Children are especially vulnerable to bullyism especially when it is done by an adult, someone of authority who they have been taught to respect and depend on. It can do a lot of damage to their being, to their self esteem something most children are in the process of trying to understand their selves and their environment. Children are fragile beings and don’t have the same advantage of an adult, especially a high functioning educated adult. The scale is tipped disproportionately to the adults side.

In this case this adult, while breaking the law, abused her power over this child, a child that already had a disadvantage and questions about the integrity of society, CCSD and the aduts around him. He has that right as a human being. He has the right to examine and decide for himself what role in life he is comfortable playing. He may have a learning disorder as most of us do and feel CCSD is not appropriate for him at this time. Life is not a zoo, we are not caged circus animals being trained to entertain. Everyone has rights as do animals.

We as society have to get ver this idea that we are all destined to work for the State or the Corporation. There are infinite options for children and people and they should be respected to examine those options.

We should be rethinking the role of public education, it hasn’t totally worked for decades. What I mean it is progressively getting more broken, not getting better. That does not mean that all don’t benefit but it means many don’t benefit, many don’t get our moneys worth, many don’t get an equal opportunity at life. That can be fixed and must be fixed. However It cannot be fixed internally by the same people do the same thing over and over - that is, as Einstein said, “is insanity”.

To begin to fix the public school system, first there must be an aknowledgement and acceptance of the failure(s). Continued denial cannot exist in the same room. Secondly many different models and ideas must be put together and tried find the best route for different students and students needs are like a rainbow of colors, they are infinite. Many learning tools may need to be customized for special needs students if we believe they have the right to find happiness and fulfullment in life. Once they can achieve that, they can necome productive people in some capacity. We should never rule out anyone but the schools have been. Everyone has the constitutional right to the pursuit of happiness, our ultimate goal for life.

What this school employee did was shocking and unconscionable for anyone. It shows the flawed mentality, thinking and educational results of this very system. It shows the very core problem of CCSD. The minority of people who have climbed onboard on the side of CCSD, probably employees or benefactors in some way to public education crises, are also indicative of the growing flawed mentality and thinking.

“Blame it on the parent” we can to some degree blame it on the parent except for this: The parent is often time uneducated and does not have the same power or skills or tools as the “person of authority”. Who’s fault is that? The same people who continue to take pay to do a job but still continue to neglect a large part of society.

“Blame it on the educator” Well sorry to say but these are the people who said “yes I can do this job and want to do this job” They are the focal point when the axe falls. They must stand up to the plate and do a self examination. They are in fact taking money to do a job. If they don’t like the job, can’t do the job or don’t like the rules they themselves are teaching, then they must be accoutable because their work is failing and it is showing. That core failure is doing more damage to our society that all the terrorism we have ever encountered as a nation.

As for this lady and her son, they have little power with few options and little knowledge. They are more the majority of the victims of this failure. They are only trying to conform and survive to and increasingly bad situation.

As for the educators or anyone wanting to become an educator: Either change it, fix it, or get out of the way!

There are solutions, simple inexpensive and easy solutions but no one is thinking or listening or caring or trying. Especially not CCSD

“What the teachers have to deal with” as you say gives them no right to break the law. We are talking about a felony. The teachers have plenty of recourse for resolution and I do sympathize with them if they are abused. And you have accused me of something that is untrue. I do not condone bad behavior from students against teachers or anyone. That didn’t happen in this case though so you are wrong. This case is the opposite, bad behavior by the adult against the child.

If there is abuse or property damage or an individual hurts an individual or becomes out of control, disruptive or violent, that’s what the 911 buttons are for. No adults or students should be subjected to any abuse or fear or intimidation or bullyism.

I have done something myself though to atempt to improve the school situation to prevent another Columbine style massacre. Several years ago I had an became aware of an incident with CCSD and as a result I proposed a simple Student Judicial System to CCSD where students and teachers alike could resolve brewing issues and hopefully defuse tensions. CCSD refused to hear it and refused to try it even in one school on a trial basis. There was no cost to it. It could be done after school and using interested students. You may even like my concept. I have no sympathy now for CCSD now that it has backfired in their lap.

Sometimes there are simple differences in opinions or hurt feelings or misunderstandings, a Student Judicial System can resolve a lot of problems before they become major problems. It would be a form of mediation, venting, pressure relief. but run by the students just like the student council. CCSD should have tried it. They’ve had many years to think about it.

The schools system has been failing since my time. It failed me, I know and that was back in the 40’s and 50’s. It hasn’t improved since then. It’s as much of a failure as the American Automobile Cartel in Michigan and the Oil Cartel who is still building cars with cast iron drive trains and fossil fuel internal combustion engines. It’s a profitable Industry just as the Educational Industry and the Prison Industry is. “No need to fix it if it’s profitable right?” Or so they think.

