Dec 22, 2017, Manhattan (KS) Mercury: USD 383 board gives initial approval to Compassion Courtyard project http://themercury.com/news/usd-board-gives-initial-approval-to-compassion-courtyard-project/article_1891c38b-76ee-5d1b-8ac2-d89b1336472d.html
A courtyard renovation at Manhattan High School aims to help students deal with mental illness.
The Manhattan-Ogden school board gave initial approval to the West Campus project to support the mental health of students and staff members. The $20,000 project will be funded through grants and fundraisers.
The purpose of the renovation is to turn the underused area into a Compassion Courtyard, which will serve as a reminder to those who are suffering from depression and other issues that people care about them. It will also serve as a reminder to others to help those in need who are suffering from depression and may be considering suicide. …
He said the Compassion Courtyard is a way for the faculty to address depression, anxiety and stress in students.
“Trying to learn, trying to teach or trying to be productive in general can be overwhelming,” he said. …
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.