I mentioned in an earlier edition I wanted to begin discussing several issues we are facing in our local school system. But, before I begin that discussion I want to provide a brief report on the costs of snow removal and damages from this winter’s assault. Luckily, we did not suffer a lot of damage to our buildings. Yes, we did have a few roof leaks but our attention to the conditions of our roofs over the last few years helped prevent the damage roof leaks can bring. Our efforts to remove snow from the Elk Garden Primary School roof caused a couple of leaks as we had to use snow blowers to remove the 6-8 feet snow drifts from that roof. Most of the visible damage was to fencing around our schools. For example, at Keyser High School the wind and heavy snow tore down a sizable amount of fencing around the baseball field. The poles that hold and support the fence were even bent from the damaging wind and snow. Some other fence damage was caused when we plowed snow and literally had no place to put it. I had estimated earlier that the damage and snow removal would easily top $30,000 dollars and we wouldn’t be surprised if it approached $50,000. With most invoices in, the cost is in excess of $47,000—most of the costs were for snow removal but a sizable percentage of the cost is for damage to fencing and grounds around the schools.
A problem that is beginning to rear its ugly head in our area is “sexting,” the act of sending explicit messages or photos electronically, primarily between mobile phones. Sexting was reported as early as 2005 in the Sunday Telegraph Magazine, and has since been described as taking place worldwide. It has been reported in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, the United States, and Canada. In a 2008 survey of 1,280 teenagers and young adults of both sexes on Cosmogirl.com, 20% of teens (ages 13-19) and 33% of young adults (ages 20-26) reported had sent nude or semi-nude photographs of themselves electronically. Additionally, 39% of teens and 59% of young adults had sent explicit text messages. A 2009 UK survey of 2,094 teens aged 11-18 found that 38% had received an “offensive or distressing” sexual image via text or email.
Sexting is a result of advances in technology enabling new forms of social interaction. Messages with sexual content have been exchanged over all forms of historical media. Newer technology allows photos and videos, which are inherently more explicit and have greater impact. A social danger with sexting is that material can very easily be widely promulgated, over which the originator has no control.
It’s illegal under state and federal child-pornography laws to create explicit images of a minor, to possess them or distribute them. Violations amount to felony offenses. The topic is becoming an issue in America’s schools—Does it make a difference is the message is accessed on a school computer? Was it (the message) intended to reach other students? Does it make a difference if the message was created to cause a reaction or disruption at school?
Mineral County is not immune from this problem and we’re taking steps to correctly address it. Recently, we held a legal seminar for administrators dealing, in part, with this topic. While this type of training does make it easier to deal with this type of problem, we must be cognizant of the fact that decisions from emerging court cases dealing with “sexting” and others forms of electronic communication can change how we deal with this problem.
Parents, you can help your children deal with this frightening issue. Several times a day they must make decision about whether or not to go along with their peers. You must help them cope with this problem and help protect them. Be their parent, not their best friend. If they have a phone, check it frequently, look at who they are calling, who’s calling them, look at their text messages and pictures, if their phone can take/receive pictures. The same goes for computers. Have them use their computers where you can see them, monitor e-mails, sites they have visited, and who they have as “friends” on Facebook, My Space, etc.
Will they appreciate your parenting? Probably not at the time, but they will appreciate your efforts at some time in the future.
The school system will never turn a blind eye to these ever-present problems for our students. We will always do our best to protect our students, and we, along with your children, need your help.
|
|
|
I mentioned in an earlier edition I wanted to begin discussing several issues we are facing in our local school system. But, before I begin that discussion I want to provide a brief report on the costs of snow removal and damages from this winter’s assault. Luckily, we did not suffer a lot of damage to our buildings. Yes, we did have a few roof leaks but our attention to the conditions of our roofs over the last few years helped prevent the damage roof leaks can bring. Our efforts to remove snow from the Elk Garden Primary School roof caused a couple of leaks as we had to use snow blowers to remove the 6-8 feet snow drifts from that roof. Most of the visible damage was to fencing around our schools. For example, at Keyser High School the wind and heavy snow tore down a sizable amount of fencing around the baseball field. The poles that hold and support the fence were even bent from the damaging wind and snow. Some other fence damage was caused when we plowed snow and literally had no place to put it. I had estimated earlier that the damage and snow removal would easily top $30,000 dollars and we wouldn’t be surprised if it approached $50,000. With most invoices in, the cost is in excess of $47,000—most of the costs were for snow removal but a sizable percentage of the cost is for damage to fencing and grounds around the schools.
A problem that is beginning to rear its ugly head in our area is “sexting,” the act of sending explicit messages or photos electronically, primarily between mobile phones. Sexting was reported as early as 2005 in the Sunday Telegraph Magazine, and has since been described as taking place worldwide. It has been reported in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, the United States, and Canada. In a 2008 survey of 1,280 teenagers and young adults of both sexes on Cosmogirl.com, 20% of teens (ages 13-19) and 33% of young adults (ages 20-26) reported had sent nude or semi-nude photographs of themselves electronically. Additionally, 39% of teens and 59% of young adults had sent explicit text messages. A 2009 UK survey of 2,094 teens aged 11-18 found that 38% had received an “offensive or distressing” sexual image via text or email.
Sexting is a result of advances in technology enabling new forms of social interaction. Messages with sexual content have been exchanged over all forms of historical media. Newer technology allows photos and videos, which are inherently more explicit and have greater impact. A social danger with sexting is that material can very easily be widely promulgated, over which the originator has no control.
It’s illegal under state and federal child-pornography laws to create explicit images of a minor, to possess them or distribute them. Violations amount to felony offenses. The topic is becoming an issue in America’s schools—Does it make a difference is the message is accessed on a school computer? Was it (the message) intended to reach other students? Does it make a difference if the message was created to cause a reaction or disruption at school?
Mineral County is not immune from this problem and we’re taking steps to correctly address it. Recently, we held a legal seminar for administrators dealing, in part, with this topic. While this type of training does make it easier to deal with this type of problem, we must be cognizant of the fact that decisions from emerging court cases dealing with “sexting” and others forms of electronic communication can change how we deal with this problem.
Parents, you can help your children deal with this frightening issue. Several times a day they must make decision about whether or not to go along with their peers. You must help them cope with this problem and help protect them. Be their parent, not their best friend. If they have a phone, check it frequently, look at who they are calling, who’s calling them, look at their text messages and pictures, if their phone can take/receive pictures. The same goes for computers. Have them use their computers where you can see them, monitor e-mails, sites they have visited, and who they have as “friends” on Facebook, My Space, etc.
Will they appreciate your parenting? Probably not at the time, but they will appreciate your efforts at some time in the future.
The school system will never turn a blind eye to these ever-present problems for our students. We will always do our best to protect our students, and we, along with your children, need your help.
