these are our children, that is our job. To make sure that they are raised to be polite, respectful, and have opportunities that we never did. It has to start from day one and it has to start at home. I heard one lady say that she was not going to teach her child English, "that's what the school is for." really now??? come on that level of laziness not to mention stupidity is appalling!

[Lily]

This makes me more convinced than ever that home schooling is the best way to go.

[BlueLotus]

Home School would seem ideal save for the lack of socialization. I think learning how to interact and cope with others is a huge benefit of a traditional school set up.

All the home schooled people I knew could do Quantum Physics but could not get along with people well. I guess it is a trade off.

Now they are opening up more and more magnet schools here I'll have to wait a little bit longer to see how the kids who went to these fare in comparison to kids from the private sector. If they do as well or better that might be a good option for and future children we have.

[Lily]

Paedophiles are naturally going to head for where the children are. Any profession which puts them in a position of trust and power over kids: the clergy, boy scouts, teaching, etc. And the really unforgivable thing is, these institutions have frequently hushed it up and shielded the predators.

www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2105884,00.html

[BlueLotus]

Another way to help protect you children is to not allow them a teacher of a differing sex. It won't stop it cold but it will help in most cases.

I also do not allow my child to take "gym" because they only have 1 teacher, no assistant. No one is there to keep an eye not only on the teacher but also the kids in the locker room.

The school thinks I am "paranoid" but hey, my kid is not getting naked in front of anyone so... He will never have his uniform stolen, or stuck in the toilet, nor will he be molested/assaulted in the locker room (in all likely hood). IDC what people say or think if he wants to play sports in HS we can think/talk about it at that time until then HELL NO, and prolly a very firm have you lost your mind then even. ATM he plays little league soccer, football and baseball with off campus teams. He showers and what have you at home.

[bubblegum91]

I agree with BL, though, we don't have locker rooms in which to change. At least not like the US. Everything is separate. Even in the gender specific bathrooms.

I don't know how much you will decrease the chances of your child being hurt by not allowing them a teacher of the opposite sex, though. Pedophilia is separate from adult sexual orientation, however, there are quite a few pedophiles who will hurt both genders, go after the same gender or the opposite gender. I'm not trying to scare anyone.

I think the best way to help your child avoid abusive situations is to educate them. Kids are taught they must obey authority figures. So of course pedophiles are going to use this to their advantage. I think every parent needs to explain to their child what constitutes appropriate and inappropriate behavior of adults. Even if they think their child is intelligent enough to know. Better safe than sorry! Also, if they feel uncomfortable (and I mean in the sense of sexual connotations, kids know when something weird is going on) with an instruction a person with authority person gives them, they should speak up. Or speak to someone who can help them. Or even flat out refuse to obey. Kids need to know, that yes they need to obey the person in charge, but sometimes it's okay to rebel. In certain circumstances of course.

I attended public school. It wasn't as bad as people said it was, though, lacking the facilities of private schools. Course, it doesn't help that, despite very generous amounts of tuition they receive, they get far more from the Government than public schools do. Then again, I do know why we in the public schools can't have nice things.

I, of course, rebelled because of home life.

I applaud people who put their child's education first and send them to private school, it is obviously the better option.

That being said, public school doesn't necessarily spell doom. Quite a few of my friends are currently obtaining their respective bachelor degrees. Oddly enough, so are a few of my "stoner" friends.

We have kind of a joke over here. Public schools may have copious amounts of weed, but private school always has the hard stuff.

Unfortunately it is true.

[jacklawson]

Feb 2, 2012 19:12:05 GMT -5 BlueLotus said:

Another way to help protect you children is to not allow them a teacher of a differing sex. It won't stop it cold but it will help in most cases.

Female teachers can be pedophiles too, I can recall a few from my school days, only there abuse is more subtle than males and would be harder to convict on. Many teachers are sadists and get off on inflicting pain. All in all my school experience left me hating all teachers.

[remayterin]

Feb 1, 2012 20:48:58 GMT -5 BlueLotus said:

Home School would seem ideal save for the lack of socialization.

All the home schooled people I knew could do Quantum Physics but could not get along with people well. I guess it is a trade off.

I'm going to stick my thoughts in here.

Speaking from the perspective of a student, I have been home schooled my entire life (except for driver's ed) and I have never once felt unsocialized. If any thing, I feel that I have been given more of a chance to socialize out of school. I don't have to spend six hours of my day stuck in a building when I can easily do my school for the day in about two hours. The extra time I have I can spend with my friends (yes, it is possible for home schoolers to make friend on their own *laughs*) or play piano, read, go for walks, write, cook, take part in drama club, you name it.
There's also not that much time to 'socialize' in school. Sure, you're forced to be with other kids, but talking in class is frowned upon, so unless you call the 7 minutes-ish between classes enough time to socialize, then I don't think it's worth it.
When I took my drivers ed class, I was appalled at the amount of time wasted in schools, the bad behaviour of the kids and the general blandness of the teaching style. It made me quite thankful that my parents had made the choice to keep me out of school and teach me at home.
Personally, I'd say that if you care that much about your kids future, don't trust the school to do it, do it your self.