APS Taylor Playground Incident

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It does seem silly as hearsay but at the same time, some of the students in the news in recent years were having issues as early as kindergarten. Let’s get these kids help sooner!

How does that email "help" the kids?
-Not a Taylor parent

The email doesn't, but taking violent behavior seriously does. Perhaps if that had happened at Ashlawn instead of a "light touch", the kid wouldn't be bringing tasers to school and making threats in MS. Perhaps.

Or things could have been worse. I don't know. Do we think discipline is the way to get the violence and bad behavior at of kids? Maybe for some. For others it does nothing. Just like jail may cure a handful of violent offenders but the rest will keep being violent their entire lives. But I don't think most folks are really interesting in helping the violent kid but rather just making sure their kid is protected. I don't think its wrong to focus on the latter, just its heartbreaking to me to know these kids aren't getting real help.

yes. I want my kid protected in a safe disruption free learning environment. Educating the violent disruptive kids is for the district to figure out.

[Anonymous]

Please explain to me what the purpose of the email is. How does it help anyone? It’s totally useless in that it mentions generally wanting everyone to feel safe. Duh. I mean, I just can’t get over the fact that it’s a five year old. The email does nothing — other than stoke curiosity about the poor kid. It’s a total waste of everyone’s time. The kid is five and we have absolutely zero information other than that fact to help guide us as a community to feel safe. There has to be a better use of our admins time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m so tired of the gossiping parents trying to get more information about a six year old’s struggles. Truly not being rude just to be rude on the Internet. I have been part of text chains and heard about this at the bus stop, and I just feel like it’s none of my business (or anyone else’s that is not in that class). Just bc the principal has a policy of sending out emails doesn’t mean we need all the details.

This. I was very active at my daughter's elementary school and had to step away from an entire group of parents because of this exact issue. Grown adults texting and gossiping about "bad" kids. It was gross. I wonder if the Principal feels like over communicating helps stop the gossip? I didn't find that to be the case at our school, but I can understand thinking that. Or is it an attempt by the administration to shame everyone to step up the parenting? At our school, it's almost never a truly serious OMG everyone panic incident at all, and usually it's a group of kids, even when one has the spotlight. I also can't help wonder if some of this is the kids are a mess but also the teachers are exhausted and stressed and unable to manage behavior that they could manage a few years ago. But yes, no one needs the details on this. If it's truly something that impacts your kid, you'll know, and if you think you need to know more, pick up the phone and call the school. Don't gossip.

If it isn't something others need the details about, then the school shouldn't be sending emails out in the first place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It does seem silly as hearsay but at the same time, some of the students in the news in recent years were having issues as early as kindergarten. Let’s get these kids help sooner!

How does that email "help" the kids?
-Not a Taylor parent

The email doesn't, but taking violent behavior seriously does. Perhaps if that had happened at Ashlawn instead of a "light touch", the kid wouldn't be bringing tasers to school and making threats in MS. Perhaps.

Or things could have been worse. I don't know. Do we think discipline is the way to get the violence and bad behavior at of kids? Maybe for some. For others it does nothing. Just like jail may cure a handful of violent offenders but the rest will keep being violent their entire lives. But I don't think most folks are really interesting in helping the violent kid but rather just making sure their kid is protected. I don't think its wrong to focus on the latter, just its heartbreaking to me to know these kids aren't getting real help.

Discipline is not the only intervention- we have many wonderful social workers, counselors and psychologists in APS.

Sure at the schools that have them. Our entire counseling team quite last year! But yes, this is wonderful and I respect them so much. But they are too many kids that need help and not enough resources. Kids aren't able to adequate mental health care in schools and its not really the school's job to treat the kids. Schools won't even perform full neuropsych evals despite having psychologist on staff who could actually do these things. Again, not saying they are bad at their jobs or don't' help but schools do not currently have the resources to adequately help kids who have significant behavioral or violence problems. And to be honest it should not be all on the school anyway! The county should help. The state should help. The family should be willing. There are so many things that need to fall into place to get the kids the help they need. I just get a bit tired of folks acting like everything is on the school to solve all of these issues when it is just not possible.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was deeply saddened that this had to come from the principle. I have no idea what the incident was. But my reaction to the email was that unless a kid brought some sort of real weapon, kindergartners should not be receiving this kind of attention and, moreover, the message we entirely useless; a bunch of political nothingspeak. I took from the message that a parent raised hell about some bad — possibly physical — behavior by a 5 year old, which while a matter for discipline should not involve the entire community needing to “feel safe” from a rabid five year old. The fact that the leader of our school is addressing the entire community over this shocked and disappointed me. Shouldn’t we be spending time on much different things? Like kids who cannot read (and yes they exist at Taylor) or can’t do math or aren’t showing up at school or challenging our gifted kids? What a freaking waste of time and energy and a sad commentary on the politics of being a N Arlington principle with a bunch of snowflake parents.

After what happened in 5th grade last year, the principal has either decided (or been instructed) to be extremely transparent about discipline issues.

