Anonymous asked this question on 3/31/2000:
A student in my child's class has threatened to kill another student and blow up the school. The school knows about it and says they are handling the situation.The student had been suspended but has returned to class.All the kids are afraid of the girl. My daughter comes home everyday crying and telling me she is afraid.How do we handle this?Should we pull her out of school?This student has picked on my daughter as well as others on a weekly basis.We appreciate any advice,thank you., A student in my child's class has threatened to kill another student and blow up the school. The school knows about it and says they are handling the situation.The student had been suspended but has returned to class.All the kids are afraid of the girl. My daughter comes home everyday crying and telling me she is afraid.How do we handle this?Should we pull her out of school?This student has picked on my daughter as well as others on a weekly basis.We appreciate any advice,thank you.
drkathy gave this response on 4/1/2000:
Unfortunately most school do not address the problems of potential youth violence very effectively. It is a matter of increasing staff education and improving our systems of care for children with problems. Here are my ideas: 1. The American Psychological Association created a video called "The Warning Signs." Contact any psychologist in your town and ask how to contact APA. There should be a local psychologist who will show the video to the school staff, students, and parents and begin a dialogue about how to solve the problem. It is not a problem for this one child. I am sure there are others.
2. Very often these children have mental health problems and are being raised in violent households. Services need to be available to these children in the schools. The risk of violence can be reduced when these children receive appropriate treatment. Advocate with your principal or PTA to have services readily available both to the aggressive child, but also to those who have been affected by her.
3. There are many conflict resolution type programs that are available for teachers to use in the classroom to help children learn how to solve problems non-violently.
4. If the child has harrassed another child aggressively or hit someone, sometimes the Juvenile Justice system can intervene. To do this, a complaint needs to be made. Your local Juvenile Justice Department will be in the Phone book.
5. The Winter 2000 issue of Reaching Today's Youth by the National Education Service was devoted to this issue and had some great ideas.Their website is http://www.nesonline.com
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