To All Eastland County School Administrators and School Boards:
I have been an RN for over 50 years and a Family Nurse Practitioner for over 27 years. I have been a mom for 52 years and a grandmother for 43 years. I now have 2 children, 7 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and I deal with children and adolescents in my clinic on a daily basis—I know about children and I care about children. Our beautiful city just lost another child to suicide and I feel that I have to speak up.
I have felt for a long time that changes need to be made in all our schools. So many children are undergoing pressure at home and at school. Many have been bullied to the point that they have no self-esteem. Many are being mistreated and abused at home. Many are being bullied through social media. Children are not little adults. Some children have a strong sense of self and can cope with pressure but many do not. In the 50+ years I have lived in Eastland County we have lost several children to suicide. No teacher or administrator wants this to happen but there does not seem to be a safety net for these children. I feel that we should have a zero tolerance for bullying— it is a hate crime that destroys lives. Every high school must have a counselor that actually counsels children— not someone to administer tests. I think that from middle school through high school every child should have to see a counselor at least once a year. Build a chart. Ask “Are you being bullied? How are things going for you in your classes? How are things at home? As the child and counselor develop a relationship and trust, problems could be discovered and dealt with before they come to the point that the child does something desperate like committing suicide or bringing a gun to school and shooting other kids and teachers. It’s been my experience that the quiet kids are the ones who have concerns that are smoldering beneath the surface—the loners, the ones who feel helpless and hopeless. They should have a relationship with a counselor who they can trust to help them when they need help. Some children have strong support systems but all do not. In order to not feel “picked on” everyone should have to talk with the counselor yearly. You may think having a counselor to counsel kids is too expensive, but if you think that you are not valuing the lives of your students as much as your bottom line, you must make a change. My Bible says “It’s appointed unto man once to die and after that the judgement.” When you stand before God will you be able to justify not doing what you can to protect the students in your care?
