Why Marjorie Stoneman Douglas HS Students ARE NOT Getting the Help They Really Need...and How to Fix it Right Now!

Dear LinkedIn Friends,

No sooner did I post my concerns about comments by MSD teachers regarding their own limited access to mental health professionals, and how so many of their students are rejecting and/or not benefiting from counseling provided by mental health professionals, than I see an article in the March 27, 2019 issue of The Parklander magazine, by yet another MSD teacher! Here's an excerpt:

'One look at the school’s media center in the weeks after the massacre would have revealed that the “care” provided by the Broward County School District was only reinforcing the trauma.

The school district filled the room with elementary school counselors who had no background in trauma counseling and told students to seek help there if they wanted. The school district did not solicit the advice of mental health experts or implement a basic standard of care. There weren’t even privacy curtains. If a student tried to talk but broke down and cried, everyone could see.

What’s more, the counselors cycled in and out of the school on short stints, so students couldn’t even expect to talk to the same person twice. Soon, they stopped seeking help.

The recent suicides by two MSD students, alarming posts by MSD teachers and now, the article I referenced above, makes me believe we are seriously missing the point about the type of counseling being provided vs. the type of counseling the MSD students really need, and the type of counselor being provided vs. the type of counselor the MSD students really need. Here's why:

Over the last 16 years and well north of 1,200 hours in the classroom, it's been my pleasure to serve as a BCPS volunteer, and have been awarded Ramblewood Middle School's 'Partner of the Year' in 2013, two distinctions for which I'm very proud. However, perhaps my proudest personal achievement, next to being a dad to my son, has been conducting my Top of the Middle Program for approximately 3,000 Broward County students over the past eight years, with much of that work occurring in Title 1 schools. I'm extremely grateful for my program's success, and helping so many students to improve their grades, behavior, self-esteem and confidence, social and life skills, and outlook for the future.

Unfortunately, all is not rosy in my little world, and there is a very unpleasant side to all of this. For instance, I've had my life threatened in the classroom by a student more than twice my size, been told to go 'f' myself numerous times, and worked with classrooms full of students who insert the 'f'-and-'n'-bombs into every spoken phrase. I've also seen rampant bullying (I personally broke up two fights) and in-school fights (one of which involved what looked like 40-50 students and a number of police...at 7:35 a.m.). Finally, I've observed too many students treating themselves, and each other, without a shred of love, respect and/or human decency. To that end, it should come as no surprise that many of these students, even the non-violent ones, suffer from various forms of abuse, neglect, alienation, isolation, depression, frustration, hopelessness. etc. I've seen it's effect manifested in their grades, behavior, social skills, moods, etc., and I can honestly say it's never been worse!

In my estimation, a very alarming, disproportionate and growing number of students in these schools suffer from some form of related, PTSD-like symptoms...especially those born into a life of poverty, bad parenting, abuse, neglect, etc., and receiving little-or-no love, kindness, compassion, encouragement, etc. at home. I really can't accurately equate which is worse; children born into a life of ongoing poverty and abuse, or children (like the MSD students) who suddenly experience, see and/or hear something so beyond reproach, it forever affects their psyche and manifests itself in the worst possible ways. Let's face it; both circumstances are awful...and occurring with alarming frequency these days. I believe where we are falling short with the counseling of MSD students is either the type of mental health counseling offered, and, more pointedly, the inability to connect on an interpersonal level.

MSD students suffering from severe emotional trauma really need to work with people who understand exactly where they're coming from, especially someone who has been in the same, dark place, and been taken to the edge, spiritually, emotionally and psychologically. You see, those people have a bit of sadness in them that connects with the sadness of the MSD students. It's almost as if they can look inside you, and see you have broken pieces just like they do; an unspoken truth that bonds you together. I believe it is only at that point that the trust required to make meaningful progress with these students can be forged, and a counselor will be permitted into their world. If that trust is not established, it really doesn't matter how many degrees a mental health professional has after their last name; the MSD students will simply shut them out! Sadly, according to this article, that's exactly what's been occurring for the last 13 months at MSD. Of course, counselors being sent to MSD students who lack experience working with victims of intense trauma, abuse, etc. aren't helping either, and that's also noted in the aforementioned article in The Parklander.

Over the last few generations, my family has gone through things I wouldn't wish on anyone. Most of my dad's family perished before-and-during World War II, and my own family has experienced ongoing religious prejudice to this day. My mother was born to an unwed teenager in 1934, and spent the first several years of her life in foster care, where she was routinely physically and sexually abused, then starved. I was severely bullied for five straight years as a kid, something that nearly resulted in my taking my own life. I don't note all of this as a badge of honor; frankly, I wish none of it ever happened! I only note this because I really do know how it feels to be brought to the edge, and what's required to bounce back from it. In turn, I believe this is why I connect so well with at-risk students severely impacted by abuse, neglect and bullying, and why they've recorded such good progress in my program.

Finally, the need to rectify this situation immediately is upon us. Throwing more of the same mental health professionals who lack the ability to connect with, or be trusted by, MSD students, is obviously not working...over 13 months later! At the same time, every day that goes by without their receiving proper treatment is probably setting back each MSD student many days or weeks. It's grossly amoral, inhumane and irresponsible to continue on this current treatment path knowing it's not working, and it doesn't even have to be that way! As previously noted, I'll work, at no charge, with every single 10th, 11th and 12th grader at MSD between here and the end of the school year. If MSD remains open during summer, I'll work with the MSD students all summer long. During the next two school years and summers, I'll work with the remaining students until they ALL graduate! I believe many will require counseling for years to come, but at least I can do my part to help them find some inner-peace and joy in each day, and learn to forgive and love again...starting with themselves. Once again, you'll never see a bill for any of it, and any student can opt out at any time, if so desired. Please understand that I don't come with any guarantees, and, even though my students have excelled for seven straight years (the 8th year is still ongoing, but I'm expecting similar results), that's no guarantee with MSD students. However, at the end of the day, I figure if the best I could do is to only reach, and truly help, just half of the MSD students dealing with that tragedy, that's still A LOT of students!

Superintendent Runcie and the SBBC: I attended the City Hall meeting and met Parkland Mayor Christine Hunschofsky. She specifically told me she cannot provide services independently to students at MSD; it all must be directed by you! You all have known me for a long time, and I have yet to see better results, and more testimonials from principals, teachers and students, than those I've generated in this program over the last eight years. Moreover, who else has this type of hands-on experience working with your students AND would be willing to make this type of an unpaid, two-year commitment to them? Guess what, there isn't anyone else! We owe these students every possible resource that can help them, don't we? They're worthy of what works best, aren't they?

I respectfully request your arranging this to happen, and I can start ASAP, if possible. This is now the third time since February 14, 2018 that I've asked you to allow me to help these students, and there's no time to waste! Remember this: if your own children and mine were part of the group of MSD students requiring help, I know I'd want it to be ME to be the one to help; not just because I know I can, but because I love your children, and all children, like my own son.

PLEASE contact me immediately regarding same ASAP!

Best regards,

Gregg Havass