Recent suicides at Langley HS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sick people on here trying to take cheap shots at the best school in the area. Has anyone stopped and gathered the facts? The issues had nothing to do with the school. Nice try trolls.

The schools want the rankings - at the expense of the kids.

Please that's dumb. From what I read one of the boy's father's was going through expensive medical issues and it had nothing to with with the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I note that people are quick to say it was depression but keep denying that the atmosphere of the school contributed. I have heard quite a number of parents complain about the way this school is run. Not a healthy atmosphere the administration needs to do more than stage a pep rally prayer vigil and think harder about how teens are being affected by the policies and unfairness of the school. Two suicides in one week sends a pretty strong message

I'm wondering why everyone is blaming Langley (or any one reason or one school) for these deaths, when other schools in the area have also had students who committed suicide. Woodson had 4 (2013 and 2011), Woodbridge had 1 (2013), and South Lakes (2009). Not to mention the many teens nationwide who have died this way. Why should Langley be the scapegoat? Because a few vocal DCUM-ers want to air their past problems here and make it sound like everyone at the school must be unhappy? Take a look around whatever school your own child goes to before throwing stones at Langley.

Start dealing with the problems, or STFU.

We're trying to keep this thread respectful. Please, no profanity. Thanks.

Welcome to DCUM where people speak their minds.
A little honesty on your part would go a long way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The adults need to set limits.

Kids should be limited to 2 AP courses a year. And they should get rid of adding grade bumps for AP/Honors courses. Then the AP classes will be used of what they were intended, learning college level information and kids that are truly interested in AP classes will take them, it will not be the parents trying to game the GPA system.

Aren't the adults supposed to set the limits for our children????

Why do we continue to allow the school system to let kids be pushed to take these overloaded schedules due to peer pressure.

Excellent advice for LHS and FC school board.

So the speculation is that the great majority of students at Langley are feeling so much pressure that the curriculum needs to be dumbed down so that the ones who struggle in AP classes can be made to feel better? Are we really back to the "everyone should get a ribbon mentality"? What about the countless number of well balanced, organized, achieving students who can easily handle 3-5 AP Classes? We should tell them that we are afraid you may feel too much pressure and therefore we are capping your upside achievement because one or two out of 20 may feel overwhelmed if they over extend themselves? How will this prepare the good students for college where the workload will be even more demanding? Furthermore, changing the weighting of the grade bumps for AP will only serve to drive kids into no AP classes in order to pad their GPAs. Then the real gaming of the system and resentment will start for those taking the harder AP workload who rank behind those purposely taking the easier classes.

The real question here is, is there really a systemic problem at the school? How many kids are unhappy and stressed out of the total group (I would bet a lot less than it would appear on this board)? In fact, I want to a very marginal high school, and there were also unhappy kids, stressed, doing drugs, depressed, etc. Lets not throw the baby out with the bath water before a system wide problem is even clearly established and defined.

Please give us a picture of what the life of your 5 AP student looks like. Basic daily/weekly routine, including sleep and meals.
Thank you.

In addition, you THINK your kid is handling this well. They are telling ME otherwise. That's the thing about teens - when they hear someone fighting for their own child, in the office, in the halls. When they hear you talk about it with other parents, word travels. They seek you out - on Facebook, on Twitter, anywhere they can to say how stressed they feel. They WANT to talk about it. They WANT someone to make it stop. They FEEL no one is listening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was talking with my cousin from out of state the other day and she asked "how is the girl who was thinking of suicide doing?" T here are three that I know of who are seriously considering ending their lives and showing significant symptoms. Three in one small circle? FCPS is doing something wrong. I pray theses three will be all right. But it certainly wont be from help they received from the culture at FCPS.

What are you doing to help them? If you have information that these kids are seriously considering ending their lives, this is your wake up call to talk to their parents or a counselor who can help them.

Duh. The families know. Not a wake up call for me. A wake up call for the school. Why so many feel this extreme?

Seriously, if these girls are still seriously considering taking their lives and the families know, and they think the school is the problem, they need to get their kids out of the school. Sorry, but I wouldn't be waiting around for the school to change and risk my child ending her life. Maybe the school is a pressure cooker and some kids can't handle that, I agree, but I would make it my priority to get my child into a better environment ASAP. This area is full of very competitive people and that's not going to change anytime soon. It is our job as parents to understand what works for our kids and what is too much for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The adults need to set limits.

