Re: Does anyone find this wrong or is it just me?

Re: Does anyone find this wrong or is it just me?

I don't even know where to begin to respond to this topic. Every year of my HS career, someone in my grade died (not all DD related). I cannot even fathom the idea of purposely causing students to experience the shock and grief of this kind of loss and then trying to create a lesson out of it.

As a fellow guidance counselor, I would 100% feel like you do. i would not want to be there, but would be torn in wanting to support the kids during the aftermath of this cruel "joke".

I like the idea of the mangled car in a highly traveled area to drive their point home. Obviously, there's nothing you can do to stop this from happening, BUT I agree with the previous poster that said to leak the story to the kids so they know that it isn't real. No one will be able to prove it was you

As a parent I would be outraged, as a student I would feel deceived and devastated, and as an educator, I am appalled at these tactics. I do not envy your day on Monday. I hope that you can keep yourself out of the firing line once the parents get wind of this

Re: Does anyone find this wrong or is it just me?

Why not blow up this picture and read the story out loud. To me it makes the same point. http://www.newsday.com/news/local/nassau/ny-lifata1020,0,6271919.story

Re: Does anyone find this wrong or is it just me?

I think you need to stop this, before they do it. Like many of the other posters said, as the guidance counselor, YOU are going to get the brunt of this.

I say, march in there on Monday morning, tell them you will absolutely NOT allow them to do it, and give them an alternative.

OR, better yet, call Newsday anonymously and have them post the story for all to see! This is a horrific idea that is morally wrong on so many levels.

Re: Does anyone find this wrong or is it just me?

That's pretty bad. As a parent and/or staff member I'd be upset. I'm not sure what kind of stand you can take, but whosoever is driving this exercise should be aware that it's controversial and could have consequences.

Hope it ends up ok Christine! (BTW, DD is a cutie-patootie!)

Re: Does anyone find this wrong or is it just me?

I think it is very very very wrong. That is a traumatizing event and I don't think the parents of those students would appreciate it.

Re: Does anyone find this wrong or is it just me?

i would call in sick that day- i would want NO part of it!

Re: Does anyone find this wrong or is it just me?

It's Cruel

Re: Does anyone find this wrong or is it just me?

Re: Does anyone find this wrong or is it just me?

Yikes, I agree - that is very wrong. Those poor kids are going to be very sad and angry.

Re: Does anyone find this wrong or is it just me?

FM

Re: Does anyone find this wrong or is it just me?

i dont think thats right.. something like that can soo back fire .. You dont know how they are going to react or what kind of effect it will have on them.

Re: Does anyone find this wrong or is it just me?

That's Very Cruel, and Unexceptable, I cant believe adminstration would go along with this.I lost 2 friend's in freshman year from DD accident,'but' they were on motocylce's, When i was in High school they showed a video of people who been in a DD accident and how mangled their car's were. also they had a speaker come and talk to us and they also did the car on the school and the sign would say Dont drink and drive this is what will happen to you if'you' do. I hope you can leak it out to some of the kids before they go through with it ... Is there any way you can warn all of the parent's so they can warn thier kids about it before monday?Please keep us updated after the fact. I dont agree with this and really am surprised the school is going to do this!

Re: Does anyone find this wrong or is it just me?

that doesn't sit well with me either

On the day of prom night, our local High School stages a mock DWI crash scene - complete with wrecked car, police, ambulance, "injured" people and student actors, a coroner and a hearse -its really done very well - the whole class must attend.

I think it makes a huge impact on the students even though they know its not real, it certainly is pretty realistic.

I don't think lying to them is the right way to go though....

Re: Does anyone find this wrong or is it just me?

I talked it over with some collegues since we had the PSAT at my school this morning. Some agreed and some didn't. Apparently, this program has been done before at several CA(I am NOT in NY) schools and it turned out fine. I am still going to voice my concerns to the administration on Monday morning and speak with the teacher who is doing it. I am still very sick about the whole thing and really don't want to go to work on Monday but I have to be there for my poor students.
I have already composed the message for my answering service on my phone giving the numbers for my administrators. I will not be taking phone calls from parents on this issue but will offer my two cents if asked.

I will keep everyone updated. I know that my little voice may not be able to stop it from happening but that doesn't mean I have to be silent about it.

Message edited 10/20/2007 6:12:18 PM.

Re: Does anyone find this wrong or is it just me?

WRONG!!!!!!!!! Im actually horrified at that!

Re: Does anyone find this wrong or is it just me?

Re: Does anyone find this wrong or is it just me?

That is so wrong...if I was one of those kids parents and found out I would be furious.

Re: Does anyone find this wrong or is it just me?

I read this the other day, but didn't have a chance to respond, so I am sure I will echo a few posters here...

I am absolutely horrifed and DISGUSTED at this "exercise."

I experienced my saddest day as a teacher of 11 years one year ago this very weekend. At my high school, one of the juniors actually *was* killed due to reckless driving. She was a passenger in the backseat of a car whose driver was going out of control through the streets of upper Manhattan. I don't know that she was one of the "popular" students or what, but what did that matter...students of all grades and social classes were openly weeping/screaming/crying in the halls and in my room all day long. Most were just "shell-shocked."

As a corollary, when I was in high school, one of the students died during school hours. If anyone attended St. Francis Prep in the early 90s, I'm sure you will remember. That day, too, ranked as one of the saddest days I remember.

To have to endure a day like this is cruel; to have to endure the same day, only fake, is just unconscionable. As a student, I would lose a lot of trust and respect for my school and the administration that would allow this to take place.

I hope someone steps up to say how wrong this is before it happens.

Message edited 10/21/2007 11:56:42 AM.

Re: Does anyone find this wrong or is it just me?

I have to agree - this is just awful! I can understand how the shock might cause some kids to think more carefully before they decide to drink and drive, but I can't imagine how awful it would be to think your friend was killed and then hear "Fooled you" when the administration tells you it was all a hoax.

I am wondering, will it be they make this announcement that the girl died, and then a minute later explain it was a fake, or will they wait hours or till the next day?

Good luck! I can't imagine all the calls you will get from angry parents!

Re: Does anyone find this wrong or is it just me?

I think it is a really bad idea. I think that it will come off looking like a bad prank.

When I was in 10th grade, a teacher in my school died in a car accident on the way to school and I will never forget that day and what it was like, she wasn't my teacher, but the way it spread through the school and the way the teachers and students felt.....just thinking about doing it as an "exercise" actually makes me angry

And where will the girl be? She will be in on it? In the office?

Re: Does anyone find this wrong or is it just me?

Updated here...

update on "death" of student