This middle-school crisis is a story of corruption, greed, negligence, and power concerning the ramifications on the youth involved.
Our school district has been in crisis mode for the past few years (that we are aware of), with the assortment controversies. With the use of free speech, the general public has since learned about dangerous secrets and misrepresentation from past administrations. Forcing the new one to clean up the mayhem.
I won’t go into all the details involved but think along the lines of the nepotism going on in the most significant administration in the USA-although on a smaller scale. There always seems to be someone with something to gain while others suffer.
Our most recent issue has brought about the safety of the people who inhabit a few of the older buildings in the district. Supposedly (we are still waiting for the proof), they found asbestos and lead and abruptly closed the three schools involved. After quick remediation of 2 of the buildings, they reopened within two days. The third, however, will not be opening.
Confusion in Middle-School
This middle school housed 900 sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade students and a large staff. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of that week, the school operated as usual. Wednesday night, a robocall went out stating there would be no school on Thursday, without a mention for a reason. With each day getting another call about no school- for one week.
Between media, social media, parents, staff, and all of the children, the rumors were flying. The anxiety of everyone involved has grown to a new level and created more questions than answers throughout the district. Even taxpayers without children are up in arms over this. Rightfully so!
Some of you may be wondering why we are upset about keeping our children safe from horrible contaminants like asbestos and lead; there is more to the story. This particular building is worth a lot of money and in high demand. Could, would our administration use this potentially rectifiable issue to sell out? That’s for another blog. For now, we will focus on the kids.
For the Sake of the Kids
In the meantime, we have approximately 1300 people living in limbo, plus the parents of those children. Where and what do you do with children, unexpectedly? They are between 11 and 14 years old, caught between being a child and adolescent. Not all are emotionally ready to be home alone and make the right decisions. Parents can’t wait for the phone call until the last minute to decide how to juggle working and care for their offspring.
One of the solutions that the district may consider is to split the 900 students between two overpopulated schools. Putting some teachers on leave and arranging for the principle and vice principle to work between the two schools. If they hadn’t found an equal number of problems with one of the schools, maybe the parents wouldn’t be as upset. Although not enough problems to shut it down and create another middle-school crisis.
A complication from this plan is that kids at this age can be territorial, bossy, and just plain mean. With the parameters in place to protect kids from bullying, there’s bound to be a few antagonizers. These kids play sports against each other as rivals, and now we want them to coexist. I’m not condoning this; I’m merely pointing out the facts.
Young Teens in Middle-School Crisis
To be more conscious of what is going on in the middle-schoolers brain, let us dive deeper. It’s certainly a period I wouldn’t want a do-over. Young tweens and teens are:
- a hormonal hot mess
- building their tribe-learning where they fit it and severing some past ties
- insecure about their physical self
- submit to peer pressure
- territorial over said tribe
- living in a fog of confusion
- torn between wanting to play like yesterday and act grownup like the future self
- pulling away from parental guidance, but need it
- dealing with high levels of stress and anxiety
- thrive on drama
- exaggerate stories
- challenge authority
- have a fear of social rejection
- look to friends for advice
- don’t like public praise
- screen attached
- YouTube is their mentor
YouTube is the go-to for anything teen related. Sure we had pin-ups and magazines of those that we idolized as teens. Still, today’s digital kids have a whole different level of glorifying. It’s easy to see why the youngsters wish to protect their territory at the new schools. Equally forbearing are the misplaced teens that want to keep their clan connected.
Thoughtfully, looking at the list of changes the middle-schoolers are going through, how can they quickly adapt to all the modifications and ensure a good education. Aren’t we, as the adults governing them, supposed to help them feel safe and secure when we send them off to school every day? I’m no prude and don’t sugar coat reality for my children, but there is a period where I allow them to enjoy not adulting. These are tumultuous times for the grownups dealing with the catastrophe, and we sort-of understand the facts. The teens involved in this situation are double-blind to all that is happening, counting on social media reports.
Voices from the Young
This list of growing concerns I’ve been privy to is just the tip of the iceberg, but genuinely worth considering.
- fear of rejection
- uncertain of academics
- loss of familiarity
- getting lost in the new building
- new expectations
- worry about different teachers
- health concerns
- overcrowded
- separated from friends
- bus concerns
On the positive side, it has been nice to see the unification of these young minds. They are gathering together to make their feelings known while being flexible enough to adapt. While angry parents have banded together in the protection of their children and the school-family they once knew.
Being a young teen involves an erratic amount of hormone surges. Anyone who has ever dealt with them has seen the sweet, loving, gracious, helpful human that can turn into satan within milliseconds. I love my teens and the ones before them. Still, it is the most challenging to parent (or school) them while I remember how tough it is to be on the receiving end. Having this solidarity is a great benefit.
I shudder to think what life must’ve been like for this age group (or any) during much harder times. Reminding myself to be grateful for the issues we have. Between wars, droughts, plagues, the great depression, and various other obstacles life throws at society, young or old humans are strong and will survive. I’m confident these youngsters are resilient and will come out stronger in time.
In Conclusion of the Middle-School Crisis
The health of all involved has not fallen by the wayside. Finding the new normal for these youngsters has to be first on the list. Getting answers based on facts regarding the safety of the building will be next. Implicating and seeing that those who deceived us are held accountable will be high on the docket as well. Considering the potential risk, everyone in the building may have succumbed to, will be a constant concern for many years to come.
As for the teens in question, today, they broke apart the 900 students and started on a new venture into uncharted territory. Parents have a myriad of feelings alongside their offspring. A few won’t be sending their children back, some opted to homeschool or cyber, and others will wait it out until we have more answers. I offered to keep my seventh grader by my side to finish out the year, but she quickly shut me down to muddle through the storm with her classmates- the tribe she’s been building since last year.
