tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317770170474039861.post4905700818832709578..comments2024-03-28T22:53:23.117-05:00Comments on Jeff Bergosh Blog: Home to Prison Pipeline, Part IIJeff Bergoshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12638001957494810839noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317770170474039861.post-73714882389618514342014-04-26T20:42:50.740-05:002014-04-26T20:42:50.740-05:00Jeff, you are digressing from the topic when you s...Jeff, you are digressing from the topic when you start to mention expulsions. That's not of concern right now. The issue is the school-to-prison pipeline. We are going to stick that point now. <br /><br />Suppose that your very own child walked from West Florida to Pine Forest. How would you feel if he were arrested for that? <br /><br />The school district does not tell deputies whom to arrest and under what circumstances? That's exactly the problem. It's solely up to the discretion of the school, leaving no protections for children place. Do they really follow guidelines? Is there data to prove that? <br /><br />Suppose the child does misbehave or have referrals. A history of misbehavior still does not warrant *arresting* a child for a non-violent offense. <br /><br />Now...I will get a bit more heart to heart. <br /><br />My heart hurts Jeff. It does. Do you know why? Because you are continually refusing to see how school policies are part of the problem. It's hurts my heart to know you support policies that indeed push children into prisons, when we know that many of these children are facing many hardships. <br /><br />I was a good kid and went to West Florida. I do remember that I had a yearning to meet my half-brother, and some familial problems made me upset and irritable because I was being prevented from that. That stress carried into school. I don't remember what occurred, but my teacher said something to me, and I eventually yelled, "YOU DONT KNOW WHAT I AM GOING THROUGH!" I was given a referral instead of understanding. I actually ended up ripping it up because I was so upset, and I didn't go to the dean. Thankfully, I got off the hook. Now that I am older and have studied psychology some, I understand that the part of the brain that controls emotion isn't even developed until 25 years of age!<br /><br />Kids, when you get to know them, react out of frustration, many times. Do you understand that stress causes frustration and aggression? I'm doubtful you do, at least lately, since you have a decent life and seem like a cheerful person. But the reality, Jeff, is that our kids don't need to be merely punished for their misbehavior (for non-violent stuff). We need to understand what may be causing it so we can give proper behavioral intervention. As Oakcrest's motto says, "Every student...every day...whatever it takes!" <br /><br />I hope you understand that we need to strengthen school policy and are open to alternatives from professionals who know much more about this than me. <br /><br />Please have the integrity and courage to speak out. Some may be against it, but others will be behind you encouraging you when the pressure gets tough. <br /><br />Lorraine Lorrainenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317770170474039861.post-46889451801183115412014-04-25T07:33:46.090-05:002014-04-25T07:33:46.090-05:001. The school district does not tell the deputies...1. The school district does not tell the deputies whom to arrest and under what circumstances-they make that call under established guidelines and protocols. And there is typically more to an arrest story than the two thumbnail sketches you mention above-believe me on that.<br /><br />2. I don't overlook information and there is always a lot that I may be unaware of, I am sure of that. But one thing I am aware of is that by the time we expel a student from school in this district, that student (in the lion's share of the cases) has exhausted every possible chance for self-redemption (ISS, behavior contracts, OSS, etc.) As a matter of fact, you may be unaware that we expelled a student in February who had 50 previous serious discipline referrals, "Five-O", like, "Book 'em Dano" Hawaii Five O, FIFTY!! Of course, that student was a ninth grader and he was a minority student, so more that likely he's on somebody's list somewhere of how we, the schools, put him on a pipeline to prison--which is simply fictional rubbish. Once you peel back the onion on some of these cases, instead of solely focusing on numerical statistics and outcomes, you see that these students put themselves in these positions via unwise choices and out of control, destructive behaviors. Should a teacher be required to keep a student in his class that throws a desk at her and says "F*&K YOU!" Think about that. I say no, teachers deserve respect, and fellow students deserve a safe environment free of malicious, destructive, and violent conduct.Jeff Bergoshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12638001957494810839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317770170474039861.post-88841496672856137582014-04-23T14:37:10.647-05:002014-04-23T14:37:10.647-05:00Being a threat to others on a campus is a problem ...Being a threat to others on a campus is a problem and usually warrants an arrest. That's not what most advocates of the school-to-prison pipeline find problematic. What they find problematic is students being arrested for minor offenses, such as a kid from West Florida wondering onto the Pine Forest campus. Does that warrant an arrest? No. It warrants consequences, but not to that degree. Or, consider a student who is in the cafeteria before school starts? Is an arrest warranted? Even some fights among youth do not warrant an arrest. It does depend on the nature of the fight, however. <br /><br />This is the key information you seem to be overlooking, or perhaps are even unaware of. This is a useful website to understand what students are being arrested for. http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/news/new-federal-guidelines-are-welcome-step-toward-stopping-school-to-prison-pipeline-<br /><br />I know we've talked a lot over the last few weeks and I feel some progress has been made. Anyway, promise I'll lighten up after we met next week. Lorrainehttp://lorraineogan.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com