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what didn't make the paper
This is what kids really see at school ...
Every time I go out reporting for a story, I get way more than I can fit in one article. I hope to use this blog as a way to occasionally share some of that information I can't fit in the paper. For example, I wrote a story for Thursday's paper about the Safe School Ambassadors program. The program teaches kids how to make their schools safer and is in 24 Kern schools. In the first sentence of that story I described many of the students volunteering that they had seen guns, knives and weapons at their schools. But that was just one question Rick Phillips, the executive director of Community Matters (which runs the ambassadors program) asked the high schoolers. Roughly 20 ordinary students stood side by side. Phillips asked them questions, and if the answer was "yes" they stepped forward across a line. The questions were designed to show students how big a problem teasing and violence are in schools as well as show them their similar experiences. Here are more questions I couldn't fit in the story but I think are pretty eye-opening: -- (for girls only) "If you have ever been called a b****, whore or slut please cross the line." Every girl in the room crossed the line. — "If anyone has ever put you down or made fun of you because of the size or shape of your body, cross the line." Most in the room stepped forward. — "If you've ever been teased or called a name because of your race or nationality." About 10 students stepped forward, including white, black and Hispanic students — "If you've ever witnessed somebody being left out, isolated or excluded." Almost everyone stepped forward. — "If you've ever seen a fist fight at your school please cross the line." Everyone stepped forward. — Phillips asked students who had ever BEEN or almost been in a physical fight to step forward. About half the students stepped forward, including three girls. — "If you believe in your heart each person in your school should feel safe emotionally and physically, cross the line." Everyone crossed the line. 6 comments from 4 users
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posted by
anonymous
on Dec 1, 2006 at 10:59 AM
Except for the weapons, it sounds like high school in the 60's.
posted by
dgrealish
on Dec 1, 2006 at 11:19 AM
I believe there's more to it than that. My grandson was sent home from school for saying "That's gay" because a classmate has a gay uncle and was offended. However a classmate uses the term "Retard" regularly but this isn't considered offensive, even though my grandson has a mentally disabled step-sister. If more time were spent teaching rather than making issue about things that were before, non-issues kids would be less likely to notice them. It's likened to a small child who says something shocking. If you are shocked and make a big deal out of it, they'll repeat it for the reaction. If you let it go with a warning that it's inappropriate and won't be tolerated, there's less chance it will be repeated. The biggest lesson kids are learning is school these days is DRAMA!
posted by
robinislost
on Dec 5, 2006 at 07:57 PM
I saw an episode on Oprah quite a while back that had something to do with this. I forgot to go back to the Web site after the show and I don't have the link now, but I thought it was interesting.I was "summoned," I could say, to participate in the Safe School Ambassadors program last year. The first thing they did last year after we all met in a cramped room was go on a field trip to learn more about the program and how to mediate between arguments, fights and whatnot; the trip was downtown and took two school days. Unfortunately, when we were all on the bus ready to go, one of the teachers found out that there were too many people going on the trip and a few students would have to get off and wait for the next trip to come around. I volunteered to get off the bus because I had a story to write and a deadline the next day, so I had too many things to do. After that, I pretty much quit the Safe School Ambassadors program because it was taking up too much of my journalism time. It was interesting while it lasted... You're right, Debra. It's all about the drama these days. It's very annoying. posted by
AudreyB
on Dec 5, 2006 at 09:26 PM
When will the people of America grow up. I guess it's like the old Peter Paul and Mary song The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind. posted by
anonymous
on Dec 6, 2006 at 06:26 AM
Maybe DRAMA is what the taggers want. Momma's got it, why can't I? Boy, that is truely a song in B flat. posted by
anonymous
on Dec 6, 2006 at 06:28 AM
Where's Dr. BLT when we need him?
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