When No One Comes

I agree with MANY that the Chicago Children's behavior- their attacks against the Mother and her two young children - are the responsibility of them and their parents.

Many of these children who commit such crimes are abused and neglected. Unfortunately, this often involves generations of abuse and neglect. We also need to remember that since many of these parents have been abused and do also abuse, Schools - teachers, counselors, vice principals and principals - ALL are MANDATED REPORTERS of "Suspected" Child Abuse & Neglect, and are expected to follow through on such reporting when it is brought to their attention.

It is critical that these professionals understand that Students are CHILDREN first, and when they encounter the children they encounter the fruit of their lives.

I wrote An Open Letter to School Principals that I would love for everyone to read. It is not a 5-minute read but it is essential to looking at the responsibilities of school leadership as it pertains to educational and social outcomes in the lives children.

Some children come together to form an alliance, a click or a gang because they are abused and for them... No One Came. DHS, CPS, and OCFS have utterly FAILED them, so the children inadvertently form a gang - looking for ways to protect each other.

Even while forming such an alliance, they still have issues of jealousy, envy, self loathing and have the potential to project that on to others as if - viewing through a mirror, themselves THROUGH these others - they must fight back and destroy what and who THEY are.

Schools - even with the most affluent of families - can no longer approach education as solely a quest for academic achievement and success. There must be broader focus on the Student as a "child", building character, emotional intelligence and practical skills that increase their ability to socially and realistically engage a digressing 'want what I want' culture.

Ignoring the 'adverse Truama' of children IS COSTLY. . It has been proven to be... time and again. Why? Because for them... No One Came.

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