BusPatrol’s Post

America's Safe Schools Week, Oct. 15 - 21, 2023 This week Woodland is celebrating America’s Safe Schools Week! The safety of our staff and students is our top priority, and safety is something we think about everyday throughout the year. In this newsletter, we will share a few important updates about Safety at Woodland. Learn more about Community Partnerships, the Dangers of Vaping, Bus Safety, Report A Concern and more! https://lnkd.in/gsumMDJM

As Distracted Awareness Month comes to a close, it's crucial to reflect on the significance of safeguarding our school speed zones. 🚸 This campaign serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers that distractions pose, especially in areas where our children's safety is paramount. From texting behind the wheel to being preoccupied with other tasks, distractions can have devastating consequences, particularly in school zones. Protecting school speed zones isn't just about obeying traffic laws; it's about prioritizing the safety and well-being of our future generations. By remaining vigilant and focused while driving near schools, we can help create a safer environment for students, teachers, and pedestrians alike. As we bid farewell to Distracted Awareness Month, let's carry its message forward every day. Let's continue to raise awareness, advocate for safer roads, and take action to ensure that our school zones remain protected. Together, we can make a difference and save lives. #DistractedAwarenessMonth #SchoolZoneSafety 🛑📵

The Special Grand Jury investigating the Richneck Elementary School shooting, which occurred on January 6, 2023 in Newport News, Virginia, has been released. The purpose of this report is to: -Address the question if there was any decision or action taken that would have prevented the events that occurred. -Make practical recommendations for improvement. -Determine if any of the parties in the Newport News Public School System administration should be criminally liable for their actions or lack of actions in their duties to provide for the care and safety of the children attending Richneck. Source: WAVY-TV 10 https://lnkd.in/e-ahd_VZ #school #schools #schoolshooting #schoolshootings #schoolsecurity #security #schoolsafety #safety #report #lessons #recommendations #AAR #investigation #highthreat #threat #threats

I think it’s inaccurate to surmise that urban schools are empty because of low birth rates, which in turn is the reason for parents to move elsewhere. It’s simply not the case. Parents do not move because of not having children. They move in search of better job opportunities. After the pandemic, inperson jobs fell precipitously. Remote jobs began to gain traction, and parents without the requisite skills began to feel the pain. They have been left with no alternative but to move, move along with their children. There is your problem — the absence of jobs! Lawmakers can stabilize this population by creating jobs, and by offering opportunities to retrain low skilled urban parents for the new digital economy. That’s what would keep them in their school districts, and their children in their schools. This is one way to curb the outflow of kids from urban school districts.

Maybe America has too many of the "wrong" types of schools. Instead of indoctrinating students, maybe more schools should go back to focusing on delivering tangible vocational skills that can lead to a certificate in a trade and immediately gain employment afterwards. The shift from vocational education to a college based one was short-sighted and a huge mistake. Yes, manufacturing went overseas in the 80s; however, there was still a need for many vocations. Instead, the shift to promoting a 4 year degree for everyone resulted in administrative bloat at colleges. Administrator employment greatly outpaced faculty growth and student enrollment. As always, it was all about the money. The good news is that more young people are seeing through the charade and are choosing to save money and learn a trade. This new shift should have a ripple effect and bring back the vocational education platform that is sorely needed. This, in turn, will help urban youth gain skills, meaningful employment, and solid compensation. #education #trades #vocationalschool #schools

Addressing the alarming rise in school shootings is crucial for the safety of our communities. This article sheds light on the concerning trend, urging us to come together and prioritize effective solutions. #SafetyFirst #CommunityUnity #SchoolSafety #Lockdown https://lnkd.in/gS6EuQqt

I've been warning about this for years. As of 2024, the fertility rate in the United States is 1.64. The fertility rate is a somewhat difficult number to measure, but can roughly be thought of as the number of children an average woman will give birth to over the course of their lifetime. For a population to remain stable, you need 2.1 children per woman. The population of the US is still increasing, primarily on the basis of the Millennials, which followed a pattern similar to but more muted than the Baby Boomers. The growth rate is the first derivative of the population and is still (barely positive), but the growth acceleration rate, the second derivative, shifted negative about fifteen years ago. Not counting immigration, the US population will peak in about 2040, about 15 years ahead of what was predicted at the turn of the century. Immigration is likely to continue for some time after that, but by 2050 or thereabouts, the same phenomenon will be hitting immigration rates, and it is likely that we'll see signs of that by as soon as 2037 or so. What's worth noting, however, is that immigration for the most part is concentrated in a few key areas - around the southern border with Mexico and northwards to about Colorado, along Florida and the Gulf Coast, and various population groups that are facing wars or similar actions (the number of Ukranians emigrating to the US, mostly the elderly and children) has spiked, not surprisingly). In general, recent immigrants don't immediately impact schools, though the next generation generally is schooled. In many parts of the country, where immigration is usually not an immediate factor, the birth rate differential of -0.46 births is already being felt, with it predicted to exceed -0.5 births within the next decade. This rate of decline would be faster except that woman are having children later in life as in vitro fertilization becomes more widely used, but because this is such a slowly changing number, there is still an open question about how significant the latter effect is. Regardless, the upshot of all of this is that we are looking at a demographic shift that is due to several factors all pointing to a long term (multigenerational) stabilization (and ultimately decline) in population that is already affecting our schools, our workplaces and ultimately our senior years. As with other crises, the effects have occurred slowly at first, but are now becoming noticeable. We probably can't change anything in any meaningful way as far as stopping this (nor, to be honest, would this decline necessarily be a bad thing for humanity) but it does mean that we need to start adapting our institutions to recognize that the status is going to be increasingly non-quo, and that if we expect things to remain the same, we will be guaranteed nothing but disappointment.

"AMERICA HAS TOO MANY SCHOOLS" was the Wall Street Journal Headline. While the quality of education in urban schools has declined significantly, despite graduating most students, parents, when possible, have opted for the positive outcomes of homeschooling; & private schools to a much lesser extent. Latest U.S. Data: (1) There are 3.7 million homeschool students in the U.S.; (2) Homeschool students outperform institutional school students academically. (3) The average cost of homeschooling is $700-$1,800 per student annually; e.g. unlike the $29-$30,000 per student at Chicago Public Schools; & (4) The top reason for homeschooling is a concern about school environment. All parents (urban, suburban & rural) are intelligent in knowing something is very wrong when their kids graduate high school but are functionally illiterate. Where parents fail, given ability to elect school boards, they seem to vote the same people to office not holding them accountable. There very well may be too many schools. But; when possible, parents are making wise choices that benefit their children, culture, & civilization. Parents know best; not politicians or elitists.