Hoping these kids are OK

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These kids lived in apartments, not McManisons, how did all of these families fail to realize that their teenagers were out at 5:00 am on a school night? Obviously no one deserves tragedy, not the kids or their parents, but this was clearly attributable to a lack of parenting.

Why do people continue to trash these kids and their families? It’s disgusting.

Because they committed crimes that could have killed innocent people. Their actions didn't just affect them. Think of the poor man who found the bodies. Do you think he just went back inside and went on with his day as normal?

+10000

Yep. It was shear luck they didn’t kill someone else. It was entirely avoidable and preventable and what’s “disgusting” (to quote pp) is to act like this is a normal and understandable teenage transgression, it’s not. Sneaking your friend’s dad’s beer in the basement and then sleeping it off is normal. Getting into a car knowingly impaired is attempted murder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These kids lived in apartments, not McManisons, how did all of these families fail to realize that their teenagers were out at 5:00 am on a school night? Obviously no one deserves tragedy, not the kids or their parents, but this was clearly attributable to a lack of parenting.

Why do people continue to trash these kids and their families? It’s disgusting.

Because they committed crimes that could have killed innocent people. Their actions didn't just affect them. Think of the poor man who found the bodies. Do you think he just went back inside and went on with his day as normal?

+10000

Yep. It was shear luck they didn’t kill someone else. It was entirely avoidable and preventable and what’s “disgusting” (to quote pp) is to act like this is a normal and understandable teenage transgression, it’s not. Sneaking your friend’s dad’s beer in the basement and then sleeping it off is normal. Getting into a car knowingly impaired is attempted murder.

I grew up in an affluent suburb of New York. I used to sneak out of the house as a kid because my parents would never let me go out late at night. It isn’t like parents allow kids to go. Kids just go out and don’t come home. My parents were super strict.

I have been in some very questionable cars in my teens. I am grateful nothing bad ever happened to me and I made it home safe ever night.

I am not as strict with my kids. I will always pick them up. I have been clear never to get in a dangerous car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These kids lived in apartments, not McManisons, how did all of these families fail to realize that their teenagers were out at 5:00 am on a school night? Obviously no one deserves tragedy, not the kids or their parents, but this was clearly attributable to a lack of parenting.

Why do people continue to trash these kids and their families? It’s disgusting.

Because they committed crimes that could have killed innocent people. Their actions didn't just affect them. Think of the poor man who found the bodies. Do you think he just went back inside and went on with his day as normal?

+10000

Yep. It was shear luck they didn’t kill someone else. It was entirely avoidable and preventable and what’s “disgusting” (to quote pp) is to act like this is a normal and understandable teenage transgression, it’s not. Sneaking your friend’s dad’s beer in the basement and then sleeping it off is normal. Getting into a car knowingly impaired is attempted murder.

Do we know if the driver was unlicensed?

I can’t imagine any kid being so irresponsible. I have less sympathy for the driver. I hope he gets charged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These kids lived in apartments, not McManisons, how did all of these families fail to realize that their teenagers were out at 5:00 am on a school night? Obviously no one deserves tragedy, not the kids or their parents, but this was clearly attributable to a lack of parenting.

Why do people continue to trash these kids and their families? It’s disgusting.

Because they committed crimes that could have killed innocent people. Their actions didn't just affect them. Think of the poor man who found the bodies. Do you think he just went back inside and went on with his day as normal?

+10000

Yep. It was shear luck they didn’t kill someone else. It was entirely avoidable and preventable and what’s “disgusting” (to quote pp) is to act like this is a normal and understandable teenage transgression, it’s not. Sneaking your friend’s dad’s beer in the basement and then sleeping it off is normal. Getting into a car knowingly impaired is attempted murder.

Do we know if the driver was unlicensed?

I can’t imagine any kid being so irresponsible. I have less sympathy for the driver. I hope he gets charged.