What happened in 5th grade?

I'm guessing pp is referring to the Oakridge trip to the outdoor classroom
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1129834.page

No. A 5th grader terrorized his class and teacher last year at Taylor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It does seem silly as hearsay but at the same time, some of the students in the news in recent years were having issues as early as kindergarten. Let’s get these kids help sooner!

How does that email "help" the kids?
-Not a Taylor parent

The email doesn't, but taking violent behavior seriously does. Perhaps if that had happened at Ashlawn instead of a "light touch", the kid wouldn't be bringing tasers to school and making threats in MS. Perhaps.

Or things could have been worse. I don't know. Do we think discipline is the way to get the violence and bad behavior at of kids? Maybe for some. For others it does nothing. Just like jail may cure a handful of violent offenders but the rest will keep being violent their entire lives. But I don't think most folks are really interesting in helping the violent kid but rather just making sure their kid is protected. I don't think its wrong to focus on the latter, just its heartbreaking to me to know these kids aren't getting real help.

Discipline is not the only intervention- we have many wonderful social workers, counselors and psychologists in APS.

Sure at the schools that have them. Our entire counseling team quite last year! But yes, this is wonderful and I respect them so much. But they are too many kids that need help and not enough resources. Kids aren't able to adequate mental health care in schools and its not really the school's job to treat the kids. Schools won't even perform full neuropsych evals despite having psychologist on staff who could actually do these things. Again, not saying they are bad at their jobs or don't' help but schools do not currently have the resources to adequately help kids who have significant behavioral or violence problems. And to be honest it should not be all on the school anyway! The county should help. The state should help. The family should be willing. There are so many things that need to fall into place to get the kids the help they need. I just get a bit tired of folks acting like everything is on the school to solve all of these issues when it is just not possible.

Nowhere did I indicate that. These issues require a layered approach. Discipline, school mental health support, parents, outside support are all needed. Where one breaks down they all do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It does seem silly as hearsay but at the same time, some of the students in the news in recent years were having issues as early as kindergarten. Let’s get these kids help sooner!

How does that email "help" the kids?
-Not a Taylor parent

The email doesn't, but taking violent behavior seriously does. Perhaps if that had happened at Ashlawn instead of a "light touch", the kid wouldn't be bringing tasers to school and making threats in MS. Perhaps.

Or things could have been worse. I don't know. Do we think discipline is the way to get the violence and bad behavior at of kids? Maybe for some. For others it does nothing. Just like jail may cure a handful of violent offenders but the rest will keep being violent their entire lives. But I don't think most folks are really interesting in helping the violent kid but rather just making sure their kid is protected. I don't think its wrong to focus on the latter, just its heartbreaking to me to know these kids aren't getting real help.

Discipline is not the only intervention- we have many wonderful social workers, counselors and psychologists in APS.

Sure at the schools that have them. Our entire counseling team quite last year! But yes, this is wonderful and I respect them so much. But they are too many kids that need help and not enough resources. Kids aren't able to adequate mental health care in schools and its not really the school's job to treat the kids. Schools won't even perform full neuropsych evals despite having psychologist on staff who could actually do these things. Again, not saying they are bad at their jobs or don't' help but schools do not currently have the resources to adequately help kids who have significant behavioral or violence problems. And to be honest it should not be all on the school anyway! The county should help. The state should help. The family should be willing. There are so many things that need to fall into place to get the kids the help they need. I just get a bit tired of folks acting like everything is on the school to solve all of these issues when it is just not possible.

Which school has no counseling team? That's awful!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was deeply saddened that this had to come from the principle. I have no idea what the incident was. But my reaction to the email was that unless a kid brought some sort of real weapon, kindergartners should not be receiving this kind of attention and, moreover, the message we entirely useless; a bunch of political nothingspeak. I took from the message that a parent raised hell about some bad — possibly physical — behavior by a 5 year old, which while a matter for discipline should not involve the entire community needing to “feel safe” from a rabid five year old. The fact that the leader of our school is addressing the entire community over this shocked and disappointed me. Shouldn’t we be spending time on much different things? Like kids who cannot read (and yes they exist at Taylor) or can’t do math or aren’t showing up at school or challenging our gifted kids? What a freaking waste of time and energy and a sad commentary on the politics of being a N Arlington principle with a bunch of snowflake parents.

After what happened in 5th grade last year, the principal has either decided (or been instructed) to be extremely transparent about discipline issues.

What happened in 5th grade?

I'm guessing pp is referring to the Oakridge trip to the outdoor classroom
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1129834.page

No. A 5th grader terrorized his class and teacher last year at Taylor.

what happened? what did the school do? (please don't give identifying details, just asking in general)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was deeply saddened that this had to come from the principle. I have no idea what the incident was. But my reaction to the email was that unless a kid brought some sort of real weapon, kindergartners should not be receiving this kind of attention and, moreover, the message we entirely useless; a bunch of political nothingspeak. I took from the message that a parent raised hell about some bad — possibly physical — behavior by a 5 year old, which while a matter for discipline should not involve the entire community needing to “feel safe” from a rabid five year old. The fact that the leader of our school is addressing the entire community over this shocked and disappointed me. Shouldn’t we be spending time on much different things? Like kids who cannot read (and yes they exist at Taylor) or can’t do math or aren’t showing up at school or challenging our gifted kids? What a freaking waste of time and energy and a sad commentary on the politics of being a N Arlington principle with a bunch of snowflake parents.

