PARENTAL NOTICE ON THIS IS THE EDGE PROGRAM AT IV HIGH SCHOOL, SEPTEMBER 11TH, 18TH, & 25TH. First, this report should not be construed in any way as an attack on our schools. In fact we are thankful for our schools, have been helped by them, support them, and have known /loved many of the teachers and admins for many years--and consider all of these our neighbors -- Jim and Dea Evans ------- If youve received this orange opt out slip today from the High School, know that there are many parents concerned about the content, mode of operation, and effects upon our children related to this workshop. If your child hasnt brought the opt out slip to your attention, ask them for it. Our concerns stem from the same program being offered to 6th graders at Lorna Byrne Middle School this past week. Reports from kids coming home to parents indicated that they didn’t really understand what was going on, but that kids were made to cry during the assembly. Investigation into the program, along with parental sharing of what kids experienced via networking, reveals the need to be very cautious about allowing your child to attend. It is highly recommended that you call the school and ask (insist?) for a ‘facilitators guide sheet’ if available so as to better understand the mode of operation and especially “questions being asked “of your child by facilitators during this assembly. Information found on the orange opt-out sheet omits the parent-reported invasive nature of questioning, and so the sheet is insufficient in my opinion to make a sound judgment. NOTE: In comparing the opt-out sheets from both the middle school and high school, it is apparent that the high school sheet addresses some, not all, of parent complaints reflected on these social networks; in Particular, one-on-one meetings between children and facilitators. It should also be noted, that the high school sheet omits reference to the legal obligation of counselors to bring any concern regarding a student’s and/or other individual’s safety to the attention of relevant authorities, which no doubt remains in effect. WHY OUR KID WONT BE PARTICIPATING There is something already unsettling for parents when a public school authorizes an outside entity to help profile or assess their kids emotional state and home life, even under the worthy cause(s) of repressing bullying, creating safer schools, or even the oft-used celebrating diversity; but parents realize that something is dead wrong when the means to achieve these or other valued goals involve techniques by facilitators that encourage their children to reach a point of emotional breakdown in reaching those ends. What we have learned about the “This Is The Edge” program this past week at Lorna Byrne Middle School, is that the assembly itself consists of creating both a ‘personal and group psychodrama’ with the eventual goal of helping train our children and youth to become mentors and caregivers for their peers emotional wellbeing. There are positives to this as well as problems, of course, but what is most odious and unacceptable for myself and probably most parents who’ve educated themselves over these past few days, is the easily discernible use of brainwashing techniques found within the workshop itself—1. Children are brought to a point of breakdown concerning some aspect of their own lives. 2. Children are “built back up” through positive “we are here for you” psychology. 3. There are externally defined goal(s) that facilitators want to achieve. I and my wife are not good with that. There must be other avenues less invasive to meet the laudable goal for safer schools. UPDATE: It has come to my attention that Evergreen Elementary did not have an Edge program scheduled, and reports from a parent indicate that this will not be the case in the near future either, most likely because of parental uproar following the Lorna Byrne program. It has also become apparent that The Edge will not be welcomed back at Lorna Byrne Middle School as long as the new Principle (Mr. Polen) remains there. A parent met with him this afternoon and confirmed this information by phone with me. I and my wife are scheduled to meet with Mr. Polen on Wednesday, and we will relate our appreciation for his help in both replying quickly to parental concerns as well as being open to gathering information in making his decision on the program that was scheduled well before his arrival… It is true, as I’ve been told; he has the best interests of the students and community at heart.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 05:56:16 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015