Is the Estancia News breeding the next school shooter?

Is the Estancia News breeding the next school shooter? I don’t think so; I think it’s quite the opposite. During the most recent Estancia Municipal School District (EMSD) board meeting, on August 2nd, a teacher’s husband stated he believed the “Estancia News is breeding the next school shooter.” In response to his rhetoric, teachers and EMSD employees in attendance began clapping and cheering in agreement with the transparent plea for censorship of views they disagree with. Implied calls for censorship of free speech are further evidence of a failing educational system teaching cancel culture instead of Civics.

For a moment I was offended, but then I remembered being offended is a choice. I chose not to be offended and instead felt a sense of accomplishment. Let me be clear, I do not think the Estancia News is in any way breeding violence. My sense of accomplishment has nothing to do with what he said, and everything to do with realizing the Estancia News was finally delivering accountability to those who pay taxes by those who squander them. To me, his rhetoric and the cheers that followed are evidence the Estancia News is derailing the gravy train.

What “gravy train?” The one employing so many in town. No, not the private prison, the other one.

The man who claimed Estancia News was breeding the next school shooter was the spouse of a teacher at EMSD. The members of the public who clapped and cheered in response to his rhetoric were all teachers and employees. As a matter of fact, the only members of the public at Board meetings who seem to oppose accountability are the same ones who financially benefit from EMSD or have close family who financially benefit.

“In a one-horse town where the one horse is government, the level of interest and desire for those high paid government jobs will be accompanied by some level of horse trading.”

Paul Gessing, President of the Rio Grande Foundation

In towns where government is one of the largest employers, the roll of government as an employer can sometimes supersedes its obligations to the public. In the case of EMSD, does it first serve the community or those who depend upon it financially?

I knew when I started writing articles for the Estancia News that some would disagree with me and the mission of the Estancia News. Believe it or not, I receive much more positive feedback than negative feedback for my efforts to hold EMSD accountable to the people of Estancia.

Many people express privately we are bringing to light things which have been kept hidden from the public. We are giving a voice to those who have been silenced. I haven’t exactly been embraced by the “school community”. However, I have been embraced by many individuals who know things need to change but are too afraid to speak up.

What Does Contribute to School Shootings?

“The U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Department of Education found that nearly 75 percent of school shooters were bullied or harassed at school.” They further stated that, “Alfred University conducted a survey of American students on school shootings. The top reason they gave for a school shooting: ‘They want to get back at those who have hurt them.’ Eighty-seven percent of students cited this as the reason.”

How Can We Prevent School Shootings? | SaferWatch (saferwatchapp.com)

EMSD has a major problem with bullying, whether their reported numbers agree with the truth or not. During the Superintendent’s report given during this August meeting, she stated that during the 2021-2022 school year, there were 5 bulling incidents for the primary grades, and 1 bullying incident for the secondary grades. I had doubt that these numbers were accurate because my own son reported 2 separate bullying incidents for the secondary grade levels. I contacted a school administer about these numbers and the response was:

“I have given victims the opportunity to determine if they want an investigation type resolution or start with interventions and education. If the situation did not resolve, then I go on to a full investigation. I need students to report and try to support their confidence in me by taking their fears and feelings into account. Many are afraid of retaliation, or a situation being made worse by their peers if they tell…. However, after last night’s meeting, looking at data from PS that way could be confusing. Successful conclusion or not, I want the data there to be able to determine intervention needs and success.”

In other words, not all the reported bullying incidents were included in the Superintendent’s report. Only the incidents that required an investigation were recorded and listed as bullying incidents. To me, this dilutes the actual numbers of bullying incidents. This administrators’ own words were, “Many are afraid of retaliation, or a situation being made worse by their peers if they tell”.

If the top reason given for school shootings was vengeful vindication, then shouldn’t we do a better job at fostering a safe environment where children feel they can report bullying without retaliation? Shouldn’t we work on addressing staff training on how to deal with such incidents? Should we instead endure children being told to “toughen up”, as one teacher told my daughter on several occasions when she complained of bullying?

Perhaps, instead of blaming the Estancia News for shining a light on the district’s practices, we should work together to create the change necessary to ensure the safety of children while at school. After all, according to “best practices” the district should strive to involve the community.