Recent suicides at Langley HS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the administration is serious about reducing stress at Langley here is one idea that would help. Rank all non-AP, non-honors teachers by the average student grade in their class and address the teachers that pass out the lowest 10% of grades. Those teachers, and I hope the teachers are reading, are contributing significant stress to the students and what's worse is that the students feel trapped. As a parent, my 2 current Langley students feel the most pressure from the perceived loss of opportunities low grades from those teachers are causing. If Mr. Ragone is serious about reducing stress, identify those outlier teachers and force them to relax their standards or teach in such a way to improve the average grades in their class and measure the success.

Want an example? Why do the Langley Spanish teachers teach above the book? Are the vocabulary words in the FCPS Spanish 1 book not sufficient for Langley student's that they must add 50 to 75% additional words by way of worksheet? Is the Freshman Science textbook so below the Langley standard that students must find supplemental instruction through Kahn Academy just to muster a B or a C on the test. Was it not possible to extend the second semester a week because of snow to allow further instruction from the teachers to adequately prepare the students for the semester exams?

Mr. Ragone, how about this, make each teacher show you the % of students in their class who received a D or F on the second semester exam. Want to make a difference? Find the outlier teachers and demand improvement for the current semester.

Mr. Ragone, there are actionable steps you can take to reduce the stress at Langley, please take action before our children, who feel trapped, take actions themselves.

Agreed

[Anonymous]

Students mourn deaths of 2 Langley High School seniors

Read more: http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/24645092/students-mourn-deaths-of-2-langley-high-school-seniors#ixzz2sZVhqJFs

[Anonymous]

"I have seen this before, no one speaks ill of the dead. It does not mean that they were not tormented in life. So many times even the bullies will shed a few tears for their victims, especially when cameras are rolling."

THIS is bullying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There certainly are lots of pressures on the kids at Langley but I don't find it much different at other top high schools in the area. Depression is a disease and at its heart it is an irrational sadness that cannot be so simply explained. Suicide does not happen because a kid can't do LEAP. These boys were not bullied- in fact they were well liked. I do not think you will find a simple reason why this happened. You will probably never know why it happened.

Thank you for this voice of reason. It is simply arrogant for others to decide they know the reason these tragedies happened. The only people who know are the boys themselves and possibly their families. Depression is an insidious disease and there is often no simple, pat explanation. Everyone immediately assumed they were bullied, or hadn't gotten into a college, or were doing drugs. Not one of us knows for sure and we probably never will. Those of you bashing Langley because of your own personal experiences have no right to project that onto other kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the administration is serious about reducing stress at Langley here is one idea that would help. Rank all non-AP, non-honors teachers by the average student grade in their class and address the teachers that pass out the lowest 10% of grades. Those teachers, and I hope the teachers are reading, are contributing significant stress to the students and what's worse is that the students feel trapped. As a parent, my 2 current Langley students feel the most pressure from the perceived loss of opportunities low grades from those teachers are causing. If Mr. Ragone is serious about reducing stress, identify those outlier teachers and force them to relax their standards or teach in such a way to improve the average grades in their class and measure the success.

Want an example? Why do the Langley Spanish teachers teach above the book? Are the vocabulary words in the FCPS Spanish 1 book not sufficient for Langley student's that they must add 50 to 75% additional words by way of worksheet? Is the Freshman Science textbook so below the Langley standard that students must find supplemental instruction through Kahn Academy just to muster a B or a C on the test. Was it not possible to extend the second semester a week because of snow to allow further instruction from the teachers to adequately prepare the students for the semester exams?

Mr. Ragone, how about this, make each teacher show you the % of students in their class who received a D or F on the second semester exam. Want to make a difference? Find the outlier teachers and demand improvement for the current semester.

Mr. Ragone, there are actionable steps you can take to reduce the stress at Langley, please take action before our children, who feel trapped, take actions themselves.

So you want all the students to get A's? That's just stupid. If you want a lower performing school you should home school.

