I'm not sure where he got his facts, so I can't vouch for the validity of this claim, however I do know at least two families in my own circle who pulled their kids out for this very reason. Parents vehemently complained to the school and to the district to no avail. Even after one child was physically threatened with harm before his peers, the school did nothing to punish the child for the ongoing threats and abuse levied at the other. Finally in frustration these parents pulled their child out of school. Sadly, in one of the very same districts, a teen committed suicide just a month later. Reason-the teen had been repeatedly and systematically bullied for years.
Now this same district is trying to push for ANti-bullying laws, when if they had just done their job in the first place their would have been no need to try to use this "advocacy" as a backdoor means to clean up their mess.
Other parents have pulled their children out simply so they won't be exposed to the viloence and threats of gang initiation. While others have complained of "grooming." Grooming is when a person of either the same gender, or even opposite gender, uses various methods to get kids involved in behaviors they normally would not participate in. These "groomers" are usually seniors or recent graduates who hang out at the school and target shy, weak, or otherwise lonely and needy kids. They feign friendship and concern, often showering them with gifts and attention. The kids is exposed and often becomes their next victim. If the kid rejects the attention, they may be stalked, harrassed, or intimidated.
This is bullying to the 9th power! If it works the groomer has a lover, sexual partner, drug partner, or partner in crime.
These are the kinds of things many kids are exposed to today in schools.
Now to be fair, there are many good schools out there, and not all kids are exposed to this sort of thing; so it would be wrong for me to put all schools in this box. Most schools do their best to keep kids safe and out of harms way. Most schools have strict policies against this sort of thing and they enforce them. But if you find out that your child is facing one of the above named potentially dangerous and harmful situations, and no one is listening to you-no one is helping you; THEN I IMPLORE YOU-please consider removing your child from the school and either homeschooling, or having them placed in another school.
Parents today have so many more options than they had in the past, so please do not feel like your only option is to leave your child vulnerable in a failing system.*
______________________________________________________________________________________
PLEASE NOTE: THE OPINIONS OF THIS BLOGGER ARE NOT INTENED TO REPLACE COMPETENT ADVICE FROM A PHYSICIAN, THERAPIST, OR COUNSELOR. NOR IS IT INTENEDED TO REPLACE LEAGAL ADVICE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT, SOCIAL WORKERS, OR ATTORNEYS. IF YOUR CHILD IS IN ONE OF THE ABOVE NAMED, POTENTIALLY HARMFUL SITUATIONS, PLEASE SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lena Arnold is an award winning author and publisher of several books, including “In the Absence of My Father,” “Strong Black Coffee: Poetry and Prose to Enlighten, Encourage, and Entertain Americans of African Descent,” “For This Child We Prayed: Living with the Secret Shame of Infertility;,” dealing with black Christian infertility, and “For This Dream I Prayed: Companion Journal.” She is currently collaborating on a children’s book entitled “Jackie’s’ Way” dealing with childhood anger with nationally renown artist Michael Fields. Lena was endorsed by the late CBS News Correspondent Ed Bradley for “…being a thoughtful writer who goes beyond…”
Posted By: Lena Arnold
Thursday, February 2nd 2012 at 11:29PM
Lena, th ename "In The Absence of My father"...has my full attention...could you please give me an over view of it? (smile)
Friday, February 3rd 2012 at 2:47AM
Irma Robinson
Great article sister...I work in the public school system, and I must say today's public schools are dumbed down so much it's not even funny. Dumb them down enough and this country will be nothing more than slaves to the whims of those that can READ. The ability to communicate with people that speak more than one language enhances understanding of other peoples.
For example, Negro means black in Spanish. The slave owners did not understand the Spanish Language and used it in a derogatory sense when, in fact, the appellation was was descriptive of the slave skin color!!!.
'Governor' Jindal of Louisiana and his cohorts are dumbing down the students in this state by 'conferring' a "Career Diploma" (two-thirds of these public school "students" cannot read well enough to pass the state required standardized tests). Today Louisiana ranks as one of the educationally poorest states in America...
Friday, February 3rd 2012 at 11:36AM
Siebra Muhammad
In the Absence of My Father
Product Description
Author, poet, and motivational speaker Lena Arnold was compelled to write this book after viewing a talk show where a male guest, convinced of his own unimportance stated, "Everyday my mother told me she didn't need a man to raise me… I turned out fine without my father and my son will be fine without me!" In this compelling poetic treatise, the author seeks to affirm to men how valuable they are to the development to their children and to the world at large. In an age where women can go to other women for strength, sex, and sustenance, it is understandable that men can become disillusioned and confused concerning their place in the earth. But contrary to what messages the world has sent, men are needed for our nourishment, they are important to our growth, and that they are valuable to our development. For without the presence of strong, competent and loving men– hearts are broken and love often dies.
Thanks sis...I will be purchasing my copy soon!!!
Friday, February 3rd 2012 at 11:39AM
Siebra Muhammad
@Siebra-WOW! That's crazy. But I know what you are saying. My best friends sister is a teacher and she told me homeschooling was the best thing I could do for my kids. This came from a TEACHER. She loves teaching, but she is so frustrated because she spends the majority of her time teaching to a test instead of teaching towards mastery of concepts.
Friday, February 3rd 2012 at 11:39AM
Lena Arnold
Thanks Lena, I shall order your book and use it as yet one more vital resource on the issue that is so important for our next generation's survival. (smile)
Friday, February 3rd 2012 at 1:29PM
Irma Robinson
