The following information has come to light and I feel it is best to spread the word to other parents and/or guardians of children that attend school within the Brentwood school district.
I was made aware last school year: PE classes at my granddaughter’s elementary school were taken off campus to an adjacent park. The teacher has the students run the mile at the park, where there are many entrances/exits through courts and gateways. I am concerned of the potential for a horrific tragedy in a blink of the eye. The teacher is the only supervising adult, and could become preoccupied with another student, recording the mile time or just not having “30 different eyes” to watch the children.
A child could be kidnapped in a matter of seconds or another crime could be committed on them. This school has the parents sign a Walking Field Trip Permission form annually at the start of the school year. I do not believe parents/guardians understand how this release is being used or misused. My granddaughter’s mother had added, “permission must be given on a case-by-case basis” for the intent to leave campus, and she still was removed from campus.
Despite an attempt to review concerns with both the principal and the teacher, again this year, PE classes are taken off campus. My granddaughter’s mother was told it is a privilege for the upper grades and there is not enough room on campus for both PE classes and recess for lower grades. I find it hard to believe a newer campus cannot accommodate the students on campus.
My granddaughter has since had her permission to leave campus revoked by her mother. She now sits in the school office or runs errands when her class is off campus, but at least she is safe. She is expected to run the mile alone on campus while the rest of her class is doing a fun activity. Either way, this is not good use of instructional time, and is not a good exercise program for her.
There are many registered sex offenders that live in our community. There are 30 in Brentwood alone. If you add the 118 in Antioch, the 33 in Oakley, the 12 in Bethel Island, the three in Knightsen and the two in Byron, that is a grand total of 198 registered sex offenders. And this count is only the offenders who have been caught.
The school is putting these children in a situation that could become horrific if you as parents/guardians do not start questioning the situations. Look at how some recent situations have hit close to home. There was a letter that came home last year from this same school about a possible attempted abduction. There were also recent attempts near schools in Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill. Do not forget the young girl that tragically lost her life in Tracy within the last year due to abduction, and the most recent case of Jaycee Dugard.
The school states the children run together in groups. Let me remind you, some of these criminals are bold and will commit crimes in broad daylight and in groups. Michaela Garecht was taken while she walked with a friend many years ago.
I urge you to contact your schools and ask whether this practice exists at your campus. If your school does take children off campus with only one teacher (no other supervision), take the time to revoke the Walking Field Trip Permission form and protect your children from possible crimes. If enough of the parents/guardians do this, the schools will have to bring classes onto campus. I urge you to direct the Brentwood school district to smarten up and keep our children safe.
Don’t let a Brentwood child be the next national headline.
Joan Fosenburg, Martinez
I completely AGREE with you! I never knew this!!! Thank you for bringing this up to naive parents attention and to open parents eyes to this! Everyone thinks it will never happen to them,BUT I know that it does... I was 13 years old growing up in San Jose, Ca., I had a late cheer practice in middle school and my mom, who usually always picked me up , allowed a few of us girls to take the city bus home afterwards, well, I know first hand that predators do exist because it happened to me... there were about four of us waiting at the bus stop, I was thirsty so I told the girls I was going to walk across the parking lot to K mart to get an Icee and Popcorn... as I was leaving kmart, a man walked up to me and asked if I wanted to see paintings in his van, I ran! That's all, I ran!! AND I never told my mom what had happened, BUT She always told all of us kids NEVER to talk with or go anywhere with strangers!!!! I was one of the lucky ones that knew what to do in that situation! Remember I was 13 years old not 9 or 10 like the Krey children! I too have a fourth grader at Krey and a 14 yr old son in High school and I always tell them both NEVER go with anyone! Even if a person says that their mom or dad sent them...NO!!! I tell my kids I would NEVER send someone they didn't know!!!! Please parents educate your kids!!! We cannot always be with them 24/7 but trust me they will always remember what you tell them!!!!
Sincerely,
A fourth grade Krey parent!
The walking field trip form does not state that field trips are on a case by case basis, it is a blanket statement that says that you as a parent allow your child to walk with a teacher off campus. The district may want to re-work the form to state some of the activities that a walking field trip might include so that parents are on notice of what their child might be doing. This again is something that you as concerned parents should birng to the table with the priciple of this school or the district office.
Students who are not allow off campus for PE join the class when they are done at the park to take part in the rest of the PE period. When sudents are in need to run the mile on a different day, either because they are not allowed off campus or they are out sick, run the mile...usually under 20 minutes, and then join the rest of the class in the days lesson.
The last point that I would like to bring up is that there is something about complaining to just complain, there is something else to be said about having an issue, voicing your concerns and suggesting options that will work with in the confines of the school, the number of students, the times at which events take place and what has been tried before. Whether you are a parent or a community member, I know that schools are always open to great suggestions.
I hope that opinions that are presented in this forum are given with an understanding that no matter who you are and where you come from, schools, parents, students and community members need to work together to better the lives and experiences of the children here. If we can all believe this then almost all of the problems that are presented can be solved.
Although I do understand the opinion of those who say that you can't watch your child 24/7, I feel the tone of one letter was extremely rude and sarcastic! I hardly think if her child ever went missing she would be throwing her hands up in the air saying, "Oh well, can't watch 'em all the time." On the contrary, her attitude would be quite different!!! Secondly, I noticed Ms. Fosenburg never mentioned the school by name. It was only after the comment of the first mom that now everyone knows which school we are talking about!
Furthermore, to have each parent sign a "waling around" slip at the beginning of each school year without a complete explanation of the purpose is wrong. At the very least the school should follow their own rules - and act upon the qualifying "case by case" note added by the parent to the "walking around" slip.
I tend to side with the"you can't keep kids 100% safe from freaks no matter what you do" people, but those are decisions we all wrestle with over our own children. These two Krey moms are completely out of line for belittling the writer's concerns and attempting to blame some increased risk on the writer for submitting these concerns to the Press. If they believe that actually has any chance of increasing the risk to the kids then they obviously have taken the position that the activity itself carries increased risk beyond having the students stay on campus.
There are laws that protect school campuses unfortunately they don't apply in exactly the same manner to the park. We expect our children will remain safely on campus during school hours and under the care, custody and control of the authorities. To circumvent that expectation without a very clear explanation and purpose is cavalier and wrong. If the school then "punishes" students who's parents do not allow them to leave campus that is yet another offense that needs to be corrected.
While I appreciate your concern for our children, I also know that our school, the one you are referring to, is just as concerned. If you think that by walking to the park and running around it, which is practically part of the school, is dangerous then maybe we should just keep our children inside our homes and never let them do anything or go anywhere. Oh wait, we can't keep them home either, because predators can break in and just take them from their beds....ex. Polly Klass. This world is a dangerous place. We can not protect our children 24/7, its just not possible. We can teach them and make them aware of the dangers and pray for their safety.
I would also like to point out that unless your child goes to this school or you live by the school you would not know that they are running the park, but thanks to your public opinion you have just let everyone in Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, Byron, Disocvery Bay and Bethel Island know. Maybe you could send it to the Contra Costa times and then all of Contra Costa County would know.