I am sickened.
I am heartbroken.
I am outraged.
I feel helpless.
Has it been so long ago since we were children that we are unable to see how precious they are?
Are we so self-consumed that we just don't care?
Is caring really going to take away that much from our precious "Me" time?
Is tending to our Facebook farms really more important than tending to the well-being of our children?
Is reconnecting with friends from our childhood worth sacrificing the childhoods of our children?
Do we just not know?
If you don't know, please allow me to help make you aware...
Our children are being preyed upon by the very people you trust to care for them - teachers, coaches, and other school employees.
27, 000 hours - 3240 school days - the equivalent of over three full years 24/7 - children are at school from 1st - 12th grade. That doesn't account for before or after school practices for extra-curriculars, Saturday games and tournaments.
3240 SCHOOL DAYS!!!
And during that time, 4.5 million students are sexually assaulted by a school employee!
4.5 million
4, 500, 000 children
4, 500, 000 children in the United States
4, 500, 000 children in the United States under our watch!
Now let me guess, you are bothered by these statistics but it is different where you live, right? I mean, the teachers at your child's school are really good. In fact, your child's teacher has won several awards. Besides, you aren't worried. You know her teacher - he's a nice man who is married and has his own kids.
Did you know that...
- almost all educator-student predators are heterosexual?
- most are married or living in a heterosexual relationship?
- educators who prey on elementary through middle school children are often considered exceptional teachers, earning a disproportionate number of awards compared to their non-predator counterparts?
I'll bet you did not know that.
Wait, I know what you are going to say.
"That is awful! But once these teachers are discovered, there teaching careers must be over, right? If something like that was going on at my school, I would know."
A study of 225 cases of educator sexual abuse in New York showed that:
100% of the accused admitted to physical sexual abuse of a student
0 were reported to authorities
2 lost their teaching license
34 were terminated
45 only received a formal reprimand or suspension
56 teachers admitted to physically sexually abusing a student and received no consequence
88 chose to leave the district - most with good recommendations and their retirement packages intact
Superintendents reported that 14 of these teachers who admitted to physically sexually abusing a student were teaching in a different school district!
Applying those statistics to the general population would mean that the educators responsible for sexually abusing 280, 080 of our children are known to be teaching in a different area!
Pack 4 NFL football stadiums full of school children who have been physically sexually abused by a teacher and tell them all that their predator teacher is still being paid to teach children!
Marinade on that for a moment.
"Yeah, but that's New York - it's a whole different world there. But where I live..."
In a report from Washington state, of 159 coaches fired for sexual abuse of a student, 98 of them were re-employed as a youth coach. That's over 60%!
Are you outraged yet?
I live in a rather rural area of Washington state. Statistically, just within my local school district, 500 students will be sexually abused by a school employee.
500 children in our small town community!
I look at my list of Facebook friends and realize that it is likely that the child of approximately 80 of them will be sexually abused at school by a school employee.
It is highly likely that your child won't be his predators first victim, and that even if you report it that teacher will not receive any negative consequence.
Marinade on that! When your child leaves for school tomorrow, remember that.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Thursday, August 30, 2012
101 Reasons
You Owe It to Your Child to Read the List Below (Just the Titles, Not Even the Whole Article) - I Double-Dog Dare You! Then Share This with Other Parents!
There used to be a website 101 Reasons to Homeschool that tracked the most recent 101 cases of public school mishaps, shall we say, that made it into the news. Unfortunately they stopped updating the list a few years ago. However, the cases that you can find on their site are still very pertinent to today's public schools.
So, since they haven't updated their list in a while, I thought I would try to list the 101 of the most recent headlines from government schools.
The reason I am posting this and drawing attention to this is simple - our youth is being victimized. According to the 2003 report from The Safe School Coalition and the Washington State PTA, nearly 15% of sixth graders say they are often shoved, pushed, or hit by schoolmates. 15%! Statistically, that is close to 50 children at my local elementary school are likely faced with this kind of treatment often! They also report that 35% to 45% of girls in grades eight, 10, and 12 say they have been the victims of offensive sexual comments or attacks at school or on their way to or from school.
Mind you, I know a lot of wonderful people who work at schools. I'm not saying everyone is evil, not by a long shot! But, clearly, there is a huge problem.
If you are a parent, know a parent, or have a child in your life in any capacity that you even kind of care about, you owe it to them to just read the headlines below. This, by no means, a comprehensive and complete list - it is just what I found from a simple Google search. Also, please note that 20 of the stories come from this week alone! 20!
1. Aug 30, 2012 - Houston, TX - Gay Student Beat with Metal Pipe After School Employees and Bus Driver Ignored Pleas for Help
2. Aug 30, 2012 - San Francisco, CA - Deborah Fergin-Mavaega: Teacher Removed After Parents Learn She Previously Assaulted 5-year-old Student
3. Aug 30, 2012 - Gig Harbor, WA - Teacher Joins-in on Group Bullying of MIddle School Student Filmed on Video
4. Aug 30, 2012 - Harlandale, TX - Moises Garcia: Elementary School Janitor Arrested for Sexually Assaulting Two Children
5. Aug 30, 2012 - Lawrence, NJ - Derek Hildreth: Elementary School Teacher & Soccer Coach Charged with 33 Counts of Sexually Assaulting 5 Children to Appear in Court on Tuesday
6. Aug 29, 2012 - Houston, TX - Kathryn Murray: Texas Teacher Allegedly Had Sex with Student in Classroom
7. Aug 29, 2012 - Cleveland, TX - 1st case goes to trial in alleged series of sexual assaults of Texas middle school girl
