Please, reconsider decision. It is for good cause, but also make decision what is best for children. Same results can be achieved during summer break when children are not present at premise.
A
Anonymous
12 years ago
Please reconsider hosting this while kids are on premise.
H
Heekyung Seol
12 years ago
I'm so concerned about the children's safety. How about hosting TC4 during summer vacation?
A
Anonymous
12 years ago
This is sacrificing a long-term mission of child development for a short term humanitarian mission. Helping the homeless in our community can be better served by going out - bringing it on site is like bringing a wolf into the lamb's den. What safeguards are there other than 'hope' that something doesn't happen? Are we putting the responsibilty on the Pre-K teachers' shoulders to shepherd the children and hope that one doesn't stray into danger? Given the history of other TC emcampments I would say this is a very risky situation. It is also a PR nightmare for the church.
C
Casey Penders
12 years ago
Should not be at a location where preschool children are present...
A
Anonymous
12 years ago
Completely understand the cause. However, careful thoughts should be put in to balance the different aspects of this decision. With the number of preschools and residetial community in the area, I urge the leadership to make the best decision for the community. .
B
Bill Patterson
12 years ago
Empathetic to the cause. Do not support while preschool is in-session.
B
Bradley Rossetti
12 years ago
Providing a safe and secure space for TC4 also means comprising with the needs of the preschool and our childrens safety. The appropriate time for TC4 is during the summer when the preschool ois not used and more space can be used by TC4.
A
Anonymous
12 years ago
NOT during the school year!
A
Anonymous
12 years ago
I appreciate your desire to support TC4. However, I don't belive it is an appropriate venue alongside an existing weekly preschool environment.
A
Anonymous
12 years ago
Featured
I believe the Lord wants us to reach out and minister to those less fortunate. I would like to strongly encourage the church leadership to pursue alternative dates outside of the school year for this purpose.
D
Donna Derstadt
12 years ago
I agree with Jessica. The close proximity of the camp area to the preschool classrooms and playground is not appropriate. There must be other ways to help this group without taking this risk with young children. Please wait until after the school year to do this.
L
Lana Novak
12 years ago
I appreciate the church trying to show love and support to those less fortunate, but I just think it's too much of a safety concern with little kids being in such close proximity to the tent city.
J
Jessica Morgan
12 years ago
The close proximity of the camp area to the preschool classrooms and playground is not appropriate. There must be other ways to help this group without making this sort of risk with young children.
J
John Berschied
12 years ago
This is totally inappropriate for a pre-school environment. At a minimum this could be tramatizing to little children who are not old enough to understand the concept of homeless and why these people are at the school.
S
Shellie Posavatz
12 years ago
Featured
I appreciate that the church is trying to help the community, but I do not approve of this occurring during the school year. It is not ok to put our children at risk to help others. I also understand that the majority of the tent residents are probably good people that are down on their luck, unfortunately it only takes one bad seed to put our children in jeopardy. One stray needle or pill left on or around the playground for a child to find could be disastrous.... my family is just not willing to take that risk.
We selected In the Beginnings for our daughter because of it's safe, loving environment and wonderful staff, the church is putting them all at risk if they go forward with this.
R
Ron Derstadt
12 years ago
Stupid idea!
S
Sarah Gilbertson
12 years ago
This is a tough situation. I commend the church's interest in hosting Tent City, but do not support its efforts to do so during the school year. I would like the church to host during the summer, when the preschool is not in session and/or to work with Tent City and area churches to find another host for the upcoming months. Hosting Tent City in such close proximity to the preschool is dangerous. Just because it has been done successfully in the past does not mean that our children will be safe. Please consider an alternative to create a win-win situation. The current proposal is a losing proposition for the preschool.
T
Tom
12 years ago
I understand the problem of homelessness. Some may be returning veterans, some elderly with no place to go and some are folks who have not taken the initiative to stay clean and sober or positioned themselves for a job. Among these categories, some may have drug and alcohol problems, some have mental health problems. Some have criminal records. But we do not really know, do we. Only five percent of serious crime results in arrest and conviction and thus MOST criminals, sex offenders, drug dealers and others DO NOT have a record that can be used for screening them out. If you look at the experiences in Seattle and Portland, you find all kinds of criminals and drug abusers and serious mental health problems. The camps have invariably become dirty and dangerous. There is NO WAY we should allow our young children to be exposed to the risks involved in having a camp adjacent. Our interests in "doing good" should not put children at risk, and most likely, undermine attendance at the school. We could end up with a lot of family disruption as we seek safe pre-K, and a teacher or two could lose their job as well. Most residents in the area have worked hard to be successful and moved to this area for a clean, wholesome and safe environment for their families. So, we take these high-risk homeless folks and drop them into the center of our suburban community, and next to our young children? There has to be a better way, and a better location.
