Threw this in here because I wasn't sure where else to put it.

My base elementary school has worked very hard to be awarded the Bronze status from the Healthy Schools program. We do nutrition education with the kiddies, we have a kick-butt PE program with one of the best PE teachers that I've ever seen, we've started an employee wellness exercise group, and other things. This year, our PE teacher started a garden club with the kids after school. They got a grant and some donations and busted their butts to build and plant some raised garden beds. The big plan was to have a "green" program where we show-cased different foods that the kids grew in their garden with their own hands.

This afternoon I checked in on Facebook only to find that our teacher spent her morning filing a police report for vandalism. Over the break, some ignorant, thoughtless jerks decided to tear up the garden and destroy it. The teacher is discouraged (2nd time it's happened) and the kids are heart-broken. I've offered to donate new plants but right now the teacher is so discouraged that she just doesn't want to deal with trying again.

What the hell is wrong with people that they would go into a fenced in area in an elementary school and destroy something that the neighborhood kids had worked so hard to build? I just don't understand it. And the worst part of it is what my students will learn from this. We had hoped that they would learn the joy of working hard at something and then seeing a concrete benefit, along with the excitement of getting to eat something that they grew themselves. Instead, what are they learning? That no matter how hard you work, some idiot can come along and destroy everything for "kicks". Helluva lesson to learn in elementary school!

:frown:

I will never understand what possesses people to do crap like that. If they catch whoever did it, they should kill them. They have no societal benefit.

I will never understand what possesses people to do crap like that. If they catch whoever did it, they should kill them. They have no societal benefit.


Perhaps we could bury them in the garden as fertilizer...

I will never understand what possesses people to do crap like that. If they catch whoever did it, they should kill them. They have no societal benefit.

:yeahthat: I can understand stealing something but just tearing stuff up makes no sense.

Threw this in here because I wasn't sure where else to put it.


What the hell is wrong with people that they would go into a fenced in area in an elementary school and destroy something that the neighborhood kids had worked so hard to build? I just don't understand it. :frown:

I am so sorry, Twin. I can sense how disappointed you are. :huggy: I don't know if it is because kids are high and do stupid things, or they are bored, or have no respect for anything. I am assuming it is kids because I can't imagine adults would do such a thing. We have had senseless destruction in our neighborhood over time, too. But, you can turn it into a positive for the kids, and remind them that not all people in the world are good, and to rebuild represents power against the bad. (The whole life is not fair thing) I am sure if you started a plant contribution thread, forum members would donate...I would be the first.

Edit: It is like the donuts in the yard with vehicles tearing up someone's property or bashing mailboxes so you have to go buy a new one..senseless. We even found evidence a fews years ago that someone tried to light one of our windows on fire. We have an all wood house and the kind of windows that you crank open. Very scary.

I am so sorry, Twin. I can sense how disappointed you are. :huggy: I don't know if it is because kids are high and do stupid things, or they are bored, or have no respect for anything. I am assuming it is kids because I can't imagine adults would do such a thing. We have had senseless destruction in our neighborhood over time, too. But, you can turn it into a positive for the kids, and remind them that not all people in the world are good, and to rebuild represents power against the bad. (The whole life is not fair thing) I am sure if you started a plant contribution thread, forum members would donate...I would be the first.

This, I like! Thank you! I am taking this thought to school with me tomorrow when I find out the total extent of the damage. I was at another school today so I haven't seen it yet. I am NOT looking forward to viewing it, but I love your thought so I will be sharing it with our PE teacher and the kids.

I am so sorry, Twin. I can sense how disappointed you are. :huggy: I don't know if it is because kids are high and do stupid things, or they are bored, or have no respect for anything. I am assuming it is kids because I can't imagine adults would do such a thing. We have had senseless destruction in our neighborhood over time, too. But, you can turn it into a positive for the kids, and remind them that not all people in the world are good, and to rebuild represents power against the bad. (The whole life is not fair thing) I am sure if you started a plant contribution thread, forum members would donate...I would be the first.

Edit: It is like the donuts in the yard with vehicles tearing up someone's property or bashing mailboxes so you have to go buy a new one..senseless. We even found evidence a fews years ago that someone tried to light one of our windows on fire. We have an all wood house and the kind of windows that you crank open. Very scary.

Yes....rebuild / replant and show those punks they can't win. And install cameras to catch their sorry azzes.

Perhaps we could bury them in the garden as fertilizer...
Pixie can help with that.

Yes....rebuild / replant and show those punks they can't win. And install cameras to catch their sorry azzes.
And motion activated tazers.

And motion activated tazers.


:lmao: We're a public school -- we can't afford fancy stuff like that (much though we'd really like to have it right now).

Contacted a local garden center to see what kinds of veggie plants they have on hand & will check with a few more today. We'll rebuild -- there are many lessons to learn with this.

Hmm, I know it sounds like a lot, but Wal-Mart has a Samsung four camera setup with a 500 gig DVR, with IR outdoor cameras for about $360. Right on the shelf in the photo section. Also have a Uniden two camera wireless setup, no DVR but has a wireless color display, and way to hook it it a computer. That ones only $170ish.

