The Way I See It - In case you missed it
In case you missed it
By Doug Dickerson
What's done to children, they will do to society
- Karl Menninger
In case you missed it... last week, the Portland, Maine School Committee approved a plan that allows the health center of King Middle School to provide birth control pills and patches to sixth grade students. Yes, I said sixth grade! The services that are provided do not require parental notification, in fact, parental notification is outlawed. From what I have read, under Maine state law, once a parent has signed a waiver allowing a child to be treated at a school clinic in case of sickness or injury, specific treatment is "confidential." Students then decide for themselves whether to tell their parents about the services they receive....little by little, your parental rights are being taken away from you.
In case you missed it... last week, the Associated Press reported the findings of 2,500 cases over five years in which educators were punished for actions from bizarre to sadistic. The seven-month investigation found 2,570 educators whose teaching credentials were revoked, denied, surrendered or sanctioned from 2001 through 2005 following allegations of sexual misconduct. Young people were the victims in at least 1,801 of the cases, and more than eighty percent of them were students. At least half the educators who were punished by their states were also convicted of crimes related to their misconduct... you had better pay attention to who is teaching your child.
In case you missed it...last week, a teaching assistant at Stall High School was arrested, charged with three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor for allegedly having sexual relations with a 16-year old student. The teacher will not face charges in connection with any sexual encounter because in South Carolina the age of consent is 16...our laws should punish predators, not protect them.
In case you missed it...we are in the midst of a culture war in our society. A battle is under way for the hearts and minds of our children and we must remain vigilant. I would simply remind us that our classrooms are not social experiment labs as is the case in Maine. Why would a school district distribute birth control products to sixth graders without parental consent and think that they have the best interest of the child at heart when what they do deliberately subverts the authority of the parent?
Is there anyone besides me who thinks that our laws are broken when a teaching assistant in a local school will not be charged in connection with a sexual encounter because our law says that 16 is the age of consent? When laws facilitate criminal activity; especially with our children, instead of punishing it, something is desperately wrong.
The overwhelming majority of the teachers and workers in our schools are good, gifted, hard-working, caring individuals. The dedication I see in them is an inspiration. Each week I have the privilege of being in one of our local public schools somewhere in the county. It's one of the highlights of the week when I go and see first hand the wonderful job they are doing. I come away from the visits inspired and encouraged by the faithful dedication of the many wonderful teachers, guidance counselors, principals, and support staff who daily commit themselves to the education of our children. Berkeley County is blessed to have these devoted, caring educators in our schools.
Someone once said that the philosophy of the schoolroom in one generation will be the philosophy of the government in the next. It's time as parents to be proactive and know what is happening in the lives of our most cherished possession, our children, and that the sacred trust is not violated. I just thought you might like to know these things, just in case you missed it.
Doug can be reached at editor@berkeleyind.com or you can call him at 843-761-6397.
By Doug Dickerson
What's done to children, they will do to society
- Karl Menninger
In case you missed it... last week, the Portland, Maine School Committee approved a plan that allows the health center of King Middle School to provide birth control pills and patches to sixth grade students. Yes, I said sixth grade! The services that are provided do not require parental notification, in fact, parental notification is outlawed. From what I have read, under Maine state law, once a parent has signed a waiver allowing a child to be treated at a school clinic in case of sickness or injury, specific treatment is "confidential." Students then decide for themselves whether to tell their parents about the services they receive....little by little, your parental rights are being taken away from you.
In case you missed it... last week, the Associated Press reported the findings of 2,500 cases over five years in which educators were punished for actions from bizarre to sadistic. The seven-month investigation found 2,570 educators whose teaching credentials were revoked, denied, surrendered or sanctioned from 2001 through 2005 following allegations of sexual misconduct. Young people were the victims in at least 1,801 of the cases, and more than eighty percent of them were students. At least half the educators who were punished by their states were also convicted of crimes related to their misconduct... you had better pay attention to who is teaching your child.
In case you missed it...last week, a teaching assistant at Stall High School was arrested, charged with three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor for allegedly having sexual relations with a 16-year old student. The teacher will not face charges in connection with any sexual encounter because in South Carolina the age of consent is 16...our laws should punish predators, not protect them.
In case you missed it...we are in the midst of a culture war in our society. A battle is under way for the hearts and minds of our children and we must remain vigilant. I would simply remind us that our classrooms are not social experiment labs as is the case in Maine. Why would a school district distribute birth control products to sixth graders without parental consent and think that they have the best interest of the child at heart when what they do deliberately subverts the authority of the parent?
Is there anyone besides me who thinks that our laws are broken when a teaching assistant in a local school will not be charged in connection with a sexual encounter because our law says that 16 is the age of consent? When laws facilitate criminal activity; especially with our children, instead of punishing it, something is desperately wrong.
The overwhelming majority of the teachers and workers in our schools are good, gifted, hard-working, caring individuals. The dedication I see in them is an inspiration. Each week I have the privilege of being in one of our local public schools somewhere in the county. It's one of the highlights of the week when I go and see first hand the wonderful job they are doing. I come away from the visits inspired and encouraged by the faithful dedication of the many wonderful teachers, guidance counselors, principals, and support staff who daily commit themselves to the education of our children. Berkeley County is blessed to have these devoted, caring educators in our schools.
Someone once said that the philosophy of the schoolroom in one generation will be the philosophy of the government in the next. It's time as parents to be proactive and know what is happening in the lives of our most cherished possession, our children, and that the sacred trust is not violated. I just thought you might like to know these things, just in case you missed it.
Doug can be reached at editor@berkeleyind.com or you can call him at 843-761-6397.
posted by Doug Dickerson | 3:54 AM
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