Either the driver was 14 and is not legally allowed to drive or if 17 the law disallows unrelated passengers so illegal all around

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Society really needs to push the message that there is hope and a future for all teens, and that taking dangerous risks and just "living as if I could die tomorrow" isn't worth it. While I know that in general all teens are more likely to be risk takers, not have fully developed brains, not enough critical thinking skills to assess whether they should take a risk, there are definitely some cultures in which it considered cool or normal to live like you got nothing to lose.

Some demographics (lower SES, being from an immigrant family, ESL, etc) may make a child much more likely to be unsupervised, unsupported, to think it doesn't matter if they get arrested because they're not going to college (no one they know has gone to college and their parents don't know anything re the college system), and some cultures don't seem too worried about not wearing seatbelts.

I immediately thought when I heard that 6 of those kids weren't wearing seat belts that they were hispanic, based on my interactions with some kids I used to drive for years on one of my kid's soccer team. These were really nice kids, but their parents never drove them, either because they were working or they just didn't think it was necessary for parents to come to games. They lived in Section 8 so I knew at least there was an income barrier. They all had multiple older siblings, one had an 8th grade brother who had dropped out of school, another who had been threatened by a Peruvian gang at a soccer game and beaten up so bad that his jaw was wired shut, another who knew all about the different gangs in school, etc. But what they all had in common was that they never wanted to wear seatbelts. Every single damn time they got in my car, individually or as a group, I would have to remind them and often I caught them taking them off and had to insist they put them back on. It was so strange. They told me their parents didn't make them.

I don't know if this is a cultural thing or SES thing or what.

I think it’s a cultural and SES thing among certain groups. I teach ESOL in FCPS and have heard similar comments from my high school students. I also know many of them drive without licenses because in their countries it doesn’t matter. And yes, they are often out late and unsupervised because either they are working or their parents are working. I don’t want to generalize, but after 23 years of teacher, I’ve certainly seen patterns among different groups of students. That said, I think among more rural areas of the U.S., the same would be true with regard to not using seatbelts or driving without a license.

I really hope this teacher’s account isn’t accurate. I’m the child of immigrants and was taught to respect America’s laws. Reckless behavior endangers others, not just the reckless ones. It’s not okay to teach your kids to disregard our laws.

Well, I’m the teacher and I’m not lying. Of course there are exceptions to every rule and not every immigrant is driving without a license, but it’s something I’ve heard from several of my students. I’m also not sure how old you are, but immigration has changed over time and different groups are coming for different reasons. Many people who immigrate today don’t feel that connected to America in the first place and many of my students and their families are coming out of necessity, not because they really want to live in America.

DP.

I work with this population also (though not as a teacher).

The teacher is correct.

Also, many of you are likely unaware public school in Central America ends at 6th grade.

Google it. Unless you have the money to pay for 7th, 8th, high school, your education ends at 6th grade.

Stop assuming everyone around the world has your same privileged American childhood experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Society really needs to push the message that there is hope and a future for all teens, and that taking dangerous risks and just "living as if I could die tomorrow" isn't worth it. While I know that in general all teens are more likely to be risk takers, not have fully developed brains, not enough critical thinking skills to assess whether they should take a risk, there are definitely some cultures in which it considered cool or normal to live like you got nothing to lose.

Some demographics (lower SES, being from an immigrant family, ESL, etc) may make a child much more likely to be unsupervised, unsupported, to think it doesn't matter if they get arrested because they're not going to college (no one they know has gone to college and their parents don't know anything re the college system), and some cultures don't seem too worried about not wearing seatbelts.

I immediately thought when I heard that 6 of those kids weren't wearing seat belts that they were hispanic, based on my interactions with some kids I used to drive for years on one of my kid's soccer team. These were really nice kids, but their parents never drove them, either because they were working or they just didn't think it was necessary for parents to come to games. They lived in Section 8 so I knew at least there was an income barrier. They all had multiple older siblings, one had an 8th grade brother who had dropped out of school, another who had been threatened by a Peruvian gang at a soccer game and beaten up so bad that his jaw was wired shut, another who knew all about the different gangs in school, etc. But what they all had in common was that they never wanted to wear seatbelts. Every single damn time they got in my car, individually or as a group, I would have to remind them and often I caught them taking them off and had to insist they put them back on. It was so strange. They told me their parents didn't make them.