8. Aug 29, 2012 - Fulton County, GA - Jolanda Gilbert: Teacher Resigns Over Relationship with Student
9. Aug 28, 2012 - Lompoc, CA - 13-year-old Brings Pellet Gun to School for Protection
10. Aug 28, 2012 - Phoenix, AZ - Dad Arrested After 13-year-old Fires Gun by School
11. Aug 28, 2012 - Pittsburgh, PA - Pittsburgh Public Schools Police Officer Investigated in Alleged Sex Assaults
12. Aug 28, 2012 - Waterloo, IA - Ex-Waterloo Teacher Sentenced for Sex with Student
15. Aug 28, 2012 - Wintersett, IA - Ex-Iowa Teacher Gets Probation in Student Sex Case
16. Aug 28, 2012 - Paramus, NJ - Evan Zauder: 6th Grade Teacher in Custody on Child Pornography Charges
17. Aug 27, 2012 - Perry Hall, MD - 15-year-old Shoots Fellow Student in Cafeteria on First Day of School
18. Aug 27, 2012 - Orange, CA - Former High School Teacher Guilty in Sex with Student.
19. Aug 27, 2012 - Knox, Indiana - Indiana Coach Arrested for Illicit Relationship After Fathering Her CHild
20. Aug 27, 2012 - Bangor, ME - Former Teacher Who Had Sex with Student Denied Work Release
21. Aug 24, 2012 - Bethel, OK - Wendy Hickman: Bethel Teacher Accused of Having Sex with Student
22. Aug 24, 2012 - Olympia, WA - Doug Galloway: Coach Disciplined After Incident at Hoops Camp
23. Aug 21, 2012 - Cedar Rapids, IA - Four Students Assaulted by Teens
24. Aug 20, 2012 - Arlington, TN - Boy Suing After Suffering Eight Nose Fractures, Collapsed Nasal Cavity, Broken Cheek Bone, Multiple Lacerations, Black Eyes, Chipped Teeth from School Bus Attack
25. Aug 16, 2012 - Fort Worth, TX - Brittni Colleps: Teacher Accused of Having Sexual Relations with 4 Students
26. Aug 15, 2012 - SC - Teen Pleads Guilty for Bringing Gun to School and Chasing Girl Down with It
27. Aug 14, 2012 - Sand Springs, OK - Steven Beard: Sand Springs teacher arrested in rape, molestation of 14-year-old student
28. June 27, 2012 - La Porte, TX - Kevin Wheeler: High School Teacher Fired and Arrested for Sexual Relationship with Student That Started on Facebook
29. June 26, 2012 - Chesapeake, VA - Teens Sexually Assault Special Needs Student on School Bus
30. June 22, 2012 - Passaic, NJ - King Jamol Perry, II: Passiac High School Coach Charged with Sexual Assault of Student
31. June 16, 2012 - Redmond, WA - Girl Allegedly Assaulted by Classmate
32. June 15, 2012 - Harlem, NY - Rafael Sosa: Harlem Teacher Accused of Sexually Abusing an 8-year-old Student
33. June 14,2012 - West Melbourne, FL - Irene Khan, Teacher, Accused of Having Sex with 14 yr old Student
34. June 13, 2012 - Richland, TX - Former Richland High School gets probation for Having Sex with Student
35. JUne 8, 2012 - Long Island, NY - John Benstock: Music Teacher Accused of Sexually Assaulting 14 of His Students, All Under 11-years-old
36. June 7, 2012 - Mahopac, NY - High School Student Assaulted on School Bus
37. June 6, 2012 - Paterson, NJ - Thomas Gibbons: Bronx Teacher Facing Sex Abuse Charges of 11-year-old
38. June 5, 2012 - Poulsbo, WA - Elementary School Teacher Allegedly Assaulted Student
39. May 30, 2012 - Huntington Station, NY - 12-year-old Girl Assaulted on School Bus After Not Saving Seat for Fellow Student
40. May 25, 2012 - Vernon, CT - Marcus Tappin:Police Have Charged a School Bus Monitor with Assaulting Student on School Bus
41. May 24, 2012 - Oklahoma - In Past Year, at LEAST 11 Teachers Accused of Inappropriate Relations with Students
42. May 23, 2012 - Belchertown, MA - Officials Investigating Assault on School Bus
43. May 23, 2012 - Ninth Grader Broken Eye Socket and Nose After Being Assaulted on School Bus
44. May 22, 2012 - St. Paul, MN - High School Student Arrested for Assaulting Classmate with Pipe at School
45. May 21, 2012 - Brooklyn, NY - Married Teacher Accused of Sex Romp with Student
46. May 21, 2012 - Tucson, AZ - Melissa Dalton, Teacher, Accused of Having Sex with Four Students
47. May 16, 2012 - Cedar Rapids, IA - Heather Adams: Teacher Arrested for Having Sex with Student in Car
48. May 11, 2012 - Riverview, FL - Chung Ramos: High School Social Studies Teacher Accused of Having Sex with Student
49. May 10, 2012 - Sammamish, WA - Teen Arrested After Attempting to Assault 10-year-old at Bus Stop
50. May 9, 2012 - Clifton, NJ - Kristin Leone: Clifton High School Teacher Accused of Having Sex with Student in Classroom
51. May 7, 2012 - Matthews, N.C. - 6th Grader Attacked on School Bus
52. May 7, 2012 - Indianapolis, IN - Mom Sends Gay Son to School with Stun Gun to Confront Bullies
53. May 7, 2012 - Kissimmee, FL - Kacy Christine Wilson, Former Teacher Allegedly Had Sex with 16 yr old Student in School Closet
54. May 5, 2012 - Fort Thomas, KY - Andrea Connors: Second North Kentucky Teacher to be Arrested for Having Sex with Student in 42 days
55. May 4, 2012 - Darlington, NC - 10-year-old Special Needs Student Assaulted by School Employees
56. May 4, 2012 - Clayton, OK - Rhonda Ford: Arrest Warrant Issued for Teacher for Sexual Relationship with Student
57. May 4, 2012 - Atlanta, GA - Bus Driver Fired, Allegedly Aware That Deaf 10-year-old Was Being Sodomized on His School Bus
