Enough is Enough

[Anonymous]

I'm giving names, people. Pay attention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm giving names, people. Pay attention.

[e-mail]
Kevin Lewis

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As MCPS staff I’m going to go with whistleblower too. I hope more step up. I know there are plenty who would speak if the press contacted them directly and gave them anonymity.

OP here, I don't know if "MCPS Whistleblower" is a thing, I am just really frustrated with the direction this county has gone and I don't know how much parents know.
If it is a real thing, count me in. I would love to tell the press what I know. And so would about half of the teachers I work with.
Teachers are fed up.
The county got rid of suspensions a while back because there were a disproportionate amount of black and Latino students suspended and those students, who were already not performing as well as their white and Asian counterparts, were missing a ton of instructional time. The problem is, teenagers aren't dumb. They recognized pretty quickly that there are no consequences for their actions (not just fighting, but also insubordination, bullying, cursing out teachers, absences). This has lead to a slow trickle of behaviors becoming accepted, and those behaviors will continue to be allowed until something BIG happens.
So we are being trained on how to take down an assailant, meanwhile, students in our classrooms are our biggest threat.

Okay, what's the Teacher's Union's position on this? Also, what is preventing teachers from calling the cops? I know for sure if some kid became violent in my classroom, I would call the cops. It is within your rights to call the cops if you feel like your safety or a student's safety is in danger. I would say that it's your obligation to call. Who cares what the principal or what the school WANTS you to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As MCPS staff I’m going to go with whistleblower too. I hope more step up. I know there are plenty who would speak if the press contacted them directly and gave them anonymity.

OP here, I don't know if "MCPS Whistleblower" is a thing, I am just really frustrated with the direction this county has gone and I don't know how much parents know.
If it is a real thing, count me in. I would love to tell the press what I know. And so would about half of the teachers I work with.
Teachers are fed up.
The county got rid of suspensions a while back because there were a disproportionate amount of black and Latino students suspended and those students, who were already not performing as well as their white and Asian counterparts, were missing a ton of instructional time. The problem is, teenagers aren't dumb. They recognized pretty quickly that there are no consequences for their actions (not just fighting, but also insubordination, bullying, cursing out teachers, absences). This has lead to a slow trickle of behaviors becoming accepted, and those behaviors will continue to be allowed until something BIG happens.
So we are being trained on how to take down an assailant, meanwhile, students in our classrooms are our biggest threat.

Okay, what's the Teacher's Union's position on this? Also, what is preventing teachers from calling the cops? I know for sure if some kid became violent in my classroom, I would call the cops. It is within your rights to call the cops if you feel like your safety or a student's safety is in danger. I would say that it's your obligation to call. Who cares what the principal or what the school WANTS you to do.

Well, I know of some colleagues who were discouraged from pressing charges. So again, this is a fear-based environment. I would call the cops in a heartbeat, but I am (and always will be) a big mouth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As MCPS staff I’m going to go with whistleblower too. I hope more step up. I know there are plenty who would speak if the press contacted them directly and gave them anonymity.

OP here, I don't know if "MCPS Whistleblower" is a thing, I am just really frustrated with the direction this county has gone and I don't know how much parents know.
If it is a real thing, count me in. I would love to tell the press what I know. And so would about half of the teachers I work with.
Teachers are fed up.
The county got rid of suspensions a while back because there were a disproportionate amount of black and Latino students suspended and those students, who were already not performing as well as their white and Asian counterparts, were missing a ton of instructional time. The problem is, teenagers aren't dumb. They recognized pretty quickly that there are no consequences for their actions (not just fighting, but also insubordination, bullying, cursing out teachers, absences). This has lead to a slow trickle of behaviors becoming accepted, and those behaviors will continue to be allowed until something BIG happens.
So we are being trained on how to take down an assailant, meanwhile, students in our classrooms are our biggest threat.

