Teen with Fear of School in Middle of Financial Controversy : W...

Debi R wrote:

Pat, I can only address items I have posted, I will always stand behind my words. But, I will address the parking pass, some of my older family members have those passes also, I would never look down on them, I have no idea what the future holds for myself or my husband, it may come the time where I also will need help with parking. As for helping the troops, yes I have done an active part, I have willingly donated items to local churches, helped pack care packages, and raised monetary donations to purchase items to be sent to our troops. I have done this all because I do care about the men and women who are there and not home with their families. Every other day on the local news, you hear about another fallen solider, this saddens me. In my honest opinion, they should be home, but that is my opinion.
Yes, I have 3 daughters, they have all posted on myspace, and yes I have monitored their activity on the internet. This is another area for concern, but maybe I am a little over protective :) Now that my daughters are over 18 and all college students, I at times do ask to see their postings, which they show me willingly, nothing was ever posted that I would be ashamed of, and no use of foul language. Just a lot of graduation, prom and college pictures.
Okay now to this topic :) I have to agree with you that the tax money will ever be replaced, since this was a court order, it's more or less a done deal. My main goal in this all, is for the future.
I feel that if a child is awarded funds for an "education" these funds should be treated as or similar to an inheritance, they should be monitored. These funds should be used for educational purposes only. They need a person, an authority figure to guide the parent with the choices they make, they need to help the parents stay on track.
As I have said before Pat, I have no problem with helping a child that is in need, but I do have a problem with the misuse and/or abuse of tax funds. When I saw what most of these funds were used for, yes I became upset. There are other disabled students within this district that could have put the funds to better use than…….dog boarding, limo rides, monthly memberships to the local gym.

Debi, you rock. Have you ever considered running for public office? ;-)

And you are absolutely right about the Myspace issue (and everything else). A responsible parent, knowing the dangers of myspace, monitors their child's usage, as they monitor ALL computer/internet usage.

That video that Rebecca posted about cows was NOT song lyrics, as Pat suggested. It was the musings of a foul-mouthed little girl.

Hey MeeMee, how have you been, I'm glad you are back and decided to join us again :)

I would love to run for the school board, but with a full time job and a part time weekend job (2 daughters in college) I feel I would not be able to dedicate any time. I have spoke with other board members, and it does require a lot of spare time, which I don't have right now. Maybe when I retire ?? I honestly think the board does need some new members, and a lot more fresh ideas.

Again, I will agree with you about parents and the internet. It's a sad fact that a lot of children know more about modern technology than the parents, therefore they run circles around them.
Although I feel the internet can be a great tool, it can also be a dangerous one at the same time.

About the cow video, I think she knew what she was doing, she knew what she was saying. This was no prank done by a teenager.

Take Care MeeMee, I am off to work, I hope to talk to you soon. Enjoy your summer :)

Debi R wrote:

Hey MeeMee, how have you been, I'm glad you are back and decided to join us again :)
I would love to run for the school board, but with a full time job and a part time weekend job (2 daughters in college) I feel I would not be able to dedicate any time. I have spoke with other board members, and it does require a lot of spare time, which I don't have right now. Maybe when I retire ?? I honestly think the board does need some new members, and a lot more fresh ideas.
Again, I will agree with you about parents and the internet. It's a sad fact that a lot of children know more about modern technology than the parents, therefore they run circles around them.
Although I feel the internet can be a great tool, it can also be a dangerous one at the same time.
About the cow video, I think she knew what she was doing, she knew what she was saying. This was no prank done by a teenager.
Take Care MeeMee, I am off to work, I hope to talk to you soon. Enjoy your summer :)

I've been hanging back, just reading, but I couldn't just sit by and not respond to Pat's postings. I'm not even in your district, and I appreciate what you are doing and speaking out for all taxpayers. You are doing a good thing.

Yes, I understand about the "having to work" thing and limited free time. Doesn't it seem kind of backward that the people like you who should be on the board can't because you are working hard while there are those who abuse the system and hang out at home all day doing nothing worthwhile (ie. the subjects of this article) on your tax dollar?! Pat doesn't seem to get this.

Have a great summer, and please keep us posted on any progress that is made. I know I'll be reading....:-)

I agree with the last post completely. Money doesn't solve the problems, but opportunities do. I am in my mid 30s and I had that mystery illness myself. It was so hard to go back to school after being out for months at a time. Everyone stared at me and it basically sent me backwards.

I was so good at all my subjects and polite. But, I could not overcome this fear that came on suddenly. I do know that school gets pretty dang cruel after a certain grade and you feel like it's more about "how well" you do and not "what you do". There is plenty to be anxious about. But not all kids are the same. All are unique and some just plain don't mesh well with the norms of society. I am one of those people. I avoided solving my phobia by dropping out at 16 but finishing up through ICS on time. I spent the next 15 years battling work phobia and tried to literally force my self on it like exposure therapy. But my strong willpower could not endure the strain and stress that overpowered me.