58. May 3, 2012 - Washington Township, NJ - Jillian Clementi: Parochial School Teacher and Coach Accused of Having Sex wit hUnderage Student
50. May 2, 2012 - Roswell, GA - 2 Students Accused of Sexually Assaulting 10-year-old Deaf Boy on School Bus
60. April 26, 2012 - Norwood, CO - Three Teens on Wrestling Team Sodomize Fellow Teammate with Object on Bus - School Officials Failed to Report Assault to Police
61. April 19, 2012 - Cinncinati, OH - Bullied 10-year-old Boy Brings BB Gun to School
62. April 19, 2012 - Evanston, IL - Student Forced to Perform Sex Act in Stairwell of High School During School
63. April 16, 2012 - Wilmington, DE - 1st-Grader Assaulted by 5th Grader on School Bus
64. April 12, 2012 - Folsom, NJ - Hugo Sandoval: Bus Driver Sexually Assaulted 8-year-old Girl with Her 5-year-old Brother on Bus
65. April 12, 2012 - Arcadia, FL - DeSoto Teacher Arrested for Sexual Assault of Student
66. April 11, 2012 - Sand Springs, OK - Erin Queen: Sand Springs Teacher Resigns After Rape Charges
67. April 6, 2012 - Modesto, CA - James Hooker: High School Teacher Who Left Family to Be with Student Arrested for Sexual Assault of Another Student
68. April 5, 2012 - Arlington, IA - 16-year-old Boy Sexually Assaulted 13-year-old in School Wrestling Room
69. April 5, 2012 - Midland, TX - Junior High Student Assaulted in School Classroom
70. March 29, 2012 - Cinncinati, OH - Sarah Jones: High School English Teacher Arrested and Accused of Having Sex with Student
71. March 27, 2012 - Louisville, KY - 13-year-old Girl Allegedly Sexually Assaulted by Group of Boys on School Bus
72. March 25, 2012 - Cashmere, WA - Gay Teen Commits Suicide After Bullying
73. March 19, 2012 - North Ridgeville, OH - Girl Sexually Assaulted in School Library
74. March 18, 2012 - NY, NY - Chancellor Dennis Walcott Wants to Fire 20 Teachers and Teacher Assistants for Sexual Misconduct
75. March 16, 2012 - NY, NY - Johnathan Polayes: Allegations Dating As Far Back As 1994 of Teacher Sexual Misconduct with Students, Teacher Remained Employed
76. March 16, 2012 - Brooklyn, NY - Reynold Batson: Teacher Found Video-taping Boys in Restroom
77. March 15, 2012 - Staten Island, NY - Mark Sears: Teacher Aide and Assistant Football Coach Fired After Sexual Comments to Student
78. March 15, 2012 - NY, NY - Simon Wilkins: School Aide Allegedly Committed Inappropriate Sexual Conduct with 4 Students
79. March 9, 2012 - Marysville, WA - 7 Boys Punished After Girl Reports Assault on School Bus
80. March 7, 2012 - Easton, MD - 11-year-old Boy Assaulted by His School Bus Driver
81. March 6, 2012 - Long Island, NY - Kaitlin Grant: Substitute Teacher Accused of Having Sex with 15-year-old Student
82. Feb 29, 2012 - Manhattan, NY - Darryl Lynch: Hell's Kitchen High School Teacher Charged with Sex Abuse with 14-year-ols Student at School
83. Feb 25, 2012 - Bremerton, WA - 8-year-old Girl Accidentally Shot After 9-year-old Brings Gun to School
84. Feb 25, 2012 - Wayne, WV - High School Student Charged with Having a Deadly Weapon at School, Intent to Sell Pot
85. Feb 24, 2012 - Wisconsin Dells, WI - Middle School Student Assaulted on School Bus by High School Student
86. Feb 23, 2012 - Queens, NY - Brett Picou: Queen's Teacher's Aide Arrested for Sexually Abusing Six Girls
87. Feb 18, 2012 - Everett, MA - Elementary School Girl Allegedly Sexually Assaulted by Janitor in School Bathroom
88. Feb 16, 2012 - Queens, NY - Wilbert Cortez: Queens Teacher Arrested for Alleged Sex Abuse at P.S. 174
89. Feb 16, 2012 - Manhattan, NY - Gregory Atkins: P.S. 87 School Aide Indicted in Child Sex Abuse Case with 8-year-old Student
90. Feb 15, 2012 - Carmel, IN - High School Basketball Player Assaulted by Four Teammates on Team Bus
91. Feb 13, 2012 - Dayton, OH - 6-year-old Boy Assaulted on School Bus
92. Feb 10, 2012 - Montgomery, NY - 13-year-old Student Assaulted at School
93. Feb 7, 2012 - Los Angeles, CA - Miramonte: Entire Staff of LA Elementary School Replaced After Sexually Assault Charges Against Multiple Employees*
94. Feb 6, 2012 - Bedford-Stuyvesant, NY - Taleek Brown: Ex-Teacher's Aide Allegedly Produced Child Porn in Classroom
95. Feb 1, 2012 - Denver, CO - Student with Downs Syndrome Sexually Assaulted and Life Threatened on School Bus
96. Jan 25, 2012 - Bethlehem, PA - Student Assaulted for 15 Minutes While on School Bus
97. Jan 18, 2012 - Clifton, New Jersey - Security Heightened at Clinton High School After Two Sexual Assaults in Stairwell
98. Jan 7, 2012 - Kirkland, WA - Boy with Knife Assaults and Threatens Fellow Student at High School
99. Student with Autism Assaulted on School Bus
100. Jan 6, 2012 - Houston, TX - Parents Not Notified When 8-year-old Son Was Sexually Assaulted on School Bus - Twice!
101. Jan 5, 2012 - Brownsville, TX - Police Kill 8th Grader Flashing Pellet Gun at School
*There is one case, or large cluster of cases, coming out of Miramonte Elementary School In Los Angeles, CA. You really need to click here to see a timeline of the events surrounding Miramonte.