I don't know if this is a cultural thing or SES thing or what.

I think it’s a cultural and SES thing among certain groups. I teach ESOL in FCPS and have heard similar comments from my high school students. I also know many of them drive without licenses because in their countries it doesn’t matter. And yes, they are often out late and unsupervised because either they are working or their parents are working. I don’t want to generalize, but after 23 years of teacher, I’ve certainly seen patterns among different groups of students. That said, I think among more rural areas of the U.S., the same would be true with regard to not using seatbelts or driving without a license.

I really hope this teacher’s account isn’t accurate. I’m the child of immigrants and was taught to respect America’s laws. Reckless behavior endangers others, not just the reckless ones. It’s not okay to teach your kids to disregard our laws.

Well, I’m the teacher and I’m not lying. Of course there are exceptions to every rule and not every immigrant is driving without a license, but it’s something I’ve heard from several of my students. I’m also not sure how old you are, but immigration has changed over time and different groups are coming for different reasons. Many people who immigrate today don’t feel that connected to America in the first place and many of my students and their families are coming out of necessity, not because they really want to live in America.

DP.

I work with this population also (though not as a teacher).

The teacher is correct.

Also, many of you are likely unaware public school in Central America ends at 6th grade.

Google it. Unless you have the money to pay for 7th, 8th, high school, your education ends at 6th grade.

Stop assuming everyone around the world has your same privileged American childhood experience.

The point is that it’s not okay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These kids lived in apartments, not McManisons, how did all of these families fail to realize that their teenagers were out at 5:00 am on a school night? Obviously no one deserves tragedy, not the kids or their parents, but this was clearly attributable to a lack of parenting.

Why do people continue to trash these kids and their families? It’s disgusting.

Because they committed crimes that could have killed innocent people. Their actions didn't just affect them. Think of the poor man who found the bodies. Do you think he just went back inside and went on with his day as normal?

+10000

Yep. It was shear luck they didn’t kill someone else. It was entirely avoidable and preventable and what’s “disgusting” (to quote pp) is to act like this is a normal and understandable teenage transgression, it’s not. Sneaking your friend’s dad’s beer in the basement and then sleeping it off is normal. Getting into a car knowingly impaired is attempted murder.

It’s disgusting to trash the families based on speculation. Stop being so judgmental FFS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These kids lived in apartments, not McManisons, how did all of these families fail to realize that their teenagers were out at 5:00 am on a school night? Obviously no one deserves tragedy, not the kids or their parents, but this was clearly attributable to a lack of parenting.

Why do people continue to trash these kids and their families? It’s disgusting.

Because they committed crimes that could have killed innocent people. Their actions didn't just affect them. Think of the poor man who found the bodies. Do you think he just went back inside and went on with his day as normal?

+10000

Yep. It was shear luck they didn’t kill someone else. It was entirely avoidable and preventable and what’s “disgusting” (to quote pp) is to act like this is a normal and understandable teenage transgression, it’s not. Sneaking your friend’s dad’s beer in the basement and then sleeping it off is normal. Getting into a car knowingly impaired is attempted murder.

I grew up in an affluent suburb of New York. I used to sneak out of the house as a kid because my parents would never let me go out late at night. It isn’t like parents allow kids to go. Kids just go out and don’t come home. My parents were super strict.

I have been in some very questionable cars in my teens. I am grateful nothing bad ever happened to me and I made it home safe ever night.

I am not as strict with my kids. I will always pick them up. I have been clear never to get in a dangerous car.

You suck as much as those bad kids. Big whoop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Society really needs to push the message that there is hope and a future for all teens, and that taking dangerous risks and just "living as if I could die tomorrow" isn't worth it. While I know that in general all teens are more likely to be risk takers, not have fully developed brains, not enough critical thinking skills to assess whether they should take a risk, there are definitely some cultures in which it considered cool or normal to live like you got nothing to lose.

