Who do you think is in YOUR school?
What might their history be?
Did they receive supports to help them learn how to make better choices?
SCSD staff knows, but parents generally do not, that often when a student commits a serious infraction at one school they are "churned" to another school with little or no counseling and supports provided to help them be successful in school.
"Be the Change" wants to change that. We do not advocate for increased suspensions or taking away due process. We know that suspensions DON'T work. We know that providing supports DOES work. We believe that our district is filled with amazing children who have unlimited potential. And for exactly that reason...
- We want every child to have the tools they need to get a sound basic education - and perhaps even a little more.
- We want to ensure that kids who come to school every day ready to learn have the opportunity to do so AND we want to ensure that those who are not ready to learn are given the tools ands supports they need so that they CAN be ready.
- We want ALL children to be successful.
- We want to see the end of the school-to-prison pipeline by creating an environment of learners who know to their very core that they deserve more and that they have the ability to achieve it.
- We want to teach kids that their choices have consequences, intended and unintended.
- We want schools to provide structure and boundaries so that kids are ready for the real world when they leave school.
We
all need to remember that the people kids will encounter as adults will not be nearly
as forgiving as our district has been lately and we are doing our kids are huge
disservice. Employers, colleges, police officers - none of them will give them
a "pass" when they commit a crime, bully or act disrespectfully -
they will feel consequences. We have an obligation as parents and educators to
prepare them for this reality.
Perhaps, if the young man involved in the Grant and H.W. Smith incidents had been provided with the academic and social-emotional supports that we are advocating for, he would have made a different decision when contemplating bringing a weapon capable of causing serious injury (this was not JUST an old-fashioned BB gun) to school. But, as SCSD runs right now, we will never know that answer...
Our detractors have accused us of racism. And we won't say that racism doesn't exist, because it does. We have been accused of trying to warehouse kids. But we aren't - any alternative placements we advocate are designed to be temporary. We suggest that critics read the plan before reacting to it.
Because what we are advocating for is the creation of a safe, chaos-free, nurturing learning environment for ALL KIDS.
This movement is not about bad kids or good kids,
white kids or kids of color, poor kids or rich kids.
white kids or kids of color, poor kids or rich kids.
It is just about KIDS!!!
We - our entire community - need to acknowledge the reality of our current situation and commit to doing everything we can to change it.
Not the perception of change, but real substantive change.
This should be brought to the medias attention too. I bet 99% of the parents and 50% of the teachers do not know this! The parents of all female students should be kept on notice. The district is famous for reshuffling students. The Grant student who brought a gun will end up in another middle or k-8 school next week as well,
ReplyDeleteIt is true- the district employees are not made aware of any of this until it either hits the news or a parent tells us.
ReplyDeleteI hope the district can get their stuff together soon. I have a 2 1/2 year old and right now I don't know if I'm going to be putting her in school at 5. I believe in the social benefits and educational benefits of a school. But putting her in school means putting her in danger. She's not even safe at the elementary school level. I had an awful time in school as a child with bullying. But I was never afraid for my life or my innocence. This shouldn't be happening. At all. I don't have a lot of confidence that this will change in two years unfortunately. Which means I will be homeschooling. So sad. Good luck to those trying to make change.
ReplyDeleteAll faculty should have access to their students discipline records on e-school. Currently they don't. Only those people with administrator access do. Teachers should know what kind of students they have and what their history is so they can be prepared and equipped to handle and deal with them.
ReplyDeleteDEFINITELY! Get this out there! Contrares needs to know that the public knows what they do with these kids that she can't seem to find a way to discipline - just move them to another school...gee thanks.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree.
DeleteI didnt know it. Its terrible what we have to look forward to. These are supposed to be our presidents? Doctors? Something needs to be done!!!
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ReplyDeleteIt is also with great sadness that the "mastermind" of the sexual assault at HW is also at Grant with the student that committed the sexual assault. The "mastermind" is also the one that held the bathroom door shut. Both of these students are allowed to leave their classroom unescorted.
ReplyDeleteUntil parents parent nothing will change.
ReplyDeleteThis is sooo, The staff in this district don't deserve this behavior. something needs to be done. I'm going to get someone involved.
ReplyDeleteI had a student who molested others. I was told not to discuss it with anyone. The child is now at another school, and who knows if his current teacher has a clue what his history is. How can teachers keep their students safe when they don't even know they have molesters in their class?
ReplyDeleteIn any other position, having someone threaten to "pop" or "snuff" me would result in a detailed investigation, at the very least. Being told on a daily basis to "f" myself, or being called derogatory names (bit**, c**, just to name a few), attempts at physical intimidation, would result in again, at the very least, a detailed investigation of the perpetrator(s). Instead, students are "spoken to" and returned to the classroom less than an hour later, only to further disrupt the class, compromising the education of those students trying to learn. These individuals need consequences, not coddling. If that means an alternative program so they can learn how to act in a civilized, productive manner, so be it. Adults need to take their responsibilty as adults seriously. Adults are charged with giving children the tools they need to be responsible, productive members of society, not being their charges' friends. Those in charge need to step up and perform their duties as ADULTS!
ReplyDeleteIn our schools, right down to the youngest grades, the threat of harm permeates the atmosphere. Clearly, those at the helm of the SCSD seek to control what information is reported to and by the press, as it does with the strong, yet unofficial pressure NOT to call the Syracuse Police Department when assaults from students occur. Most recently, a vice-principal was assaulted by a 10-year old who punched the VP in the face, requiring the VP to seek hospital care, yet, shockingly, police were NOT notified -- again. Staff (not limited to teachers, but ALL staff), work daily, for months and years, in an undeniably toxic work environment. The pervasive fear of retaliation and overall palpable climate of fear (from both student violence AND from the very top administration, downtown), is unhealthy, counter-productive and utterly appalling. It is not by chance that the SCSD routinely is unable to furnish substitutes when teachers are out -- the SCSD reputation for violence and disruption by a sizable segment of the student population is well-founded. Until the PUBLIC is made aware, by a steady stream of timely and accurate reporting BY THE PRESS, change will continue at a snail's pace, if at all. Staff at all levels needs to publicly report what is ACTUALLY going on inside the walls of our schools. The PRESS needs to both hear about it (from staff voices, as it is abundantly clear that the SCSD releases only limited and greatly watered-down information, when contacted by the press) and PUBLISH it. The PRESS needs to USE their significant resources to uncover and reveal the scandalously dangerous situations both SCSD staff and students must deal with each and every day of the school year. Be the Change has offered a safe haven for these stories to be told, and would be an ideal place for the PRESS to launch a much-needed investigation. Seriously. We, including those in the PRESS, owe it to the KIDS.
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