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

13. Aug 28, 2012 - Norwalk, OH - Alexa Nasonti: Teacher Pleads Guilty to Sex with Student After Police Find Them Together in Parked Car

14. Aug 28, 2012 - Bluff City, TN - Sherri Lynn Baffa: Teacher Arrested After Husband Finds Camera with Photos of Her and 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.

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. 

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.