I think every parent has the right and the responsibility to stand up for
their child in the public schools. You have the right to bring attention
to and request for the administration to seek dignity for every child
within that childs peer culture and school setting.
At 12 years old, your son has already been through a lot of stereotyping,
and it's harder to fix as we get older, but seeking understanding and
raising consciousness is a must in these times. We all needed and need
emotional-psychological-social guidance which supports respect for all.
An excellent book, We've All Got Scars by Raphaela Best,1983 ISBN #
0-253-20510-7 says so much about negative peer cultures and dysfunctional
socialization of children, which occurs right under the noses of
neglecting adults.
In regards to safety, everyone is focusing on physical safety when the
issue is really emotional health and safety. You can build all the fences
you want, but the heart is the friend or foe.
For the children,
Jean-Marie DeSpain, M.S.
jdespain@efn.org
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