Okay, what's the Teacher's Union's position on this? Also, what is preventing teachers from calling the cops? I know for sure if some kid became violent in my classroom, I would call the cops. It is within your rights to call the cops if you feel like your safety or a student's safety is in danger. I would say that it's your obligation to call. Who cares what the principal or what the school WANTS you to do.

While I do like knowing more information, I have to correct you.

The county did NOT get rid of suspensions. Perhaps they are applying them more cautiously, but suspensions are still a daily event within MCPS. It's up to the specific school to determine the severity of the suspension (in-house, 1 day, 3 days, 5 days, 10 days).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As MCPS staff I’m going to go with whistleblower too. I hope more step up. I know there are plenty who would speak if the press contacted them directly and gave them anonymity.

OP here, I don't know if "MCPS Whistleblower" is a thing, I am just really frustrated with the direction this county has gone and I don't know how much parents know.
If it is a real thing, count me in. I would love to tell the press what I know. And so would about half of the teachers I work with.
Teachers are fed up.
The county got rid of suspensions a while back because there were a disproportionate amount of black and Latino students suspended and those students, who were already not performing as well as their white and Asian counterparts, were missing a ton of instructional time. The problem is, teenagers aren't dumb. They recognized pretty quickly that there are no consequences for their actions (not just fighting, but also insubordination, bullying, cursing out teachers, absences). This has lead to a slow trickle of behaviors becoming accepted, and those behaviors will continue to be allowed until something BIG happens.
So we are being trained on how to take down an assailant, meanwhile, students in our classrooms are our biggest threat.

Okay, what's the Teacher's Union's position on this? Also, what is preventing teachers from calling the cops? I know for sure if some kid became violent in my classroom, I would call the cops. It is within your rights to call the cops if you feel like your safety or a student's safety is in danger. I would say that it's your obligation to call. Who cares what the principal or what the school WANTS you to do.

Well, I know of some colleagues who were discouraged from pressing charges. So again, this is a fear-based environment. I would call the cops in a heartbeat, but I am (and always will be) a big mouth.

Of course, teachers are discouraged from pressing charges but honestly, by not calling the cops and keeping quiet about it, teachers are just continuing to help hide this issue by complying with the status quo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS currently has teachers going through mandatory safety and security training, however, these incidents have happened very recently:

At Clarksburg, a security guard entered the boy's locker room to break-up a fight over a cell phone, then was jumped by three students. He was beat up pretty badly and dragged out of the locker room by the students.
At Sherwood, a substitute teacher was beat up last Monday.
Yesterday at Northwest, a student had an unloaded gun.
Last week, also at Sherwood, a student left bullets in a classroom. The school went on lockdown and was searched.

Funny, I am going to bet most of you haven't heard about a single one of these incidents.

I am sick and tired of MCPS not taking a stand when it comes to student security. No longer can they suspend students. It used to be 10 days for a fight, but students were missing too much "instructional time" so suspensions are frowned up. The county is terrified to say "no".

It is getting worse. It is going to take something major for there to be any changes made, and at this point, I don't know if THAT would even change anything.

The public deserves to know. Parents deserve to know about every single violent incident that happens within a public school building.

OP, if this stuff is true, get off the anonymous internet message board and start talking to the media. Or tell your local or state elected officials. Or both. Right now, all you're doing is rumormongering. That won't accomplish what you want to accomplish (unless what you want to accomplish is rumormongering).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As MCPS staff I’m going to go with whistleblower too. I hope more step up. I know there are plenty who would speak if the press contacted them directly and gave them anonymity.

OP here, I don't know if "MCPS Whistleblower" is a thing, I am just really frustrated with the direction this county has gone and I don't know how much parents know.
If it is a real thing, count me in. I would love to tell the press what I know. And so would about half of the teachers I work with.
Teachers are fed up.
The county got rid of suspensions a while back because there were a disproportionate amount of black and Latino students suspended and those students, who were already not performing as well as their white and Asian counterparts, were missing a ton of instructional time. The problem is, teenagers aren't dumb. They recognized pretty quickly that there are no consequences for their actions (not just fighting, but also insubordination, bullying, cursing out teachers, absences). This has lead to a slow trickle of behaviors becoming accepted, and those behaviors will continue to be allowed until something BIG happens.
So we are being trained on how to take down an assailant, meanwhile, students in our classrooms are our biggest threat.