There used to be a website 101 Reasons to Homeschool that tracked the most recent 101 cases of public school mishaps, shall we say, that made it into the news. Unfortunately they stopped updating the list a few years ago. However, the cases that you can find on their site are still very pertinent to today's public schools.
So, since they haven't updated their list in a while, I thought I would try to list the 101 of the most recent headlines from government schools.
The reason I am posting this and drawing attention to this is simple - our youth is being victimized. According to the 2003 report from The Safe School Coalition and the Washington State PTA, nearly 15% of sixth graders say they are often shoved, pushed, or hit by schoolmates. 15%! Statistically, that is close to 50 children at my local elementary school are likely faced with this kind of treatment often! They also report that 35% to 45% of girls in grades eight, 10, and 12 say they have been the victims of offensive sexual comments or attacks at school or on their way to or from school.
Mind you, I know a lot of wonderful people who work at schools. I'm not saying everyone is evil, not by a long shot! But, clearly, there is a huge problem.
If you are a parent, know a parent, or have a child in your life in any capacity that you even kind of care about, you owe it to them to just read the headlines below. This, by no means, a comprehensive and complete list - it is just what I found from a simple Google search. Also, please note that 20 of the stories come from this week alone! 20!
1. Aug 30, 2012 - Houston, TX - Gay Student Beat with Metal Pipe After School Employees and Bus Driver Ignored Pleas for Help
2. Aug 30, 2012 - San Francisco, CA - Deborah Fergin-Mavaega: Teacher Removed After Parents Learn She Previously Assaulted 5-year-old Student
3. Aug 30, 2012 - Gig Harbor, WA - Teacher Joins-in on Group Bullying of MIddle School Student Filmed on Video
4. Aug 30, 2012 - Harlandale, TX - Moises Garcia: Elementary School Janitor Arrested for Sexually Assaulting Two Children
5. Aug 30, 2012 - Lawrence, NJ - Derek Hildreth: Elementary School Teacher & Soccer Coach Charged with 33 Counts of Sexually Assaulting 5 Children to Appear in Court on Tuesday
6. Aug 29, 2012 - Houston, TX - Kathryn Murray: Texas Teacher Allegedly Had Sex with Student in Classroom
7. Aug 29, 2012 - Cleveland, TX - 1st case goes to trial in alleged series of sexual assaults of Texas middle school girl
8. Aug 29, 2012 - Fulton County, GA - Jolanda Gilbert: Teacher Resigns Over Relationship with Student
9. Aug 28, 2012 - Lompoc, CA - 13-year-old Brings Pellet Gun to School for Protection
10. Aug 28, 2012 - Phoenix, AZ - Dad Arrested After 13-year-old Fires Gun by School
11. Aug 28, 2012 - Pittsburgh, PA - Pittsburgh Public Schools Police Officer Investigated in Alleged Sex Assaults
12. Aug 28, 2012 - Waterloo, IA - Ex-Waterloo Teacher Sentenced for Sex with Student
15. Aug 28, 2012 - Wintersett, IA - Ex-Iowa Teacher Gets Probation in Student Sex Case
16. Aug 28, 2012 - Paramus, NJ - Evan Zauder: 6th Grade Teacher in Custody on Child Pornography Charges
17. Aug 27, 2012 - Perry Hall, MD - 15-year-old Shoots Fellow Student in Cafeteria on First Day of School
18. Aug 27, 2012 - Orange, CA - Former High School Teacher Guilty in Sex with Student.
19. Aug 27, 2012 - Knox, Indiana - Indiana Coach Arrested for Illicit Relationship After Fathering Her CHild
20. Aug 27, 2012 - Bangor, ME - Former Teacher Who Had Sex with Student Denied Work Release
21. Aug 24, 2012 - Bethel, OK - Wendy Hickman: Bethel Teacher Accused of Having Sex with Student
22. Aug 24, 2012 - Olympia, WA - Doug Galloway: Coach Disciplined After Incident at Hoops Camp
23. Aug 21, 2012 - Cedar Rapids, IA - Four Students Assaulted by Teens
24. Aug 20, 2012 - Arlington, TN - Boy Suing After Suffering Eight Nose Fractures, Collapsed Nasal Cavity, Broken Cheek Bone, Multiple Lacerations, Black Eyes, Chipped Teeth from School Bus Attack
25. Aug 16, 2012 - Fort Worth, TX - Brittni Colleps: Teacher Accused of Having Sexual Relations with 4 Students
26. Aug 15, 2012 - SC - Teen Pleads Guilty for Bringing Gun to School and Chasing Girl Down with It
27. Aug 14, 2012 - Sand Springs, OK - Steven Beard: Sand Springs teacher arrested in rape, molestation of 14-year-old student
28. June 27, 2012 - La Porte, TX - Kevin Wheeler: High School Teacher Fired and Arrested for Sexual Relationship with Student That Started on Facebook
29. June 26, 2012 - Chesapeake, VA - Teens Sexually Assault Special Needs Student on School Bus
30. June 22, 2012 - Passaic, NJ - King Jamol Perry, II: Passiac High School Coach Charged with Sexual Assault of Student
31. June 16, 2012 - Redmond, WA - Girl Allegedly Assaulted by Classmate
32. June 15, 2012 - Harlem, NY - Rafael Sosa: Harlem Teacher Accused of Sexually Abusing an 8-year-old Student
33. June 14,2012 - West Melbourne, FL - Irene Khan, Teacher, Accused of Having Sex with 14 yr old Student
34. June 13, 2012 - Richland, TX - Former Richland High School gets probation for Having Sex with Student
35. JUne 8, 2012 - Long Island, NY - John Benstock: Music Teacher Accused of Sexually Assaulting 14 of His Students, All Under 11-years-old
36. June 7, 2012 - Mahopac, NY - High School Student Assaulted on School Bus
