mimi June 19, 2013 at 01:01 pm
Mental illness is at the core of every one of these incidents. It includes parents who…Read More abuse/neglect their children, as well as students who commit mass murders and other acts of antisocial behavior (bullying, cutting, fire setting, animal cruelty, habitual lies. habitual stealing, etc).
This is how to identify "at risk" individuals:
1. Every student will be required to undergo a psychological evaluation at the beginning of every school year by the school psychologist.
2. The parent/caregiver of each student (who is identified
as "at risk") must meet with a licensed mental health professional to discuss various treatment options available and decide on a plan.
3. If the parents do not follow up with the agreed on plan (be it medication, psychotherapy, residential care)) than legal action will be filed against the parent/caregiver.
4. Parents will be required to produce monthly documentation of ongoing treatment (along with a progress report) to school officials. This info will remain in the student's permanent file.
5. All students (whether at risk or not) must participate in a weekly "show & tell" to present to their classmates and teacher anything that happened over the last 7 days that made him/her happy or sad.
6. If/when the teacher perceives a problem that is potentially serious, he/she will report it to school officials. The parents will be contacted by the school psychologist who will meet and discuss the issue, along with various solution options.
7. Every community will offer weekly "healthy parenting" classes to interested adult members of the community. Each meeting will include questions and answers, along with options/suggestions for problem solving.
I know this is a lot to ask, but it is imperative if we are serious about reducing community vioence.
Joanne June 19, 2013 at 03:10 pm
Glenn, your 'eloquent' and 'thoughtful' comments leave me speechless with anticipation as to what…Read More you will suggest in place of the community recommendations to help these people. I'm sure you know the expression that a "thinking person does not criticize without providing ideas for a remedy".
Juliam June 19, 2013 at 03:40 pm
Crowding, poverty, alienation, and mental illness......Not being able to engage our at risk youth in…Read More constructive and useful pursuits. I don't think we can teach everything in schools. However, tolerating and dealing with difference of opinion, agreeing to disagree is useful. And last: why these guns are so easily available everywhere?
B June 19, 2013 at 02:51 pm
How about being fair and making all bicyclists not only have a license but insurance? There are more…Read More violations from bicycles- yet they never get punished. Every day I witnesses them running red lights and stop signs. They cause a lot of accidents, but never have to pay. Nor do they pay for road repair! We have spent millions of dollars to make special lanes for them to drive in-yet they zig zag up into the sidewalk or ride on the other side of the street where there isn't a bike lane and prevent traffic from flowing. They are an out of control nuisance!
andy k. liberman June 19, 2013 at 07:11 am
Another way to transport groceries is to try to get a good folding cart with good wheels for the…Read More trek. You could take more of a load, and probably wouldn't strain your back.
Boards
All Boards » stewart resmer June 18, 2013 at 02:35 pm
Vice President Joe Biden tried Tuesday to rally Congress to act on gun control legislation, saying…Read More that "the country has changed and [politicians] will pay a political price for not getting engaged and dealing with gun safety."
"As proud as the president and I am of the progress we have made, we need Congress to act," Biden said in a speech delivered at the White House. "The American people are demanding it. We need to make sure that the voices of the ones we lost are the loudest ones we here in this fight."
Specifically, Biden was referring to politicians like Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), who saw her approval rating plummet after she voted against legislation that would expand background checks. Sen. Jeff Flake's (R-AZ) and Sen. Mark Begich's (D-AK) ratings also took a nosedive. On the otherside, Democrats in red states, like Sens. Mary Landrieu (LA) and Kay Hagan (NC), got a slight boost in their approval ratings after they voted in favor of the gun control legislation.
The vice president also released a set of federal guidelines Tuesday for developing high quality emergency operations for schools, higher education institutions and places of worship.
"We made sure the guide reflects all the lessons we've learned over the years," he said.
Truck Flips at 26th St. and San Vicente Accident
Accident on the Santa Monica-Brentwood border sends one person to the hospital.
Comment Recommend Matthew Sanderson (Editor)