Posted on 02/18/2018 5:01:33 AM PST by Kaslin
One day, an old man was walking along a beach that was littered with thousands of starfish that had been washed ashore by the high tide. As he walked he came upon a young boy who was eagerly throwing the starfish back into the ocean, one by one.
Puzzled, the man looked at the boy and asked what he was doing. Without looking up from his task, the boy simply replied, “I’m saving these starfish, Sir”.
The old man chuckled aloud, “Son, there are thousands of starfish and only one of you. What difference can you make?”
The boy picked up a starfish, gently tossed it into the water and turning to the man, said, “I made a difference to that one!”
‘But none of them is “simple” in execution.’
the second most important one, number 7, can be implemented everywhere with minimal fuss and bother...
True, but only if media outlets choose. There is no mechanism in our society to require it. It’s the flip side of the “no publicity, never say their names” proposal.
Yes, but if they can “exit” - the students let each other in. Happens all the time at my School District.
Definitely. And this all is but HALF of the potential prevention possible.
The other half is to zero in on kids having difficulty socially or at home and being isolated, from the earliest ages. Schools need to have both regular teachers and counselors pay attention and discover the kids having the most emotional trouble, and step into their lives to help them connect with their communities, have purpose, have hope.
Kids who are removed from their school for behavior need strong oversight and a clear delineation between “connect and care, or you go into Juvie.” Continuation school may not be a good idea. It’s where misfits of all kinds are still freely roaming society and can show off for each other as to whom is the worst behaved. They can learn from each other. Best would be forced homeschooling and home detainment with an adult, or juvie. Juvie last resort, so that if they want any freedom, they have to work at being well behaved.
Hard work combined with caring and hope. It either will reconnect them with the world, or they need to get out of our world.
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