37. June 6, 2012 - Paterson, NJ - Thomas Gibbons: Bronx Teacher Facing Sex Abuse Charges of 11-year-old
38. June 5, 2012 - Poulsbo, WA - Elementary School Teacher Allegedly Assaulted Student
39. May 30, 2012 - Huntington Station, NY - 12-year-old Girl Assaulted on School Bus After Not Saving Seat for Fellow Student
40. May 25, 2012 - Vernon, CT - Marcus Tappin:Police Have Charged a School Bus Monitor with Assaulting Student on School Bus
41. May 24, 2012 - Oklahoma - In Past Year, at LEAST 11 Teachers Accused of Inappropriate Relations with Students
42. May 23, 2012 - Belchertown, MA - Officials Investigating Assault on School Bus
43. May 23, 2012 - Ninth Grader Broken Eye Socket and Nose After Being Assaulted on School Bus
44. May 22, 2012 - St. Paul, MN - High School Student Arrested for Assaulting Classmate with Pipe at School
45. May 21, 2012 - Brooklyn, NY - Married Teacher Accused of Sex Romp with Student
46. May 21, 2012 - Tucson, AZ - Melissa Dalton, Teacher, Accused of Having Sex with Four Students
47. May 16, 2012 - Cedar Rapids, IA - Heather Adams: Teacher Arrested for Having Sex with Student in Car
48. May 11, 2012 - Riverview, FL - Chung Ramos: High School Social Studies Teacher Accused of Having Sex with Student
49. May 10, 2012 - Sammamish, WA - Teen Arrested After Attempting to Assault 10-year-old at Bus Stop
50. May 9, 2012 - Clifton, NJ - Kristin Leone: Clifton High School Teacher Accused of Having Sex with Student in Classroom
51. May 7, 2012 - Matthews, N.C. - 6th Grader Attacked on School Bus
52. May 7, 2012 - Indianapolis, IN - Mom Sends Gay Son to School with Stun Gun to Confront Bullies
53. May 7, 2012 - Kissimmee, FL - Kacy Christine Wilson, Former Teacher Allegedly Had Sex with 16 yr old Student in School Closet
54. May 5, 2012 - Fort Thomas, KY - Andrea Connors: Second North Kentucky Teacher to be Arrested for Having Sex with Student in 42 days
55. May 4, 2012 - Darlington, NC - 10-year-old Special Needs Student Assaulted by School Employees
56. May 4, 2012 - Clayton, OK - Rhonda Ford: Arrest Warrant Issued for Teacher for Sexual Relationship with Student
57. May 4, 2012 - Atlanta, GA - Bus Driver Fired, Allegedly Aware That Deaf 10-year-old Was Being Sodomized on His School Bus
58. May 3, 2012 - Washington Township, NJ - Jillian Clementi: Parochial School Teacher and Coach Accused of Having Sex wit hUnderage Student
50. May 2, 2012 - Roswell, GA - 2 Students Accused of Sexually Assaulting 10-year-old Deaf Boy on School Bus
60. April 26, 2012 - Norwood, CO - Three Teens on Wrestling Team Sodomize Fellow Teammate with Object on Bus - School Officials Failed to Report Assault to Police
61. April 19, 2012 - Cinncinati, OH - Bullied 10-year-old Boy Brings BB Gun to School
62. April 19, 2012 - Evanston, IL - Student Forced to Perform Sex Act in Stairwell of High School During School
63. April 16, 2012 - Wilmington, DE - 1st-Grader Assaulted by 5th Grader on School Bus
64. April 12, 2012 - Folsom, NJ - Hugo Sandoval: Bus Driver Sexually Assaulted 8-year-old Girl with Her 5-year-old Brother on Bus
65. April 12, 2012 - Arcadia, FL - DeSoto Teacher Arrested for Sexual Assault of Student
66. April 11, 2012 - Sand Springs, OK - Erin Queen: Sand Springs Teacher Resigns After Rape Charges
67. April 6, 2012 - Modesto, CA - James Hooker: High School Teacher Who Left Family to Be with Student Arrested for Sexual Assault of Another Student
68. April 5, 2012 - Arlington, IA - 16-year-old Boy Sexually Assaulted 13-year-old in School Wrestling Room
69. April 5, 2012 - Midland, TX - Junior High Student Assaulted in School Classroom
70. March 29, 2012 - Cinncinati, OH - Sarah Jones: High School English Teacher Arrested and Accused of Having Sex with Student
71. March 27, 2012 - Louisville, KY - 13-year-old Girl Allegedly Sexually Assaulted by Group of Boys on School Bus
72. March 25, 2012 - Cashmere, WA - Gay Teen Commits Suicide After Bullying
73. March 19, 2012 - North Ridgeville, OH - Girl Sexually Assaulted in School Library
74. March 18, 2012 - NY, NY - Chancellor Dennis Walcott Wants to Fire 20 Teachers and Teacher Assistants for Sexual Misconduct
75. March 16, 2012 - NY, NY - Johnathan Polayes: Allegations Dating As Far Back As 1994 of Teacher Sexual Misconduct with Students, Teacher Remained Employed
76. March 16, 2012 - Brooklyn, NY - Reynold Batson: Teacher Found Video-taping Boys in Restroom
77. March 15, 2012 - Staten Island, NY - Mark Sears: Teacher Aide and Assistant Football Coach Fired After Sexual Comments to Student
78. March 15, 2012 - NY, NY - Simon Wilkins: School Aide Allegedly Committed Inappropriate Sexual Conduct with 4 Students
79. March 9, 2012 - Marysville, WA - 7 Boys Punished After Girl Reports Assault on School Bus
80. March 7, 2012 - Easton, MD - 11-year-old Boy Assaulted by His School Bus Driver
81. March 6, 2012 - Long Island, NY - Kaitlin Grant: Substitute Teacher Accused of Having Sex with 15-year-old Student
82. Feb 29, 2012 - Manhattan, NY - Darryl Lynch: Hell's Kitchen High School Teacher Charged with Sex Abuse with 14-year-ols Student at School
83. Feb 25, 2012 - Bremerton, WA - 8-year-old Girl Accidentally Shot After 9-year-old Brings Gun to School
84. Feb 25, 2012 - Wayne, WV - High School Student Charged with Having a Deadly Weapon at School, Intent to Sell Pot