You said and I quote “Was it right for the school administrator to come get the student. Not my call, nor is it yours. But it is the responsibility of the parents to make sure there kids get to school everyday, is it not???” Let me correct you. It may not be your call if you don’t want to do what’s right but don’t tell me what to do. I plan to be a witness in court if possible. So it is my call thank you. Now that’s the difference between you and I. You will accept failure where I won’t.

Then you state “the question that should be asked . . . . “. Again you are wrong. There may be aggravating and mitigating circumstance but they in no way allow a crime like this to be committed and go uninvestigated. The Police should do their job and the court will hear the case and factor in the evidence. That is not a determination that can be made at this time.

It’s good you had a good life but all kids don’t have that. The school has an obligation to educate all kids to their best ability not 50% of them and push the other 50% out.

Cheers,

John with all due respect, you appear to be somewhat knowledgeable by quoting the schools rights, are you saying that the CCSD employee had the auhority to approach this underage child at his own home, on his own property without a warrent, without a parent or legal council and then tell him what he should do back by a threat? And then carry out the act by placing the child in the CCSD vehicle? What if there was an accident? What if the child has a mental illness or any illness unknown to CCSD? Are you sure this is the standing you wish to defend?

You don’t see the crime? Are you too just making up code off the top of your head like this CCSD employee did to fit her own personal agenda at the time?

And what happened to the other 5% of the students who were absent that day, were they also harassed and intimidated or just this one special needs child? It will be easy to find who was and was not contacted and who followed and who didn’t. That will be a nice piece of information for the plaintiffs side.

Additionally, do you feel that the student or any student has the same rights as adults, including teachers and administrators? Or do you see them as subservient? It seems several of these responses are coming from a group of individuals who favor CCSD above student rights which is one of the major problems with CCSD today. That has been my experience with the Superintendant of Schools. If CCSD has no respect for the students, then why should any student reciprocate? Lead by example is the rule.

It seems a lot of these CCSD people are climbing on board to CCSD’s defense? Are you a CCSD employee yourself? Just curious, you don’t need to answer that.

Then when a school fails is AYP, people like you Bruce jump on the district saying you pay to much money for them because they cant even do their job. I don’t know you, but i know your kind. People that think the public school system has failed, and is a waste of money. You listed a bunch of new reports about Nevada schools. Yet you refuse to list the fact that CCSD is one of the largest districts in the country, yet the state is either 48 or 49 in terms of spending per student. This is before that wonderful 4% cut. ARE YOU PROUD OF THAT FACT????? Are you proud to know that its not the district that is failing the students, its the people of this community that are failing them. You want so much, but when they say ok, to do that we need money. Then you say, not my money. Its the double standard that this state lives by.

Was it right for the school administrator to come get the student. Not my call, nor is it yours. But it is the responsibility of the parents to make sure there kids get to school everyday, is it not???

The question that should be asked. Why is a student with the mind of a 2nd grader at a high school. it is not safe for them. You cant put them in separate classes, because parents like this mother sue for because the school is segregating them. But really, if they only have the capacity of a 2nd grader, it cost you and I more to keep moving them up. Then you have to hire a personal teacher that goes class to class with them. I saw it when i was in high school. 1 student had her own personal teacher, that went to all classes from her freshman year to her senior year. You and I pay for that.

This is a matter for the Police and DA to investigate since CCSD employees broke the law. I don’t recall that a teacher was involved unless you have better information. I’m going by the news report.

A civil suit should also be filed because that is the only way these people respond and correct their wrong doings. You seem to take a defensive position to the idea that a crime has been committed and must be investigated. That leads me to believe that you have an interest in the outcome of the matter on the CCSD side. I can appreciate you wanting to protect them as you probably work for CCSD in some capacity yourself. Is that correct and do you have additional information that needs to be submitted and checked out? This would be the time to do it now that you are aware that it is a crime.

I don’t see you crying foul when 1 or 2 of those “Special” needs children miss this test, and fail a school. That cuts funding to the district, and puts other kids education at risk. But this is a crime because a kid who by law is suppose to be at school was forced to be there.

I guess the CCSD should be suing the parents of those kids for million in lost education dollars. But then you would be cry about how pour and mistreated they are. Come on Vegas. No Child Left Behind has left so many children behind with education. It has forced schools to teach kids to pass a test. But you blame the schools for not giving the proper education. This is the law that Mr bush gave us, and this state helped elect him, so everyone in it has to pay for it.

BTW, the school has the right to RPC the mother. They gave her son a choice, to come to school, or his mom would be brought into school.

I am fabbergasted Howie. What CCSD did is illegal without question. If the rules are wrong then the rules are wrong and CCSD should be challenging the rules in court not in the students front yard. I cannot believe the people who try to justify breaking the law.

To 45 Thomas Simpshons — April 10, 2008 @ 1:55 pm

I understand your point so let me ask you this, is it alright for your employer or client whatever to come on your property and demand you report to work right then or you will be fired?

I’m interested in your response.