My High School years were intolerable, some of it brought on by my own poor choices. While I did enter the first of several depressive episodes during those years, I always saw the end of my High School years no matter how many years I had left ahead of me.
I could not fathom that any of my friends wanted to become a teacher. When I interned at a clinic that required us to see children at their elementary school, I rushed through the required amount of hours and then refused to return. (Except for one kid in Middle School who wouldn’t talk to anyone but his teacher and me, but that’s a different story).
Most of my patients are students ranging from Elementary to College. I have to keep in mind that their complaints are only part of the story. Yet when I compare many of their complaints and consider with them my daughter’s, I have come to believe that our schools are a different from of toxicity for students and teachers.
There were kids in every grade who smoked pot, but they didn’t smoke in class. These kids were called the ‘burnouts.’ There were relatively few of them.
Students now vape during class, not in the far corners of the football field, or behind the bleachers as the ‘burnouts’ did.
And sometimes, teachers appear to overlook a student’s use of cannabis or vapor, which causes a lot of confusion among the student body. How can my daughter feel sane or respected when the kid in front of her is clearly vaping but ignored while she gets reprimanded for talking, or is questioned about why she needs to use the restroom? And I wasn’t informed when they drug tested her.
The day her friend was taken to the emergency room, it was my daughter who was called to sit with her while she was vomiting and passing out. Later that day, the principle made the point of telling her that her friend could die. Meanwhile, it’s possible that this student knowingly took a drug, but I’m doubtful. I suspect she naively accepted a rice crispy treat. Since then, my daughter’s friend seems depressed and traumatized.
Edibles are being made by the dozens, and they are laced with cocaine or Fentynal. So while one thinks they are trying an edible for their first foray to the world of Cannabis, they are actually risking their life. Experimenting with drugs is no longer an experiment that most live through without a lot of damage, at least observable damage. Emergency room visits have increased tremendously.
Swastikas remain on the bathroom walls and are etched into desks.
Catcalling is frequent. Sexism spawns. Fighting is frequent.
Contrary to public knowledge, turnips do squeeze out blood. Public schools are depleted of funds, safety, and respect. Students and teachers are suffering for it: stressed out, highly anxious, and fearful. Students feel disrespected, misunderstood and blamed. Teachers feel disrespected, misunderstood and blamed.
While cell phones can be taken away if a student has enough infractions to warrant the consequence, what happens when there is a surprise lock down and the teen without a phone is panicking under their desk and can’t text their mother? I gave my daughter back her cell phone when she told me that texting me helps her to feel less anxious. I’ll find other consequences for her infractions.
There are students in every grade at every school who struggle with anxiety and depression. Some students have trauma. Some have psychosis. Today’s culture does not lend itself to their healing. For a few whose parents can afford a private school education, they may have the benefit of parent held accountability. Not so at public schools. There are too many students and too few teachers and staff.
A twelve year old who attends a private Christian school wonders how he is supposed to feel safe when guards and dogs are on campus every day. Already slow to trust adults, school is an anxiety provoking, fear mongering environment. Sadly, it should be, because one never knows when their school will be the subject of the afternoon news.
Please talk among yourselves. I will try to check in on my mobile around 6:30 Pacific time.
Be kind and don’t cut in line.