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Letters To Editor

Rod - 05/31/99 17:15:37
My Email:rpowers@computer-concepts.com
From (City, State): NE
Parent, Teacher, etc: Retired Military
Subject: Schoolhouse Terrorism

Comments:
I was one of those "nerds" in high school. My friends and I were constantly "picked on" and verbally/physically abused by the Jock-Crowd. This happened 25 years ago......it's nothing new. The difference is, that we didn't even consider shooting anyone, let alone blowing up the entire school and student body. No, I didn't like being picked on by "those jocks," but the experience did nothing to hurt my self-esteem (nor, the self-esteem of any of my high-school nerd friends). We all grew up and had (and have) very successful careers. Many of the jocks we knew (and know) weren't as fortunate. Several still work at low-paying manual labor jobs. Some are in jail. A few others are local bums. Still others matured and are friends of mine, today. These murderers are not victims, anymore than gang members who rape, steal, and murder are victims. These kids are part of a growing group of our young society who honestly believe it is morally acceptable to take a human life in exchange for instant ratification. In this case, the gratification was a feeling of revenge (and please note, they didn't really care who they killed in order to obtain their "feeling" of vindication). In the gang member's case, it can be revenge, territorial "protection," or monetary gain. Either way, they're criminals, who want what they want, and want it now, and to 'h' with who they have to kill to get it. Rod

Kenny - 05/17/99 20:06:18
From (City, State): Scotland
Parent, Teacher, etc: Constable ('V 'Support Services K-9 unit)
Subject: School Violence

Comments:
Safety in schools is a big issue here, our local authorities are implementing a multi-million £ security program at all of our schools - 8 ft galvanized fencing to stop easy access to school playgrounds, etc. - innocents shouldn't die because of one or two crazies in ANY society. As you know the dunblane massacre was committed by a weirdo with legally held handguns. In a society where handguns were very hard to obtain. 99% of all cops here don't carry firearms. I can only imagine how bad the problem ma be in your country with easy access to firearms .....Kenny

Lisa - 05/17/99 02:17:17
My Email:Sesame36@hotmail.com
From (City, State): North Carolina
Parent, Teacher, etc: Teacher
Subject: Schoolhouse Terrorism

Comments:
I didn't become a teacher, so that I could carry a weapon and "arrest" students. Yes, the topic is becoming a hot one here....more or less a "knee-jerk" reaction to Columbine and the copy-cat incidents it sparked. Before our society tries to make teachers "in-school cops", I, along with most teachers, would rather see school security become more of an issue. My school has no metal detectors, no SRO, lots of unlocked doors that anyone can enter, etc. My school is a "six acre" building. No one in his right mind would consider opening a mall that size without security, but a school...okay....no problem! We have students who are juvenile offenders -- some have committed felonies. We have had two instances this year of pipe bombs on campus (since Columbine). We have had drug sales and weapons sales. We have had parents come in and attempt to assault the principal. Yet, we still have no security. I have enough to do, without being granted "arrest" powers. I have no desire to carry a gun to work. That is NOT my job, nor will it ever be.

Tom Donlin - 05/15/99 01:25:38
My Email:tgdonlin@simpcom.com
From (City, State): Missouri City, TX
Subject: Schoolhouse Killings

Comments:
Greetings: I was referred to this story from a post at the Dr. Laura website. It's a good column. However, I find frustration in that people are looking for "cosmic" reasons for the outbreak of the abhorrent behavior. This crap all started in the late '50s and early '60s. Let me suggest some good sources of information, books if you will. "The Vision of The Anointed" and "Inside American Education: The Decline, the Deception, the Dogmas" both by Thomas Sowell. "Where Liberals Go To Die: The End of L t's Pretend" by James T. Evans (713-523-7191) and finally "Dare To Discipline" by James Dobson. Now, you may not like the fact that I forwarded these titles. But if you're intellectually honest, you'll see that much of this is because modern radical lib ralism has caused this. Meanwhile, conservatives & libertarians have been shouted into silence because we didn't want to appear judgmental. It is time for that to stop. Thank you for letting me vent. Tom Donlin 5003 Cave Run Dr. Missouri City, TX 774 9-3913 281-499-2879

Jeff Howard - 05/15/99 01:18:33
Subject: School Violence

Comments:
If teachers and parents got together and filed in court for a restraining order a judge would have to be brain dead not to sign it. Using this legal route we can take back the schools for the children. Teachers in this area have started doing just that. Then it becomes the parents job to deal with the little trouble makers. As it should be. If they are legally not allowed to enter a persons place of employment they can't cause trouble there. As far as parents, honor is given, respect is earned. I have never hit my children and we get along great. I do wake them every morning with a hug and a kiss. They are 14 & 15 and get mad if it does not happen.

