Ana Warmsley
November 4, 2015
Joe Barton
Congressman
2107 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 ph: (202) 225-2002 fx: (202) 225-3052
Dear Joe Barton:
I am a long-time resident of our city, and I am writing to express my concern about recent incidents within our school systems in Texas. I know that you are well aware of the statistics in our state and the rest of the country, but I want to know what is the status or ideas to resolve this problem. I have a 5 year old and a 7 year old daughter’s whom I drop off to school every morning. I cringe when I hear the news of violence against children at school whether is at the hands of a teacher, students, staff members, and others within school grounds. I know you can understand my fear as you have two daughters yourself which have gone through public school. I am pleading to you on behalf of other parents to discuss some options as to how we can prevent such violence and keep everyone safe at schools.
In my opinion, the “village is gone.” I pray to God that somehow, someway, the village returns and we as a community develop a passionate interest in our youth. Sadly, this is not the case and I see more faces turn around no longer a bystander stance but a complete alien to the issues within all institutions in our communities. To the sweet smell of morning in a fictional stage of hypocrisy that pretended to see your struggle, pat you on the back and say “good job, better luck next time.” To the times you imagined the possibility of something that was never yours to begin with.
Whatever happened to the strangers who cheered for you to keep going? How could it be possible that no one sees nothing but everyone feels something is wrong? This is modern day slavery served up just right for you and me to conform to how things work best rather than what will make us better. Teachers are not to blame instead they are ashamed into the pretentious position of doing nothing filling standards with empty knowledge. They cannot breathe success into unruly children of uninvolved parents. Children cannot learn from conformity inspired teachers and or the predators that hide behind “the good ones.” It would seem that widening our approach to safety would bring increased sense of security in our schools, and thus a better learning environment, to our city. However, consider that placing police officers at schools brings about another layer of conformity and stress on the learning environment. I petition that police officers remain in charge of guarding the perimeter of schools and only intervene when weapons are involved, assault on someone that has caused grave injury, terrorism threats, and making sure that after school safety is maintained.
Teachers should take back control of their classrooms and build stronger relationships with parents to ensure learning is made possible. In the event that a child is unruly or disrespectful, parents should be summoned to the school and sit with their child or get the child to be respectful. I feel that mandating volunteer hours for parents at the school will give teachers the help they need and deserve and also inspire parents to be more involved in their child’s education. Employers should allow at least 1 day a month of community service hours to be completed at the child’s school and or daycare center. If the parent has more than one child at different schools, he or she or both should share the responsibility to volunteers. Parents should get one day or half day per child as a paid day to volunteer at their children’s schools.
I think this will get parents involved, teachers will get help, schools will have plenty of volunteers throughout the year, companies can get some type of tax benefits, and children will have the best learning possible. Think about it. I know if I had my mother or father visit the school whenever I had issues with respecting my teachers or issues with another student, that behavior would stop immediately in order to keep the school from calling my mom.
Yes, I know these suggestions will be hard to accomplish, but just because its public education doesn’t mean we aren’t to be held accountable nor contribute to them. Volunteering at your child’s public school should not be optional but rather a norm. This will increase social responsibility and humility across our communities.
I am looking forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Ana Warmsley
Let me know your thoughts???
Mother First, Life Second 