I CANNOT believe the comments in response to parents sharing their children's struggle with mental health. That forum needs to be shut down. It has gone totally off the rails. There is one parent and one APS counselor (a career counselor!) that are particularly egregious. They need to be removed, along with about 10 other people. |
My gosh, people are heartless. |
I was shocked to see such cold and uncaring comments from a school counselor. If my child were at his school, that discussion would have destroyed any faith I might have had in their counseling services.
On the other hand, the other school counselor who joined in with is a wonderful person and counselor (based on professional interactions outside of AEM), and I was glad she joined in to offer constructive comments. |
Can you please send a link? I don't know what this is referring to? |
It’s the Arlington Education Matters group on Facebook. Post aren’t publicly available, but it’s not private, anyone associated with APS can join. |
which post? |
post yesterday at 952 am citing a NYTimes article.
I think that FB forum does a disservice at times. People forget they are dealing with real citizens and employees when they comment on that forum. Also, tone gets lost when you write something online. It's always better to think twice, then once more before posting. Also, it's not anonymous (like here) so easy to find people. |
wow, those comments are awful. |
I continue to be amazed by what people are willing to write in public forums under their own names. Would these people seriously say that out loud at an in person PTA meeting or even just to a random parent at a soccer game? |
Someone should report those insensitive comments to school leadership. Incredibly insensitive to parents who were having a fairly balanced discussion (and the conversations don’t always go that way!). |
I'm curious to know what was cold and uncaring? He is grieving the loss of a co-worker, terrified to go back and is told to go back or quit. Perhaps I misse it. |
He was told that he and his coworkers are "completely worthless" and not equipped for their jobs. Parents forget teachers and counselors are on the forum and are human beings. |
Further down the chain, a parent writes in some detail about her son's issues and the lack of help he received from the school staff and the guy just straight up says he disagrees and dismisses her experience. |
+1. I was shocked to see that. I also was surprised to see him say kids should just go elsewhere. Not only are there to cost barriers another person mentioned, but the at also relies on parents recognizing that their kids need help and being willing and able to make it happen. A 12 yo who’s struggling with depression can’t just get help on her own. |
Cliffnotes version: Parents: It's hard to get mental health help in general, esp now. Guy: APS has excellent therapists Specific Parent: My son had a terrible experience getting help with a bullying issue and APS staff are not equipped to handle mental health issues Guy: Bullshit Specific Parent: No really, that happened, includes various details about situation and how it wasn't resolved. Guy: I wholeheartedly disagree. I mean, I would expect a little more sensitivity and empathy from a counselor... |