Okay, what's the Teacher's Union's position on this? Also, what is preventing teachers from calling the cops? I know for sure if some kid became violent in my classroom, I would call the cops. It is within your rights to call the cops if you feel like your safety or a student's safety is in danger. I would say that it's your obligation to call. Who cares what the principal or what the school WANTS you to do.

While I do like knowing more information, I have to correct you.

The county did NOT get rid of suspensions. Perhaps they are applying them more cautiously, but suspensions are still a daily event within MCPS. It's up to the specific school to determine the severity of the suspension (in-house, 1 day, 3 days, 5 days, 10 days).

Sorry, yes, you are correct. I should have been more clear. When I started teaching, fights usually got you 5-10 days, cussing out a teacher 1-3, possession of drugs 10 with recommendation for expulsion. Now, you rarely see a 10 day suspension. Rarely. Last year, I have had students suspended for drugs (1 day), jeweling in class (in-school half day), cussing me out (in-school half day). This year, I have had two students suspended. Both for one day each. Another student was drunk at a football game, but wasn't suspended from school, just athletic contests, which got rescinded after two days. So again, there are some consequences, but nothing major.

I understand missing instructional time for a 10 day suspension is not ideal, but something tells me, if you bring a gun or drugs to school, education isn't really your first priority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS currently has teachers going through mandatory safety and security training, however, these incidents have happened very recently:

At Clarksburg, a security guard entered the boy's locker room to break-up a fight over a cell phone, then was jumped by three students. He was beat up pretty badly and dragged out of the locker room by the students.
At Sherwood, a substitute teacher was beat up last Monday.
Yesterday at Northwest, a student had an unloaded gun.
Last week, also at Sherwood, a student left bullets in a classroom. The school went on lockdown and was searched.

Funny, I am going to bet most of you haven't heard about a single one of these incidents.

I am sick and tired of MCPS not taking a stand when it comes to student security. No longer can they suspend students. It used to be 10 days for a fight, but students were missing too much "instructional time" so suspensions are frowned up. The county is terrified to say "no".

It is getting worse. It is going to take something major for there to be any changes made, and at this point, I don't know if THAT would even change anything.

The public deserves to know. Parents deserve to know about every single violent incident that happens within a public school building.

OP, if this stuff is true, get off the anonymous internet message board and start talking to the media. Or tell your local or state elected officials. Or both. Right now, all you're doing is rumormongering. That won't accomplish what you want to accomplish (unless what you want to accomplish is rumormongering).

That is why I came here. I need to know where to go. I got some good leads. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Were the students who jumped the security guard arrested??

Not sure. I think the security guard would need to press charges. But this brings up a good point - why are crimes IN the schools, treated the same as crimes committed OUTSIDE of the school? If there is a fight at a movie theater, or a library, the cops are called, people are arrested, but not in MCPS. The school "handles" it.

A former colleague of mine taught in PA. That is how they handled violence in schools there. I wonder why MCPS won't do the same (or maybe it is a state law?)

At my school (a W school) a month ago, a freshman was trying to get into the building through the locked doors. She was knocking and knocking but another student (20 years old) just sat on the floor and didn't let her in. Finally security came, let her in, and she said in passing "thanks a lot for letting me in" to the student on the floor. He got up, pinned her against the wall by her throat, then started punching her in the face and body, then once she fell to the floor, continued to kick her. She suffered serious injury. Her mom is pressing charges now, but when that happened, he was suspended for ONE DAY. He is an Edison student, so technically not even supposed to be here each day, but his girlfriend still goes here, so the school lets him hang around. Now, he is told he can't be inside the building, but he is out front, right in front of the doors each day during lunch, making out with his girlfriend.

