Today I took my youngest daughter to her middle school orientation...she will be in 6th grade next year. The school resource officer gave a speech at the beginning of the orientation....to discuss how many arrests they had this past year...and what they were for...including frape, lewd and lacivious molestation and drug trafficking..... now I am no prude, and I have a daughter in high school, and we live in a decent neighborhood/community.
I was a little taken back by her words and the terms she used. My dd did not say anything while we were there, but now she is asking questions and is scared to go to that school.
I t seems like this could have waited until they actually get to middle school...maybe in a classroom type setting.
Am I wrong...or just getting old and sheltering my girls????????
Cherry Jubilee
Cherry Cola
I would have been appalled at this. I think it was highly inappropriate in this setting. It should have waited- yes, a classroom setting where things could be discussed.
Chocolate Covered Cherry
I think that the information is important for all to know, but not in that setting. I would of waited for some classroom thing to discuss this. I have a daughter going into Grade 6 next year too, and as a social worker mom, I let her know some of the issues out there, but as I said....I would of waited.
Leslie
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Cherry Bing
Kimandasmo wrote:Today I took my youngest daughter to her middle school orientation...she will be in 6th grade next year. The school resource officer gave a speech at the beginning of the orientation....to discuss how many arrests they had this past year...and what they were for...including frape, lewd and lacivious molestation and drug trafficking..... now I am no prude, and I have a daughter in high school, and we live in a decent neighborhood/community.
I was a little taken back by her words and the terms she used. My dd did not say anything while we were there, but now she is asking questions and is scared to go to that school.
I t seems like this could have waited until they actually get to middle school...maybe in a classroom type setting.
Am I wrong...or just getting old and sheltering my girls????????
You are not wrong! I have to move from the town I live in because of a "rough" (that's putting it nicely) high school. When you enter the school, through metal detectors and passing armed police officers at the entrance, you are greeted by a HUGE banner that has a photo of a gun and a knife and it says "If you see one of these, report to the main office immediately". WTF!!!!!! The town I live in is quiet and most families are well off. Just 3 miles and across a 4 land highway its a different world. Driveby shootings, rapes, murders....its awful. So bad that I refuse to watch the LOCAL news and opt to watch Philadelphia news because I honestly don't want to know what's happening this close to me! My kids are not sheltered, but I certainly want the right to expose them or not to certain things.
Chocolate Covered Cherry
Cherry Bomb
I agree that it was totally inappropriate to mention this at orientation in this manner. That's not something you tell kids or parents when they're just getting ready to have a major life change. They're already nervous, and it's especially unnecessary to worry the KIDS more.
But on the other hand, it's something you guys SHOULD at least be aware of. I know my college campus has a LOT more "incidents" than most students actually hear about, so all of us should be a lot more careful - but we're not. There's no need to use scare tactics, but telling students and parents that this stuff happens is important so you can take precautionary measures and be safe!
But on the other hand, it's something you guys SHOULD at least be aware of. I know my college campus has a LOT more "incidents" than most students actually hear about, so all of us should be a lot more careful - but we're not. There's no need to use scare tactics, but telling students and parents that this stuff happens is important so you can take precautionary measures and be safe!
♥♥Amber♥♥
Cherry Delight
oh dear. your poor child. That ought to make her really want to start middle school. dang
Charleneanne https://sbing.com/i/gallery2/481754-700.jpg
Cherry Addict
I think it's important information to have, and I think it's a jumping off point for further discussions, both with your daughter and with the school. People get hurt by thinking that crime can't happen in exclusive neighborhoods....it happens everywhere, and children need to be taught the skills to keep themselves safe. Becuase we all know, as much as we would like to, we can't be there or keep a bubble around them all the time. But I think that was an inappropriate setting and timing. I would have preferred a smaller setting, where the kids have an opportunity to ask questions and interact. I would have been upset with that presentation too.
You don't quit playing because you grow old....you grow old because you quit playing.
Cherry Tart
we moved to Clayton NC http://townofclaytonnc.org/. Great town, great schools! ALL different people. Mary is in 6th grade now. For her orientation going into middle school, the school was talking about Gangs, what to look out for, you're not allowed to wear sunglasses/hats/bandanas (all a sign of being in a gang) talked about being touched inapropriately etc....
Stuff I never hear up in the little school where we came from in NJ. BUT this school is much more, how can I put it, put together, or organized! They seem to have their $hit together! Everything runs smoothly. They also have 0 tolerance and good disapline.
Mary is 12, she knows what rape is, and all of that, shes in a large school now and hears things she never heard before. We discuss things and she knows not to start trouble, be friendly. DO NOT talk about other girls behind their backs etc....