Kids should be limited to 2 AP courses a year. And they should get rid of adding grade bumps for AP/Honors courses. Then the AP classes will be used of what they were intended, learning college level information and kids that are truly interested in AP classes will take them, it will not be the parents trying to game the GPA system.

Aren't the adults supposed to set the limits for our children????

Why do we continue to allow the school system to let kids be pushed to take these overloaded schedules due to peer pressure.

Excellent advice for LHS and FC school board.

So the speculation is that the great majority of students at Langley are feeling so much pressure that the curriculum needs to be dumbed down so that the ones who struggle in AP classes can be made to feel better? Are we really back to the "everyone should get a ribbon mentality"? What about the countless number of well balanced, organized, achieving students who can easily handle 3-5 AP Classes? We should tell them that we are afraid you may feel too much pressure and therefore we are capping your upside achievement because one or two out of 20 may feel overwhelmed if they over extend themselves? How will this prepare the good students for college where the workload will be even more demanding? Furthermore, changing the weighting of the grade bumps for AP will only serve to drive kids into no AP classes in order to pad their GPAs. Then the real gaming of the system and resentment will start for those taking the harder AP workload who rank behind those purposely taking the easier classes.

The real question here is, is there really a systemic problem at the school? How many kids are unhappy and stressed out of the total group (I would bet a lot less than it would appear on this board)? In fact, I want to a very marginal high school, and there were also unhappy kids, stressed, doing drugs, depressed, etc. Lets not throw the baby out with the bath water before a system wide problem is even clearly established and defined.

Please give us a picture of what the life of your 5 AP student looks like. Basic daily/weekly routine, including sleep and meals.
Thank you.

Mom, you and your kid signed the AP Contract, right? The high schools force non of this on the kids. Thank you.

School administrators should be saying no to the parents. They are the ones being paid in that job, right? I was at a coffee; the principal said per Fairfax County board rules, each high school teacher is allowed to assign up to 2.5 hours of homework per night, per class. I had just read the documents AND spoken to the school board and pointed out that it was really 2.5 hours per night for ALL classes. He looked at me straight in the eye and said "that's only a suggestion". So that tells you what their mindset is right there. After I challenged him. other parents started talking, so I know I'm not alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I find offensive is that some of them are more than happy to make assumptions about the boys, their families, and their school experience in order to advance their own agenda. If they want to have a debate over whether FCPS should start later, cap the number of AP courses students can take and do more to mix up the demographics at Langley, fine. Do it in another thread, but don't claim, for example, that these boys had "no one to turn to" just because you want to bash a school that most kids are very proud to attend.

I hoped to find some modicum of comfort here and some mild speculation and debate is expected. But the self-serving posters have strong-armed their way to the majority on this thread. Bully for you. For the rest of us in the Langley community, our kids will grieve together tonight on the court and field. I'm sure I'll see many many of you and hundreds others in the back or balcony at MBC tomorrow. Just so sad. Rest in peace T. We loved you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The adults need to set limits.

Kids should be limited to 2 AP courses a year. And they should get rid of adding grade bumps for AP/Honors courses. Then the AP classes will be used of what they were intended, learning college level information and kids that are truly interested in AP classes will take them, it will not be the parents trying to game the GPA system.

Aren't the adults supposed to set the limits for our children????

Why do we continue to allow the school system to let kids be pushed to take these overloaded schedules due to peer pressure.

Excellent advice for LHS and FC school board.

So the speculation is that the great majority of students at Langley are feeling so much pressure that the curriculum needs to be dumbed down so that the ones who struggle in AP classes can be made to feel better? Are we really back to the "everyone should get a ribbon mentality"? What about the countless number of well balanced, organized, achieving students who can easily handle 3-5 AP Classes? We should tell them that we are afraid you may feel too much pressure and therefore we are capping your upside achievement because one or two out of 20 may feel overwhelmed if they over extend themselves? How will this prepare the good students for college where the workload will be even more demanding? Furthermore, changing the weighting of the grade bumps for AP will only serve to drive kids into no AP classes in order to pad their GPAs. Then the real gaming of the system and resentment will start for those taking the harder AP workload who rank behind those purposely taking the easier classes.

The real question here is, is there really a systemic problem at the school? How many kids are unhappy and stressed out of the total group (I would bet a lot less than it would appear on this board)? In fact, I want to a very marginal high school, and there were also unhappy kids, stressed, doing drugs, depressed, etc. Lets not throw the baby out with the bath water before a system wide problem is even clearly established and defined.

Please give us a picture of what the life of your 5 AP student looks like. Basic daily/weekly routine, including sleep and meals.
Thank you.