[Anonymous]

Stop. This thread is not about "if Langley admin wants to reduce stress, here's how". Or "my kid's needs weren't met at Langley." Those are both fine conversations to have. But please spin off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There certainly are lots of pressures on the kids at Langley but I don't find it much different at other top high schools in the area. Depression is a disease and at its heart it is an irrational sadness that cannot be so simply explained. Suicide does not happen because a kid can't do LEAP. These boys were not bullied- in fact they were well liked. I do not think you will find a simple reason why this happened. You will probably never know why it happened.

Thank you for this voice of reason. It is simply arrogant for others to decide they know the reason these tragedies happened. The only people who know are the boys themselves and possibly their families. Depression is an insidious disease and there is often no simple, pat explanation. Everyone immediately assumed they were bullied, or hadn't gotten into a college, or were doing drugs. Not one of us knows for sure and we probably never will. Those of you bashing Langley because of your own personal experiences have no right to project that onto other kids.

+10,000

[Anonymous]

The Langley bashing is because parents are worried about their own children. When something like this hits a community we look at our own children and think, could this happen to them? Parents see the stress this kind of enviroment puts on their children. They are looking for a solution so this doesn't happen again.
I do believe that Langley needs to address the feelings many have about the school. If this is a forum to vent, then let the Langley parents vent.
I have two children that graduated from Langley and I will tell you Langley is not perfect but I'm not sure what school is. We survived!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You all seriously need to stop raising your kids to be so mean. Stop putting so much emphasis on material items and wealth.

Here are some other thoughts:

"Please support Langley"

"You are in our hearts, thoughts & prayers"

"Nothing but love and support goes out to all of those affected by the Langley suicides."

"Prayers and condolences go out to the friends and family of Alex and Timmy & Langley HS."

"Join Langley in the remembrance of their lost ones. Two schools, one community."

Where do you find such compassionate adults? Well, actually, these were kids - at Annandale, Herndon, Edison, Falls Church and McLean HS. They have something to teach some of you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Langley bashing is because parents are worried about their own children. When something like this hits a community we look at our own children and think, could this happen to them? Parents see the stress this kind of enviroment puts on their children. They are looking for a solution so this doesn't happen again.
I do believe that Langley needs to address the feelings many have about the school. If this is a forum to vent, then let the Langley parents vent.
I have two children that graduated from Langley and I will tell you Langley is not perfect but I'm not sure what school is. We survived!!

Agree. People under stress act it out in different ways and we as parents are worried for our kids.

[Anonymous]

I completely understand worry for you own kids. But to twist this thread into a platform on bullying, Langley stress, parents with money is inappropriate. To completely hijack the thread to talk about your own kid's algebra teacher or their learning disabilities is ridiculous. Sure, talk about those. But on another thread. Rest in peace TS.

[Anonymous]

But who is to say this thread was started as a platform for eulogizing the two students, It's tragic, but people want to talk about it. People shouldn't use this thread to discuss how their child had a bad teacher at Langley, but it doesn't have to be limited to cyber candles and well wishes for the Langley community. We can talk about suicide because that discussion is relevant to the original story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I completely understand worry for you own kids. But to twist this thread into a platform on bullying, Langley stress, parents with money is inappropriate. To completely hijack the thread to talk about your own kid's algebra teacher or their learning disabilities is ridiculous. Sure, talk about those. But on another thread. Rest in peace TS.

I agree there are some posts inappropriate to the main topic. Rest in peace TS and AL!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I completely understand worry for you own kids. But to twist this thread into a platform on bullying, Langley stress, parents with money is inappropriate. To completely hijack the thread to talk about your own kid's algebra teacher or their learning disabilities is ridiculous. Sure, talk about those. But on another thread. Rest in peace TS.

AGREE.

[Anonymous]

As a parent of two elementary-aged boys, I am having a really hard time with this - what a sad circumstance for the children to feel that suicide is the best option. What a sad state for the families to live with the results.

We need to start addressing the mental needs of our children NOW - let them know when they are as young as my children are that they are not disposable. They are successes no matter if they go to Harvard or NOVA. Each child is a prized, treasured being and should be told that every day.

My sympathy goes out to both families and the Langley Community. You are in my thoughts and prayers every minute.