85. Feb 24, 2012 - Wisconsin Dells, WI - Middle School Student Assaulted on School Bus by High School Student
86. Feb 23, 2012 - Queens, NY - Brett Picou: Queen's Teacher's Aide Arrested for Sexually Abusing Six Girls
87. Feb 18, 2012 - Everett, MA - Elementary School Girl Allegedly Sexually Assaulted by Janitor in School Bathroom
88. Feb 16, 2012 - Queens, NY - Wilbert Cortez: Queens Teacher Arrested for Alleged Sex Abuse at P.S. 174
89. Feb 16, 2012 - Manhattan, NY - Gregory Atkins: P.S. 87 School Aide Indicted in Child Sex Abuse Case with 8-year-old Student
90. Feb 15, 2012 - Carmel, IN - High School Basketball Player Assaulted by Four Teammates on Team Bus
91. Feb 13, 2012 - Dayton, OH - 6-year-old Boy Assaulted on School Bus
92. Feb 10, 2012 - Montgomery, NY - 13-year-old Student Assaulted at School
93. Feb 7, 2012 - Los Angeles, CA - Miramonte: Entire Staff of LA Elementary School Replaced After Sexually Assault Charges Against Multiple Employees*
94. Feb 6, 2012 - Bedford-Stuyvesant, NY - Taleek Brown: Ex-Teacher's Aide Allegedly Produced Child Porn in Classroom
95. Feb 1, 2012 - Denver, CO - Student with Downs Syndrome Sexually Assaulted and Life Threatened on School Bus
96. Jan 25, 2012 - Bethlehem, PA - Student Assaulted for 15 Minutes While on School Bus
97. Jan 18, 2012 - Clifton, New Jersey - Security Heightened at Clinton High School After Two Sexual Assaults in Stairwell
98. Jan 7, 2012 - Kirkland, WA - Boy with Knife Assaults and Threatens Fellow Student at High School
99. Student with Autism Assaulted on School Bus
100. Jan 6, 2012 - Houston, TX - Parents Not Notified When 8-year-old Son Was Sexually Assaulted on School Bus - Twice!
101. Jan 5, 2012 - Brownsville, TX - Police Kill 8th Grader Flashing Pellet Gun at School
*There is one case, or large cluster of cases, coming out of Miramonte Elementary School In Los Angeles, CA. You really need to click here to see a timeline of the events surrounding Miramonte.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
The No-Nagging Chore System
With four children under ten years old, I am sooooo sick of spending my day telling, reminding, and nagging them to do their chores!
So, I created the No-Nag Chore System.
I broke the day into 3 parts - morning, noon, and evening. Then I made a board, about 4"x15". I painted it and put the child's name on it. I installed four hooks and labeled them "Morning," "Noon," "Night," and "Done." I made one board for each child.
Because most of my kids are not readers yet, I took pictures of each child doing each chore I wanted done in a day. Then I used the photographs to make hanging tags - one for each chore.
I hung the tags on the hooks in their respective order. After a child does a chore, they move the tag to the "Done" hook. At the end of the day, we review the tags and I pay them the tickets they have earned.
Rules:
If they do not complete all of their normal chores, they don't earn any tickets.
Each normal chore is worth 1 ticket.
Each ticket can be redeemed for either $.20, 5 minutes of screen time, or 1 special event credit.
Each child has different color tickets so as to completely avoid any arguments over "She stole my ticket" or "I lost my tickets and he found them." Nobody is allowed to trade or redeem any ticket that is not their color.
Special Events: They can save up their tickets and earn things like:
25 tickets = Game of bowling
100 tickets = sleepover
150 tickets = date with Mommy or Daddy
150 tickets = camp-out in the backyard
200 tickets = trip to waterside park
You get the idea.
Each day a child has 15 chores. The younger the child, the more I broke down the tasks. The preschooler gets a tag for getting dressed and another one for putting his pi's in the hamper.
I made a fourth board labeled "Extra."
If they want more money, screen time, or tickets for a special event they can select a chore from the "Extra" board.
Two keys rules:
First, their normal chores must be completed for that part of the day before they can earn extra tickets. Doing their math work is required daily and earns them 1 ticket. However, if after doing their normally assigned work they can earn 3 extra tickets by doing extra math.
Second, the "extras" are first come, first served. I don't need each child to take out the trash in one day. Once a child has done his chores, he is free to select as many or few extra chores as he wants. There is incentive in getting their daily chores done in a timely fashion so as to beat the others to the extra board so they can pick the chores they prefer to complete.
So, I created the No-Nag Chore System.
I broke the day into 3 parts - morning, noon, and evening. Then I made a board, about 4"x15". I painted it and put the child's name on it. I installed four hooks and labeled them "Morning," "Noon," "Night," and "Done." I made one board for each child.
Because most of my kids are not readers yet, I took pictures of each child doing each chore I wanted done in a day. Then I used the photographs to make hanging tags - one for each chore.
Each chore tag also specifies how many tickets they earn by doing that chore.
I hung the tags on the hooks in their respective order. After a child does a chore, they move the tag to the "Done" hook. At the end of the day, we review the tags and I pay them the tickets they have earned.
