Parents: Do you feel sorry for what your kids have to put up with at school?

Question

I can't believe that they have to deal with concerns about guns and bomb threats. The most major problem when I was in school was kids smoking in the bathrooms! It's a whole different ballgame for our kids nowadays...

Answer 1

Yeah... unfortunately, worse things than we had to deal with are becoming "second nature" for children at school nowadays. It's so sad, but devastatingly true.

I think it stems from the whole situation that it seems children are just given "instant gratification" in today's generation, and therefore expect more (and expect to get away with more), without having to "pay for it" whether it be material things, or behavioral issues.

I think with people's more "modern" views on discipline for children are just becoming more "accepting." I think people have to be really careful with giving children too many luxuries, and too many freedoms of choice.

And, ultimately, I think that's where these behavioral problems come from. The more children push the envelope, the more others want to see how much they can get away with (for whatever personal reason for them that might be), and they just seem to get away with more...

Or, at least that's my take on it.

Answer 2

I feel sorry for any kid in public school. I'm ashamed our country's school system is so terrible.

I know kids in 4th grade who can't read. And 6th graders who can't tell time. Classrooms are overcrowded and kids are being lost in the shuffle.

The socialization (if you want to call it that) that goes on in schools is scary. Kids getting picked on for not having the coolest clothes, kids who get left out for no reason, the rumors and gossip that goes on is disgusting.

And then, the bomb threats. There have been 3 at one of the high schools here---this WEEK. Three in one week!

I toured a public school once. The kindergartners were walking down the hall chanting "No guns at school! No knives at school!"

It's disgusting. It really is.

Children deserve better education than this, and no child (or any person, for that matter) should have to put up with the things that go on in today's public schools.

Answer 3

I live in a small city in West Michigan - last year, we had an 8th grader bring a gun to school. Like everyone has said, "I never thought it would happen here!" Thank God we have a peers watching out for peers program implemented in the school and when he informed some of his friends of his intent, they went to inform adults in charge! Thank God! His parents are good people, they did what they thought was a good job parenting (except I question how he was able to find an unlocked gun and the ammunition in his home - they didn't keep it under lock and key, didn't keep them separated or hidden and he had access somehow). He was sent somewhere for evaluation and treatment. I pray he's okay. He's a child too. I hope there is hope and adequate help for him. Let me say - if it can happen here - it can happen ANYWHERE. We live in a great community - people are involved, we have an awesome school system, we don't lock our doors, we help our neighbors, it's a fantastic city of just under 10,000.

It's still very scary raising children today, I still can't protect my children from everything. I have to let them experience life, learn to deal with difficult people, possibly expose them to things and ideas I don't agree with. I teach them all I can and I pray.

You do the best you can everyday, you help your kids learn to be safe and you move forward.

Answer 4

I'm really not worried so much about the safety of kids in school. I'm much more worried about the education they're receiving. My niece is 17 (she'll be 18 in November) and is in a "special ed" class. Instead of actually having classes she picks up trash around town with the rest of her class. ALL DAY! She gets grades on how fast and how much she picks up. She also gets PAID! About $100.00 every month or so. She can't read, do mathematics, or tell time on a standard clock. She was trying to write one of her friends the other day and actually asked me how to spell "ate". Her mom is throwing her a big party for her graduation...and I'm like for what? They tried to say that she had received all of her credits last year. The last year she was picking up trash half the day and doing "class work" the remainder of the day. The fact that she's in "special" classes and only does half a days work tells me she didn't get all of her credits. It just makes me mad that after she graduates she's going to be expected to go out, get a job, get a house, and a car. All of these things and she doesn't even have a 3rd grade reading level and probably a 2nd grade math level. She's never learned to multiply or divide which we did in 3rd grade and still counts on her fingers to add and subtract simple problems..think 9-3...or 5+6..Her going out into the real world and countless others like her are ticking time "bombs" in their own regard.

Answer 5

There is another alternative out there. Homeschooling. I have decided to homeschool my children. The schools in the area are really bad. Loosing their accreditation and then trying to cover them up. Forget about the drugs and guns in the schools, those are the common place now. I want the best for my children that I can get, like other parents out there. It is do able.

Answer 6

I went to public school, and I feel I got the best education I could. a 1000 times better than ANY private school. Public schools are the best. But then Minnesota has always had one of the best educational systems in the country.

Answer 7

Yes, fortunately they caught this kid at the bus stop with a gun before he came and shot up our school. He had made a hit list and was planning to carry it out. Its so scary to think about, a lot of the kids are in my classes. To think I could have got shot, at school, is insane to me. People need to take control of their children.

Answer 8

I do feel concerned about my son in school all the time and i think most parents do the only thing we can really do is teach our children right from wrong and hope that they will learn well.

Answer 9

I'm sorry that parents don't care more about their children - who doesn't know their kids are building bombs and taking them to school??? I'm sorry, but you've got to be so self-absorbed or out in left field if you don't know something like that is going on.

Answer 10

I totally agree. I have a son who just graduated and he has had a gun pointed at him. I pray for my daughter in 2nd grade. I wonder what middle school and high school will be like for her.