Portland, Tennessee Blog

I was asked by a neighbor to pick up her 2 sons from Watt Hardison Elementary, because her doctor appointment had run late @ vanderbilt and she would not be there in time to pick them up. I drove through the pick up lane and when I got to where I was to tell them who I was picking up, I gave her their names. I expected her to ask me who I was, but she didn't. The boys had a surprised look on their face {as I had never picked them up from school before!!} But I was deeply troubled because no one ever questioned who I was!!!!!!!!

As a mother of a quickly growing up 2 year old,the thoughts of sending him to public school are starting to emerge. And quite frankly, I'm terrified. Not because of Portland. Just the idea of the many terrible situations that my child could be put in scares me to death. I do find comfort in knowing I am right around the corner of my child's elementary school in case something were to happen to him. I am not sure what else we could do to make our schools safer,but I am certain a little prayer can go a long way.

I also have kids in middle school here and with any school now you never know what can happen in a blink of an eye. It is shame it has become the way it is but it is a fact.Short of keeping your kids at home under your wing there is not much you can do.I really hate you feel shut out Parent.Wow this is a wonderful time in their life!

I do not believe our kids are safe at the school at all. I have two children at Portland Middle. I was informed of an incident last week outside where a student ran and hit other students and then proceeded to grab some glass from the greenhouse. I do not know all of the facts, but I do know that one of the children that was ran over by this student was the child of a friend. When asked WHY SHE WASN'T CALLED about the incident concerning her child, she was told that it was the end of the day!
As a parent, I feel totally left out of the lives of my children in school. Not only concerning safety, but everything. I know as children get older, parents are less informed as to the goings on in school - ok - but why? I do agree that Clyde Riggs is wonderful as both of my children went there and I never had any problems, but since my children entered middle school, I am hardly ever notified of anything. If my kids are in any sort of potential danger, I, as a parent, have a right to know! This is one of many issues that I have which I won't go into detail about, but I do not feel the children are safe!

To the teacher: Probably the teachers at the schools, that have had the school shootings, felt the same way you do. Confident and safe. Don't get too comfortable in your everyday routine. You never know when your world will come crumbling down.

There are definitely some misguided comments posted on this blog. The incident last year referenced by Debra P actually never occurred...how do I know, you ask? I am a teacher there. It was a situation blown out of proportion by the gossiping of children. The MS staff addressed the situtaion correctly and deescalted the situation. Once the dust had cleared and the true story came out, it was learned that the whole story was fabricated by two students picking on the third...that is why no mention was ever made. As for safety at the school...there are regular practices of lock down, tornado and fire procedures -- as a matter of fact, we just had a practice procedure yesterday. As for watching the kids -- teachers are in the hallways as kids move from one class to another and if an entire class is moving they are escorted by the teacher. The grade level teachers escort the students outside for activity and monitor the students during the time period.

In no way do I feel uncomfortable at our school. I feel safe and have been taught the correct procedures for handling various situations that can occur in school buildings. I am confident that our students are in good hands and have no doubt in the ability of the teaching staff here in Portland.

I am not responding to start a conflict or appear snooty. Rather, I am responding to share what I know and hopefully calm some nerves. From one Portlander to another...I am confident in the safety of our local schools!

Let's face it Our schools are far from being "SAFE". Just how easy would it be for a "stranger" to force his way into one of the many, many portables that are on the school grounds? Are there any security officers patroling the grounds of these schools? It might be harder to actually get into the main building but NOT the portables. They are easy targets. Last year, at the Middle School, a boy brought a gun to school and not one word of this was mentioned to the media or any of the parents. My granddaughter, which goes to the Middle School, informed us of this incident. I have no idea what was done to the boy. So if you are confident your children are safe and nothing like a "school shooting" will ever happen in Portland, TN raise your hand. We need drastic measures.

I have two children in the public school system here. It would be extremely easy to say "lock them down at school" out of fear due to the recent violence in schools. The Secret Service as well as the CIA has recently done a study of school shootings which was published by MSNBC. The title of the article is 10 myths about school shootings. This is a really good article and one that should be read before any drastic measures are taken. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15111438/

Last year I had a situation with my Grandaughter at Portland Middle School, She had called me and needed tylenol for a headache, her mom was at work so I was the next for her to contact.

Anyway I went to the middle school, it was her first year there so they are in the far left end of the school, I entered and went to the counter where I was met by "A STUDENT" Can I help you he says, I said yes I am here to see ... and gave him her name, he left and went to another room around the corner and then comes back. About a minute later my grandaugther comes out, I standing infront of this office which has a large opening to the back administrative offices which by the way I saw nobody. I stand there and reach into my purse, pull out a medicine bottle as I had put the tylenol in another bottle I keep in my purse so I didn't have to take the whole tylenol bottle with me. I give her 2 tylenol pills and as I am doing so a gentleman walks by, looks right at me doing so and keeps going into the Principals office. I asked my grandaughter who that man was, she tells me that is the principal of her grade. She leaves and goes back to class...... I then walk into the principals office and ask him if I could speak to him for a moment, he says sure....

I then proceed to tell him I was just a little concerned about how 1- I entered into this school was greeted at the desk by a student and asked to see a student my grandaughter, never once was my identification checked nor did I have to sign in or out indicating that I had been at the school. and 2nd-I stood right out in that hall and handed her pills in front of you and you just kept on walking and didn't even have the concern to see what was going on, for all you knew I could of been a stranger giving that student drugs. I told him I was not at all happy with what I see as a lack of security for these students in this school. He said that you can usually tell by a students expressions if they knew the person or not and he felt we knew one another and didn't need to intervien, I said, well what about giving students medication I guess that wasn't a concern either, for all you knew I could of been a students drug dealer, sure her expressions would of indicated she knew me, now what..... He got rather flustered at me and said we have a very strong system for student safety and it shouldn't be a concern, turned around and walked away....... can you believe that!! Oh was I MAD!!

So yes there is need to worry about our students in some of Portlands schools. Now for Clyde Riggs I think that is one of the GREATEST schools in this town, every time you go there you DON'T get pass the front door until the student you are there to see comes out, you sign in and show ID and the office is staffed by adult employees not kids.

They could have all the doors open from the inside but not accessible from the outside. This wouldn't be "locking them up". They would have easy access to get out in case of fire. That's just a thought. This is a problem that needs to be addressed and quickly by the school board. I can't imagine how my 6 year old would react if a stranger entered his class room and starting shooting. WHAT WOULD WE DO?????!!!!!

I agree with the above comments. But when you think about what you can do...there's nothing really we can do. Other to lock our kids up in school all day. Then what if a fire take's place? Thoughts?

It rips my heart out everytime I hear about another school shooting. This last episode just shows that it can happen anytime, anywhere. I have 3 grandchildren in Portland schools and I have no idea what is being done to keep our children and grandchildren safe. What kind of safety programs does Portland schools practice? Are the children being watched closely while on the play grounds or while they are moving from the portables to the main building? I have a grandson in grade K at Clyde Riggs and his class is in a portable. I know the teacher lets them go to the bathroom in the main building by themselves. Is this safe? What about visitors? Do they ask for ID? I wish one of the newspapers would do a story on this and ask the right questions and MAYBE put some of our worries to rest.