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Cyberbullying

Recently, Parents are reporting that kids are being bullied at school at an alarming rate.  Their first concerns were ignored because school officials didn't see the urgency and felt that it was harmless horseplay that started years ago.  The problem is that the hoseplay is now in cyberspace, and now involves more than just a small circle of bystanders-it's now on the internet. I came across this video on youtube about a father whose son committed suicide after being bullied on the internet. Georgia has now responded to the problem by passing an anti-bullying bill last year. Anti-Bullying Bill Unfortunately, it took suicides and lawsuits for parents and children to be taken seriouly.

Reforming the Juvenile Justice System

I was concerned about the teen crime rate in my area  and was prompted to do research to see what was being done.  One county in Georgia has chosen to reuse old mobile homes previously used by the schools before permanent buildings were completed.  The mobile homes are strategically placed throughout the county and house deputies who are accessible, and can respond immediately if there are problems. Trailers as Substations  This same county increased school resource officers in 2004 and have increased referrals into the justice system from 89 to 1400.  Although all these plans make perfect sense, none of these plans included the overcrowded conditions at the detention centers, and how so few judges would handle the additional workload.  In my research, I came across this video on youtube about a Judge who is confronting teen problems and also involving the parents.  I hope you like it.

The largest and the best

Georgia's largest school district, Gwinnett County Public schools has been cited as 1 of the best in the nation. They have always been aggressive in their instructional style, and it shows in their 84% graduation rate, with 90% of those attending college or other post secondary training.  Gwinnett County Schools  The system won $1 Million last year in college scholarships for low income students in their districts.  Their population is made up of 28% Black and 25% Hispanic.  When regular school ends at 2:30 pm, their community school offers classes for students, parents and the surrounding community from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm Monday thru Friday, and some special classes are held on Saturdays. All types of classes are offered from ballet, yoga,math,english, and defensive driving to cooking, arts and crafts, and computer. They have also partnered with a company called Georgia Public Web which provides internet services for all the schools and universities in the area.  Georgia Public Web: Your Hometown Connection Recently, they have had districts from out of state contacting them for advice on things they can do to have the success that Gwinnett County has experienced.

The Powder Keg Effect

The buzz this week is the fate of Atlanta Public Schools located in the urban part of the city.  They have been placed on probation, and are in jeopardy of losing their accreditation for changing answers on the CRCT Test forms.  I refer to the situation as a powder keg, because it has been a ticking time bomb for a few years.  The pressure of making the students appear to have made improvements over previous years, added to the pressure of principals and teachers being threatened with firings and /or demotions.  At one point, it looked as though the school system was on the right track.  They were pouring money into computers and software.  There were also centers that provided free computer access and training.  Community Technology Centers Although well meaning, the centers were not opened at convenient hours, and only provided basic training for those students and parents who had no computer at home. Unfortunately, there are no winners in the powder keg effect. After the investigation is complete, some teachers and principals will probably still lose their jobs.  Hopefully, students' admission applications will be accepted in the colleges of their choice.