LHS What Is Going On.

[Ryan Patrick Demro]

Yeah, if I had a serious concern about what was going on at LHS, the first person I would call would be JOB. Highly unlikely, the spin continues.

[Justine Cooper]

What can be done to prevent more? BETTER AND MORE INVOLVED PARENTING!

Thank you Scott for pointing out the obvious. Too bad the average parent thinks they are above average.

We have a stock of parents these days that are nothing but 40 something children. And we have a stock of children thrust into adult themes at earlier and earlier ages. Any childhood development initiative that doesn't address the quality of parenting is just pissing dollars away.

Yet we constantly talk about programs that will step in for parenting. Good luck out-smarting 50,000 years of evolution. Kids are wired to hear it from Mom and Dad from day one. No sociology needed. But if Mom and Dad are sufficiently distracted - kids have no choice but to "grow up" overnight. That means forming their own structures and activities around what they know. If all they know comes from other kids (be they 12 year old kids or 42 year old kids) then you get a never-ending cycle of depravity.

I skateboard weekly at the skatepark. I know many 12 - 18 year old kids and I know they are good kids. But now and then I meet some parents. Maybe only 50% of the parents I have met here in actually parent. Many of the kids I talk to can't actually explain their parents' job beyond a title or name of employer. Schools don't parent. Daycare doesn't parent. If your outsourcing your parenting - you're part of the problem.

Vince I totally get your frustration with what you see in lack of parenting. It is there. But I have to point out the other side, the neighbors that I have that have invested all of themselves in their children and produced active, smart, involved kids. My one neighbor feeds the homeless with her church and she and her daughter just went to Kentucky (I think) this summer during the height of the heat to build homes for homeless people. Her daughter also holds down a job while her two sisters are in college doing well. My other neighbor same thing, great parenting, great kids. I see moms at the schools volunteering to be there to help their children and the other kids and teachers, some with children with special needs. There are at least as many good parents as uninvolved parents and maybe the LO should start highlighting the stories of the positive teens every issue. There are so many with the Rangers, drama club, sports, etc., out there doing a lot of good things.

I do think LHS is filled with awesome kids, much more than the troubled ones who may still be awesome but are lost. And whether we want it to be society's job or not, it is. Because we can intervene when they are young, or we can pay for their prison meals when they are older, or our children can pay when they go astray. It does take a village and when the adults who do care, take a little time from their parenting to give a little to a kid who needs it, the world changes, the city changes, lives change. Don't ever underestimate the power of love.

[stephen davis]

Ryan Demro lost, Jim - get over it. He's certainly way over you.

Yeah, if I had a serious concern about what was going on at LHS, the first person I would call would be JOB. Highly unlikely, the spin continues.

Jim O'Bryan,

Yeah, he's certainly WAY over you.



Ryan,

Go get 'em Tiger!

[Grace O'Malley]

What a glaring example of not only sour grapes, but failing to take responsibility for one's own actions.

It's apparent that RPD/Metelko somehow blame Jim and the Observer for their political loss. I guess it never occurred to them that perhaps their message did not resonate with the electorate.

It must be hard to see what political power you thought you possessed slip away, but as they say, "Get over it."

I would add that there's always the next time, but with this continuing display of juvenile antics, I'd suggest that perhaps that is too optimistic a viewpoint.

[Katrina Holmes]

I was just wondering if anyone has heard about helping out the family of this student. Along the lines of you know a dinner in the evening here and there. I spoke with his aunt today and she is going to let me know where they are in the community. I am sure for the first week or so they will have a lot of family support. I am also going to contact the High School PTA about this. I think that it is important to express a certain amount of community support, even in a town the size of Lakewood.

[sharon kinsella]

Katrina -

Please post when you find out.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Katrina

If you hear of anything or any collection please drop me a line.

We have some things we could help with.

