Depression and school

[Pyrmon]

Hey, been a while since I posted, hasn't it?

Let me put you guys in context:

There's this person at my High School who has been in a severe depression (confirmed by doctor/psy) for a few months. It has obviously interfered with their school work. From what I was told, that person did not give in a few assignments and grades dropped a lot (still passes, but barely) and he's been missing a lot of classes, either due to doctor appointment or due to not feeling well. Direction is aware of the depression, but two months ago told him to get his shit straight or he would be kicked out. Things been going good for a few weeks, during which time the student gave in his late assignments and stopped missing school completely. Grades even got up a little. But last week there was a slip-up and he missed school one day, didn't give a music assignment and didn't go to a detention. Now the School Board is threatening with expulsion and is reviewing the case with the Director.

Here's were I come in: As an influential part of the Student Parliament, I am able to start a vote for his expulsion among the Parliament. If they decide they want him to stay, it could very well save the student and let him finish the last month of school here.

I'm just wondering if I should. Does depression cause someone to act like this and to seemingly not give a damn about anything?

 

[Deleted_171835]

I'm just wondering if I should. Does depression cause someone to act like this and to seemingly not give a damn about anything?

Well obviously.

Don't be an asshole and let him be. If someone is sufferring from severe depression, do you really think expulsion is the best course of action?

 

[emigre]

Mental illness is horrible for the person suffering. From what you're saying it sounds as if the school management aren't exactly showing much understanding or compassion. I would be looking to make a complaint about this towards the higher education authority.

 

[prowler]

i think your school is shit for letting students 'vote' if a student gets kicked out or not.

 

[Pyrmon]

i think your school is shit for letting students 'vote' if a student gets kicked out or not.

That's not how it works.

But The Parliament has enough influence to decide against the decision



I just needed the opinion of a few other people. I will present the idea to the other members and we'll vote on it Monday.

But I'm wondering how to bring it up with the Board. While the Parliament has some influence, we can't just go about contesting every decision. We'll need to convince them that it's not the guy's fault, which they seem to fail to understand.

 

[Deleted User]

I have an opinion. Both the administration and doctors/therapists there must be the most stupid group people of their occupations of all time. (Save for one school in Puerto Rico, which is too horrendous to even think about) If someone is really depressed, they should help him. I mean, from what I see, not ONE person is helping him, save for possibly his parents. In fact, even his parents might not be helping him and is treating him like shit, and that's probably where his depression comes from. He needs to see a professional that will actually HELP him. This is serious. I'm not trying to scare you, though. In the mean time, try to talk to him. And try to see if a few of his friends can help too.

 

[Guild McCommunist]

That's not how it works.

But The Parliament has enough influence to decide against the decision.

That's still a really terrible decision. Students are incredibly biased in terms of other students. Staff are generally above the fray and their opinions are formed based on academic performance and how they're treated as an outsider, not in terms of friends and such. Students in general will of course vote to keep their friends in the school even if they are a jackwagon and will vote kids out because they simply don't like them.

But technically if depression in this case is confirmed as a medical condition and their schoolwork/absences are affected by it then I don't think there's any precedence for expulsion. I know kids from my school who have been out for months because of mono or something and they return just fine. They of course get tutors and stuff during their absence but it's just a similar case.

Even then kids get expelled for serious offenses. I don't think a few lower grades and some absences equates to what kids actually get expelled for.

And, reading my student handbook, apparently students in my school can only get expelled for possession of weapons, and that's if the school decides it. Christ, I mean you can do drug possession, fighting, smoking in school, etc and still only get like a suspension.

 

[emigre]

But I'm wondering how to bring it up with the Board. While the Parliament has some influence, we can't just go about contesting every decision. We'll need to convince them that it's not the guy's fault, which they seem to fail to understand.

A note from a medical professional should be enough.

 

[Pyrmon]

But I'm wondering how to bring it up with the Board. While the Parliament has some influence, we can't just go about contesting every decision. We'll need to convince them that it's not the guy's fault, which they seem to fail to understand.

A note from a medical professional should be enough.

He's already shown a note.

That's still a really terrible decision. Students are incredibly biased in terms of other students. Staff are generally above the fray and their opinions are formed based on academic performance and how they're treated as an outsider, not in terms of friends and such. Students in general will of course vote to keep their friends in the school even if they are a jackwagon and will vote kids out because they simply don't like them.

Which is why I was slightly hesitating to present the vote.

 

[emigre]

Than some intervention from the education authority should occur. I presuming this is pretty unethical behavior from the school.