Its fierce in middle school! Marys friends are 'DATING' in 6th grade! I dont agree with that. Alot of her friends have boyfriends, the parents drop the boys & girls off at the movies together. Mary goes to the rollar rink with her girl friends. She sees her other school friends who are 12 making out with thier boyfriends. Too young IMO.
Marys friends are not into the boy friend scene yet either.
SO I think the school is onboard talking about all that, they have too, yea, it is shocking.
Stuff I never hear up in the little school where we came from in NJ. BUT this school is much more, how can I put it, put together, or organized! They seem to have their $hit together! Everything runs smoothly. They also have 0 tolerance and good disapline.
Mary is 12, she knows what rape is, and all of that, shes in a large school now and hears things she never heard before. We discuss things and she knows not to start trouble, be friendly. DO NOT talk about other girls behind their backs etc....
Its fierce in middle school! Marys friends are 'DATING' in 6th grade! I dont agree with that. Alot of her friends have boyfriends, the parents drop the boys & girls off at the movies together. Mary goes to the rollar rink with her girl friends. She sees her other school friends who are 12 making out with thier boyfriends. Too young IMO.
Marys friends are not into the boy friend scene yet either.
SO I think the school is onboard talking about all that, they have too, yea, it is shocking.
Cherry Bomb
OMGosh, that is just crazy. I'm not sure I could send my child to that school. Another great reason for the vouchers.
Joyce
Sweet Cherry Pie
That was a bit too bold for my liking as well!! I agree with you, let the kids actually start school and then address those concerns in a smaller group or class size setting. Wow!!! I hope she will be ok and will enjoy middle school!!
Cherry Bing
No idea this type of thing EVER went on! Really? How many arrests could possibly be made in middle school? I must be living in the past. Sent my kids to private schools all the way through, not that there aren't problems there, but far less. I am very sad to hear this is the state of our schools today. Your daughter should not have been listening, what an idiot person telling you all this. Of course she's scared, I'd be scared.
Cherry Addict
My first question is, why was the school resource officer part of the middle school orientation? The purpose of this gathering is to inform parents and students of the school policies and requirements, the schedule and staff, and to get orientated with the campus. That speech would seem like something more appropriate for Back to School night, as an information packet instead of a threatening announcement. It sounds like they provided the information in the wrong way, also, scaring the parents before they even have their child attending the school is not 'good for business'.
It most definitely would have a huge percentage of our parents transferring their students away from our campus, if it had happened here. While the admin does not try to hide the truth, they at least have the decency to address it discreetly and appropriately. As a parent, I understand the issues that face kids today... bullying, violence, crime, sexual contact and the pressure around that issue alone. We have it all at our middle school but it is not splayed across a banner or a keynote speech in welcoming new families to our site.
We have at our school, what we call Advisory period, every wednesday morning during the beginning of first period. This is a setting in which the kids cover these touchy subjects in an academic way. They have spent a good deal of time, recently, analyzing, discussing and sharing their own thoughts about the bullying issue. I think this type of setting is a great way to properly inform and educate the kids without using scare tactics.
It most definitely would have a huge percentage of our parents transferring their students away from our campus, if it had happened here. While the admin does not try to hide the truth, they at least have the decency to address it discreetly and appropriately. As a parent, I understand the issues that face kids today... bullying, violence, crime, sexual contact and the pressure around that issue alone. We have it all at our middle school but it is not splayed across a banner or a keynote speech in welcoming new families to our site.
We have at our school, what we call Advisory period, every wednesday morning during the beginning of first period. This is a setting in which the kids cover these touchy subjects in an academic way. They have spent a good deal of time, recently, analyzing, discussing and sharing their own thoughts about the bullying issue. I think this type of setting is a great way to properly inform and educate the kids without using scare tactics.
Cherry Cropper
As a mother and grandmother I would have been very upset to hear this at orientation. Although we know that these things do happen, it would have been better presented at a diffrent time. I hope Mary is ok and that she does have the opportunity to live her jr. high scool days without to much worry.
We have to forgive! If we don't forgive, we'll get left behind! janet rose
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Love people & use things--- Not love things & use people!
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Cherry Jubilee
I'd be questioning whether to send my child to that school... DH & I have decided that the two public high schools are definitely OUT for our kids, with all the stuff going on. I'm, hopefully, going to be visiting the middle school DS#1 is supposed to go to in 2 years, but after hearing some of the stories a friend of mine has shared (she teaches there), I'm not too sure about that one either. We've already told him he's going to sit the entrance exams for a couple of private schools, but unless he gets full scholarships, it'll be homeschooling for us.
Sara
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