Some demographics (lower SES, being from an immigrant family, ESL, etc) may make a child much more likely to be unsupervised, unsupported, to think it doesn't matter if they get arrested because they're not going to college (no one they know has gone to college and their parents don't know anything re the college system), and some cultures don't seem too worried about not wearing seatbelts.

I immediately thought when I heard that 6 of those kids weren't wearing seat belts that they were hispanic, based on my interactions with some kids I used to drive for years on one of my kid's soccer team. These were really nice kids, but their parents never drove them, either because they were working or they just didn't think it was necessary for parents to come to games. They lived in Section 8 so I knew at least there was an income barrier. They all had multiple older siblings, one had an 8th grade brother who had dropped out of school, another who had been threatened by a Peruvian gang at a soccer game and beaten up so bad that his jaw was wired shut, another who knew all about the different gangs in school, etc. But what they all had in common was that they never wanted to wear seatbelts. Every single damn time they got in my car, individually or as a group, I would have to remind them and often I caught them taking them off and had to insist they put them back on. It was so strange. They told me their parents didn't make them.

I don't know if this is a cultural thing or SES thing or what.

I think it’s a cultural and SES thing among certain groups. I teach ESOL in FCPS and have heard similar comments from my high school students. I also know many of them drive without licenses because in their countries it doesn’t matter. And yes, they are often out late and unsupervised because either they are working or their parents are working. I don’t want to generalize, but after 23 years of teacher, I’ve certainly seen patterns among different groups of students. That said, I think among more rural areas of the U.S., the same would be true with regard to not using seatbelts or driving without a license.

I really hope this teacher’s account isn’t accurate. I’m the child of immigrants and was taught to respect America’s laws. Reckless behavior endangers others, not just the reckless ones. It’s not okay to teach your kids to disregard our laws.

Well, I’m the teacher and I’m not lying. Of course there are exceptions to every rule and not every immigrant is driving without a license, but it’s something I’ve heard from several of my students. I’m also not sure how old you are, but immigration has changed over time and different groups are coming for different reasons. Many people who immigrate today don’t feel that connected to America in the first place and many of my students and their families are coming out of necessity, not because they really want to live in America.

DP.

I work with this population also (though not as a teacher).

The teacher is correct.

Also, many of you are likely unaware public school in Central America ends at 6th grade.

Google it. Unless you have the money to pay for 7th, 8th, high school, your education ends at 6th grade.

Stop assuming everyone around the world has your same privileged American childhood experience.

The point is that it’s not okay.

Who do you think on DCUM doesn’t know this?

You’re not “educating” anyone here - you’re just trashing these families for some sick purpose. Disgusting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Society really needs to push the message that there is hope and a future for all teens, and that taking dangerous risks and just "living as if I could die tomorrow" isn't worth it. While I know that in general all teens are more likely to be risk takers, not have fully developed brains, not enough critical thinking skills to assess whether they should take a risk, there are definitely some cultures in which it considered cool or normal to live like you got nothing to lose.

Some demographics (lower SES, being from an immigrant family, ESL, etc) may make a child much more likely to be unsupervised, unsupported, to think it doesn't matter if they get arrested because they're not going to college (no one they know has gone to college and their parents don't know anything re the college system), and some cultures don't seem too worried about not wearing seatbelts.

I immediately thought when I heard that 6 of those kids weren't wearing seat belts that they were hispanic, based on my interactions with some kids I used to drive for years on one of my kid's soccer team. These were really nice kids, but their parents never drove them, either because they were working or they just didn't think it was necessary for parents to come to games. They lived in Section 8 so I knew at least there was an income barrier. They all had multiple older siblings, one had an 8th grade brother who had dropped out of school, another who had been threatened by a Peruvian gang at a soccer game and beaten up so bad that his jaw was wired shut, another who knew all about the different gangs in school, etc. But what they all had in common was that they never wanted to wear seatbelts. Every single damn time they got in my car, individually or as a group, I would have to remind them and often I caught them taking them off and had to insist they put them back on. It was so strange. They told me their parents didn't make them.

I don't know if this is a cultural thing or SES thing or what.

