Anonymous wrote:Are the kids trying to get a cheap high or are they committing suicide? Serious question. Seems like a particular demographic, one that was really left behind by the pandemic, is being disproportionately affected and it’s a matter of opportunity costs? Like they have no hope for a good future, so who cares if one pill can kill? So depressing.

Cheap high... and social media/technology is truly impacting their brains. They crave the dopamine high they get from likes, tags, etc.

Anonymous wrote:I mean APS can not solve the drug problem in Arlington or anywhere else. I guess MAYBE they can keep the drugs out of the schools but that likely involves a bunch of things that parents will be in up in arms over (searches and drug dogs). But that only stops the problem of it being in school (and maybe even not!) Still going to be everywhere else.

Well a bunch of AEM moms seem to think having after school programs for HS students will solve the drug problem.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wakefield is a cesspool. Don't worry though, Parisa is on it and will make sure justice is served...

It is not a cesspool.

I graduated from Wakefield. It's become a cesspool. WTF is going on with South Arlington?

LA has always had "problems."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wakefield is a cesspool. Don't worry though, Parisa is on it and will make sure justice is served...

It is not a cesspool.

I graduated from Wakefield. It's become a cesspool. WTF is going on with South Arlington?

I mean, considering all the shenanigans that has occurred in our schools (most schools?) when kids should be in class but aren’t (drug overdoses, fighting, TikTok challenges, vandalism, sneaking off campus), I don’t find this oppressive. My 9th grader doesn’t feel oppressed either, but he has no comparison for high school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, now that ACHS does not have Balas, overdoses have declined. Him leaving has been a blessing and allowed for a successor principal who takes discipline seriously.

We haven’t had Balas long enough to really assess him, but the complaints I’ve heard so far are that things are too strict— cracking down on tardies, hall sweeps, etc.

Those policies have been implemented district-wide. It is not a Wakefield or Balas thing.
Clearly, they are not preventing overdoses during school on school property. But they are creating an oppressive environment for the majority of students who follow the rules, attend their classes, and are responsible and focused on their school activities.

They are oppressed because they are expected to be at class on time? I’m not trying to be rude, but is that what you are saying? Shouldn’t that just be a baseline expectation?

No. It's a more oppressive atmosphere because of all the things put together such as: having to remain in the main common area until 10 minutes before school starts; having 2 mascot periods each week taken up by social emotional lessons they feel are geared toward kids much younger and not worthwhile; having 2 less mascot periods a week to meet with teachers, study, work on assignments, meet with groups, etc.; being herded like cattle with adults yelling "hall sweep! hall sweep!" instead of just being kindly moved along or encouraged to get to class; getting swept up in a hall sweep even though they are literally outside their classroom door or refilling their water bottle at the water station just outside with their teacher's knowledge and permission, being escorted somewhere for a lecture about tardiness, and being made even later than they would have been to their class; feeling like they're under suspicion or not to be trusted being questioned just for walking down a hallway or sitting in a hall doing schoolwork (not during classtime, but like at lunch or before and after school); etc.

The way adults implement and enforce rules can make a big difference. The tone and insinuations of the adults can come off as rather belittling and unwelcoming, accusatory instead of inquisitive and caring.

Anonymous wrote:I mean APS can not solve the drug problem in Arlington or anywhere else. I guess MAYBE they can keep the drugs out of the schools but that likely involves a bunch of things that parents will be in up in arms over (searches and drug dogs). But that only stops the problem of it being in school (and maybe even not!) Still going to be everywhere else.

Airport-like drugs and weapons screening is coming to every public school near you.

Are the kids trying to get a cheap high or are they committing suicide? Serious question. Seems like a particular demographic, one that was really left behind by the pandemic, is being disproportionately affected and it’s a matter of opportunity costs? Like they have no hope for a good future, so who cares if one pill can kill? So depressing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wakefield is a cesspool. Don't worry though, Parisa is on it and will make sure justice is served...

It is not a cesspool.

Correct. Drug use is a problem at every school. Some schools have issues that make the paper and others have issues that are handled privately in families.

Are you saying these things are happening within the walls of the other APS high schools, but they are only reported when they happen at Wakefield?

That’s what he wants you to think. No, it’s not happening. Police have to respond to all emergency situations at schools. You can easily look up the police reports and see when they have had to respond to any such incident at all the schools. Now has it happened in the past? Of course. But incidents not happen this year that they are keeping secrets.

where can I get these reports of when police or ambulance respond to school incidents?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, now that ACHS does not have Balas, overdoses have declined. Him leaving has been a blessing and allowed for a successor principal who takes discipline seriously.

We haven’t had Balas long enough to really assess him, but the complaints I’ve heard so far are that things are too strict— cracking down on tardies, hall sweeps, etc.

Those policies have been implemented district-wide. It is not a Wakefield or Balas thing.
Clearly, they are not preventing overdoses during school on school property. But they are creating an oppressive environment for the majority of students who follow the rules, attend their classes, and are responsible and focused on their school activities.

They are oppressed because they are expected to be at class on time? I’m not trying to be rude, but is that what you are saying? Shouldn’t that just be a baseline expectation?

I mean APS can not solve the drug problem in Arlington or anywhere else. I guess MAYBE they can keep the drugs out of the schools but that likely involves a bunch of things that parents will be in up in arms over (searches and drug dogs). But that only stops the problem of it being in school (and maybe even not!) Still going to be everywhere else.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, now that ACHS does not have Balas, overdoses have declined. Him leaving has been a blessing and allowed for a successor principal who takes discipline seriously.

We haven’t had Balas long enough to really assess him, but the complaints I’ve heard so far are that things are too strict— cracking down on tardies, hall sweeps, etc.

Proof you can't win for trying. It's either "there's no discipline or consequences!" or "egads, it's too strict!"

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, now that ACHS does not have Balas, overdoses have declined. Him leaving has been a blessing and allowed for a successor principal who takes discipline seriously.

We haven’t had Balas long enough to really assess him, but the complaints I’ve heard so far are that things are too strict— cracking down on tardies, hall sweeps, etc.

Those policies have been implemented district-wide. It is not a Wakefield or Balas thing.
Clearly, they are not preventing overdoses during school on school property. But they are creating an oppressive environment for the majority of students who follow the rules, attend their classes, and are responsible and focused on their school activities.

Anonymous wrote:Well, now that ACHS does not have Balas, overdoses have declined. Him leaving has been a blessing and allowed for a successor principal who takes discipline seriously.

We haven’t had Balas long enough to really assess him, but the complaints I’ve heard so far are that things are too strict— cracking down on tardies, hall sweeps, etc.

Well, now that ACHS does not have Balas, overdoses have declined. Him leaving has been a blessing and allowed for a successor principal who takes discipline seriously.