Rules:
If they do not complete all of their normal chores, they don't earn any tickets.
Each normal chore is worth 1 ticket.
Each ticket can be redeemed for either $.20, 5 minutes of screen time, or 1 special event credit.
Each child has different color tickets so as to completely avoid any arguments over "She stole my ticket" or "I lost my tickets and he found them." Nobody is allowed to trade or redeem any ticket that is not their color.
Special Events: They can save up their tickets and earn things like:
25 tickets = Game of bowling
100 tickets = sleepover
150 tickets = date with Mommy or Daddy
150 tickets = camp-out in the backyard
200 tickets = trip to waterside park
You get the idea.
Each day a child has 15 chores. The younger the child, the more I broke down the tasks. The preschooler gets a tag for getting dressed and another one for putting his pi's in the hamper.
I made a fourth board labeled "Extra."
If they want more money, screen time, or tickets for a special event they can select a chore from the "Extra" board.
Two keys rules:
First, their normal chores must be completed for that part of the day before they can earn extra tickets. Doing their math work is required daily and earns them 1 ticket. However, if after doing their normally assigned work they can earn 3 extra tickets by doing extra math.
Second, the "extras" are first come, first served. I don't need each child to take out the trash in one day. Once a child has done his chores, he is free to select as many or few extra chores as he wants. There is incentive in getting their daily chores done in a timely fashion so as to beat the others to the extra board so they can pick the chores they prefer to complete.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Tall Painting
I had seen the video of New York-based artist Holton Rower making a "Tall Painting." I knew I wanted to do this with my children, but at the time we were in the middle of a rainy Pacific Northwest spring.
Today, however, when the kids complained about my "no screen time" rule for the morning, I had a "bright-idea" flash - let's do tall painting! It was a hot blue-skied day. We had paint left-over from painting Samantha's bedroom. It was perfect!
I had been saving some containers from Nicholas and Matthew's favorite animal crackers from Costco. The bottom was concave so I wasn't sure how that would affect the flow of the paint. We ended up using them with their lids, and then stacked a plastic cup and a tealight candle container on top.
Today, however, when the kids complained about my "no screen time" rule for the morning, I had a "bright-idea" flash - let's do tall painting! It was a hot blue-skied day. We had paint left-over from painting Samantha's bedroom. It was perfect!
I had been saving some containers from Nicholas and Matthew's favorite animal crackers from Costco. The bottom was concave so I wasn't sure how that would affect the flow of the paint. We ended up using them with their lids, and then stacked a plastic cup and a tealight candle container on top.
Each child got cups filled halfway with each color of paint.
And then, we poured...
And poured...
And poured...
And poured!
I can't decide which turned out cooler,
the paint as it dripped down the sides...
Or the paint that pooled at the bottom.
In case you are wondering where the baby was during all of this,
he was picking flowers for Mommy, of course!
That is, until he gave up hope of an end to our art
and decided to take a nap.
After scooting through grass with wet paint,
Nicholas and I were off to bath time!
When I went to check on Matthew and Samantha,
who were still outside,
I saw this...
My final review - this is a great creative experience!
Wear grubby clothes!
Use objects and paint you already have
(or get mis-mixed paint from hardware store for free)
And most importantly.
DO NOT TURN YOUR BACK ON THE CHILDREN!
Monday, July 2, 2012
Is it just me or... Fundraisers
Is it just me, or is the term "fundraiser" being used much too loosely?
When I hear the word "fundraiser" I think of trying to make money to benefit a group that is focused on helping people in one way or another, like a school or a Girl Scouts troop or a MOPS/ MOMSnext group. When someone asks me to participate in a fundraiser - to buy something, donate something, or use my time to work on the fundraiser - I expect that they are requesting that I give freely of my resources to further a cause of some sort.
I have participated in many fundraisers as a child - selling Girl Scout cookies, magazine subscriptions, gift wrapping, etc. As an adult I have purchased many things that I was not actually in the market for - such as candy bars, gift wrapping, decorations, magazine subscriptions, discount cards, and event tickets. That doesn't even begin to cover the items I have bid on at benefit auctions. I have dedicated significant amounts of time to work on auctions, photography selling fundraisers, scrapbooking retreat, and an art fair. ALL of it has been for groups that help others. Ok, except for one amazing fundraising to help cover the costs associated with a wonderful woman who was fighting breast cancer.
But is it ok to ask me to donate my precious resources to advance your personal gain?
Also, is it ok to flood the fundraising "marketplace" with personal fundraisers even though doing so limits participation in fundraisers for groups who rely on fundraising to keep their group or cause going? As the coordinator of an outreach ministry, I have had people/ businesses decline to help our fundraising efforts because they have been tapped out by the many other "causes" in the area.
I guess I see a difference between Awesome Space Camp raising money to provide for scholarships to their camp vs. me having a "fundraiser" to get the money to send my child to Awesome Space Camp. Though isn't the real difference a matter of who is holding the fundraiser since the proceeds would basically go to the same place? Kind of like it not being proper to have a wedding shower for yourself (and actually, etiquette says not to hold one for your descendent).
I've seen people hold fund raisers to get money for adoption costs. Would you come wash cars or sell candy bars to get money to pay for the costs I incurred as a result of my pregnancy and delivery of Nicholas?
I am wondering how my friends and community would respond if I wanted to have people participate in a fund raiser to get money so my child could go to a Tae Kwon Do tournament. What if his studio was paying for him to go, but we didn't have the money to make it into a family vacation like we want to. Would that be ok? What about to pay for orthodontics for my daughter? What about for John & I to go on vacation for our wedding anniversary? We don't have the money to pay for any of these things. Would you support a fund raiser for any of these things? Why or why not?
