vision2020
Re: Moscow suicide
Carol:
It may be time for parents and students to rally. Why not develop parent/student
support teams where together adults and school aged children monitor and support at
risk and troubled students throughout their adolescence. The school district,
social services, police departments, etc. could refer names to the group. The team
would then contact the at risk student, if possible, get involved with student and
monitor his/her success though out his/her school years. I say success because
with this type of support, all youth should succeed. All information exchanged
between the troubled youth and the parent/student group would be strictly
confidential, thereby creating a safe environment for the individual. We don't
give our public educational system enough money to effectively monitor our
children's psychological well being, and with the confidentiality issue, this may
not be the best use of funds anyway. There might also be some grant opportunities
in this regard. I would be willing to help spearhead such a project if there is
enough community support.
Relene Johnson
"Carol M. Stiff" wrote:
> The students at Moscow High School were brought together in the gym around 3
> p.m. yesterday and told about the suicide. I do not know the details. The
> students were told the student's name, and counselors were apparently available
> to help. As a follow-up, my daughter's teacher called last night to see how my
> daughter was handling the situation. The teacher was not able to provide any
> details. Night classes were cancelled, and counselors are supposed to be
> available today at school to help the students through this.
>
> In discussing this with my daughter last night, she thought one of the problems
> that many students face is the lack of someone to confide in. Parents are not
> always "accessible" and teachers and other school officials are bound by law to
> report drug use, etc. and therefore cannot maintain confidentiality.
>
> carol
>
> ----------
> | From: bill london <bill_london@hotmail.com>
> | To: vision2020@moscow.com
> | Cc: dpettit@lmtribune.com
> | Subject: Moscow suicide
> | Date: Wednesday, April 28, 1999 9:24 AM
> |
> | Did you hear the rumors floating around Moscow last night (Tuesday
> | night) about the suicide of a Moscow High student? John Cronin noted
> | earlier on this list that he heard that same rumor. I did as well.
> |
> | So, to verify, last night I called the city editor of the Lewiston
> | Morning Tribune (Diane Pettit). Yes, she had also heard the rumors,
> | but was not able to verify this because (as I understand it) nobody in
> | the Latah County Sheriff's Office or Moscow City Police or Moscow
> | School District was willing to talk about this on the record. She
> | assumed that someone would issue a press release today. So, nothing
> | about the suicide (if there was one) appeared in the Tribune today.
> |
> | I don't think that is good enough. I think the public has a right to
> | know this information and that it is the responsibility of the
> | police/school to pass that info on as quickly as possible.
> |
> | The public needs to know if it is true or not. In this era of copycat
> | suicides/violence by students, it is important for teachers/parents to
> | know as soon as possible if there was a suicide.
> |
> | The rumors were flying, and the media was ready to print the truth. I
> | think the local authorities need to make that truth available to the
> | media as soon as they know it. Yes, and if that means establishing a
> | meaningful communication system for contacts after 5pm, then let's get
> | it together.
> | BL
> |
> | _______________________________________________________________
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