I think it’s a cultural and SES thing among certain groups. I teach ESOL in FCPS and have heard similar comments from my high school students. I also know many of them drive without licenses because in their countries it doesn’t matter. And yes, they are often out late and unsupervised because either they are working or their parents are working. I don’t want to generalize, but after 23 years of teacher, I’ve certainly seen patterns among different groups of students. That said, I think among more rural areas of the U.S., the same would be true with regard to not using seatbelts or driving without a license.

I really hope this teacher’s account isn’t accurate. I’m the child of immigrants and was taught to respect America’s laws. Reckless behavior endangers others, not just the reckless ones. It’s not okay to teach your kids to disregard our laws.

Well, I’m the teacher and I’m not lying. Of course there are exceptions to every rule and not every immigrant is driving without a license, but it’s something I’ve heard from several of my students. I’m also not sure how old you are, but immigration has changed over time and different groups are coming for different reasons. Many people who immigrate today don’t feel that connected to America in the first place and many of my students and their families are coming out of necessity, not because they really want to live in America.

DP.

I work with this population also (though not as a teacher).

The teacher is correct.

Also, many of you are likely unaware public school in Central America ends at 6th grade.

Google it. Unless you have the money to pay for 7th, 8th, high school, your education ends at 6th grade.

Stop assuming everyone around the world has your same privileged American childhood experience.

The point is that it’s not okay.

And no one is saying it is ok. It’s just a fact that it is happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These kids lived in apartments, not McManisons, how did all of these families fail to realize that their teenagers were out at 5:00 am on a school night? Obviously no one deserves tragedy, not the kids or their parents, but this was clearly attributable to a lack of parenting.

Why do people continue to trash these kids and their families? It’s disgusting.

Because they committed crimes that could have killed innocent people. Their actions didn't just affect them. Think of the poor man who found the bodies. Do you think he just went back inside and went on with his day as normal?

+10000

Yep. It was shear luck they didn’t kill someone else. It was entirely avoidable and preventable and what’s “disgusting” (to quote pp) is to act like this is a normal and understandable teenage transgression, it’s not. Sneaking your friend’s dad’s beer in the basement and then sleeping it off is normal. Getting into a car knowingly impaired is attempted murder.

I grew up in an affluent suburb of New York. I used to sneak out of the house as a kid because my parents would never let me go out late at night. It isn’t like parents allow kids to go. Kids just go out and don’t come home. My parents were super strict.

I have been in some very questionable cars in my teens. I am grateful nothing bad ever happened to me and I made it home safe ever night.

I am not as strict with my kids. I will always pick them up. I have been clear never to get in a dangerous car.

You suck as much as those bad kids. Big whoop.

I didn’t drive drunk. I barely drink now as an adult. I was the passenger in the back. Like I mentioned, I have been in cars that were unsafe whether it was a guy I didn’t know or didn’t know well, friend’s boyfriend who was drunk, kids smoked pot, etc. Kids did more than just drink alcohol and smoke pot. This was back when teens would do ecstasy, special K, acid and probably more I can’t remember.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Society really needs to push the message that there is hope and a future for all teens, and that taking dangerous risks and just "living as if I could die tomorrow" isn't worth it. While I know that in general all teens are more likely to be risk takers, not have fully developed brains, not enough critical thinking skills to assess whether they should take a risk, there are definitely some cultures in which it considered cool or normal to live like you got nothing to lose.

Some demographics (lower SES, being from an immigrant family, ESL, etc) may make a child much more likely to be unsupervised, unsupported, to think it doesn't matter if they get arrested because they're not going to college (no one they know has gone to college and their parents don't know anything re the college system), and some cultures don't seem too worried about not wearing seatbelts.

I immediately thought when I heard that 6 of those kids weren't wearing seat belts that they were hispanic, based on my interactions with some kids I used to drive for years on one of my kid's soccer team. These were really nice kids, but their parents never drove them, either because they were working or they just didn't think it was necessary for parents to come to games. They lived in Section 8 so I knew at least there was an income barrier. They all had multiple older siblings, one had an 8th grade brother who had dropped out of school, another who had been threatened by a Peruvian gang at a soccer game and beaten up so bad that his jaw was wired shut, another who knew all about the different gangs in school, etc. But what they all had in common was that they never wanted to wear seatbelts. Every single damn time they got in my car, individually or as a group, I would have to remind them and often I caught them taking them off and had to insist they put them back on. It was so strange. They told me their parents didn't make them.