Charles Wolfe - 05/03/99 23:15:09
My Email:bb573@scn.org
From (City, State): Seattle, WA
Parent, Teacher, etc: Prophet
Subject: In Loving Memory

Comments:
Interesting. A website devoted to dead kids.

Tiffany Leslie - 04/22/99 02:12:23
My Email:tnleslie@valdosta.edu
From (City, State): Atlanta,Georgia
Parent, Teacher, etc: student
Subject:Suspended Students

Comments:
Yes, I think that a suspended student should be under adult supervision if under the age of 17. They will have extremely too much free time if they are unsupervised and will definitely get into trouble.

Merle Jewett - 04/19/99 14:23:53
My Email:mjewett@mail.mercedcity.k12.us.ca
From (City, State): Merced, Ca
Parent, Teacher, etc: Director of Transportation
Subject: Rules

Comments:
There are too many rules. Rules are not what is all about behavior is. Maybe you can eliminate or combine some of the rules. I will spend a little time thinking about it and give you my thoughts. Reading what I just wrote even prompted me to rethink something that we are doing. This is changing the title and method of writing our rules of the bus to "Student expectations while riding the bus." I am rewriting mine now Think about yours. Students do not remember or even parents remember more than six guidelines. Think about it how many motorists can always go down and pass their drivers license test without studying. School bus drivers can not even do this consistently. What is the speed zone in a residential area. Easy question but missed by many adults th t have driven for many years. Less rules that are specific but expectations that reflect considerate safe behavior.

- 03/15/99 20:56:37
Parent, Teacher, etc: ** Unknown **
Subject: Santa Fe Schools

Comments:
Please support the seat belt bills that are being proposed around the country. Surely it would have prevented those two deaths and serious injuries. They would not have been ejected from the bus had they been belted in. Now is the time to pass this legislation. Let's prevent more unnecessary deaths

JL Campbell - 03/07/99 14:31:16
My URL:http://members.tripod.com/~HEAVY_DUTY/index.html
My Email:railclip@webtv.net
From (City, State): republic, mo
Parent, Teacher, etc: railroader
Subject: crossing safety

Comments:
Crossing safety, its amazing how many people try to beat a train at highway and street crossings, in the state of Missouri all buses are required by law to stop and then proceed at R.R. crossings, with warning devices or just marked with cross bucks, warning devices activated or not, (full stop, then proceed) The FRA web site has a section devoted to R.R. Crossing safety, with stats, videos, posters, etc. ALWAYS expect a train on any track in either direction. And by the way have you ever met anyone that got hit by a train?

Katie French - 02/24/99 02:23:28
My Email:skfrench@effingham.net
From (City, State): Southern, Illinois
Parent, Teacher, etc: Bus Driver
Subject: Seat Belts

Comments:
I drive a school bus in Southern Illinois. I have been driving for 26 years. These years of driving and having some seat belts on the bus have taught me that the seat belts are NOT the answer. Some of our 3 and 4 year old pre-schoolers have figured out ho to still have the belts on and turn around and/or stand in the seat. I sincerely believe the statement: "If you want to help keep the kids safe help the bus driver in keeping them seated. Make that a priority." If the kids knew that they had to stay in their seats or the Administrators would stand behind the Driver and administer strict discipline for this fraction, it would help solve this problem. Belts are not the solution.

Carl Bengry - 02/24/99 02:17:37
My Email:Cbengry@aol.com
From (City, State): Marquette, Michigan
Parent, Teacher, etc: Bus Driver
Subject: Seat Belts

Comments:
(Message to Safe Schools from ESP Board) I drive a school bus in Marquette Michigan. I have been driving for 18 years. This is a question that comes up occasionally. I would like seatbelts to keep the kids in there seats, but I don't believe this would increase safety. Closer high backed padded eats, in combination with the design safety of a school bus is the right direction. Lap belts are dangerous in quick stops. Tests have been done showing the damage to back and neck in a crash. You would have to use a harness on the bus and this would not be practical. If you want to help keep the kids safe help the bus driver in keeping them seated. Make that a priority.

