Re: columbine h.s.

["John and Laurie Danahy" <JDANAHY@turbonet.com>]

Lois;
     Where we probably need the most effort at this time is developing ways
that parents can communicate concerns regarding teasing to school officials
so those efforts already in place can be activated.  Also, and an even
tougher assignment,  is developing ways to communicate with parents in
positive, cooperative, teaching ways that their children are engaged in
teasing type of activities.  The focus, in both cases must be to stop, and
correct, the abhorrent behaviors.  While schools can do some things, working
together the community can do more.
John
John and Laurie Danahy
jdanahy@turbonet.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Lois Melina <lmelina@moscow.com>
To: John and Laurie Danahy <JDANAHY@turbonet.com>
Cc: Vision2020 <vision2020@moscow.com>
Date: Thursday, April 22, 1999 6:50 AM
Subject: Re: columbine h.s.


>John,
>Some talks I have had with parents at Russell indicate that the new
>measures for dealing with disrespect, etc. are a welcome and positive step.
>If there are specific things you would like the community/parents to do,
>this could be an opportune time.
>
>Lois
>
>----------
>> From: John and Laurie Danahy <JDANAHY@turbonet.com>
>> To: Lois Melina <lmelina@moscow.com>
>> Cc: Vision2020 <vision2020@moscow.com>
>> Subject: Re: columbine h.s.
>> Date: Wednesday, April 21, 1999 10:41 PM
>>
>> Lois and fellow subscribers:
>>      Last fall, the Board of Trustees asked the administration of the
>Moscow
>> School district to put together a report to the board on what is
>happening
>> in each school in regards to violence prevention.  The focus was to be on
>> both physical and mental/emotional violence.  The report that came back,
>> presented in November I believe, detailed what each school was doing to
>work
>> with all students in the areas of respect, politeness, and dealing with
>> teasing/harassment.  It is my belief that we are doing a fairly good job.
>> There is always room for improvement, but each school has measures in
>place
>> to identify and correct such behaviors.
>> One of the issues that did come up, which we are working on but maybe not
>as
>> successful as we could wish, is empowering students to stand up for
>> themselves.  Students need the skills to say NO.  I feel strongly that we
>> have done what we can without specific parental and community help.
>Parents
>> need to be willing to bring problems forward, and to be willing to deal
>with
>> consequences at an early age. Only then can we begin to see the changes
>in
>> school environments that will result in fewer Littletons
>> John
>> John and Laurie Danahy
>> jdanahy@turbonet.com
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Lois Melina <lmelina@moscow.com>
>> To: John and Laurie Danahy <JDANAHY@turbonet.com>
>> Date: Wednesday, April 21, 1999 3:32 PM
>> Subject: Re: columbine h.s.
>>
>>
>> >John,
>> >Surely there are things that can be done short of turning schools into
>> >fortresses. And I don't think any school should be criticized for not
>> having
>> >those programs in place. I think some of the suggestions on V2020 are
>good
>> >ones (and some aren't). It would be helpful if you could tell us how the
>> >school district has addressed this or what you've learned that might be
>> >useful. I'd be delighted if we could reduce peer harassment, but how?
>> >Lois
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >At 12:56 PM 4/21/99 -0700, John and Laurie Danahy wrote:
>> >>To make schools absolutely safe, we would have to turn them into
>prisons.
>> >>Walls, fences, guards!  Littleton had an onsite police officer!
>Warning
>> >>signs, such as those released by the fed study last fall, are just
>warning
>> >>signs and are very subjective.  Are we to detain every student who is
>not
>> >>PC?
>> >>There is a common thread through all the shootings.  Peer harassment!!!
>> It
>> >>is our own children who have made the schools unsafe.  It is not a High
>> >>school problem, it is a K-12 problem.
>> >>
>> >>What are parents doing to end teasing and put downs by their children?
>> >>What are parents doing to help their children deal appropriately with
>> >>teasing and put-downs?
>> >>What should district staff do to support at school the parental efforts
>> >>above?
>> >>
>> >>John
>> >>John and Laurie Danahy
>> >>jdanahy@turbonet.com
>> >>-----Original Message-----
>> >>From: Lois Melina <lmelina@moscow.com>
>> >>To: vision2020@moscow.com <vision2020@moscow.com>
>> >>Date: Wednesday, April 21, 1999 10:05 AM
>> >>Subject: columbine h.s.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>>Visionaries:
>> >>>
>> >>>what, if anything,
>> >>>
>> >>>could be done
>> >>>should be done
>> >>>
>> >>>in the Moscow School District
>> >>>
>> >>>to reduce the chance of a shooting like this in our schools
>> >>>to respond should an incident like this develop?
>> >>>
>> >>>Lois Melina
>> >>>************************
>> >>>Lois Melina
>> >>>Editor, "Adopted Child" newsletter
>> >>>P.O. Box 9362
>> >>>Moscow ID 83843
>> >>>
>> >>>phone: (208)882-1794
>> >>>fax: (208)883-8035
>> >>>Lmelina@moscow.com
>> >>>www.raisingadoptedchildren.com
>> >>>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >************************
>> >Lois Melina
>> >Editor, "Adopted Child" newsletter
>> >P.O. Box 9362
>> >Moscow ID 83843
>> >
>> >phone: (208)882-1794
>> >fax: (208)883-8035
>> >Lmelina@moscow.com
>> >www.raisingadoptedchildren.com
>> >