Columbine question and Virgina Tech question!

[matt]

I was thinking as I always do about the world around me and such. I was wondering what we have learned about what the reasons about things like this. Parents are you more aware of who your children talk to. Or when they are in their rooms or if they are not doing well in school, do the flags go off. As an educator I am always looking out for my students to see what is going on at home or with their peers and such. I know for a lot of you this maybe common sense, but we have we learned as parents, community and educators?

I know I do tend to get on my soapbox, however, I care too much around me to say to do nothing. What do you guys think have we learned anything in the last 8 years.

[Chefzhat]

Sadly, I don't think we've learned anything except how to over-react. Kids play "bang bang" with their fingers in 2nd grade and get sent home for threatening behavior, while other more threatening behaviors are ignored and stuffed under the rug. We still don't deal with mental illness the way we should. There are a large group of people who still don't "parent" their children (rich and poor alike). All the while educators are hamstringed by federal testing legislation and HIPA restrictions. Funding for education and assistance is still a political beach ball. Kids I taught yesterday are worth $6,995 to the state, while kids I taught on Monday are worth $10,775. :confused:

We're at war abroad and at war at home.

Real positive, aren't I? :)

[TKay]

I can only speak as a parent, not as a formal educator. I know that I am more aware of making an effort to keep tabs on my kids. I have two boys, ages 5 and 7. I ask them who they play with, what they're doing, how they feel, etc. I try very hard not to overreact when they get in trouble at school so they will continue to feel free to TELL me when they are IN trouble (if that makes sense). I try very hard to maintain open lines of communication with them. I tell them there is nothing they could do that would ever make me not love them. I tell them they can say anything to me. I question myself: Is (whatever it is) normal behavior? Is it a sign that they need help? Should I be seeking counseling? Am I overreacting?
Personally, I am fascinated by what makes people tick. Consequently, I am curious about what makes my boys do what they do. And I hope I can keep my kids on the right track. I try to make them feel loved at all times (although I'm sure I don't always succeed). I would hope I am on top of things enough--and connected enough with them--to keep them out of the kind of trouble that leads to tragedies like the ones we've had.
So for me, yes, we have learned over the past eight years. I know that as a society, things seem to escalate. So maybe I'm just a glass-half-full girl. I hope that's not all it is though.

[jmarie]

I was so proud of a 4th. grade student on my bus. He got on and announced to me that a student in his class had said he was going to kill himself. He said that another student told him "Cool. go ahead and do it. " Their teacher was not in the classroom at the time.

I panicked and asked him if he told anyone and he said that he went next door and told a teacher and that she came in and they took the child who made the threat against himself to the office and that they were going to deal with the encourager the next day, with his parents.

I was just so proud that here was this 4th. grader looking after his classmate.

God bless him.

[cminmd]

What a nice little boy! It amazes me how people just don't want to get involved or make waves.