D
Darlene Baker
12 years ago
Featured
Please change the location and/or timing of Tent City. We need to put the welfare of our children first. We have a small campus and the encampment will be within 100 feet of the preschool doors. These kids are too young to know to stay away from strangers, they will likely go with anyone. The teachers have no training in working in these situations, should something occur. I spent 8 years in criminal records. I would never advise placing any person with a criminal, drug or mental illness within easy access of small children. I will gladly volunteer my time and energy to find an alternate location. I pray that this is what God guides you to do.
Please, reconsider decision. It is for good cause, but also make decision what is best for children. Same results can be achieved during summer break when children are not present at premise.
Please reconsider hosting this while kids are on premise.
I'm so concerned about the children's safety. How about hosting TC4 during summer vacation?
This is sacrificing a long-term mission of child development for a short term humanitarian mission. Helping the homeless in our community can be better served by going out - bringing it on site is like bringing a wolf into the lamb's den. What safeguards are there other than 'hope' that something doesn't happen? Are we putting the responsibilty on the Pre-K teachers' shoulders to shepherd the children and hope that one doesn't stray into danger? Given the history of other TC emcampments I would say this is a very risky situation. It is also a PR nightmare for the church.
Should not be at a location where preschool children are present...
Completely understand the cause. However, careful thoughts should be put in to balance the different aspects of this decision. With the number of preschools and residetial community in the area, I urge the leadership to make the best decision for the community. .
Empathetic to the cause. Do not support while preschool is in-session.
Providing a safe and secure space for TC4 also means comprising with the needs of the preschool and our childrens safety. The appropriate time for TC4 is during the summer when the preschool ois not used and more space can be used by TC4.
NOT during the school year!
I appreciate your desire to support TC4. However, I don't belive it is an appropriate venue alongside an existing weekly preschool environment.
I believe the Lord wants us to reach out and minister to those less fortunate. I would like to strongly encourage the church leadership to pursue alternative dates outside of the school year for this purpose.
I agree with Jessica. The close proximity of the camp area to the preschool classrooms and playground is not appropriate. There must be other ways to help this group without taking this risk with young children. Please wait until after the school year to do this.
I appreciate the church trying to show love and support to those less fortunate, but I just think it's too much of a safety concern with little kids being in such close proximity to the tent city.
The close proximity of the camp area to the preschool classrooms and playground is not appropriate. There must be other ways to help this group without making this sort of risk with young children.
This is totally inappropriate for a pre-school environment. At a minimum this could be tramatizing to little children who are not old enough to understand the concept of homeless and why these people are at the school.
I appreciate that the church is trying to help the community, but I do not approve of this occurring during the school year. It is not ok to put our children at risk to help others. I also understand that the majority of the tent residents are probably good people that are down on their luck, unfortunately it only takes one bad seed to put our children in jeopardy. One stray needle or pill left on or around the playground for a child to find could be disastrous.... my family is just not willing to take that risk. We selected In the Beginnings for our daughter because of it's safe, loving environment and wonderful staff, the church is putting them all at risk if they go forward with this.
Stupid idea!
This is a tough situation. I commend the church's interest in hosting Tent City, but do not support its efforts to do so during the school year. I would like the church to host during the summer, when the preschool is not in session and/or to work with Tent City and area churches to find another host for the upcoming months. Hosting Tent City in such close proximity to the preschool is dangerous. Just because it has been done successfully in the past does not mean that our children will be safe. Please consider an alternative to create a win-win situation. The current proposal is a losing proposition for the preschool.
I understand the problem of homelessness. Some may be returning veterans, some elderly with no place to go and some are folks who have not taken the initiative to stay clean and sober or positioned themselves for a job. Among these categories, some may have drug and alcohol problems, some have mental health problems. Some have criminal records. But we do not really know, do we. Only five percent of serious crime results in arrest and conviction and thus MOST criminals, sex offenders, drug dealers and others DO NOT have a record that can be used for screening them out. If you look at the experiences in Seattle and Portland, you find all kinds of criminals and drug abusers and serious mental health problems. The camps have invariably become dirty and dangerous. There is NO WAY we should allow our young children to be exposed to the risks involved in having a camp adjacent. Our interests in "doing good" should not put children at risk, and most likely, undermine attendance at the school. We could end up with a lot of family disruption as we seek safe pre-K, and a teacher or two could lose their job as well. Most residents in the area have worked hard to be successful and moved to this area for a clean, wholesome and safe environment for their families. So, we take these high-risk homeless folks and drop them into the center of our suburban community, and next to our young children? There has to be a better way, and a better location.
Please change the location and/or timing of Tent City. We need to put the welfare of our children first. We have a small campus and the encampment will be within 100 feet of the preschool doors. These kids are too young to know to stay away from strangers, they will likely go with anyone. The teachers have no training in working in these situations, should something occur. I spent 8 years in criminal records. I would never advise placing any person with a criminal, drug or mental illness within easy access of small children. I will gladly volunteer my time and energy to find an alternate location. I pray that this is what God guides you to do.