topic Re: The Kids are in Charge in Community Chat

The Kids are in Charge

Isobel Archer — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 15:08:55 GMT

Charlottesville High School in Virginia was forced to close last Friday when teachers refused to work due to too much fighting between students. School has been canceled until after the Thanksgiving break to give administrators time to try to restore order.

Not that Charlottesville High School even has a principal to mess with. Principal Rashaad Pitt announced his resignation earlier this month.

It was school policy not to punish students for breaking the rules, according to some CHS staffers. CHS counselor David Wilkerson wrote on Facebook, “The [Virginia Department of Education] would prefer that the data shows that no kids are being punished due to the correlation between punishing kids and a poor graduation rate. Administrators keep asking kids to do things that they do not wish to do and in the absence of consequences, the kids expand their misbehavior.”

Re: The Kids are in Charge

wagirl — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 15:16:41 GMT

WHAT!!??? that is wrong on so many levels, I can't believe it!!! sounds like the the wrong people are running things-----

Re: The Kids are in Charge

Isobel Archer — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 15:21:12 GMT

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- Parents, teachers, and students got the chance to talk about the recurring violence in the halls of Charlottesville High School at a forum put on by Charlottesville United for Public Education.

After a rash of student-on-student violence at Charlottesville High School, the School Board made the decision to close CHS on Monday and Tuesday for students.

The board says its purpose is to have a school reset as well as open discussion.

In short, they are still working on a plan.

Charlottesville City Schools leaders say teachers had the opportunity to openly discuss concerns with administrators like superintendent Royal Gurley.

"Today teachers are working, CHS has a lot of cafeteria spaces so teachers have gathered in that space with administrators like Dr. Gurley and much of the central office staff. They are then at times doing a whole group exercise, at times they're breaking out into small groups to brainstorm and have just honest discussion with one another about the discussion prompts," said Beth Cheuk, Supervisor of Public Relations for Charlottesville City Schools.

OK so they are brainstorming about what they can do. Gee, I wonder if they will decide to actually enforce their rules. That's an idea.

Re: The Kids are in Charge

Ronettes — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 15:29:56 GMT

Unfortunately, this is becoming the 'normal' in the last couple of years -

I've seen videos of teenagers in school misbehaving, standing on top of desks and screaming, fighting, and one girl throwing a chair at the teacher, knocking her unconscious.

The result of permissiveness and no consequences or punishment.

Ridiculous.

Re: The Kids are in Charge

FatCatinCT — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 15:33:28 GMT

My son got his EdM just when the "no child left behind" law came into effect. He taught advanced placement sciences and many students were not up to par. He hated it and only taught one year and went into consulting which for him, was the best thing! Makes 4 plus times more than teaching and loves what he does.

Sometimes, the powers that be just aren't right. Kids need disipline and consequences.

Re: The Kids are in Charge

Ronettes — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 15:35:48 GMT

One 'plan' could be to expel any troublemakers permanently, which would force the parents to enroll them in an expensive private school.

If I had young children today, I would never allow them to attend public schools, they would be exposed to so many dreadful behaviors.

Re: The Kids are in Charge

stevieb — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 15:39:59 GMT

Perhaps they should give those kids acting out the most a trophy, you know, and maybe a new car too...

Re: The Kids are in Charge

Lakelife62 — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 15:41:42 GMT

Sounds to me like the teachers are in charge. And the Teachers Union. They are the ones that decided that they would call in on Friday and ask the school to close yesterday and today.
Good for them. An 18 year old non-student was let into the school on Thursday and caused the fight that required police.

The little reading I've done on this (because it has happened forever and happens everywhere, but teachers and unions are now legitimately concerned with weapons) indicated there's a roving band of about 30 kids out of 1400 who are disrupting the school.

Those kids and their parents need to be dealt with.

Re: The Kids are in Charge

Sooner — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 15:44:17 GMT

No consequences for bad behavior or law breaking in this country! We're just so sorry you have to be that way and we'll pet you and say "there there" and pay for what you need.

Re: The Kids are in Charge

QVCkitty1 — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:20:15 GMT

I know many teachers and they tell me that a big problem is the parents. Often the parents don't back up the teacher or school when it comes to discipline.

