Excellence in School Security

A private school handbook is essentially a set of guidelines for life in the school community. The reason why I am devoting an entire article here on Private School Review is to underscore the importance of handbooks. Both you and your child need to understand that the school's handbook is linked to the contract which you signed with the school. Private schools are not like public schools in this very important regard: students have rights in a public school; but they do not have rights in a private school. They are governed by what is known as contract law. That contract which you signed with the school spells out all the obligations of the parties to that contract. Somewhere buried in the fine print will be a statement to the effect that one of your child's obligations is to abide by the rules and regulations of the school and its community as set forth in the school's handbook and elsewhere.

Most handbooks are comprehensive, very detailed documents which seek to cover every conceivable aspect of school life. They are generally rather lengthy documents too as you will see when you review the examples listed at the end of this article. Take time to review your school's handbook. Discuss and confirm that your child understands the seriousness of this document. While the school will explain the content of its handbook at the beginning of school, assume nothing. Make sure that she understands that failure to abide by the terms

Bullying has been part of our human existence since time began. While bullying goes by different names and takes several different forms, whether you call it intimidation or threatening, whether you do it verbally or with your body language, bullying is upsetting and unnerving behavior. Fortunately for us parents, it is completely unacceptable in most private schools, as it should be everywhere else. Most private school discipline codes have strict policies concerning bullying. Be aware that these policies are enforced quickly because students are governed by contract law. In other words, the contract which you signed with the school spells out very clearly the consequences of any infractions of the school's discipline code. Those consequences, such as suspension or expulsion, will happen swiftly.

Naturally, like just about anything else you can think of, bullying has gone electronic. If you thought that bullying was hard to detect in its analog forms, you could imagine how much more difficult electronic or cyberbullying, as it is now called, is to detect. So, where does cyberbullying fit in? As I noted, cyberbullying or bullying done electronically is extremely difficult for us adults to detect. The reason why is that cyberbullying lurks in the virtual shadows created by social media and smartphones. Unless you are following somebody and can monitor their various social media accounts or have access to their mobile device, you cannot definitively prove that cyberbullying is actually occurring. I used the term social media, which used

Most private schools have an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) in place governing the use of technology. That means that students in private schools must follow their school's guidelines and directives when using personal technology. Personal technology includes laptops, desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones. What perplexes many mature teachers is that none of these devices were commonly used years ago. The reality is that young people have some or all of these devices and use them naturally, freely, and without much thought. Using technology is second nature to students these days.

As a rule, there are limits on these devices and their use in private schools. Let's look at five things you are not supposed to do with personal technology. Breaking the rules in your school could land you in a heap of trouble, including expulsion. Review her school's personal technology use policy if you are a parent. Then discuss the policy with your child. Help her understand the rules, the limits, and why the school has a technology policy. Remind her further that she has no rights in a private school. So if the school disciplines her for an infraction, there is little or no recourse. That is because private school students are covered by contract law. The rights and privileges are spelled out in the contract you signed with the school. She does not have constitutional rights per se. The contract is a legal, binding document.

Here are five things you must not do

Preventing Teen Suicide

Every year, there are reports of private school students taking their own lives. ]

• Suicide casts a terrible pall over any school community.
• It just seems so pointless, so senseless.
• Yet, had members of the community acted on the signals the young person was most likely sending, that suicide could have been prevented.

The academic work in private schools can be very heavy.

• The pressures to succeed, to get into the best college, and to not let parents and others down, combined with the reality of adolescent uncertainty, can create a climate for depression.
• Depression can lead to suicide.
• But suicide is preventable.

Canva generated this image.

Suicide is preventable.

Suicide is the 3rd largest killer of young adults between the ages of 15-24.

• Teen suicide is preventable.
• Know the warning signs.

The following information from Kids Health tells you what to look for.

"Suicide among teens often happens after a stressful life event, such as problems at school, a breakup with a boyfriend or girlfriend, the death of a loved one, a divorce, or a major family conflict.

Teens who are thinking about suicide might:

• talk about suicide or death in general
• give hints that they might not be around anymore
• talk about feeling hopeless or feeling guilty
• pull away from friends or family
• write songs, poems, or letters about death, separation, and loss
• start giving away treasured possessions to siblings or friends
• lose the desire

The Scramble for Places in Primary Schools

If you live in New York or San Francisco, you probably already know how difficult it is to get your toddler into a good primary school. You almost have to register for a place before she is born. The problem is that primary schools are extremely limited in places in most major metropolitan areas. Consequently, parents will do almost anything to get their children into a desirable school. Back in the 50s and 60s, when I was growing up, pre-schools and nurseries were hard to find. That's because most mothers were stay-at-home mothers. Looking after the children was just part of the job description of a mother then. That began to change as more mothers began to work outside the home. In the 70s and 80s, preschools and nursery schools became a hot commodity. So, how do you position your child so she has the best chance of getting into a good primary school?

In this video, Denise Pope offers advice on finding an elementary school.

1. Make sure your child attends a good preschool.
It helps to have your child attend a well-regarded preschool. There are several practical reasons for this. The network of Pre-K school directors and primary school directors is active in any city. These professionals know each other. They communicate with each other regularly. They also know each other's work and the standards achieved at