I dragged my family to the high school
last night. I understood the meeting to start at 5:30, but it must
have started at 5:00 as we walked into a mass production that had already
obviously started. It seems that the focus was mainly on just one
school, though the elementary next to it had been mentioned. There
were parents there for both group. I saw several youth but not a
huge number. The meeting was at the high school library and it was
filled and overflowing.
Three separate events had taken place. The first was a
threat made by a person that was being bullied. The threat made was
toward the bullies and not the entire school. On October 23 a
"prank" phonecall had been made to 911 about a
shooting. Two youth were arrested. Last week there a note
had been left in one of the bathrooms leaving the impression of a bomb
threat. The school was placed on lock down and the adjoining elementary
was put on a soft lock - dismissed from elementary - and I have learned they
keep all of the doors locked anyway.
Of course there were and are concerns about each time the police
have been called in. While searching the lockers, police did find
evidence of other misdemeanors NOT related to the bomb
threat. It was announced last night that 17 youth have been arrested
for various reasons - though the only I remember mentioned was possession of
drugs which were discovered when the police were combing the area for evidence
of weapons and just happened upon other criminal activities during their
search.
Sadly,
there are some youth whose parents just don't care. I was pleased by
the turnout of so many who do. Unfortunately, many of them are so
caught up in speculation and fear of what might be that they aren't seeing that
the school and police really are taking measures for the safety of the
students. Not enough tax payers were willing to pay for a new school
when it was proposed on the election of 2016. Our school buildings
are OLD - they start in the early 1900's - I think Canyonville (the main
building anyway) may be even older than that. The most current building was
probably built in the 1950's. Architects didn't make plans for extra
securities as it was a foreign concept at that time.
Some
of the parents want the police to patrol the schools and add securities - which
of course, require money. But I am not fond of having the school
appear have the a prison feel to it. I think about 1989 film
"Lean on Me" in which Morgan Freeman portrays a principal determined
to change and not live in fear. I don't want our schools to become
how they were before he stepped up and made changes - many against the parents'
wishes.
I've
learned that it does not matter which direction you take, someone is not going
to like it. Someone is going to be offended. Others are
going to react - but not all the reactions are going to be
positive. Some are going to create more problems if they feel
ignored or if they misinterpret or (here's a big one) they
panic. Don't panic! Don't make worse.
I
think some valid points were made last night, but for some nothing was
resolved. Some will be (or already have) removing their children
from the school. Home schooling for some. Transfers
perhaps for others. Jenna and I share the same attitude - don't
stress over what you can't control. Changing schools doesn't
guarantee that your child will be any safer. Stop the
bullying. Chances are really good that they are connected.
