Rant!

[MorelCabin]

When I was younger, the school used to try to get me to sign stuff and I would always write "Signed under duress" - then my name.
I think the school is out of line on this one. Unless there was some sort of violence, they should have waited for you to be there before pursuing anything.

If the woman was really videotaping them, I hope she's got a shot of your son just standing on the sidewalk. You'd think they would be asking her some serious questions, hard to believe there was absolutely no reason for those boys to knock on her door.

What a great idea, signing under duress...one that I am definitely going to pass on to my children. I had an appointment with the VP today...and my son is not involved...the video tape proved it. The VP tried to say that he didn't know whether my son may have perhaps been involved at other times, if there were other times that the kids appraoched this woman....UGH...anything to push a 'program'... apperently the program is to discuss what consequences would be put in place for the ones who were involved, and the ones who were not got to have thier say...COMEON! As if my son wants to take responsibility for doling out punishment to his peers! THat's what adults are for!
I came right out and said...sounds to me like this program is a direct form of 'job creation'...what, the school can't handle small issues themselves, now they have to call in mental health authorities as middle men? I also said that if they happen to come up with proof that my son had any involvement I would be open to discussing consequences...not programs....
I got a sour taste in my mouth for social workers and programs earlier this year when my 18 year old daughter found herself pregnant. The doctors office signed her up for a voluntary program...with a social worker who dredged up everything she could about my daughters past so she could take the baby away from her at birth...and they almost got away with it until my daughter smelled a rat and called me in to help her. She was dismissed from that 'voluntary program pretty quickly and thank goodness we still have our grandaughter! And my daughter has proven to be a great mom! Long story but it was dreadful...I don't trust social workers. Period!

 

[ducks4you]

I think the school is out of line on this one. Unless there was some sort of violence, they should have waited for you to be there before pursuing anything.

If the woman was really videotaping them, I hope she's got a shot of your son just standing on the sidewalk. You'd think they would be asking her some serious questions, hard to believe there was absolutely no reason for those boys to knock on her door.

Agreed. (I am a former MS teacher.) OBVIOUSLY the school is treading on your son's rights. Get your lawyer involved and demand a copy of the tape from this women and get involved with her in a legal battle--the school only has the right to involve itself on school-property student-involved issues. I wouldn't trust another student to peer-mentor your son as far as I could throw the peer-mentor. Schools don't know how to pick them. Often the peer-mentors are popular students who humiliate the students being mentored. (Remember the story: "Lord of the Flies"?)
IF it turns out that your son is lying to you, your participation will be a great life-lesson for him, if he is innocent, he'll be happy that you are sticking up for him.

 

[MorelCabin]

I think the school is out of line on this one. Unless there was some sort of violence, they should have waited for you to be there before pursuing anything.

If the woman was really videotaping them, I hope she's got a shot of your son just standing on the sidewalk. You'd think they would be asking her some serious questions, hard to believe there was absolutely no reason for those boys to knock on her door.

Agreed. (I am a former MS teacher.) OBVIOUSLY the school is treading on your son's rights. Get your lawyer involved and demand a copy of the tape from this women and get involved with her in a legal battle--the school only has the right to involve itself on school-property student-involved issues. I wouldn't trust another student to peer-mentor your son as far as I could throw the peer-mentor. Schools don't know how to pick them. Often the peer-mentors are popular students who humiliate the students being mentored. (Remember the story: "Lord of the Flies"?)
IF it turns out that your son is lying to you, your participation will be a great life-lesson for him, if he is innocent, he'll be happy that you are sticking up for him.

You know I didn't even think about that...the school DOES only have the right to involve itself with on site issues! It never even crossed my mind that they crossed the line there too, along with all the other lines crossed...hmmmm! Thanks ducks!