My mind exploded on Friday. I was in trouble at school again, nothing I can't handle. After I simply squeezed out of the problem through persuasion and explanation, I was cleared- but not dismissed. I walked with my assistant principal to the attendance office. Angry from the day's turn of events, I decided I would call my mom and go home early. She agreed, and so I sat down with the assistant principal to wait. This is where I need help. He told me that I, unlike most students, understand problems in the school. Some better than him. Then he told me that if there is an issue he cannot find a fitting solution to, he would consult me for an answer. So yes, the assistant principal chose the bipolar, psychopathic, suicidal loser to be a consultant. I'm laughing more than you. But... now what? He told me that I could literally help with ANYTHING, and that he hopes the school will be much better with my help. But what do I do? So, help me. I know what I need to change, not how to do it. As a reference, here is a list of the major problems. -Very Severe Bullying/harassment -filthy bathrooms -light gang activity -irresponsible substitute teacher selection -fights -painfully slow reaction time (office) -painfully slow reaction time (security) There's more I may have missed, but these are some of the biggest ones. So now that I can re-write some of the rule book, what do I write? As a side note, I am looking for both solutions and consequences. We have standard ones here (detention, suspension, expulsion), but they never seem to work. Besides, who wouldn't want a week off of very severe harassment right after they punch their attackers in the face? It's on you, everypony. Will there be change?
I've been to pretty good schools so I haven't had to face anything like this (sorry if I sound like a giant douche). I would say is that if you do replace the toilets, they'll just get trashed again sooner or later and you would've wasted money. So don't do that just yet, not until overall behaviour has improved. Something my school does is make different year groups have lunch at different times. This way there are definately no conflicts between different age groups. I guess looking over their substitute choice would be a good idea. But even if you do get new ones, the problems still wouldn't be resolved. Also, may be a harsher penalty is needed, like cleaning up the school or other physical jobs. It would also give them a way to release their anger. Sorry for boring you but these are my solutions, although I'm not sure how well they will work in the real world.
I'm on the student voice panel where I go, and honestly it's probably a good idea to get advice yourself from other people. That way, you can make people happier whilst at the same time making a list of sensible and fair rules.
For the filthy bathrooms. It should be determined who is at fault. If it is the cleaning crew, then they should be at fault. If it is the student, then they should be forced to come to the school on the weekends and clean all the bathrooms in the school. I'm not sure if a school is legally allowed to do that, but I believe that would make them not want to do it again. It, of course, would be hard to determine which student is doing it, but if the person who did it was correctly determined, then I think it would work well. For the painfully slow reaction time for both office and security, it needs to be determined what causes the break down of communication and why the slow reaction time (I don't know what rule would cause the reaction time to speed up). For the very Severe Bullying/harassment, then the attacker should get in-school suspension. That means that after school, they had to stay there for a few hours a day before being allowed home. Those are the only ones I can think off the top of my head. I honestly don't know if some of what I suggested would work.
Aye, all of which we have tried or are illegal. 'Tis a shame. Labor laws mean that the bathrooms are cleaned by our one janitor. In-school suspension... been there. Sucks. But the gangs are almost never deterred. The reaction times are just the stupidity and inefficiency of the staff. However, I have seen them move rather fast to stop a major fight between two gangs. They're just lazy. Listening to other people would definitely get me somewhere, but the problem is I know the problems, not the solutions. Certain things are allowed, however. If one chews gum in front of my English teacher, they scrape gum off the walls and floor. It works. Sadly, that's the highest labor laws will let us go.
Has the school tried programs where it shows what happens to those who are bullied? For example, them committing suicide. Or at least telling them how many are killed. Or what ages the kill themselves. Or open up the presentation with a story about a boy/girl, and end with the boy/girl committing suicide due to being bullied. For the fighting and the gangs. Is it possible that school works with the police, and, instead of being sent to in-school suspension, spend some time behind bars? Like, have the police officers come and put them in a cell, and tell them the truth. How there is no freedom in jail. And some of the perks in jail do not make up for the things that they their away. I bring this up because I remember a show that use to put young adults or older teenagers behind bars for a little bit, just to show some what their life will be like if they continue to acting this way.
1. Yes, that's what they did at first. Except the gangs just passed it off as a joke. Like they cared anyway. 2. That is a good idea, but most of the gangs are silent. The things they do are always overlooked, and police involvement is just a little too desperate.
Have you showed the bullying videos to the office and security? Maybe if they saw the severity of bullying, they'd put more effort into trying to stop it.
I think in some places, they get everyone to take lessons in self-defence, although I personally think that that would give bullies an opportunity to beat up everyone. It depends on how your school works, it may be a solution.
I don't want to discourage you, but I'm at a lost to how to fix the problems. It seems like you need to attack multiple angles all the time to final get anyway, but you also have to change the system in place before you can even overcome any of these problems. I really wish that just showing MLP:FIM would fix the problem, but it's not that simple.
Kick the old Headmaster/Principal/Whatever out, and get an EXTREMELY stern new one. That's the best advice I can offer.
As much as I'd want that to work, it wouldn't. In a lot of places, including many schools, stereotypes are a huge influence. As soon as they hear My Little Pony, they'd get pissed off. Anyway, LostAgain, I think that the only way anything will get done is if the level of discipline expected from the students is raised. I suggest maybe rewriting some of the school rules to make them more strict. That's only if you have no other options though. I think if you want a huge change, you'll need help from others outside of the school.
I know....Still, a guy can dream. And I was just joking anyway. I'm afraid I have nothing of value to contribute, as I am completely drawing blanks for ideas.
Yeah I know. I was just looking for a reason to post. I'm not sure whether my post count is high or low.
If your school is placing these issues in the hands of a teen student, their being lazy and irresponsible. It's not your job to make school better than the crap it already is, it's the staff's job. If it bugs you this bad, I wouldn't go through with it. It's not your responsibility. That's my advice. If you do want to try and better the school, I'd try to find some other students who feel the same way and attempt to start a group going.
I say give him your assistance. You may be seeing issues from a different perspective than the administration and can give them insight they may not normally have. List out your ideas like you did here and your reasons why you think they are happening. If you have some ideas that may help or solve the problems, list them as well. Even if you don't know how to fix some of them, if you don't let them know that you are concerned about it they won't know the problems exist. Anything you may put down is already happening, so if you can help them put effort forth into correcting them things can only get better. Maybe not everything will be solved, but if even one thing changes for the better, won't that be worth it?
This if why showing them an episode would be an excelent form of punishment. Many gang members would fear having to do that more than prison. And if one would end up liking it they would rethink their behaviour. Rehabilitation through ponies.
