Think your local public school will tell you about everything that you ought to know about.....think again. I have an inlaw doing some teaching at our local middle school here lately. We ran into her the other day and she told us that a boy stabbed a teacher with a pair of scissors and was going to stab her again if the other students in the room hadn't of helped. Did this hit the local papers...nope. Were parents notified....no way. This was covered up quickly and the other teachers were informed that it was to stay that way. This is a small country school! In another community even smaller there was another incident that didn't make the newspaper. A couple of students in a car ran one of their teachers off the road and then beat them up. Just thought some folks might want to know about the things your school isn't telling you.

-- Amanda (mrsgunsmyth@hotmail.com), May 09, 2002

Answers

Years ago, an incident occurred in our school. The supe told me to stay quiet about it. I refused. In another incident, I was asked to sign a paper saying that I would not ever talk about events leading to the dismissal of a really bad administrator. I refused to sign.

I am lucky in that my husband has a good job, and I can afford to be unemployed for a short time. This means I can afford not to be intimidated.

The teachers are afraid of losing their jobs. They are intimidated by administrators who are trying to avoid lawsuits that cost the district money. Administrators also don't want bad press in the papers to come back to haunt them when they are ready to move to another district.

Teachers are humans with fears just like you have. When told to stay quiet by their boss, most do so. It's not right, but it's human.

Also, the story above is coming to us via the grape vine. I can vouch for the fact that most of the time, the grape vine loses or adds information along the way. If a juvenile is involved, the public is NOT SUPPOSED to be informed of the details. Juvenile crime matters (with names) are not published in the paper.

-- Rose (open_rose@hotmail.com), May 09, 2002.

yes teachers are threatened with losing their jobs and unlike other professions, one crappy job experience can ruin your entire career in education.

our s.d., hushed up a kid bringing a gun to school with the intent of killing a teacher. it is also hushing up a teacher hitting on kids, a principal locking kids in a closet area when they get in trouble and allows teachers to work who are unqualified and inept.

hey rose, dont come to LKSD....lol.

-- Najia (najia274@yahoo.com), May 09, 2002.

When my oldest daughter was in 3rd or 4th grade there was a bomb threat at school. They (the teachers) actually told the kids to NOT tell their parents when they got home. The only way I found out about it was a friend went to pick up her daughter for a doctor's appointment while the kids were evacuated and she called me an dtold me about it!! We now very happily homeschool. My oldest will be graduating this month. My other daughter is in 6th grade and will NEVER set put in public school again!!!

-- Lou Ann in KY (homes_cool@msn.com), May 09, 2002.

Itaught for 32 years - told my 4 children NOT to teach (one didn't listen). That one is looking for pther employment after 2years!I've gon through everything noted in the preceeding answers. 3 gun incidents - NONE were published. I homeschooled my youngest.

-- Elizabeth Quintana (rockshelter@webtv.com), May 09, 2002.

How could someone live with themselves if they kept quiet? I mean, you could always be an "anonymous but reliable" source for your local paper, for example. And people complain about the Catholic Church....

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), May 09, 2002.

Our middle school had a bomb threat yesterday. The administration took all the kids and put them in the GYMNASIUM. They were sequestered there until the buses arrived.

Now tell me something. There is a threat of a bomb in the school, in a locker. Why would you take all these kids and put them in the gym? Why are they not all out in the parking lot? WHY???

I refuse to believe that every maniac who plants a bomb is going to have an attack of conscience and call up and say oh yeah I put a bomb in a locker... what if it was put in the gym somewhere? The entire school could have been wiped out.

I am sitting in on the next board meeting.

-- janice in NE New York (jtopping67@aol.com), May 10, 2002.

You get'em, Janet. Out here we get a flyer or two every year about threats to students and what was done about it. They put them in the students backpack. For example "yesterday afternoon there was a bomb threat. Police were called to search the school, and the class remained outside until they finished".

If our school can do it, so can yours!!!!!

-- Terri (hooperterri@prodigy.net), May 10, 2002.