Psychologists and psychiatrists are a joke. They want to fix everything with pills because they are basically salesmen for the drug companies. I have been on numerous anti depressants, lithium, and more and they didnt phase my phobia. I spent years educating myself, changing my diet, exercising but nothing could get me into the workplace. And I actually do well at working!! Just not in the work "place"!!

So, thanks to virtual classes, I just got student loans and am working on a bachelor. And hopefully I can work through this phobia before I graduate.

It is a real problem and it can totally ruin your whole life. Technically I should have already committed suicide by now but luckily haven't. Of course, it could still happen down the road. There's nothing worse than being married to a great woman and watching this illness suck the life out of her and me.

Problem is that there are so many uneducated fools still in this world that dont believe in problems they dont have. So, progress becomes limited for those who DO have it. I dont believe in using the methods described in this post, but there should be help out there for everyone.

But another thing I will say is that throwing a bunch of kids from all over the community together on a daily basis would create a serious problem for some kids. Especially since many of them are cold hearted bastards being raised by awful parents. They cause problems for the sensitive kids by bullying them. I taught my daughter to punch the hell out of any kid who bullied her. I wont stand for that.

Debi R wrote:

<quoted text>
Hi Parent of 3, I hope all is going better for you and your family.
Pat (from Bethlehem) When you read all the information provided, you will see the ONLY life lesson this person (I won't use the word mother) is teaching this girl is how to milk every system out there. Let her move to your town then you can also contribute to this scam.

OK miss educated. How did you get all this information about this girl and how do you know where the money was spent?Do you have records? If you do, how did you obtain them?What I do get is this....that girl's disability is none of your business. If you have actual proof of all you've posted, how did you get it??Seems to me that certain things are private. Like actual records of this particular case. Kids will brag, etc about themselves to make themselves look better. So how did you get all the information about this girl? I also know in life that sometimes things aren't always what they seem.

MeeMee wrote:

<quoted text>
What, like the Maykishes let these parents tax dollars work for them? What if everyone did that?
The problem with our government is people like you who lay down and acquiesce.

Get a life.You don't even know me.OR- maybe you do.

Pat from Bethlehem wrote:

<quoted text>Get a life.You don't even know me.OR- maybe you do.

Hey MEE-MEE! See you at the polls.

Pat from Bethlehem wrote:

<quoted text>Get a life.You don't even know me.OR- maybe you do.

Great response. So eloquent. So well thought out. It really helped me to see your side of things.

Ok, sarcasm over now.

I do know a few Pats. If by some strange coincidence you happen to be the one I'm thinking the most of, your view would make a WHOLE lot of sense. You wouldn't happen to be a member of OLPH would you?

First I would like to Thank You Pat, I will take that as a compliment.

As I have stated to you before. If you would take the time to do your homework, speak to administration, teachers, and just listen to what the school board members say, you also would know this information.

Also, the school district funds are our business. The school district funds concern EVERY tax paying citizen of this district. Hence election of school board officers and school board meetings.

Pat from Bethlehem wrote:

<quoted text>Get a life.You don't even know me.OR- maybe you do.

YOU must live in a HUD house. I will bet you also collect welfare, or disability

Pat from Bethlehem wrote:

<quoted text>Hey MEE-MEE! See you at the polls.

You are a complete IDIOT PAT
MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS

Pat from Bethlehem wrote:

<quoted text>Get a life.You don't even know me.OR- maybe you do.

maybe you need to tell us your last name so we can call you. you like to sit behind a computer and call names lets see how much guts you really have

Pat from Bethlehem wrote:

<quoted text>OK miss educated. How did you get all this information about this girl and how do you know where the money was spent?Do you have records? If you do, how did you obtain them?What I do get is this....that girl's disability is none of your business. If you have actual proof of all you've posted, how did you get it??Seems to me that certain things are private. Like actual records of this particular case. Kids will brag, etc about themselves to make themselves look better. So how did you get all the information about this girl? I also know in life that sometimes things aren't always what they seem.

Educated, yes to some degree. How the group of us obtain information is none of your concern. Along with what came straight out of the horses mouth (the mother) on what she spent the funds on is enough to grow interest.

Let me ask you a question, what would be your reply to the older citizen that worked all his life but has to sell his house because on his fixed income he cannot afford to pay yearly school taxes. What would you say Pat, would you look him in the eyes and tell him what you have said here, that you understand and side with this BS? Where are the laws to protect what he worked all his life for, where are the laws placed to protect the innocent bystander?