 

[yuyuyup]

Depression is often a mystery that goes unsolved. If doctors have trouble ending depression, why should fellow peers have any success ? With that in mind, consider your options. Be a leader and shed the deadweight. Or, offer a shred of dignity to a man who feels like roadkill. You must calculate the value. I'm glad public schools at least babysit people like me till we fail out.

As I've said in numerous previous posts, I found the answer to my depression just to put a positive spin on this post

 

[Gahars]

I don't see how kicking the kid out would help his depression at all. If anything, it would probably just make it worse.

Your school board seems painfully blind. I mean, even Ray Charles could see what this kid is going through, and he didn't know much about mood disorders!

 

[Thesolcity]

I don't see how kicking the kid out would help his depression at all. If anything, it would probably just make it worse.

Your school board seems painfully blind. I mean, even Ray Charles could see what this kid is going through, and he didn't know much about mood disorders!

Ehhh in my experience schools have never cared about the wellbeing of their students unless they've had to. Schools honestly only care about test scores and attendance, if you can't maintain either they'll trash you like an expired food product. Its kinda funny, because schools bring up the "right to an education" argument when you try to expel the delinquent kid holding back the class and causing grief for everyone.

 

[jargus]

Severe sepression comes from trauma and/or a chemical imbalance in the brain and some are genetically predisposed towards it. It can screw with a person's mind and body in all kinds of ways. It often takes months sometimes even years to recover or stabilize it. For some it is temporary, others a life long condition. Somebody with depression will get very stressed and more depressed when something negative is thrown their way (in this case explulsion). The school should be embarassed. This kid needs to be working with a school conselour and/or therapist as well as his parents. It takes much time and effort to overceom a serious case of depression and the school isnt helpnig one bit.

 

[Pyrmon]

Well, the vote has been passed by the Student Parliament that he shouldn't be kicked out.
Unfortunately, it seems that the School Board does not care whether the clear majority of the students are against the expulsion, they say he's irresponsible and ungrateful for the comprehension the school has manifested by letting him miss some classes to see his therapist.
They say the best they can do is let him not be kicked out on paper, but he can't attend classes and will have to go to a private tutor for the last two months. He'll only come for exams and evaluations. So at least he gets his diploma from the school which has a relatively good reputation.

I am completely dumbfounded by such a decision and I really hope that him being alone for two months, since he'll barely see friends, won't drive him to a second suicide attempt.

 

[The Catboy]

Your school has people vote to be kicked out? Your school sounds like shit. As well they clearly show no understanding for what this person is going through, depression is no laughing matter and shouldn't be handled like this. The school should be doing their job of teaching, protecting, and understanding the student, instead of making matters worse and threatening to throw him out because he has depression.
Not only should he stay in the school, he should sue them over this.

 

[Foxi4]

Your school has people vote to be kicked out? Your school sounds like shit. As well they clearly show no understanding for what this person is going through, depression is no laughing matter and shouldn't be handled like this. The school should be doing their job of teaching, protecting, and understanding the student, instead of making matters worse and threatening to throw him out because he has depression.
Not only should he stay in the school, he should sue them over this.

Now hold on a moment, look at the situation from the school's point of view. Depression is one thing, missing deadlines is another. I know a couple of really depressed people on the point of being suicidal but they are reliable and never miss a deadline with assignments. If he has to go visit the doctor, therapist or psychologist - fine, bring a doctor's slip and there is no issue here, but surely he's not at the doctor's/therapist's/psychologist's 24/7 - he had time to finish his assignments and hand them in. He just didn't because apparently he didn't care about them enough.

Don't get me wrong - I don't think that he should be expelled, to the contrary, I think his school year should be extended to give him the opportunity to hand in his work, attend the rest of the classes and prepare for final exams, but do notice that he f*cked up too and we can't go patting his back like we're all friends - he fu*ked up too.

The fault is somewhere in the middle and as much as I dislike the "don't come to classes but do come and write the finals" approach, it was just a golden mean for the teachers at this point and surely it can be further negotiated.

Tough love? Life ain't easy. In work, when you miss a deadline, you lose a job. That's that. If life won't kick him in the butt now, he will go through the suprise of his life when he starts his work career. People won't always be understanding and supportive - sometimes they're twats and sometimes they really want the seat you're sitting on and will do all sorts of crap to make you fall off your chair - this is one of those moments.

He has to get his act together, if he's depressed now then adulthood is going to *destroy* him.

