Parent Empowerment Call - Dec. 3

Here is the information for the next toll-free call-in for parents in Illinois who have a child with an emotional and/or behavioral concern. These calls are scheduled about once a month, always with a toll-free number, and they cover various topics on how to advocate for your child. Last month’s topic was about school issues.

The topic for the next Parent Empowerment Call will be "Preparing for your child's psychiatric appointment”, and the speaker will be Myra L. Kamran, MD. A noon call is scheduled and the call-in will also be offered at 7:00PM.

Details for the calls are

Thursday, December 3, 2009
12:00 PM-1:00 PM CST
Toll free: 1-866-233-3852
Participant Access Code: 115788

OR

Thursday, December 3, 2009
7:00 PM-8:00 PM CST
Toll free: 1-866-233-3852
Participant Access Code: 115789

Questions about the Parent Empowerment Calls? Call 618.838.9382

These are educational calls being offered to all parents in Illinois who have a child with an emotional and/or behavioral concern, and will focus on giving parents information they need to advocate for and support their children.

The calls are sponsored by the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Child and Adolescent Services.

"It's all about the kids"

An area parent forwarded information to me about a website and organization in Chicago that is working hard to change Chicago public schools.

Also included was a Chicago parent's comment. When she hears "It's all about the kids," she said, "I've learned to start turning over rocks whenever I hear that phrase."

Maybe there should have been an exclamation point at the end of her sentence.

Check out http://pureparents.org/index.php?blog/show/Too_poor_a_choice

Just last week I watched The Freedom Writers again. It's based on a true story about a first-year teacher, Erin Gruwell, in Long Beach, California.

Parents need to find these teachers in their school systems and make certain to support them! They are out there.

Schools must stop bullying

Today's Northwest Herald (Sunday, November 1; page 1D) carries an excellent article by Jami Kunzer about bullying in schools. What school district is involved? Woodstock District 200!

I heard Kelly Kucharski speak at the recent MCC event put together by Principled Minds, a new not-for-profit organization established by Harold Rail of Afterglow Creative Services, here in Woodstock.

It's too bad that you'll have to buy today's Northwest Herald to read this article. Apparently, it's not online, where it could be read and forwarded widely within District 200. A search on www.nwherald.com for "Kucharski" or "bullies" or "principled" does not find the article. I was told last week that NWH is having trouble with its search engine. It shouldn't be that hard to fix!

I have known of bullying in Woodstock District 200 schools since about 1998 and have fought many battles with them. Putting an end to bullying in District 200 is like trying to win the war in Afghanistan. Just when you think you winning, another "explosion" occurs and you find out you are losing.

And I can tell you from first-hand experience that it is not just the students who bully other students.

An Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) technical consultant was called in late one school year. Although she visited a student's classrooms on only one day and for only four hours, she reported that she had observed a teacher and staff "interacting inappropriately with the student, causing an escalation in undesirable behavior." Oh, you mean "bullying"...

When your kid comes home and reports problems at school, believe your kid first. When the school folks tell you that could never happen in their school, do not automatically believe them and distrust your own kid.

Parents must get involved and stay involved. We must stop all bullying in our schools!