Re: The Kids are in Charge

Marp — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:30:40 GMT

@wagirl wrote:
WHAT!!??? that is wrong on so many levels, I can't believe it!!! sounds like the the wrong people are running things-----

The people "running things" are those the people directly or via proxy have chosen.

Re: The Kids are in Charge

Marp — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:38:54 GMT

@QVCkitty1 wrote:
I know many teachers and they tell me that a big problem is the parents. Often the parents don't back up the teacher or school when it comes to discipline.

@QVCkitty1, I can relate to that thinking. I know when I was going to school, even as far back as kindergarten, if a teacher called mom and said your daughter/son was disruptive or did ______ mom's response would be we were guilty until proven innocent. Of course we were given the opportunity to defend ourselves but there would never have been a knee jerk "not my child" reaction.

Re: The Kids are in Charge

lgfan — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:42:29 GMT

@Marp wrote:
@QVCkitty1 wrote:
I know many teachers and they tell me that a big problem is the parents. Often the parents don't back up the teacher or school when it comes to discipline.
@QVCkitty1, I can relate to that thinking. I know when I was going to school, even as far back as kindergarten, if a teacher called mom and said your daughter/son was disruptive or did ______ mom's response would be we were guilty until proven innocent. Of course we were given the opportunity to defend ourselves but there would never have been a knee jerk "not my child" reaction.

Or the other classic parent response "Someone must have provoked my child. My child would not do that unless provoked".

Re: The Kids are in Charge

Desertdi — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 17:01:01 GMT

What happened to standing in the corner wearing the dunce cap?

Re: The Kids are in Charge

Marp — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 17:12:50 GMT

@Desertdi they moved from the corner to the public domain?

Re: The Kids are in Charge

BoopOMatic — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 17:15:40 GMT

@Ronettes wrote:
One 'plan' could be to expel any troublemakers permanently, which would force the parents to enroll them in an expensive private school.
If I had young children today, I would never allow them to attend public schools, they would be exposed to so many dreadful behaviors.

**********

I agree, so much bullying, and other issues, not to mention the quality of their "education" is questionable at best.

Re: The Kids are in Charge

Mombo1 — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 17:24:15 GMT

@QVCkitty1 wrote:
I know many teachers and they tell me that a big problem is the parents. Often the parents don't back up the teacher or school when it comes to discipline.

@QVCkitty1 I'm a retired teacher. When I first started, it was great. I always loved working with the younger kids, and the staff was supported by administration and parents. As the years went on...I could see the changes coming. The increased workload and the "exceptions" or "excuses" for bad behaviors got worse every year. At the end...the kids were running the show and I knew it was time for me to move on.
I'm thankful for the many years I had in the profession and still miss working with the little ones, but times have changed dramatically.

Re: The Kids are in Charge

deepwaterdotter — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 17:43:26 GMT

I am not aware of these sort of problems in the local public schools. Could it be because of the school resource officers' presence?

Re: The Kids are in Charge

LTT1 — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 18:22:14 GMT

@FatCatinCT

I taught during the time of the famous "no child left behind".

It's just great to hear that your son opted out of teaching and opted in for consulting.

There are a few jobs in schools that I believe I might really like. But unfortunately teaching has not remained one of them.

Re: The Kids are in Charge

Cakers3 — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 18:22:31 GMT

@Marp wrote:
@wagirl wrote:
WHAT!!??? that is wrong on so many levels, I can't believe it!!! sounds like the the wrong people are running things-----
The people "running things" are those the people directly or via proxy have chosen.

Not all people "running things" present themselves as lenient or non- believers in punishment while running for positions.

These situations are not always happening at the time so not all will be asked about them nor have they thought about solutions.

The best intentions for the students are often put on the back burner because all it takes is one person to be offended and the majority caves.

Not all in charge are comfortable with these fights, deaths, etc.

Yet hands get tied until it is too late.

Especially for Jonathan Lewis Jr., hit and kicked to death for coming to the aid of a student being attacked by the same bullies.

I believe parents are first in line to raise good people. I also believe small group sessions can and have had positive outcomes. Peer interaction has been shown to be more effective than having them attend lectures without giving their own input. Competent therapists, counselors, etc. can draw out

feelings and negative thought patterns up to reality. Kids are not stupid. They can find the answers for better ways.

Why non- students have such easy access to some schools is a question for a serious answer and solution.