"Pupils wearing stab vests to school..."

[ibblewob]

Times article here

I KNOW they're scaremongering, and it's the small minority, but I'm still glad we're going to HE!

I wasn't replying to you ibblewob-just to OP for scaremongering by starting the thread.
There are lots of reasons for doing it but because a few children are reported to be wearing protective vests is a ridiculous reason IMO.

Sorry you were the OP! Will read thread again.

If your schools are so bad then I am not surprised that you HE- I would do the same. However I don't think that most schools have that problem.

Yes, guilty! Won't be doing that again ;)

No, I am sure most schools don't. Next time I will check that what I post applies to the majority before I so thoughtlessly dare to speak!

(Sorry, piscesmoon, that was very snappy and not directed at you - it's just you are the first person out of 30 messages to suggest I'm not completely mental.

OTOH, this may be the most responses a thread I've started has ever got! )

ibblewob on Tue 20-Jan-09 18:32:37

"cory, my 3 year old is definitely under constant parental supervision at the moment! But you do have to be careful. The youth worker at our church was mugged by a group of teenagers walking back from the station at around 10pm a few days ago (lost wallet, phone and ipod). It may be that some kids do get to have more freedom than others."

SO you see, it isn't an argument for keeping them out of school.

The child who spoke of carrying a weapon made it clear that his fears concerned the walk to school, not the classroom. And presumably he walks to school in daytime, not at 10 p.m. So that will be no safer for a home-educated child walking around in daytime. I don't see that this is about schools.

Constant close supervision will work when they are 3, but hardly when they're 13.

OK, so what you're saying cory is that this report shows the pupils at these particular schools are only violent and members of a gang between the hours of, say, 3 and 5?

What it actually says is that these hours are the ones where stabbing is a risk - the attitude, character and behaviour that leads up to that will still be present in the classroom, the playground, wherever.

And even if you're absolutely fine with letting your children spend 6-odd hours a day in this atmosphere, and decide to pick them up from school to avoid the 'danger' time - how is that any different to saying to HE'd kids - 'just make sure you avoid streets X, Y and Z at these times' if they happen to be out then?

TBH, I know very few people in my area who don't fight to get their children into a school outside of here, or send their kids privately. HE is a viable, legal and beneficial alternative and one that many familes I know (and at least 5 of whom we see regularly) take up.

Surely a lot of the children who engage in stabbing will also be truanting and around the streets?

The really sad thing is that a lot of children have such chaotic lives that school is the only place where they feel safe.

It is really sad, and in many ways I think that I/we could have a really positive influence, i.e. DC's friends coming over after school = children coming into contact with a stable family unit (God willing!); being able to develop relationships with parents and families who aren't as fortunate as we are.

But then I have to weigh up the actual cost that would be to my children, and do what I genuinely think is best for them, rather than see them as some sort of 'social services' project.

Not easy.

My dd's school has a regular police presence at the end of every day, ibblewob. Do you know, there were 6 of them there the other day.

It is because of idiot parent's parking and their blocking emergency access, NOT because of potential stabbings!!

I think cory is saying that statisically they are more likely to get stabbed outside school. The pupils are still gang members and may carry knives at school but are less likely to feel the need to use them.

I don't think they have any intention of using them in school, they feel safe there, it is the journey to and from school that they feel insecure about.