I don't know if this is a cultural thing or SES thing or what.

I think it’s a cultural and SES thing among certain groups. I teach ESOL in FCPS and have heard similar comments from my high school students. I also know many of them drive without licenses because in their countries it doesn’t matter. And yes, they are often out late and unsupervised because either they are working or their parents are working. I don’t want to generalize, but after 23 years of teacher, I’ve certainly seen patterns among different groups of students. That said, I think among more rural areas of the U.S., the same would be true with regard to not using seatbelts or driving without a license.

I really hope this teacher’s account isn’t accurate. I’m the child of immigrants and was taught to respect America’s laws. Reckless behavior endangers others, not just the reckless ones. It’s not okay to teach your kids to disregard our laws.

Well, I’m the teacher and I’m not lying. Of course there are exceptions to every rule and not every immigrant is driving without a license, but it’s something I’ve heard from several of my students. I’m also not sure how old you are, but immigration has changed over time and different groups are coming for different reasons. Many people who immigrate today don’t feel that connected to America in the first place and many of my students and their families are coming out of necessity, not because they really want to live in America.

DP.

I work with this population also (though not as a teacher).

The teacher is correct.

Also, many of you are likely unaware public school in Central America ends at 6th grade.

Google it. Unless you have the money to pay for 7th, 8th, high school, your education ends at 6th grade.

Stop assuming everyone around the world has your same privileged American childhood experience.

These kids are not in South America. They are living the “privileged American childhood experience.” It doesn’t matter what things are like in a place where they are not living.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Society really needs to push the message that there is hope and a future for all teens, and that taking dangerous risks and just "living as if I could die tomorrow" isn't worth it. While I know that in general all teens are more likely to be risk takers, not have fully developed brains, not enough critical thinking skills to assess whether they should take a risk, there are definitely some cultures in which it considered cool or normal to live like you got nothing to lose.

Some demographics (lower SES, being from an immigrant family, ESL, etc) may make a child much more likely to be unsupervised, unsupported, to think it doesn't matter if they get arrested because they're not going to college (no one they know has gone to college and their parents don't know anything re the college system), and some cultures don't seem too worried about not wearing seatbelts.

I immediately thought when I heard that 6 of those kids weren't wearing seat belts that they were hispanic, based on my interactions with some kids I used to drive for years on one of my kid's soccer team. These were really nice kids, but their parents never drove them, either because they were working or they just didn't think it was necessary for parents to come to games. They lived in Section 8 so I knew at least there was an income barrier. They all had multiple older siblings, one had an 8th grade brother who had dropped out of school, another who had been threatened by a Peruvian gang at a soccer game and beaten up so bad that his jaw was wired shut, another who knew all about the different gangs in school, etc. But what they all had in common was that they never wanted to wear seatbelts. Every single damn time they got in my car, individually or as a group, I would have to remind them and often I caught them taking them off and had to insist they put them back on. It was so strange. They told me their parents didn't make them.

I don't know if this is a cultural thing or SES thing or what.

I think it’s a cultural and SES thing among certain groups. I teach ESOL in FCPS and have heard similar comments from my high school students. I also know many of them drive without licenses because in their countries it doesn’t matter. And yes, they are often out late and unsupervised because either they are working or their parents are working. I don’t want to generalize, but after 23 years of teacher, I’ve certainly seen patterns among different groups of students. That said, I think among more rural areas of the U.S., the same would be true with regard to not using seatbelts or driving without a license.

I really hope this teacher’s account isn’t accurate. I’m the child of immigrants and was taught to respect America’s laws. Reckless behavior endangers others, not just the reckless ones. It’s not okay to teach your kids to disregard our laws.

