A stabbing in the H.W. Smith middle school wing today... As various people on syracuse.com debate how serious the wound was, how the altercation started, whose fault it was, whether or not the district is minimizing the incident, and on and on and on,
we lose sight of the reality that
a 12 year-old child stabbed another 12 year-old child -
IN SCHOOL!
a 12 year-old child stabbed another 12 year-old child -
IN SCHOOL!
And we are all becoming used to it because, sadly, it is an all-to-frequent occurrence. This cannot continue happening!!!
No one...
Not students...
Not staff...
Not parents...
Not administrators...
No one should be AFRAID to go to school!
I am a teacher who is out on medical leave because I am afraid to go to work. I had been threatened repeatedly , pushed and surrounded by students shouting at me. I no longer could teach because of the abuse and writing notes and observations became my sole purpose. I would love to go back to work but have heard things are even worse. This has to stop, everone needs to have a safe learning envirinment. How on earth will our scores improve with these conditions?
ReplyDeleteI am also a teacher out on a medical leave because of the stress, anxiety and fear that the workplace has created in me. I don't have a good feeling that anything will change in the near future. We (SCSD staff) have become the "enemy" in the eyes of the community and these feelings have been imparted to many of our students. If their parents have little respect for us why would students? Also, the CofC has taught students that their negative behaviors will be tolerated and so many others have followed the initial 10%. We see shootings, stabbings and fights reported in the news every week - in ever increasing numbers - students learn from the people in their environments. Schools reflect what is happening in students' communities. We don't stand a chance!
ReplyDeleteI am selling my house and moving. I can no longer allow my daughter to be in an educaitonal environment where 12 years old stab each other. I used to care whose fault it was or how to help fix it or what parents could do to help. I no longer can care whose is at fault or how to fix it, my responsiblity as a parent is to keep my daughter safe and I am not doing that by sending her to a school where 12 year olds stab each other, sexually assault each other and lock downs are a weekly event. I need to be a responsible parent and keep her safe.
ReplyDeleteWe work in a very scary environment. Many teachers are being taunted everyday by their administrators. The administrators are accusing teachers of having poor management skills. How can we have good management skills if we are not allowed to use them. I have to allow students scream and disturb folks during instruction.
ReplyDeleteWhere on her arm was the cut? Did the boy aim for her arm or stab her in arm when she raised her arms to protect a different part of her body?
ReplyDeleteThis post was edited to take out specific names...
ReplyDeleteI am so sick of this District. I am so sick of continually bending over! I am so sick that the kids trying their best to learn in this environment are repeatedly discounted. I am so sick of three people trying to make this racist. If you have a class of 23 African American, 2 Asian, one Hispanic and one Caucasian and one or two of those kids is disrupting the ENTIRE CLASS...why is that OK? Are you not condemning the entire class of kids? How is it racist to want the disruptors removed for more intense help which would also allow the remaining 25-26 kids the opportunity to receive an education and be successful?
THIS PAGE of comments, along with the blog, needs to find itself on the physical desktops of EVERY MEDIA OUTLET and REPORTER in CNY. Same for the Fairy Tale blog and the police call records blog (along w/the insightful and revealing reader comments for both). On these pages a powerful expose' is brewing. Printed out hard copies make a far more powerful impact than simply sending as attachments.
ReplyDeleteLet's talk about how the principal lied about how serious this girl's injury really was and a teacher had to go home because he had so much blood on him. The spouse is worried sick!!!
ReplyDeleteHas the board and district superintendent ever thought of changing places with the staff and teachers at any of these schools for a week? Bet not. But,don't loose sight of those positive things that are happening in the midst of the violence. If we, as a community, back down then nothing will change. We, as a community of parents, media, religious leaders, judicial persons, mental health providers and the list goes on, can't let ourselves be intimidated by lies, inaction, and fear. We are role models for our children and others in the community. Not everyone has grown up with the same values and level of respect for others. Although it may seem that many parents are indifferent to the violence and disrespect that is pervasive in our schools, there needs to be a venue where we can come together and be honest with one another. Relationships are powerful tools in making changes. Together, we can BE THE CHANGE.
ReplyDeleteBoycott the schools until the administration starts to listen. I've been reading about taking back our schools for some time now. Isn't it about time to actually do something?
ReplyDeleteThe boy was taunting the girl on the bus. He continued into the school even though girl was telling him to stop. Girl hit boy upside the head, like a knock it off tap. Boy pulled out knife and stabbed girl. Appeared he was aiming for neck. Cut on girl defensive.
ReplyDeleteThis is not the first time boy has had a weapon at school. And yet, he is still at school endangering the welfare of every person he walks by. Who knows who else would make him feel like pulling out his knife.
This boys brother is at same school and has same behavior issues. These behavior issues have continued. Yet both boys are free to threaten the welfare of all. These boys need an alternative setting if they are to have a fighting chance at learning effective coping strategies.