meanwhile, back at the ranch,

[ulysses]

a fourth-grade special-needs student at my school today decided to tear up the resource room and the hallway it's on. We were short on administrators today, so they called me out of class (trying to teach science here) to go help the resource teacher deal with him.

The boy lives in poverty with his dad & step-mom - after he started talking in the office about his suicide plans, we started trying to call dad. Dad, however, has just started a new job and has already told the teacher that he'll get in trouble if he gets any more calls at work...and turned off his cell. When I left, the child was stuck at school, surrounded by a bevy of counselors and social workers.

I guess I'm having a little difficulty getting 100% behind the $700 billion because I know that it'll happen, when it does, in a vacuum. Perhaps my perspective is skewed.

[Dervill Crow]

1. This is heartbreaking on so many levels. nt

[ulysses]

2. we keep finding new levels, too. n/t

[brook]

3. Oh, Uly...

That breaks my heart. Wish I were there...maybe as a 'surrogate grandma' the school could call. And to
work with this child's issues and the family. Idealistic, I know. But we all need to find meaningful ways to fill society's gaps. Realistically the gaps, dammit, will outlive us all. That doesn't mean we don't try.

You are truly one of the good guys. I hope someone there steps forward to help.

[ulysses]

4. I guess I'm just curious

about what we're going to do as a society to help the kids like this - he's not the only one - whose parent can't be available for a child threatening to kill himself for fear of losing a newfound job. We used to be told that we couldn't throw money at social problems.

[brook]

7. Don't really know the answer, but

perhaps the school could encourage the mothers of the special needs kids, retired teachers, or seniors to form a support group with the explicit goal of assisting in cases like this. Maybe loosely based on Big Sisters/Big Brothers.

My daughter, who runs a state pre-school relies heavily on volunteers. True, some are more skilled and/or reliable than others- but if your child attends this class, you have to help x# of hours annually. She's also had some senior citizens who were wonderful.

I suppose, in a way, you're asking if our society as a whole has become so self-centered, that helping
a child like this is a concept they'd never grasp. I say, write letters to the Editor, call on the PTA, the Lions, Elks, Kiwanis, everyone in your community. Make them aware of the need in their community. Someone will come forward - hopefully to lead. We can only teach the next generation about compassion by example.

[ColbertWatcher]

5. Kick and rec for more attention. n/t

[ulysses]

6. appreciate that.

Non-starter tonight, I guess.

[ColbertWatcher]

9. Usually, early morning East Coast time (6am EST) ...

... and during Countdown seem to be the busiest times.

I don't know when the best response time would be.

[Suich]

8. This breaks my heart.

A ten year old boy who talks about suicide???

:cry:

K & K

[ulysses]

10. yeah.

Tried to act out stabbing himself in the stomach w/ a pen, too.