My last post was about my son being robbed and assaulted on his way home from school. Since that post the kid who assaulted him has plead guilty to felony robbery and will be sentenced next week. In the mean time he was placed in an alternative school but is still out running around doing [...]
My last post was about my son being robbed and assaulted on his way home from school. Since that post the kid who assaulted him has plead guilty to felony robbery and will be sentenced next week. In the mean time he was placed in an alternative school but is still out running around doing whatever. When asked why he did it he responded, ”My bike is crap and I wanted his”.
This kid is 13 – these are the people my kids are around every day and the stress and guilt of not being able to afford the $7,000 to $14,000 (times 3 kids) a year for private schools is killing me. With the economy the way it is the number of parents able to send their kids to private school has dropped drastically. And, why shouldn’t we have the best public education systems with the amount of taxes we have to pay?
A couple weeks ago my 12 year old and 14 year old came home from middle school with a letter explaining a fight between two girls in the cafeteria where pepper spray was used. In the past month in Norfolk, pepper spray has been used 4 times to break up fights or subdue and unruly student. I hate that my kids are growing up in this kind of environment. I feel like I’m sending them off to the prison yard every day. Security guards, police officers are a fixture at these schools.
I’ve watched so much news coverage and read a lot of news articles about the state of the Norfolk Public School system and I’ve got to say that I’m getting a little fed up with what is not being said – the political correctness – the fear of liability. I’d like to see these schools take a Zero Tolerance stance. Don’t just pepper spray these kids and send them on their way – expel them – send them to an alternate school and keep them away from my kids, who have never been in a fight, been given detention, suspended or expelled – shoot, I’ve never even received a phone call about bad behavior. Quit coddling these kids. One strike and you’re out.
Check this article out – very enlightening – (and if you are moving to Norfolk, VA – I’d think twice – their public school system is terrifying)
From the Va Pilot – Steven Vegh
“The school division’s policy allowing security guards to use pepper spray in student fights contradicts recommendations from the state’s authority on school safety, which strongly discourages the practice.
“Do not use ‘force devices’ in interventions – weapons, hand cuffs, mace,” states the Virginia Center for School Safety’s training curriculum for school security officers. The center, which is part of the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, helps set guidelines and provides training on how school divisions should handle school safety, said Donna P. Michaelis, the department’s public safety training manager.
Though it discourages pepper-spray use, the agency also gives divisions the discretion to decide which equipment their security personnel may carry. Norfolk approved pepper spray for its school security officers, or SSOs, in 1997 and reaffirmed that policy in 2004.
Still, the center states: “Caution to the SSO and school district: The use of ‘force devices’ is likely to incur major liability for the individuals using them and the school districts authorizing their use.” (READ MORE)
Although I HATE the idea that there is even a need for Police Officers, Security Guards and pepper spray – I know it’s necessary. But it scares me that the proper training and use of force is not being enforced. I want my kids protected, but what happens when they get caught in the middle?
I’d also love to see some research on how this atmosphere is affecting the teen suicide rate and I have to wonder how the constant threat of violence and the feeling of intimidation “non-violent” students get from Security Guards (face it a 12 year old who has never been in trouble but gets “wanded” on a regular basis by big burly security guards has to have an adverse affect) is having on student performance. I know I wouldn’t be able to perform at my highest potential if I had to worry about being robbed, beat up or maced because I was sitting near someone who got in a fight, everyday.
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