In addition, you THINK your kid is handling this well. They are telling ME otherwise. That's the thing about teens - when they hear someone fighting for their own child, in the office, in the halls. When they hear you talk about it with other parents, word travels. They seek you out - on Facebook, on Twitter, anywhere they can to say how stressed they feel. They WANT to talk about it. They WANT someone to make it stop. They FEEL no one is listening.

If you have all this proof on Facebook, Twitter, etc., have you presented it to the administration since there seem to be a lot of kids seeking you out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The adults need to set limits.

Kids should be limited to 2 AP courses a year. And they should get rid of adding grade bumps for AP/Honors courses. Then the AP classes will be used of what they were intended, learning college level information and kids that are truly interested in AP classes will take them, it will not be the parents trying to game the GPA system.

Aren't the adults supposed to set the limits for our children????

Why do we continue to allow the school system to let kids be pushed to take these overloaded schedules due to peer pressure.

Excellent advice for LHS and FC school board.

So the speculation is that the great majority of students at Langley are feeling so much pressure that the curriculum needs to be dumbed down so that the ones who struggle in AP classes can be made to feel better? Are we really back to the "everyone should get a ribbon mentality"? What about the countless number of well balanced, organized, achieving students who can easily handle 3-5 AP Classes? We should tell them that we are afraid you may feel too much pressure and therefore we are capping your upside achievement because one or two out of 20 may feel overwhelmed if they over extend themselves? How will this prepare the good students for college where the workload will be even more demanding? Furthermore, changing the weighting of the grade bumps for AP will only serve to drive kids into no AP classes in order to pad their GPAs. Then the real gaming of the system and resentment will start for those taking the harder AP workload who rank behind those purposely taking the easier classes.

The real question here is, is there really a systemic problem at the school? How many kids are unhappy and stressed out of the total group (I would bet a lot less than it would appear on this board)? In fact, I want to a very marginal high school, and there were also unhappy kids, stressed, doing drugs, depressed, etc. Lets not throw the baby out with the bath water before a system wide problem is even clearly established and defined.

Please give us a picture of what the life of your 5 AP student looks like. Basic daily/weekly routine, including sleep and meals.
Thank you.

In addition, you THINK your kid is handling this well. They are telling ME otherwise. That's the thing about teens - when they hear someone fighting for their own child, in the office, in the halls. When they hear you talk about it with other parents, word travels. They seek you out - on Facebook, on Twitter, anywhere they can to say how stressed they feel. They WANT to talk about it. They WANT someone to make it stop. They FEEL no one is listening.

Bravo. Well said, 9:35.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I note that people are quick to say it was depression but keep denying that the atmosphere of the school contributed. I have heard quite a number of parents complain about the way this school is run. Not a healthy atmosphere the administration needs to do more than stage a pep rally prayer vigil and think harder about how teens are being affected by the policies and unfairness of the school. Two suicides in one week sends a pretty strong message

I'm wondering why everyone is blaming Langley (or any one reason or one school) for these deaths, when other schools in the area have also had students who committed suicide. Woodson had 4 (2013 and 2011), Woodbridge had 1 (2013), and South Lakes (2009). Not to mention the many teens nationwide who have died this way. Why should Langley be the scapegoat? Because a few vocal DCUM-ers want to air their past problems here and make it sound like everyone at the school must be unhappy? Take a look around whatever school your own child goes to before throwing stones at Langley.

There are some serious issues within FCPS, within public schools in general. Events like this provide a forum in which to discuss ways we can address these issues. Teenage years are tumultuous regardless; recognizing that, and working with it, not contributing to it, is key.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I note that people are quick to say it was depression but keep denying that the atmosphere of the school contributed. I have heard quite a number of parents complain about the way this school is run. Not a healthy atmosphere the administration needs to do more than stage a pep rally prayer vigil and think harder about how teens are being affected by the policies and unfairness of the school. Two suicides in one week sends a pretty strong message

I'm wondering why everyone is blaming Langley (or any one reason or one school) for these deaths, when other schools in the area have also had students who committed suicide. Woodson had 4 (2013 and 2011), Woodbridge had 1 (2013), and South Lakes (2009). Not to mention the many teens nationwide who have died this way. Why should Langley be the scapegoat? Because a few vocal DCUM-ers want to air their past problems here and make it sound like everyone at the school must be unhappy? Take a look around whatever school your own child goes to before throwing stones at Langley.