Thank you for being a voice of compassion.


peace

[Grace O'Malley]

Yes, please do. That would be so nice because I'm sure many would like to help.

[Katrina Holmes]

His aunt will call me some time this week. I can't garuantee a particular day.

[Sean Wheeler]

Just a comment on the rampant rumors that were flying Friday. First of all, let's keep our eye on the ball. We have lost a student and we need to focus on helping the family and the many young people that have lost a friend. For many of our students, this is the first time that they are dealing with death and I think we need to form a strong support system for the grieving.
Secondly, I am reminded about something a teacher once told my mom when she attended a conference. The teacher said "If you promise to only believe half of what you hear happens in my classroom, I'll promise to believe only half of what I hear happens in your home." A school filled with two thousand teenagers is bound to be a feeding ground for rumor and misinformation. Aside from the unfortunate distraction caused by threats of violence, the staff and students were able to discuss and deal with our loss.

I would love to see our community support the grieving families and students. Let's show our children that their loss is ours as well.

[jennifer scott]

It has been brought to my attention that the family could use assistance with the cost of a funeral. Perhaps a fund could be set up or a donation collected ASAP. Thanks.

[Jim O'Bryan]

It has been brought to my attention that the family could use assistance with the cost of a funeral. Perhaps a fund could be set up or a donation collected ASAP. Thanks.

Jennifer

You know the LO will help.


Sean


As we are friends and you are a teacher.

What would happen if a student came to you and told you Bobby had a gun in his locker?

You post is spot on, just wondering.


.

[Jeff Endress]

Sean

Thank you for your post. Thank you for refocusing the discussion. I for one, miss the insight of your students from their "walk across Lakewood".
Oh, and by the way, thank you also for your work and efforts with our kids.

Jeff

[Sean Wheeler]

What would happen if a student told me someone had a gun in their locker?

As a public school teacher, my first responsibility is for the safety of my students. In situations such as that, I would drop everything and report the information directly to the security staff and the principal. I trust that they would take the matter seriously and that the police would be called in to investigate. There is a definite protocol in place for situations like that. It might also comfort people to know that we received emergency training last year and met with a regional SWAT team/crisis team about what to do in case of a school shooting or a similar incident. This, of course, isn't to say that everyone would handle the crisis correctly, but it is a testament to our school district's attention toward planning for student safety in case a tragedy like this occurs.

[Justine Cooper]

What would happen if a student told me someone had a gun in their locker?

As a public school teacher, my first responsibility is for the safety of my students. In situations such as that, I would drop everything and report the information directly to the security staff and the principal. I trust that they would take the matter seriously and that the police would be called in to investigate. There is a definite protocol in place for situations like that. It might also comfort people to know that we received emergency training last year and met with a regional SWAT team/crisis team about what to do in case of a school shooting or a similar incident. This, of course, isn't to say that everyone would handle the crisis correctly, but it is a testament to our school district's attention toward planning for student safety in case a tragedy like this occurs.

Sean, in every school shooting that has occurred across this country, it is always the teachers who emerge as the heroes, some with lost lives. I have no doubt that teachers at LHS would respond the same way. I still worry that they and the students are vulnerable and hope that more measures go into play to change that. I hope your effort to refocus also occurs. While I have valued the LO deck and made many good and solid friends through it, it does seem that any attempt at any subject, turns into ugly feuds. Sometimes people that don't even have a vested interest in the subject jump in to make snide comments. Just because. And attacks on the LO because of this deck are unwarranted and have to do with much more than any thread here, but spins are always there.

Once again I am sorry for reporting the rumors as I heard them. To say I was reacting emotionally is an understatement, and although it is not the first or last time I will do that, I sure won't do it on here anymore. I was freaking out thinking of the danger and the line of kids out front and the staff inside. I do think because of all the anger between individuals and then between all that react in defense (including myself) that what was and could be so valuable here, is lost. And I hope all that had opinions in this thread can go about to do what we can for the family and the community.