Jan 23, 2018, Fenton (MI) CT Times: School wants to raise $8,000 to buy therapy dog http://www.tctimes.com/news/school-wants-to-raise-to-buy-therapy-dog/article_95817418-0086-11e8-a265-6332b880a72d.html The school is fundraising to buy a therapy dog. … Principal Barry Tiemann had the idea a few years ago and did research on the therapy dog at Brighton schools. … Therapy dogs are trained to lay with students and bring a calming environment to a classroom so the students don’t feel judged. “Students who have anxiety feel comfortable reading out loud to a therapy dog. They’re proven to reduce stress and anxiety in students and improve academic performance. Some students come into school because they know the dog is there,” he said. “It helps with attendance and attitude.” … Administration anticipates the cost to be $8,000, and they’re hoping to fundraise the entire amount. Businesses that donate $1,000 or more will be able to put their logo on the dog’s bandana and will be promoted on the State Road Elementary Facebook page.
Childhood Lost
Children today are noticeably different from previous generations, and the proof is in the news coverage we see every day. This site shows you what’s happening in schools around the world. Children are increasingly disabled and chronically ill, and the education system has to accommodate them. Things we've long associated with autism, like sensory issues, repetitive behaviors, anxiety and lack of social skills, are now problems affecting mainstream students. Blame is predictably placed on bad parenting (otherwise known as trauma from home).
Addressing mental health needs is as important as academics for modern educators. This is an unrecognized disaster. The stories here are about children who can’t learn or behave like children have always been expected to. What childhood has become is a chilling portent for the future of mankind.