There was a comment that I was getting my information through the grape vine. I would not have posted this if I hadn't heard first hand accounts from trustworthy folks. Sometimes I will have people tell me things because they know there is no danger of me raising a stink at the school.....I homeschool. Sometimes you just have to tell someone that you know won't go to school and try to get you fired.

-- Amanda (mrsgunsmyth@hotmail.com), May 10, 2002.

Somethings you just can't release to the public because, a. It is none of your business, b. It would casue widespread needless panic, c. Most things are delt with and it's over, d. Sometimes it is illegal to reveal details to the general public. BUT sometimes things are hidden and that is just the way it goes.

-- julie (jbritt@ceva.net), May 10, 2002.

Julie, for some reason *none* of the reasons you list seem valid to me. "The public" includes parents of students, and you believe such things should be kept hidden from them? I don't want to cause offense, but I don't follow the reasoning.

-- Elizabeth in E TX (kimprice@peoplescom.net), May 10, 2002.

I understand the legalities of not revealing details to anyone who wasn't directly involved or witnessed the incident when a minor is the perpetrator or victim.

Some school districts don't understand that the parents also have a right to be informed that there was a problem. If the accused is a friend of their child, they will want to watch their child's contact, or alternately watch their child for indications of like behavior. This street runs both ways!

-- Christine in OK (cljford@mmcable.com), May 10, 2002.

Children, even if involved in serious incidents, still have a right to privacy. Just imagine if someone's "daughter" was sexually offended by another student. It is not fair to say her personal experience should be publicized. Maybe that is an extreme, but an example. Besides, I could only imagine the "list" that administrators would have to compile by the days end to report every incident to the public. My thinking is that yeah, a threat to all saftey or something like that, but not if a student is caught smoking etc. Where do you draw the line. What is enough info for one, is many times not enough for the next person.

-- julie (jbritt@ceva.net), May 10, 2002.

Julie, I agree with you about the problems with "drawing the line". Your example about smoking (I assume you were referring to plain cigs, not drugs), yes, that is an individual issue. If the student is distributing cigs to other kids on campus, yes, other parents should be notified of this--names do not need to be released, just that there is a problem.

On the other hand, you can report that someone was sexually assaulted without naming names, and let the parents draw their own conclusions, and same with other threats (bomb threats, weapons brought to school, etc.).

I think, sadly, that the real reason behind NOT reporting incidents is that schools are afraid (and rightly so), that one too many incidents will drive people away from public schools and into private/parochial/ homeschooling instead.

As parents, we need to know both the good and the bad, and the teachers should not be penalized for telling the truth in these matters.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), May 10, 2002.

No I don't believe every little offense should be reported. However if someone were sexually assaulted on campus I would sure as heck want to know about it as a parent...no I wouldn't want to know what the victims name is. If there is an assault other than the usual pushing and shoving between kids(which seems to be legally an assault now-a-days)...I would want to know. I believe GT hit the nail right on the head. If parents were fully informed of what all happens at school there would be far more parents sending their kids to private school and homeschooling(the number of parents homeschooling is skyrocketing already). The public schools will have to continue worrying about this until they can figure out a sane way to have a safe environment(namely to stop giving in to special interest groups and reintroduce discipline and accountability... and give the teachers back some control). If my children were in public school I would withdraw them a whole lot faster if I found out there was a cover up of something I needed to know rather than if the school had done the right thing and notified me. I would have felt that maybe something was being done. Hmmm I thought sss was just for tresspassing neighbor dogs...seems to have caught on in the schools too.

-- Amanda (mrsgunsmyth@hotmail.com), May 10, 2002.

The bottom line on this whole issue is that parents need to be informed so they make the correct decision on behalf of their child.

I agree that every little thing that happens need not be told to every parent. I believe such things as sexual assault, physical assault, threats, weapons at school, drugs should be known by ALL parents. No names need be used. How can a parent make an informed decision about their child without any information??? Minor incidents need not be made known, but common sense must prevail. Common sense is something unfortunately lacking in many school administrations.