Not everyone is blaming Langley, but a vocal minority (some ex-Langley, and others who simply like to take shots at Langley because it's Langley) are doing so.

What I find offensive is that some of them are more than happy to make assumptions about the boys, their families, and their school experience in order to advance their own agenda. If they want to have a debate over whether FCPS should start later, cap the number of AP courses students can take and do more to mix up the demographics at Langley, fine. Do it in another thread, but don't claim, for example, that these boys had "no one to turn to" just because you want to bash a school that most kids are very proud to attend.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I note that people are quick to say it was depression but keep denying that the atmosphere of the school contributed. I have heard quite a number of parents complain about the way this school is run. Not a healthy atmosphere the administration needs to do more than stage a pep rally prayer vigil and think harder about how teens are being affected by the policies and unfairness of the school. Two suicides in one week sends a pretty strong message

I'm wondering why everyone is blaming Langley (or any one reason or one school) for these deaths, when other schools in the area have also had students who committed suicide. Woodson had 4 (2013 and 2011), Woodbridge had 1 (2013), and South Lakes (2009). Not to mention the many teens nationwide who have died this way. Why should Langley be the scapegoat? Because a few vocal DCUM-ers want to air their past problems here and make it sound like everyone at the school must be unhappy? Take a look around whatever school your own child goes to before throwing stones at Langley.

Start dealing with the problems, or STFU.

Classy. You clearly have nothing to offer here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The adults need to set limits.

Kids should be limited to 2 AP courses a year. And they should get rid of adding grade bumps for AP/Honors courses. Then the AP classes will be used of what they were intended, learning college level information and kids that are truly interested in AP classes will take them, it will not be the parents trying to game the GPA system.

Aren't the adults supposed to set the limits for our children????

Why do we continue to allow the school system to let kids be pushed to take these overloaded schedules due to peer pressure.

Excellent advice for LHS and FC school board.

So the speculation is that the great majority of students at Langley are feeling so much pressure that the curriculum needs to be dumbed down so that the ones who struggle in AP classes can be made to feel better? Are we really back to the "everyone should get a ribbon mentality"? What about the countless number of well balanced, organized, achieving students who can easily handle 3-5 AP Classes? We should tell them that we are afraid you may feel too much pressure and therefore we are capping your upside achievement because one or two out of 20 may feel overwhelmed if they over extend themselves? How will this prepare the good students for college where the workload will be even more demanding? Furthermore, changing the weighting of the grade bumps for AP will only serve to drive kids into no AP classes in order to pad their GPAs. Then the real gaming of the system and resentment will start for those taking the harder AP workload who rank behind those purposely taking the easier classes.

The real question here is, is there really a systemic problem at the school? How many kids are unhappy and stressed out of the total group (I would bet a lot less than it would appear on this board)? In fact, I want to a very marginal high school, and there were also unhappy kids, stressed, doing drugs, depressed, etc. Lets not throw the baby out with the bath water before a system wide problem is even clearly established and defined.

Please give us a picture of what the life of your 5 AP student looks like. Basic daily/weekly routine, including sleep and meals.
Thank you.

In addition, you THINK your kid is handling this well. They are telling ME otherwise. That's the thing about teens - when they hear someone fighting for their own child, in the office, in the halls. When they hear you talk about it with other parents, word travels. They seek you out - on Facebook, on Twitter, anywhere they can to say how stressed they feel. They WANT to talk about it. They WANT someone to make it stop. They FEEL no one is listening.

Not all teens are the same. Some seek out the extra challenge of multiple AP classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I find offensive is that some of them are more than happy to make assumptions about the boys, their families, and their school experience in order to advance their own agenda. If they want to have a debate over whether FCPS should start later, cap the number of AP courses students can take and do more to mix up the demographics at Langley, fine. Do it in another thread, but don't claim, for example, that these boys had "no one to turn to" just because you want to bash a school that most kids are very proud to attend.

I hoped to find some modicum of comfort here and some mild speculation and debate is expected. But the self-serving posters have strong-armed their way to the majority on this thread. Bully for you. For the rest of us in the Langley community, our kids will grieve together tonight on the court and field. I'm sure I'll see many many of you and hundreds others in the back or balcony at MBC tomorrow. Just so sad. Rest in peace T. We loved you.

+ Happy 18th Birthday T. Rest easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The adults need to set limits.

Kids should be limited to 2 AP courses a year. And they should get rid of adding grade bumps for AP/Honors courses. Then the AP classes will be used of what they were intended, learning college level information and kids that are truly interested in AP classes will take them, it will not be the parents trying to game the GPA system.

