Petition Against Proposed Derry Township School Board Policy No. 824 Until Changes Are Made

As a rising English teacher in the 2016-17 school year, I feel strongly about this and find it appalling that such strict guidelines are even being considered. Because teachers are mandated reporters, if a student tells him/her something that should be reported to a guidance counselor or principal, it will be done anyway. It saves students anxiety and embarrassment having a teacher as a confidant and middle-man. We want our students to feel comfortable, not alienated.

I am A student at Seneca Valley High School and talking to my teachers has helped me build a better teacher-student relationship and I enjoy class so much more.

This is RIDICULOUS

As a current graduate student myself, I can confidently say that the ability for me to open up about my personal life and seek advice from some of my professors is invaluable. Students of ALL ages in all stages of education should be able to talk to their favorite teacher about something going on outside of class, and denying them this ability is unfair and unwise.

What do the teachers and administration think about this matter? Is it something they welcome or will it just make their job more difficult?

This is ridiculous why would you need to build teachers from sharing their lives with their students if they're qualified to teach our students they're qualified to share with them. Don't hire someone who is unworthy guiding a student.

Having a good connection / relationship with my teachers is the reason I enjoy their class.

This policy is just plain stupid. Interacting with teachers and both of us sharing personal stories is what makes class entertaining.

The conversations I had one on one with my teachers at Hershey High School helped me grow into a young adult far more than anything they taught me in a classroom.

When I was in High School, I set foot in the guidance office at most 4 times in 4 years. However, I received valuable and necessary advice from my teachers countless times. Advice that I valued because I had a relationship with my teachers from interacting with them daily. I never had that relationship with my guidance counselors and it is ludicrous to think the mere 4 guidance counselors DTSD employes in the High School will be able to have meaningful relationships/connect with every single student. It simply does not compute.

I vote against this.

We need more comments in sense life.

My daughters are stronger, wiser, more well rounded individuals because of the personal relationship with their teachers. I am forever grateful for teachers who care enough to take time to listen to and talk with our children.

I graduated from Hershey, one of the reasons I did and am the man I am today is due to having a level of professional but personal relationships with certain teachers that affected my life. If I was not able to establish life long relationships with certain teachers I would probably not be as successful as I am. Knowing others that I graduated with, I doubt a lot of us would have been able to make it through. This will cripple a lot of what makes Hershey so great.

This policy is too restrictive and will hinder teacher and student connections which are instrumental in education.

I am a Hershey High alumni and I had great relationships with my teachers. Why are you trying to give the teachers, who have taught us so much and have showed us that other people besides our friends and family can care about our achievements, more stress and other things to worry about? This is beyond ridiculous and shouldn't even be a consideration for Hershey High School.

I attended Hershey High for three years. In that time, I was struggling with sexual and physical abuse and I turned to self harm in ways of cutting and frequently overdosing. Many of my teachers notices and did all they could to make sure I was okay, by asking me how I was, by watching for new cuts, and by understanding my situation and making school a safe place for me. They knew home was not a place I could be productive, so they made sure I had time in class to do my assignments. They never yelled or embarrassed me. There were no phone calls to parents which would have made things worse. My teachers were trying to protect me and I am so grateful. I wouldn't have made it without them. Everyone needs teachers like that, teachers who are there for them in every way

Teachers become less effective when they cannot make learning personal.

This policy decreases the safety of our school environment, not increases it.

this is ridiculous I'm in my freshman year of college and my teachers got me through everything when my parents weren't doing the job.