Schools say they want involvement from parents, but when parents aren't trusted with information, why should the parents trust the school??? This street runs both ways. The above post "sometimes things are just hidden, that is just the way it goes." This statment is a slap in the face of all parents who are truly concerned about their children. The school is saying what goes on at school is none of your damn business. THAT IS TOTALLY WRONG IN EVERY WAY.

The above post about the bomb threat, and placing all the students in one room instead of outside. There is the lack of common sense for al to see.

You as parents have to decide. I no longer do. My kids are now grown, but I fear for my grandchildren. I hope they will be homeschooled.

Talk to you later.

-- Bob in WI (bjwick@hotmail.com), May 10, 2002.

Its late, I'm tired and I will be showing our goats tomorrow morning so I have to get up at 4:30 AM. This entire thread warrents my thougths here and opinions. I am a licensed special education teacher in 2 areas of special education: emotional disabilities and severe disabilities. Note I did not say "disturbances" as most states and school officials refer to children with emotional issues. I am licensed in 3 states and also hold a masters degree in special education and will complete my second masters at the University of Virginia soon. In addition to special education I also am licensed to teach secondary social studies. Do you honestly think these credentials would buy me a cup of coffee even after thousands of dollars and years spent to get them? No, it wouldn't, and let me tell you why in a bit.

I no longer teach directly, I am the administrator for a early childhood special education program. I am also a former member of a school board, in fact in western NYS and in reply to the person who mentioned wanting to know more about the school policies: you might want to research the NYSSBA online. But first ask to see the school district's policy manuel. I was the chair of our school's committee and a member of the state's committe as well in the late 1980's and early 90's.

OK, where I am I going with all of this? There are procedures for dealing with certain issues in schools, those are mainly detailed in the school's policy procedures. As mentioned most incidences are dealt with in confidence. In the case of sexual assult the school must follow the procedures and in strict confidence as well. That means following the federal and state regulations pertaining to sexual harrassment. In the case of a student who commits a physical assult the incident is sometimes picked up on in the local papers, however, their names are not publicized due to age limits if a minor. Usually when a incident is so severe or serious that it involves the public knowing there are procedures for the news media to be informed. The school has a designated spokesperson who deals with the media.

I have not ever worked in a school district that has made it clear to students or staff to NOT discuss any incidents. I do agree that the situation with the bomb threat and the students going to the gym was not a good idea. We all are well aware that in small schools and towns that rumors get out, details misconstrued and individuals hurt by this. School official are not able to discuss any incidences, however, we all also know that the local grocery stores or Wal-Marts are a haven for school gossip. I used to find out more about what was going on at school from a trip to the store than in school.

Recently I made the decision to begin my own private school. I referred to that when I made the comment about a cup of coffee. I recently discovered that many schools here in Arkansas are seriously violating the federal laws as they relate to special education. I feel that it is time I try my best to make those changes albeit I will be taking on a big endeavor here. I also feel that children without disabilities are sometimes cheated as well. My point here is that I do agree with the majority here that school officials do sometimes place gag orders and intimidate their staff into being quiet. Its so sad but true. But there are procedures that school officials must follow elsewise face lawsuits from both sides, its a tight line to dance. I feel that administrators are also accountable as are students and teachers.

I have seen in the 20+ years in education the changes in our schools and in violance. its not like it was years ago and we never know when we go to work if that day will be our last or not. The public schools are behind the times in our evolution of change and need to catch up to speed. Just my humble opinion. So on that note I will end this and begin packing for my show. My hats are off to teachers who work hard and try. Its not easy in the trenches.

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), May 10, 2002.

they don't want parents to really be involved; they don't want parents to know a lot of things. that was one reason we were a homeschooling family til our kids were grown. I know there are still a few good teachers and a few good public schools but not many...

I am speaking both as a product of public schools, had three older kids who attended public schools, and have covered school board meetings in three counties on and off for going on 23 years now....some of the stories are so shocking they are almost unbelieveable!

-- Suzy in Bama (slgt@yahoo.com), May 10, 2002.