Today’s news- on Today—and some from Yesterday that could be
in the news Tomorrow
The parents in Parkland, Florida are angry now that they
have heard the resource officer’s story.
The bottom line, they want answers.
They are not satisfied with his explanations, but as the widow of one of
the dead teachers said, he did give some information that she seemed (from her
comment) not to know. Why hasn't she been informed of all the information? Maybe she doesn't want to know.
If you worked in a school district and something happened
what would you do?
The administrative directions are very clear- don’t talk to
the media. Do you hear many teachers speaking out after a killing at a school? Initially they may, such as the teacher who
told the media about the email they were sent regarding Cruz and a book bag. But, often teacher’s do not speak up, individually
or collectively, unless they are addressing contract issues- not safety.
The administration of the schools want to “white
wash” after trouble. The problem with
that, the paint wears away and the dirty little secrets or at least the truth
will come through. God will not allow it
any other way.
The massacres are trending in white, middle to upper middle-class
areas but assaults on other students and staff occurs in all types of
districts. I worked in a white, middle
class community in 1998. The janitor came
to visit me one day after I left. He
wondered, if that community had no issues as stated in the paper by the then, soon
to be disgraced superintendent, “whose blood did I mop up in the bathroom today”.
I worked in programs for at- risk youth in 1985-87 and then from
2005-2007. I worked with students (and
adults) from Atlantic, Cape May and Ocean Counties in New Jersey. The at- risk youth came from all backgrounds,
white and black, girls and boys, and all types of communities, including gang
members. Factors that made them at-risk and eligible
for a federal program- income at their
present state of need; former drug use, juvenile record and teen parenthood
were the main reasons. Not all were
reformed. All were still struggling with their previous choices. Some
were still at the entrance of the tunnel of darkness from their choices. None of the teen parents, though, ever regretted
having their babies. The babies were
motivation to do better.
Some were
successful, some were not.
In the program in 1985-87, I worked with a few gang
members. One of the students made more
money working for a “car business” than any one I knew at the time. His
record was because it was a “chop shop”.
If he was 18 when he worked with me, how old was he when he started in
the car business? In the program in
2005-2007, one the participants had been in and out of jail many times. He told me his mom let him be on his own at
12. At his still young age, he told me, “she
made a mistake and is trying to make up for it now. It is too late. (he said)”
Right here in Pittsburgh, a teacher was injured after angry parents
followed her from the school (in cars) and assaulted her at a stop light. She did speak out but since there are
lawsuits pending, there may not be many more opportunities to hear her side of
the story. This assault happened during October 2017.
The parents have issued claims that the
teacher assaulted the student when taking a cell phone. In the words of my former principal, children
lie as well as adults. Were there any
student by-standers- called witnesses? In my former school, the principal would have
a problem with them speaking up. But in
child or adult assault prevention, you want the witnesses to speak up. The roles are put on the table for a
purpose. If you are in a role as a
witness, what would you do? Take the roll for the role.
This link includes an interview with the teacher who was assaulted
by the parents of a child. I wonder
how the administration in Pittsburgh feels about this interview- and the
commentary by the reporter at the end. The
implication is that there are many assaults on teachers and students.
None of us are naive enough to think that problems do not
happen. We know they do. The problem is with not believing there is
something one can do about it… before, during and after an event. I can’t believe it happened here is a “white
wash” lie… it can happen anywhere. So if anyone tries to go there with me, I will challenge the statement.
The resource officer at Parkland, Florida seemed to freeze
in his role as the protector- the only one with a gun. He had many years of experience as a police
officer. Why did he freeze? Was he running through his head the mixed
messages of engage and not engage? A monitor for safety on the school grounds, from news reports, is now barred from the school grounds. Why?
Are they barring the superintendent or the principal?
You have a gun as a resource officer in school with an
active shooter- what would you do?
But before a school gets to a Swat team situation (which we
know often fails to protect), everyone in the school has been informed this
former student is a problem with no charges filed- just transferred, it
appears. People reported him to the
police. You as a teacher, a neighbor, a
parent, another parent has a piece of the puzzle? You know he is a danger to self and others. What would you do?
Today the parents in the Parkland, Florida community are angry? Would you be?
What would you do with that righteous anger?
Do you think my experience working with at-risk youth added
to my education on behaviors or care for a child’s future? I was told to show
the children I had hope for the troubled child.
I did have hope. But the
administration only wanted to “white wash”.
It was too late for this troubled
child’s brother a few years later. He
died of a drug overdose. My former
student found him on the couch. Guess
who told me that? The aid from my class
who never wanted to report his behaviors in the cafeteria. We attended morning Mass together at the
local chapel. Was she telling me the truth?
What if we had worked to help the troubled child in my
class? Would the insight I had about the
family in need have saved the older brother’s life? Some day we will know. God sees the bigger picture and we are held
accountable for what we have done and what we have failed to do.
Marian R. Carlino
June 7, 2018
