Back to School, Back to Blogging

As I spend the final days of summer relaxing and preparing the back-to-school shopping lists, I wonder about the changes that will be taking effect during the next few weeks.

We have seen many articles about the new superintendent and the new curriculum director, not to mention the newest mandates surrounding the anti-bullying requirements. I trust that the newest administrators will be able to accomplish the task of continuing to maintain the excellent standards that we have come to expect from our schools.

First I would like to welcome back the faculty and staff along with the newest teachers and administrators to our district and wish them all the best. I hope that the cutbacks we have suffered over the last two years will still allow us the ability to provide the education that the parents have come to expect and our are children are entitled to.

As a parent of elementary school students, I must admit that I have concerns regarding the inability to provide the mandated curriculum requirements of world language to the K-5 students. I also support the new anti-bullying legislation, because I believe that every child should feel safe in school.

Although some incidents may go unnoticed, my children have shared stories with me that have left me wondering. Perhaps because I have been blessed with boy/girl twins, I get a better perspective of different situations that take place during the school day. I also have many friends who I speak to about any concerns that my children or their friends raise.

I really believe that parental involvement and support is the way to ensure that bullying comes to an end in the schools. By the time a child has left elementary school, they have either been a bully, a victim or a by-stander and all my children have taken on several of these roles during their schools years.

My husband and I have made all our children aware of what behavior is acceptable and what behavior will not be tolerated, both in the home and school environment.

Every parent and teacher realizes that children are constantly testing and pushing the envelope. It is up to all the adults in their lives to protect them and provide the proper discipline when they break the rules.

It is a sad situation that it has taken legislation to ensure protection of children, but obviously something had to be done. Let's hope this will not lead to lawsuits, but instead help to end the bullying.

Once again, good luck to the students and staff as they begin the journey of another school year. Please share your concerns as we embark on this latest venture.