Samsung one is like this......except it has an N one the end of the model number

SAMSUNG ALL-IN-ONE SECURITY SYSTEM 4CH REAL-TIME DVR 4 OUTDOOR CAMERAS SDE-3004 (855726002421) | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/SAMSUNG-ALL-IN-ONE-SECURITY-SYSTEM-4CH-REAL-TIME-DVR-4-OUTDOOR-CAMERAS-SDE-3004-/220991976085#vi-content)

Oh, it also has asmartphone app so you can get a live feed anywhere you happen to be.

Hmm, I know it sounds like a lot, but Wal-Mart has a Samsung four camera setup with a 500 gig DVR, with IR outdoor cameras for about $360. Right on the shelf in the photo section. Also have a Uniden two camera wireless setup, no DVR but has a wireless color display, and way to hook it it a computer. That ones only $170ish.

Samsung one is like this......except it has an N one the end of the model number

SAMSUNG ALL-IN-ONE SECURITY SYSTEM 4CH REAL-TIME DVR 4 OUTDOOR CAMERAS SDE-3004 (855726002421) | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/SAMSUNG-ALL-IN-ONE-SECURITY-SYSTEM-4CH-REAL-TIME-DVR-4-OUTDOOR-CAMERAS-SDE-3004-/220991976085#vi-content)

Oh, it also has asmartphone app so you can get a live feed anywhere you happen to be.

Assuming they could raise the money to buy the equipment, they'd need someone knowledgeable and certified to install it - for free.

Also, I believe they'd need to mount a sign somewhere around the garden stating that 'you are being photographed'.

Not a lot of knowledge, it's pretty much a plug and play system. Four Cat 5e cables (standard LAN/network cables), one to each camera, provides video and power connection. Onscreen setup menus. I know a lot of the IP camera systems basically require a networking cert to begin to setup, but Samsung made this system for small businesses who dont have IT staff.

Biggest hassle would be getting through the bureaucratic maze to get permission. After that, running the cables, otherwise it's so simple that I would be shocked in and PTSA/PTA couldn't field one parent knowledgeable enough to set it up.

Assuming they could raise the money to buy the equipment, they'd need someone knowledgeable and certified to install it - for free.

Also, I believe they'd need to mount a sign somewhere around the garden stating that 'you are being photographed'.

Not a lot of knowledge, it's pretty much a plug and play system. Four Cat 5e cables (standard LAN/network cables), one to each camera, provides video and power connection. Onscreen setup menus. I know a lot of the IP camera systems basically require a networking cert to begin to setup, but Samsung made this system for small businesses who dont have IT staff.

Biggest hassle would be getting through the bureaucratic maze to get permission. After that, running the cables, otherwise it's so simple that I would be shocked in and PTSA/PTA couldn't field one parent knowledgeable enough to set it up.

To whomever it may concern, I've installed many CCTV systems with my previous job, and would be willing to install this system free of charge.

You could also put some fake "Smile, your'e on camera" signs up around the garden, but not actually hang cameras. Plus, they make dummy cameras that look real, but don't actually record anything.

Don't give up. It's probably a bunch of punk kids.

To whomever it may concern, I've installed many CCTV systems with my previous job, and would be willing to install this system free of charge.

You could also put some fake "Smile, your'e on camera" signs up around the garden, but not actually hang cameras. Plus, they make dummy cameras that look real, but don't actually record anything.

Don't give up. It's probably a bunch of punk kids.

With parents that don't give a rats a$$ are doing when they are out roaming around. "Feral youth" is a real problem in this area and I am afraid it will get worse before it gets better.

With parents that don't give a rats a$$ are doing when they are out roaming around. "Feral youth" is a real problem in this area and I am afraid it will get worse before it gets better.

With so many people possessing guns these days, the only thing I can think is that these parents who allow their children to roam and riot are just hoping someone will shoot them and they won't have to deal with them anymore.

Plus, they make dummy cameras that look real, but don't actually record anything.



This is what I was going to suggest. The ones with LED lights look realistic.
"dummy camera" - Walmart.com (http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_query=dummy+camera&ic=16_0&Find=Find&search_constraint=0)

With so many people possessing guns these days, the only thing I can think is that these parents who allow their children to roam and riot are just hoping someone will shoot them and they won't have to deal with them anymore.

Will we have to pay to bury them too, or are the parents carrying life insurance on them so they can get rich quick?

This is what I was going to suggest. The ones with LED lights look realistic.
"dummy camera" - Walmart.com (http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_query=dummy+camera&ic=16_0&Find=Find&search_constraint=0)

Funny story... I grew up near a little convenience store owned by this older gentleman and his sweet wife... He put up some dummy cameras in the store... So when his wife worked the counter in the store and someone made a comment about the cameras, she would would say "oh they are just fake cameras"....

With parents that don't give a rats a$$ are doing when they are out roaming around. "Feral youth" is a real problem in this area and I am afraid it will get worse before it gets better.