When I hear the word "fundraiser" I think of trying to make money to benefit a group that is focused on helping people in one way or another, like a school or a Girl Scouts troop or a MOPS/ MOMSnext group. When someone asks me to participate in a fundraiser - to buy something, donate something, or use my time to work on the fundraiser - I expect that they are requesting that I give freely of my resources to further a cause of some sort.
I have participated in many fundraisers as a child - selling Girl Scout cookies, magazine subscriptions, gift wrapping, etc. As an adult I have purchased many things that I was not actually in the market for - such as candy bars, gift wrapping, decorations, magazine subscriptions, discount cards, and event tickets. That doesn't even begin to cover the items I have bid on at benefit auctions. I have dedicated significant amounts of time to work on auctions, photography selling fundraisers, scrapbooking retreat, and an art fair. ALL of it has been for groups that help others. Ok, except for one amazing fundraising to help cover the costs associated with a wonderful woman who was fighting breast cancer.
But is it ok to ask me to donate my precious resources to advance your personal gain?
Also, is it ok to flood the fundraising "marketplace" with personal fundraisers even though doing so limits participation in fundraisers for groups who rely on fundraising to keep their group or cause going? As the coordinator of an outreach ministry, I have had people/ businesses decline to help our fundraising efforts because they have been tapped out by the many other "causes" in the area.
I guess I see a difference between Awesome Space Camp raising money to provide for scholarships to their camp vs. me having a "fundraiser" to get the money to send my child to Awesome Space Camp. Though isn't the real difference a matter of who is holding the fundraiser since the proceeds would basically go to the same place? Kind of like it not being proper to have a wedding shower for yourself (and actually, etiquette says not to hold one for your descendent).
I've seen people hold fund raisers to get money for adoption costs. Would you come wash cars or sell candy bars to get money to pay for the costs I incurred as a result of my pregnancy and delivery of Nicholas?
I am wondering how my friends and community would respond if I wanted to have people participate in a fund raiser to get money so my child could go to a Tae Kwon Do tournament. What if his studio was paying for him to go, but we didn't have the money to make it into a family vacation like we want to. Would that be ok? What about to pay for orthodontics for my daughter? What about for John & I to go on vacation for our wedding anniversary? We don't have the money to pay for any of these things. Would you support a fund raiser for any of these things? Why or why not?
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Miracle Party
If you haven't already, take a moment to look back at my previous posts to hear the story of how my miracle baby came to be.
We had a circus themed party with us, Grandma, Aunt Kelly and Cousin Brookie,
and the Johnson clan.
The Birthday Boy!
The Big Top cakes I made
I had thoughts of making them more detailed and a more polished look
with fondant, but decided to make it so Nicholas could easily eat it.
And, inside it was quite pretty,
with different frosting flavors between layers.
If you look at the picture above, in the corner
you can see where somebody
signed the tablecloth on the cake table.
Each year I intend to use this tablecloth
and have Nicholas's loved ones write a
short note to him. It will become a
precious keepsake from his childhood.
I want him to always know how deeply loved he is!
I strung pictures of Nicholas,
one from each month of his first year,
across the food table.
I also took a picture of Nicholas holding a picture of himself as a newborn.
My plan is to continue this photo on each of his birthdays,
so that by the time he is a grown man he will have
a single picture in which he can see himself grow up.
Happy first birthday, my precious Nicholas!
If you ever wonder if miracles happen..
If you ever wonder if miracles happen...
Let me assure you, they do!
Just as the reality of being pregnant with baby# 4 was sinking in, I was rushed to the E.R. and told they were going to perform surgery to remove an ectopic pregnancy. I hadn't planned on getting pregnant, but I was already madly in love with this baby. I have never been so scared in my life. (Well, ok, I was just as scared twice before, but that is a whole other story.)
My husband and I immediately began praying. I prayed that God would cover my baby with the veil of protection, that something would happen and I would be able to keep my baby, that He give my doctors wisdom in treating me.
It was the E.R. doctor who said I had an ectopic pregnancy and he was sending me to surgery. I called 911 after collapsing from an unbelievable pain in my lower left pelvic region. I was home alone with my three children, then ages 2, 5, and 8 years. The pain was so bad that I literally could not get off the floor. I had suspected it was an ectopic pregnancy. The paramedics suspected it was an ectopic pregnancy. But hearing those words was still shocking.
An ultrasound technician came in and did an ultrasound on me. After that, the OB/GYN that was to perform my surgery came in to talk to us. In speaking with him, I said that the ultrasound tech had mentioned seeing "something" in my uterus in addition to the "pregnancy" on my fallopian tube. I know techs aren't supposed to say anything to the patient about what they see, but I praise God that this tech slipped up!
After taking a second look himself, the OB/GYN said I had "something" in my uterus and "something" on my fallopian tube, but because my pregnancy was so new it was impossible to say with certainty which one was the embryo. In fact, there was even a chance that it was twins that has attached in two different locations.
If they operated and I had a viable pregnancy in my uterus, it was likely that the pregnancy would be disrupted and would not survive. It was also possible that my fallopian tube would no longer work. Not that we were planning on having any more children, but I still did not like the sound of that. However, if they did not operate and it was an ectopic pregnancy, it could burst and also cost me my tube if not my life. Those were the options.
I praise God for sending Dr. Bynum to care for me that day. I had never met Dr. Bynum before that day. As it turns out, he is the business partner of the new OB/GYN I had an appt with the following week. Dr. Bynum saw how much we wanted to give this pregnancy ever chance to survive so he agreed to not operate if I would remain in the hospital under observation. They would check my blood for hCG levels and perform another ultrasound each day to see which "something" started developing.
The very next day the doctor could see the beginning of a placenta and embryo in my uterus. I had ultrasounds done every other day for two weeks - what an amazing experience to watch my child develop from the earliest visually detectable stages!
EIght months later, Nicholas James was born!
- Psalm 139:13-16:
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