Friday, October 24, 2003
Isn't there anything good to happen in your school?
Yes, we have good things that happen in our school. I started a number of new courses last year, one of which was called Peer Leadership. the teacher is dynamic. He developed a class from nothing with little in the way of materials. He had some students in this first class that could be called "knuckleheads". When we scheduled them for the class last summer I thought we would be transferring them within the first month. Instead, two of them conceived of the idea of monitoring the infamous boy's bathroom, which is laden with stale and illegal cigarette smoke, from which I complain that I will get lung cancer. They parked a desk outside the door and warned any guy that went into the bathroom that they would turn them in if they lit up. The place smelled fresh for two days. The work got out and I warned the hallway monitors to keep an eye on the stairwells, but the place was smoke free for two days. As great as that was the smile on these boy's faces for coming up with the idea and implementing it was even greater. This was the first time I could shake the kid's hand for doing something worthwhile.
There are many other students and teachers that try so hard to make their lives and those of others better. They go quietly about their business and are rewarded by the deeds they do. But when a selfish kid does something good for others, they bloom. This is the essence of teaching and the reason as well.
There are many other students and teachers that try so hard to make their lives and those of others better. They go quietly about their business and are rewarded by the deeds they do. But when a selfish kid does something good for others, they bloom. This is the essence of teaching and the reason as well.
Thursday, October 23, 2003
Handling threats
The Internet becomes a weapon with which to threaten and bully; to set up a place to fight; a place to insult someone into doing somethig they would never think of if they hadn't allowed a bully to "chat" with them.
Last Sunday a boy threatened anothe over the Internet. This spilled over into the school with panicky parents wanting me to do something about it. They are helpless in trying to control their child's use of the computer, so I have to settle their nerves and assure them that all will be well. To do so, I had to conduct an investigation with the Vice Principal, the Police Liaison Officer and the students. Afterwards, I contacted the parents involved. Then I had to file a report with the Superintendent to inform him of the situation.
This started the week. Then another kid wrote on a desk that he wanted to kill his teacher. This started the whole process over again. The teacher did bait the kid, so I had to have a meeting with the teacher and the parent. The usual paperwork had to be sent in. Then I had to write up the discussion between the parent and the teacher. I refered the kid to the Child Study Team. They refered him to a help organization, which came in and conducted their own investigation. We had to determine if this child was a danger to himself or others.
We eventually found this was a cry for help so we put the kid back into class.
What next? Well, a boy on the football team contacted a boy that was "bothering" his girlfriend and agreet to meet him at a designated place in Fort Lee, NJ. Of course, he brought a few friends and so did the other boy, so a real rumble took place. The police came in and a lot of questions have to be answered.
In a wood shop an unstable boy started swearing at a girl that would not stop pestering him by asking if he was OK, so she started swearing back. She comes to me all afraid that he is going to hurt her. Kids and parents do stupit things then want the "jGreat OZ" to take them back to Kansas. Well, it does't happen, so they get mad at me.
Last Sunday a boy threatened anothe over the Internet. This spilled over into the school with panicky parents wanting me to do something about it. They are helpless in trying to control their child's use of the computer, so I have to settle their nerves and assure them that all will be well. To do so, I had to conduct an investigation with the Vice Principal, the Police Liaison Officer and the students. Afterwards, I contacted the parents involved. Then I had to file a report with the Superintendent to inform him of the situation.
This started the week. Then another kid wrote on a desk that he wanted to kill his teacher. This started the whole process over again. The teacher did bait the kid, so I had to have a meeting with the teacher and the parent. The usual paperwork had to be sent in. Then I had to write up the discussion between the parent and the teacher. I refered the kid to the Child Study Team. They refered him to a help organization, which came in and conducted their own investigation. We had to determine if this child was a danger to himself or others.
We eventually found this was a cry for help so we put the kid back into class.
What next? Well, a boy on the football team contacted a boy that was "bothering" his girlfriend and agreet to meet him at a designated place in Fort Lee, NJ. Of course, he brought a few friends and so did the other boy, so a real rumble took place. The police came in and a lot of questions have to be answered.
In a wood shop an unstable boy started swearing at a girl that would not stop pestering him by asking if he was OK, so she started swearing back. She comes to me all afraid that he is going to hurt her. Kids and parents do stupit things then want the "jGreat OZ" to take them back to Kansas. Well, it does't happen, so they get mad at me.