Aren't the adults supposed to set the limits for our children????

Why do we continue to allow the school system to let kids be pushed to take these overloaded schedules due to peer pressure.

Excellent advice for LHS and FC school board.

So the speculation is that the great majority of students at Langley are feeling so much pressure that the curriculum needs to be dumbed down so that the ones who struggle in AP classes can be made to feel better? Are we really back to the "everyone should get a ribbon mentality"? What about the countless number of well balanced, organized, achieving students who can easily handle 3-5 AP Classes? We should tell them that we are afraid you may feel too much pressure and therefore we are capping your upside achievement because one or two out of 20 may feel overwhelmed if they over extend themselves? How will this prepare the good students for college where the workload will be even more demanding? Furthermore, changing the weighting of the grade bumps for AP will only serve to drive kids into no AP classes in order to pad their GPAs. Then the real gaming of the system and resentment will start for those taking the harder AP workload who rank behind those purposely taking the easier classes.

The real question here is, is there really a systemic problem at the school? How many kids are unhappy and stressed out of the total group (I would bet a lot less than it would appear on this board)? In fact, I want to a very marginal high school, and there were also unhappy kids, stressed, doing drugs, depressed, etc. Lets not throw the baby out with the bath water before a system wide problem is even clearly established and defined.

Please give us a picture of what the life of your 5 AP student looks like. Basic daily/weekly routine, including sleep and meals.
Thank you.

In addition, you THINK your kid is handling this well. They are telling ME otherwise. That's the thing about teens - when they hear someone fighting for their own child, in the office, in the halls. When they hear you talk about it with other parents, word travels. They seek you out - on Facebook, on Twitter, anywhere they can to say how stressed they feel. They WANT to talk about it. They WANT someone to make it stop. They FEEL no one is listening.

Bravo. Well said, 9:35.

Thank you. Just knowing someone hears them and is willing to fight, that's just huge. Because of that, when I tell them this is NOT the real world, and things WILL get better, they l hear it and take comfort. If they know it's going to change, they feel better about pushing through. These kids ARE tough. They don't expect to coast. What they want is to feel some control over their own lives, and not feel like a runaway train.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The adults need to set limits.

Kids should be limited to 2 AP courses a year. And they should get rid of adding grade bumps for AP/Honors courses. Then the AP classes will be used of what they were intended, learning college level information and kids that are truly interested in AP classes will take them, it will not be the parents trying to game the GPA system.

Aren't the adults supposed to set the limits for our children????

Why do we continue to allow the school system to let kids be pushed to take these overloaded schedules due to peer pressure.

Excellent advice for LHS and FC school board.

So the speculation is that the great majority of students at Langley are feeling so much pressure that the curriculum needs to be dumbed down so that the ones who struggle in AP classes can be made to feel better? Are we really back to the "everyone should get a ribbon mentality"? What about the countless number of well balanced, organized, achieving students who can easily handle 3-5 AP Classes? We should tell them that we are afraid you may feel too much pressure and therefore we are capping your upside achievement because one or two out of 20 may feel overwhelmed if they over extend themselves? How will this prepare the good students for college where the workload will be even more demanding? Furthermore, changing the weighting of the grade bumps for AP will only serve to drive kids into no AP classes in order to pad their GPAs. Then the real gaming of the system and resentment will start for those taking the harder AP workload who rank behind those purposely taking the easier classes.

The real question here is, is there really a systemic problem at the school? How many kids are unhappy and stressed out of the total group (I would bet a lot less than it would appear on this board)? In fact, I want to a very marginal high school, and there were also unhappy kids, stressed, doing drugs, depressed, etc. Lets not throw the baby out with the bath water before a system wide problem is even clearly established and defined.

Please give us a picture of what the life of your 5 AP student looks like. Basic daily/weekly routine, including sleep and meals.
Thank you.

Mom, you and your kid signed the AP Contract, right? The high schools force non of this on the kids. Thank you.

School administrators should be saying no to the parents. They are the ones being paid in that job, right? I was at a coffee; the principal said per Fairfax County board rules, each high school teacher is allowed to assign up to 2.5 hours of homework per night, per class. I had just read the documents AND spoken to the school board and pointed out that it was really 2.5 hours per night for ALL classes. He looked at me straight in the eye and said "that's only a suggestion". So that tells you what their mindset is right there. After I challenged him. other parents started talking, so I know I'm not alone.

Finally, some facts. Thank you.