Well, I’m the teacher and I’m not lying. Of course there are exceptions to every rule and not every immigrant is driving without a license, but it’s something I’ve heard from several of my students. I’m also not sure how old you are, but immigration has changed over time and different groups are coming for different reasons. Many people who immigrate today don’t feel that connected to America in the first place and many of my students and their families are coming out of necessity, not because they really want to live in America.

DP.

I work with this population also (though not as a teacher).

The teacher is correct.

Also, many of you are likely unaware public school in Central America ends at 6th grade.

Google it. Unless you have the money to pay for 7th, 8th, high school, your education ends at 6th grade.

Stop assuming everyone around the world has your same privileged American childhood experience.

These kids are not in South America. They are living the “privileged American childhood experience.” It doesn’t matter what things are like in a place where they are not living.

How do you know that? Many kids come here as teenagers with their formative years in their home countries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Society really needs to push the message that there is hope and a future for all teens, and that taking dangerous risks and just "living as if I could die tomorrow" isn't worth it. While I know that in general all teens are more likely to be risk takers, not have fully developed brains, not enough critical thinking skills to assess whether they should take a risk, there are definitely some cultures in which it considered cool or normal to live like you got nothing to lose.

Some demographics (lower SES, being from an immigrant family, ESL, etc) may make a child much more likely to be unsupervised, unsupported, to think it doesn't matter if they get arrested because they're not going to college (no one they know has gone to college and their parents don't know anything re the college system), and some cultures don't seem too worried about not wearing seatbelts.

I immediately thought when I heard that 6 of those kids weren't wearing seat belts that they were hispanic, based on my interactions with some kids I used to drive for years on one of my kid's soccer team. These were really nice kids, but their parents never drove them, either because they were working or they just didn't think it was necessary for parents to come to games. They lived in Section 8 so I knew at least there was an income barrier. They all had multiple older siblings, one had an 8th grade brother who had dropped out of school, another who had been threatened by a Peruvian gang at a soccer game and beaten up so bad that his jaw was wired shut, another who knew all about the different gangs in school, etc. But what they all had in common was that they never wanted to wear seatbelts. Every single damn time they got in my car, individually or as a group, I would have to remind them and often I caught them taking them off and had to insist they put them back on. It was so strange. They told me their parents didn't make them.

I don't know if this is a cultural thing or SES thing or what.

I think it’s a cultural and SES thing among certain groups. I teach ESOL in FCPS and have heard similar comments from my high school students. I also know many of them drive without licenses because in their countries it doesn’t matter. And yes, they are often out late and unsupervised because either they are working or their parents are working. I don’t want to generalize, but after 23 years of teacher, I’ve certainly seen patterns among different groups of students. That said, I think among more rural areas of the U.S., the same would be true with regard to not using seatbelts or driving without a license.

I really hope this teacher’s account isn’t accurate. I’m the child of immigrants and was taught to respect America’s laws. Reckless behavior endangers others, not just the reckless ones. It’s not okay to teach your kids to disregard our laws.

Well, I’m the teacher and I’m not lying. Of course there are exceptions to every rule and not every immigrant is driving without a license, but it’s something I’ve heard from several of my students. I’m also not sure how old you are, but immigration has changed over time and different groups are coming for different reasons. Many people who immigrate today don’t feel that connected to America in the first place and many of my students and their families are coming out of necessity, not because they really want to live in America.

DP.

I work with this population also (though not as a teacher).

The teacher is correct.

Also, many of you are likely unaware public school in Central America ends at 6th grade.

Google it. Unless you have the money to pay for 7th, 8th, high school, your education ends at 6th grade.

Stop assuming everyone around the world has your same privileged American childhood experience.

The point is that it’s not okay.

And no one is saying it is ok. It’s just a fact that it is happening.

Really? This thread is full of justifications and excuses for this behavior ranging from it’s just stupid teenage behavior to understandable behavior of low income people to cultural differences. And go fund me pleas.

The difference between this thread and that one about the recent Oakton grad who killed those two Oakton freshman on the last day of school is shocking. Both were reckless and dangerous behaviors (this one arguably even worse since the driver was as drunk and speeding) that deserve consequences .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not donate to a minor’s go fund me.

Why