After what happened in 5th grade last year, the principal has either decided (or been instructed) to be extremely transparent about discipline issues.

What happened in 5th grade?

I'm guessing pp is referring to the Oakridge trip to the outdoor classroom
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1129834.page

No. A 5th grader terrorized his class and teacher last year at Taylor.

what happened? what did the school do? (please don't give identifying details, just asking in general)

There were multiple violent incidents that parent learned about from their kids, not the school. After a parent petition was sent to the superintendent, we started getting emails about much less significant safety issues from the administration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was deeply saddened that this had to come from the principle. I have no idea what the incident was. But my reaction to the email was that unless a kid brought some sort of real weapon, kindergartners should not be receiving this kind of attention and, moreover, the message we entirely useless; a bunch of political nothingspeak. I took from the message that a parent raised hell about some bad — possibly physical — behavior by a 5 year old, which while a matter for discipline should not involve the entire community needing to “feel safe” from a rabid five year old. The fact that the leader of our school is addressing the entire community over this shocked and disappointed me. Shouldn’t we be spending time on much different things? Like kids who cannot read (and yes they exist at Taylor) or can’t do math or aren’t showing up at school or challenging our gifted kids? What a freaking waste of time and energy and a sad commentary on the politics of being a N Arlington principle with a bunch of snowflake parents.

After what happened in 5th grade last year, the principal has either decided (or been instructed) to be extremely transparent about discipline issues.

What happened in 5th grade?

I'm guessing pp is referring to the Oakridge trip to the outdoor classroom
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1129834.page

No. A 5th grader terrorized his class and teacher last year at Taylor.

what happened? what did the school do? (please don't give identifying details, just asking in general)

There were multiple violent incidents that parent learned about from their kids, not the school. After a parent petition was sent to the superintendent, we started getting emails about much less significant safety issues from the administration.

Oh my, when was that?

[Anonymous]

Whelp, there you go. Parents “asked” for communication - if you go to the superintendent, my guess is the principal is now instructed to email you every time a toilet is clogged.

[Anonymous]

My point is that these “communications” are so laughable useless. Who got that email and did anything other than ask their friends what happened at the playground and who was the five year old involved? I don’t fault the principal’s language, as I assume she couldn’t say anything else, but the communications themselves do not actually provide any information whatsoever which is proof in and of itself that they are pointless and a waste of everyone’s time. God save APS, it’s devolved into a bunch of lip service to a bunch of insane parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What in the hell was in the water 5 years ago? Kindergartners everywhere are insane this year. At every school, county, and state.

Last years were, overall, quite dreamy. This year? MADNESS.

They didn’t have daycare because of Covid.

For the Kindergarten class 2 years ago? Sure. But covid has been over for 2 years now. Parents blaming current behavior issues or lack of socialization on covid are trying to deflect their parenting failures, and lack of reinforcement at home.

+1
anytime someone blames covid for shortcomings I inwardly roll my eyes - tells me everything I need to know about that person

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What in the hell was in the water 5 years ago? Kindergartners everywhere are insane this year. At every school, county, and state.

Last years were, overall, quite dreamy. This year? MADNESS.

They didn’t have daycare because of Covid.

For the Kindergarten class 2 years ago? Sure. But covid has been over for 2 years now. Parents blaming current behavior issues or lack of socialization on covid are trying to deflect their parenting failures, and lack of reinforcement at home.

+1
anytime someone blames covid for shortcomings I inwardly roll my eyes - tells me everything I need to know about that person

omg exactly, I get a mental image of those OPEN SCHOOLS NOOOOOWWWW signs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What in the hell was in the water 5 years ago? Kindergartners everywhere are insane this year. At every school, county, and state.

Last years were, overall, quite dreamy. This year? MADNESS.

They didn’t have daycare because of Covid.

For the Kindergarten class 2 years ago? Sure. But covid has been over for 2 years now. Parents blaming current behavior issues or lack of socialization on covid are trying to deflect their parenting failures, and lack of reinforcement at home.

+1
anytime someone blames covid for shortcomings I inwardly roll my eyes - tells me everything I need to know about that person

I’m sure you do. Our school psychologist told me last year there are still a lot of issues related to covid and to ask my child’s teacher if my child’s behavior (mad the support the teacher was giving) was within the norm post COVID or the norm pre-covid, or above and beyond what other kids needed even lost COVID. My child’s teacher had no idea what covid would have to do with anything. So I’d say even people who should be in the best position to opine disagree here. Also, I’m fairly certain my child’s teacher thought I was insane after that conversation. Fun times.