This faimly was awarded a sum of money to get their daughter an education, to the amount that exceeds $46000,00. Her daughters education was put into her hands simply because she turned away the tutors sent by the school (fact). Now that the funds have depleted she is going back after the school because she feels the school district did not give her a good education.(for choices she made-again fact)

The school district did not tell her to spend these funds on dog boarding, modeling classes, limo rides, local gym memberships, etc. These were the mothers choices.

Whats done is done, but we will continue to try to prevent this from happening again. We will continue to fight for the innocent of this district.

Pat; Incredibly enough we actually need people like you, with abstract views, to ensure that the rest of us are on the right track. I suggest that you try to act like an adult when you post.
Debi R. Thank you VERY MUCH for what you do here.
Christian schools educate children at 1/3 the cost of public schools (per child cost). Insanity like this contributes to the high cost of public education. At $6,000 per student per year for education, we could have provided a complete education to 7.7 other deserving children for the $46,000 wasted.
Many local people can't afford to heat their homes. They will have to choose food or heat, OR SCHOOL TAXES. Better pay those taxes to support kids that can travel to California but can't go to the public school...
I wish Palmerton was famous for being a great place to live, where your children get a great education. Instead we're known for throwing money at undeserving families.

I am afraid of going to work... I go Anyway.. Too bad for me.. Get your butt to school.

My comment is for those of you who feel this forum is a place to trash and insult people. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and has the right to express them. What everyone is missing is that the girl is being victomized by EVERYONE involved from her mother to you people bashing her. School phobia is very real. I suffered from it myself. I missed three quarters of my sophmore and senior years because of it. I was fined for truancy and guess what, My parents made me pay the fines. My mistake, my fine. To this day i still suffer from phobia. My wife and i constantly fight about my lowpaying job because with no education, no good job( couldnt bring myself to go to collage).

As for the name calling, If any one of you with kids heard you children acting like this, would you put a stop to it, or would you smile and say thats ok? The reason im asking is i try to teach my two year old to act responsably and even she knows name calling wont silve anything.

One more thing for Debi R

Keep up the good work. You seem like you want to prevent this from happening again in the future, and dont seem interested in playing the games others are.
I wish more people would take the time to learn all sides of the issues and take a stand for what they feel is right with well written posts like yours.

Hi Paul, Thanks for the input :)

I want to explain myself and my goals. What's done with this case is done, it is what it is. I (along with others) are trying to make sure that this does not happen again.
I understand that there are funds set up for the special needs of children in every school district. I know that there are several special needs children in this district alone. I have no problem with helping these children, we all know that to succeed in this world you need an education.

I feel in this case, the school district did what they were told to do. The settlement supplied to this family was for educational purposes. Now that the funds have depleted the mother is stating that the school district failed her daughter. The educational choices were put into the mothers hands, to supply an education for her daughter. The daughters education or lack of is truly in the hands of this mother. The school district sent tutors to this home, they were turned away.

Now to my goal. I would like to see a group of teachers, parents, and school administration be implemented within this district, to guide or help parents to what the better choices would be when choosing an education and goals. If the parent starts making poor choices, this group will step in and point them in the right direction. I am in no way speaking of myself, I honestly would not know where to begin. But I am sure that the teachers of this district have this knowledge.

I have spoken to families that have children, that are having a difficult time in certain subjects, they have hired tutors remitting payment by their own means. I have spoken to the older citizens in this town, ones who can't afford to get a full monthly prescription but continue to pay their yearly school taxes. I have also spoken to families that may have already sold their homes due to the fact that they can't afford the taxes. This saddens me. How these funds were spent was comparable to a slap in the face of every taxpayer within this district.

Moving forward, this was a good experience, a lesson learned. With all hope we will prevent situations like this from happening again.

Paul, did you ever consider online classes ? Please don't give up, you sound like you have the strength and courage to beat this

I was afraid in school maybe that is why I did not do as well as I should of. I am going to ask the school if they will re school me if not I will sue them because if I did better in school I would have a better job. It is the schools fautl not mine.

Another resident wrote:

Pat; Incredibly enough we actually need people like you, with abstract views, to ensure that the rest of us are on the right track. I suggest that you try to act like an adult when you post.
Debi R. Thank you VERY MUCH for what you do here.
Christian schools educate children at 1/3 the cost of public schools (per child cost). Insanity like this contributes to the high cost of public education. At $6,000 per student per year for education, we could have provided a complete education to 7.7 other deserving children for the $46,000 wasted.
Many local people can't afford to heat their homes. They will have to choose food or heat, OR SCHOOL TAXES. Better pay those taxes to support kids that can travel to California but can't go to the public school...
I wish Palmerton was famous for being a great place to live, where your children get a great education. Instead we're known for throwing money at undeserving families.

Hi Another Resident, I agree with everything you have said. The sad part is, there are people that actually do have to make the choices you mentioned. I wish just a part of that settlement would have went to deserving families that needed it.
I sincerely hope some changes are made...this town needs them :)