We can also wonder why a locked door was being used as an entrance. Each door at our HS reminds people on the outside to use the main entrance and people on the inside not to open the doors to others. Not saying those rules are always followed but the inside kid actually followed that guidance..before becoming violent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS currently has teachers going through mandatory safety and security training, however, these incidents have happened very recently:

At Clarksburg, a security guard entered the boy's locker room to break-up a fight over a cell phone, then was jumped by three students. He was beat up pretty badly and dragged out of the locker room by the students.
At Sherwood, a substitute teacher was beat up last Monday.
Yesterday at Northwest, a student had an unloaded gun.
Last week, also at Sherwood, a student left bullets in a classroom. The school went on lockdown and was searched.

Funny, I am going to bet most of you haven't heard about a single one of these incidents.

I am sick and tired of MCPS not taking a stand when it comes to student security. No longer can they suspend students. It used to be 10 days for a fight, but students were missing too much "instructional time" so suspensions are frowned up. The county is terrified to say "no".

It is getting worse. It is going to take something major for there to be any changes made, and at this point, I don't know if THAT would even change anything.

The public deserves to know. Parents deserve to know about every single violent incident that happens within a public school building.

OP, if this stuff is true, get off the anonymous internet message board and start talking to the media. Or tell your local or state elected officials. Or both. Right now, all you're doing is rumormongering. That won't accomplish what you want to accomplish (unless what you want to accomplish is rumormongering).

That is why I came here. I need to know where to go. I got some good leads. Thank you.

1) Go to your local PTA board. This affects their kids. They can then say something at the MCCPTA monthly meeting/forum that is attended by all PTA delegates across all schools to spread the word about this issue. Trust me, parents want their kids safe and once parents start making a big deal about this, the Board of Ed will have a PR issue to deal with.
2) If #1 doesn't work, go directly to the media.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Were the students who jumped the security guard arrested??

Not sure. I think the security guard would need to press charges. But this brings up a good point - why are crimes IN the schools, treated the same as crimes committed OUTSIDE of the school? If there is a fight at a movie theater, or a library, the cops are called, people are arrested, but not in MCPS. The school "handles" it.

A former colleague of mine taught in PA. That is how they handled violence in schools there. I wonder why MCPS won't do the same (or maybe it is a state law?)

At my school (a W school) a month ago, a freshman was trying to get into the building through the locked doors. She was knocking and knocking but another student (20 years old) just sat on the floor and didn't let her in. Finally security came, let her in, and she said in passing "thanks a lot for letting me in" to the student on the floor. He got up, pinned her against the wall by her throat, then started punching her in the face and body, then once she fell to the floor, continued to kick her. She suffered serious injury. Her mom is pressing charges now, but when that happened, he was suspended for ONE DAY. He is an Edison student, so technically not even supposed to be here each day, but his girlfriend still goes here, so the school lets him hang around. Now, he is told he can't be inside the building, but he is out front, right in front of the doors each day during lunch, making out with his girlfriend.

where was the security guard who had just let her in?

[Anonymous]

Bullet, one bullet.

[Anonymous]

How people who have kids in MCPS HS do not find this out?! Kids are networking to with all other schools. My DD knows everything before news break out, before we get a call from school, and not about her school, about Whitman party and death, that same morning before news broke out, about Churchill suicides, about Clarksburg, about Damascus, and not just the one rape that is reported. She knows, and she is no exception, her friends know even more than she does. Situation is definitely getting out of hand overall. I am from Eastern Europe and I am saying this is a product of parental permissiveness. Security guard in Europe would have stopped the kid beating a fellow student and beaten the sh*t out of him asap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm giving names, people. Pay attention.

[e-mail]
Kevin Lewis

Ha ha. Sinclair Broadcast group? Special interest right wing group? In the pockets of Trump and like Fox News? No thank you. We need real journalists...like from WaPo.