 

[The Catboy]

Your school has people vote to be kicked out? Your school sounds like shit. As well they clearly show no understanding for what this person is going through, depression is no laughing matter and shouldn't be handled like this. The school should be doing their job of teaching, protecting, and understanding the student, instead of making matters worse and threatening to throw him out because he has depression.
Not only should he stay in the school, he should sue them over this.

Now hold on a moment, look at the situation from the school's point of view. Depression is one thing, missing deadlines is another. I know a couple of really depressed people on the point of being suicidal but they are reliable and never miss a deadline with assignments. If he has to go visit the doctor, therapist or psychologist - fine, bring a doctor's slip and there is no issue here, but surely he's not at the doctor's/therapist's/psychologist's 24/7 - he had time to finish his assignments and hand them in. He just didn't because apparently he didn't care about them enough.

Don't get me wrong - I don't think that he should be expelled, to the contrary, I think his school year should be extended to give him the opportunity to hand in his work, attend the rest of the classes and prepare for final exams, but do notice that he f*cked up too and we can't go patting his back like we're all friends - he fu*ked up too.

The fault is somewhere in the middle and as much as I dislike the "don't come to classes but do come and write the finals" approach, it was just a golden mean for the teachers at this point and surely it can be further negotiated.

Tough love? Life ain't easy. In work, when you miss a deadline, you lose a job. That's that. If life won't kick him in the butt now, he will go through the suprise of his life when he starts his work career. People won't always be understanding and supportive - sometimes they're twats and sometimes they really want the seat you're sitting on and will do all sorts of crap to make you fall off your chair - this is one of those moments.

He has to get his act together, if he's depressed now then adulthood is going to *destroy* him.

I understand where you are coming from and suing might be a little extreme, but honestly the school should work with him and not against him. Depression comes in many forms and isn't something that goes away. It requires a lot of work and the school needs to help him out. Expelling him won't solve anything and honestly makes it seem like depression is something to be ashamed of.
As well allowing students to vote on his future is just adding insult to injury. He doesn't need to have the kinda pressure on him and nor do the rest of the students, all that does is create an unhealthy learning environmental for everyone.
I do like your idea of extending his school year to help though, that's something the school should do instead of throwing him out.

 

[Foxi4]

I understand where you are coming from and suing might be a little extreme, but honestly the school should work with him and not against him. Depression comes in many forms and isn't something that goes away. It requires a lot of work and the school needs to help him out. Expelling him won't solve anything and honestly makes it seem like depression is something to be ashamed of.
As well allowing students to vote on his future is just adding insult to injury. He doesn't need to have the kinda pressure on him and nor do the rest of the students, all that does is create an unhealthy learning environmental for everyone.
I do like your idea of extending his school year to help though, that's something the school should do instead of throwing him out.

I would only advise suing the school for unethical treatment if they refuse to co-operate after further inquiries, the current "deal" is retarded and has no chances of working, but first and foremost, the kid himself should acknowledge that the fact that he's not feeling up to something doesn't mean that he doesn't have to do it. People gotta do a whole lot of stuff even though they don't want to because that's how life works.

I understand that he's depressed, I fully acknowledge his condition and I experienced first-hand how such a person may act, but at the same time I believe that encouragement can work wonders. Excuse me for generalizing now but a great majority of the so-called "Depressed Teens" are depressed for superficial reasons and really need to snap out of it if they're going to succeed in life and go places.

If he *wants* to carry on learning, if he desires to get a diploma then he's entitled to do so - it's his civil right and the board of teachers has f*ck all to say in that matter, if they will deny him this right then hell yes he should sue, but only after he acknowledges his own faults and talks with the teachers personally.

Mixing personal life and professional life is a big no-no, the two have very little to do with eachother. If he was feeling really down and couldn't stand making assignments on his own, it would appear that he has a group of friends - each and every one of them could've helped him through it, and if not them, the teachers could.

Simple rules of school? Have paper slips for every absence, hand in assignments before the deadline and in the case of handing them late, apologize and give a genuine reason as to why you're late. If you just screw everything and remark "I didn't do *insert activity* because I've got problems" then it's just not going to work. I have problems, the teachers have problems. Quoting Gordon Ramsay, "Problem, problem, problem. Everyone has problems". That really doesn't matter, it's not a good enough reason.

 

[snake eater]

for depression they will give you mental pills and you dont want to take them they will make bones like lockjaw and last a year so get over your depression and go to a diffrent school even if you have to buy bus passs to go to a diffrent school