Teens and preteens have enough on their plates these days with school, social media, covid, and testing pressure that they should not have to deal with the polarizing politics of unsupportive school board members and a few parents who care more about politics than they do about the happiness and mental health of the students in our district. As a concerned parent, educator, and psychologist, I believe it is vitally important that we support our students and support the educators in our school district by allowing them to support our students and each other. This is critical to the health and well-being, and in many cases, the survival of the students in our school and community.
According to a Feb 17, 2023, Washington Post article “The Crisis in American Girlhood,” based on the CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey, we are seeing increased suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts, especially among teen girls. Twenty four percent have a suicide plan and 13% have attempted suicide; this is almost double the rate for teen boys in America. These numbers have increased over the years, not just in response to Covid. The CDC reported that “During 2009–2019, trends in suicide attempts among adolescents increased overall and among many demographic groups.” The CDC also noted in their report that “Other strategies in a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention include supporting families by strengthening economic supports and teaching coping and problem-solving skills among children, adolescents, and their parents; promoting connectedness between youths and their schools, teachers, peers, and family; creating protective environments in schools and at home (e.g., limiting access to such lethal means among students at risk as medications and firearms); promoting help-seeking behaviors; reducing stigma; training teachers and adults in recognizing signs of suicide; and responding effectively through referrals to evidence-based treatment” (emphasis added). Additionally American girls, and to a lesser degree boys, are at risk of sexual violence. According to the same CDC survey, almost 14% of teen girls reported they have been forced into sex. According to the CDC breakdown by states from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System from 2019, the most recent year state data is published, versus the national average, teens in KS were more likely to have been physically forced to have sexual intercourse. The Washington Post article states that the stress for teen girls comes from “growing up in a social media culture with impossible beauty standards, online hate, academic pressure, economic difficulties, self doubt and sexual violence,” and that teens hide their troubles well. Hopefully many of the teens in our community feel that they have some trusted adults in their sphere that they can turn to for support. For many, that can be a trusted teacher or school counselor. So, what are some of our school board members doing? They are trying to tear down and interfere with what support these teens do have. They are making it harder for our students to turn to our teachers and staff for support and making it harder for our educators to safely be present for and connect with their students.
At a time when data is showing a growing crisis for our teens and preteens, the last thing we should be doing is removing support from them and adding to their stress by politicizing the school board. We need to be acting like responsible adults, doing the tough job of adulting, and doing what is best for our students. We should not be doing the bidding of extreme politicians who are pursuing their agenda to privatize education, destroy our public education system, and stifle the ability of our children to learn to think or our educators to teach. The mission of the school board members should be to put our students and their well-being first, this includes their mental health and safety.
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