It's not just that area....it's everywhere. Not sure what's going on today, but I would consider myself "youth" (24), and I find it sad that my generation, and the kids my generation is having could really care less about anything but themselves. Anything from politics, to general outlooks on life are very low on the priority list of my generation.

This is what I was going to suggest. The ones with LED lights look realistic.
"dummy camera" - Walmart.com (http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_query=dummy+camera&ic=16_0&Find=Find&search_constraint=0)

Yea, they have come out with some pretty elaborate dummy cameras. It's not just that plastic looking brick-sized camera with the blinking LED anymore.

:lmao: We're a public school -- we can't afford fancy stuff like that (much though we'd really like to have it right now).

Contacted a local garden center to see what kinds of veggie plants they have on hand & will check with a few more today. We'll rebuild -- there are many lessons to learn with this.

Why don't you try hiring the White House gardeners? It's said (by Michelle's mother) that the gardeners replace all of Michelle's blighted vegetables with healthy, robust vegetables on the day before she stages one of her public extravaganzas with the school kids.

To whomever it may concern, I've installed many CCTV systems with my previous job, and would be willing to install this system free of charge.

You could also put some fake "Smile, your'e on camera" signs up around the garden, but not actually hang cameras. Plus, they make dummy cameras that look real, but don't actually record anything.

Don't give up. It's probably a bunch of punk kids.

My cameras also send a photo and video of the perp to YouTube so it does them no good to destroy the camera when it shouts "Smile, you're on YouTube. Better get a lawyer!"

Funny story... I grew up near a little convenience store owned by this older gentleman and his sweet wife... He put up some dummy cameras in the store... So when his wife worked the counter in the store and someone made a comment about the cameras, she would would say "oh they are just fake cameras"....

:lol: Not real clear on the concept, was she?

Flame thrower + motion sensor = problem solved

My guess would be that it was beachers.

Your guess would be wrong. Different county.

:yeahthat: I can understand stealing something but just tearing stuff up makes no sense.

You can understand stealing?

Threw this in here because I wasn't sure where else to put it.

My base elementary school has worked very hard to be awarded the Bronze status from the Healthy Schools program. We do nutrition education with the kiddies, we have a kick-butt PE program with one of the best PE teachers that I've ever seen, we've started an employee wellness exercise group, and other things. This year, our PE teacher started a garden club with the kids after school. They got a grant and some donations and busted their butts to build and plant some raised garden beds. The big plan was to have a "green" program where we show-cased different foods that the kids grew in their garden with their own hands.

This afternoon I checked in on Facebook only to find that our teacher spent her morning filing a police report for vandalism. Over the break, some ignorant, thoughtless jerks decided to tear up the garden and destroy it. The teacher is discouraged (2nd time it's happened) and the kids are heart-broken. I've offered to donate new plants but right now the teacher is so discouraged that she just doesn't want to deal with trying again.

What the hell is wrong with people that they would go into a fenced in area in an elementary school and destroy something that the neighborhood kids had worked so hard to build? I just don't understand it. And the worst part of it is what my students will learn from this. We had hoped that they would learn the joy of working hard at something and then seeing a concrete benefit, along with the excitement of getting to eat something that they grew themselves. Instead, what are they learning? That no matter how hard you work, some idiot can come along and destroy everything for "kicks". Helluva lesson to learn in elementary school!

:frown:

Some schools have exterior cameras. If so, have the police check the film. If there isn't a camera where the garden is, you may want to consider one. I suspect a few of the local teens.

Some schools have exterior cameras. If so, have the police check the film. If there isn't a camera where the garden is, you may want to consider one. I suspect a few of the local teens.

In Chicago, the police are tying into private store owner cameras all over the city and using them as a way to watch the public. I think its a good idea actually, if a crime is committed, they can sit right in their office and view all of the cameras on their computer to see what happened at the time the crime occurred.
There was an article on it in some tech magazine that I somehow get at work.

Some schools have exterior cameras. If so, have the police check the film. If there isn't a camera where the garden is, you may want to consider one. I suspect a few of the local teens.

In Chicago, the police are tying into private store owner cameras all over the city and using them as a way to watch the public. I think its a good idea actually, if a crime is committed, they can sit right in their office and view all of the cameras on their computer to see what happened at the time the crime occurred.
There was an article on it in some tech magazine that I somehow get at work.

We don't have the cameras because crime has not been that much of an issue where we are located. In our limited amount of discretionary budget money it was always more important to purchase supplies, library books, textbooks, or computer software licenses. Our school is in a residential area so there are no local businesses that are close. The local police are on the case and we have a very good relationship with them.

One of our garden club students reported that she saw a group of teenaged boys hanging out in the area over the weekend. I suspect they, in one of those misguided "teenage boy" moments, just thought it would be "fun".

We'll get over it and move on. Hopefully, making it an issue in the community will lead to a few dinner table conversations about why thoughtless "fun" activities can be considered vandalism and be illegal. If not, we're not going to let this stop us from what we want/need to do with the students.

Helluva lesson to learn in elementary school!

:frown:

:huggy:

life lesson, the world is populated with asshats .........


need a guard with a 10g w/beanbag rounds