Dennis Harriger Sr. - 02/24/99 02:08:29
From (City, State): Florida
Parent, Teacher, etc: Bus Driver
Subject: Florida

Comments:
Seatbelts are not the answer: I have been a Bus Operator for 10 years in the state of Florida. Three things you got to ask yourself. 1. Who is going to make sure that all the belts are buckled and stay buckled? The students don't listen to the operator now. 2. If, God forbid, you do have an accident, who is going to unbelt the students? With all the pre-k's and k that are riding the buses these students are not able to unbuckle the belts 3. Who is going to prevent the older students from using the belts as weapons. We all know that we carry a lot of weapons that we don't know about now, we don't need any more!

Kim - 02/24/99 01:55:48
My Email:Sheena1125@aol.com
From (City, State): Toms River, NJ
Parent, Teacher, etc: Parent
Subject: Seat Belts

Comments:
(Original Posting to Safe Schools from ESP on 01/28/99.) I am really upset at the fact that I live in Toms River, NJ and with all the schools here and so many kindergarteners...the buses for the K class only have seat belts going to school and not coming home, so they only have half of the protection. We are supposed to teach our children safety laws when the state itself cannot enforce them nor practice them. There only answer is that they don't have enough buses equipped with them. Sorry excuse!!! They should invest with our taxpaying money into more buses with belts esp. for children in the lower grades that are still small and would get bounced around more easily. If you know anything that we can possibly do, someone please email me. I would appreciate that and/or any other comments on this issue that anyone else has. Thanks. Kim /// Sheena1125@aol.com

Connie Harbuck - 12/10/98 04:56:56
My Email:bossfrog2@aol.com
From (City,State): Stockbridge, GA
Parent, Teacher, etc: Bus Driver
Subject: PC Bus Conduct

Comments:
I drive a bus in Henry County and the same thing happens here. Almost everything described in the article from Panama City is true to life on my bus everyday. I find it hard not to blame the parents for a lot of the conduct problems we experience everyday. Most parents don't want to know that their child is misbehaving. I have even had parents scream and cuss me because, as a result of a write up, their child was suspended from the bus and now they would have to be late for work if they take the child to school ... WAKE UP The children of today know that parents don't want to take the time to be involved, and the school administration is terrified to stand up to the parents for fear of litigation. Until we realize that our children are not some one else problem, these problems are only going to get worse. Thank you for a place to vent. Connie

DM - 11/18/98 19:09:57
My Email:dimcgowen@coyle.k12.ok.us
From: Coyle, OK
Parent, Teacher, etc.: Teacher
Subject: Adult To Adult

Comments:
I agree that both parents and society share blame for childrens increasing desensitization to violence. However, I would have parents shouldering 75% of the responsibility and society 25%. So many people who have kids now do not have the parenting skill they need to raise the children. This applies to parents all across social-economic classes. I'm not sure what the "cure" is or if there is one.

Safe Schools - 10/14/98 02:21:48
My URL:http://geocities.datacellar.net/heartland/flats/3125
My Email:safeschs@dnc.net

, Comments:
Safe Schools has received a flood of e-mails concerning seatbelts on school buses. Nearly all in favor of seat belts. To balance a fast approaching story we would also like to hear from individuals and organizations against seat belts on school buses.

Joyce Davis - 10/08/98 13:44:03
My Email:jmdavis@epix.net
From: Benton, PA
Parent, Teacher, etc.: Parent

Comments:
Hello! I was wondering if you would know of a place where I can buy, removable seat belts for on school buses. My daughter is a dwarf, little person 7 years old.. Her arms and legs are short so if the bus was to stop suddenly she would not be able to protect her elf, she would possibly get head and neck injury. She does not ride the bus to school, I drive her because we are not in the busing area. BUt for field trips she will ride the bus, some of the buses may have seat belts, but we would not know which bus we would be on. If you have any suggestions please let me know. Thank You, Sincerely, Joyce Davis

Amethyst - 09/26/98 20:06:14
My URL:http://geocities.datacellar.net/Heartland/Ranch/6243
My Email:eileenlowe@pagosasprings.net

Comments:
Just surfed into your site and really enjoyed my visit to your site. I applaud you for your efforts in helping to keep the children safe during their days in school.
Grandpa Chuck - 09/25/98 05:49:15
My URL:http://members.aol.com/ChuckBio/papa.htm
My Email:grandpachuck@usa.net
From: Holland Michigan
Parent, Teacher, etc.: Grandparent

Comments:
Nice site. I look forward to seeing it grow! Grandpa Chuck