Now that I Think About It, A Few More Ideas About School Success for All Students and Families.. homegrown and otherwise

I like that the discussion is seeking creative solutions to the challenges we face. I realize this forum is about 'school and the impact education have on our youth current and for their futures.." I am curious if Anyone in the Entire State, Country or World has considered what I have braved sharing rather independently about Keeping Our Kids Safe Both at Home and In School and In-Between?

I spoke up at parent gathering to a full house at HVRHS when my eldest was a freshman, about 14 (early 2000s)about years ago...and basically one friend said "No one knew why you as a parent would take a few minutes of their precious time to talk to them about parenting, networking or building positive social relationships in the school community, when it was Parents' Night to talk to the Teachers and see how their kids were doing in school."

Fast forward a few years to 2009 after the sudden loss of one of our students only a mile from the high school. No one wanted to do some basic homework like find out which parents (and if any teachers, etc) knew of the plans for the students to go to the Falls and particularly to jump in?

Some did and some did not. The big "A-Ha!" learning point is to Close the Gap in terms of Who is Monitoring our Youth. Minors need to be monitored for Legal Reasons...as in legal parents and guardians and others in charge are responsible for keeping their youth safe and monitored. We really don't understand that unless you happen to be one of the millions of parents who have gone through custody court hearings (maybe Dozens) and heard that people are supposed to keep their children safe and not even neglect them.

The rising forces of Child Protective Services or DCF, Department of Children and Family, Court Family Services and many other 'players in the field of caring for or overseeing minors" (including medical, psychological and criminal court and probation services, police and so on) are all standing at the ready to let people learn The Hard Way. Anyone can be arrested for just about anything, including unfounded allegations or for disturbing the peace (that may be yelling in one's own home or even while leaving one's property...)

Basically there's a ton to learn just to have a chance at making it to 18 without breaking the law of the land, not to mention school policies for anti-violence and bullying. I was clueless about most of that when I was promoting a more friendly community among adults and parents. Now it's common news to hear of school violence, threats and so on.

So we are definitely facing harder times from the get-go when thinking about kids happily getting on school buses with their lunch boxes and making their way throughout the day and back home again. I would have my entire class over for parties where they could get off the bus at my house (including a party for graduation.)

I used to dream up ideas of letting each busload of kids get off at a lovely spot I lived at that was set up for groups of kids anyway. It seemed so simple, and one principal looked into the idea but said he thought it would cost about $10K a year to allow for that.

I really didn't think it would take that much to manage 30 or so kids at a time on a nice nature center, especially if we had some extra volunteers. That's still likely the best kept secret in the tri-corner area...that Everybody is Welcome to come explore and enjoy the local nature centers (there's one the Sharon Audubon Center and The White Memorial Center...)

Do let someone know if you have a group coming or want to create a day for your town to show up and so on. Parking can be an issue, so likely best to car pool...and time it so another school bus or that large kind of vehicle isn't there. Of course with the Risk of Ticks( some with very serious fast-onset( 15-min or so) health risk factors, others with Lyme or other serious conditions that can come on within, Bears,Rattlesnakes, Rabid Raccoons or other animals, informed consent should be obtained and precautions taken..but that's the case for the entire area.

Okay not to get too carried away, but with only a relatively small population in the lovely area we live in, we are all stewards. Our youth would benefit from understanding the gift and challenges of living in such a natural rural area and consider themselves ambassadors to others trapped in urban settings with few trees or real food even in stores to buy. I literally taught someone what a tomato plant was and they had a hard time believing that's what a tomato grew on...That was on my patio garden.

Okay so hope more can share their hopes and ideas for how to improve our local and wider world with more personal accountability and willingness to network and share the wealth. Likely wide-scale homeschooling for youth would be a huge blessing for many families and youth.

People who need a public school setting for grades 6-8 for instance could likely have that need met at the high school in a regional way. Placing students on the school train later, at age 6 or 7 for full time 'kindergarten' where often reading is taught as it used to be done in 1st grade would allow the students to be the same ages as many going into high school now at age 13 or barely 14. My kids were 15 going into high school (Kaelan 15 and 1/2.)

All were in the humanities and top math and science, and most did Envirothon (a wonderful program with Linnea's team taking top prizes nationally.) Linnea got invited to do Robotics by a friend from over the years from her hometown and church connection...and at first she sorted nuts and bolts

. A Litchfield County Times article back in 2007 explored more about her success and she pursued an engineering degree at WPI with a special scholarship (which she applied for last minute, so that one should be publicized more...). Plenty of kids struggle even with the added good grounding in the early years and with the talent.

Time management, basic health (Vit D levels, A1C or blood sugar levels, iron or other basic nutrients needing balancing, getting good sleep, feeling good socially --and that can be a huge challenge with small towns and pressure at high school even with other networks from sports or hobbies, music and so on.

There is no magic ticket to help the clicks not over rule common courtesy. Sadly there have been plenty of cases of bullying or other violations of students either by peers, family, friends, bosses and so on.

Hopefully in this era of #metoo more victims of assault or bullying would be Believed and Supported, not necessarily to press charges (which can often backfire or create more trauma for the victim) but to get safe and have support for living and learning. See more on these challenges with resources listed on Mothers Custody Conference and in Resolution 72.

All women and children need to understand there is a huge risk facing them over their lifetime as being the target of assaults so more needs to be done pro-actively to have safe living and travelling plans (ideally not being alone with a male in a car, for instance.)

That may sound concerning but overall that kind of safety policy is common in many 'safe church policies' and those could be used until others find reasonable options. Same with practical guidelines for understanding safe relationships...not being alone with someone who may pressure one to be involved or spoken to in ways one does not care to or expect.

Keeping a buddy system mentality and minors supervised appropriately would make a lot of sense.

Ideally in every class more women could help monitor outings or rides to reduce challenging situations that could arise even through the teen years when youth want to be more independent. In cities, most youth have to be 18 to drive and many cannot afford to do so.

Driving is a huge responsibility and privilege. Being more mature such as age 18-20 to drive independently would put a lot of worries and risky situations at bay.

Maybe youth could relax,sleep or do reading etc if riding as passengers as well. Hosting groups of guys or gals in local areas (near their schools) over the weekend and having programs and study groups could give more a sense of independence and save them time if living farther away, especially during the winter or when there are late programs for sports, plays, etc.

Just thinking out loud here. Some of that could spur the economy as well. Ideally after school more high school and even junior high regional students (in the northwest corner of Ct for instance) could enjoy Falls Village and Limerock or Canaan etc and get a ride back to their home on the late bus (again in approved programs.. or using the first buses to leave and getting a return ride to the late bus if it couldn't just pick them up again...)Okay, time to put this in park..for now and enjoy the lovely outdoors. For the record all of these are independent ideas. None are sponsored by any group or school, for your information.

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