10/15/2021
Attention all parents but especially parents of 7th, 9th and 11th graders at Thorp School:
Washington State Healthy Youth Survey is a state wide test for 6th through 12th graders that measures alcohol, ci******es, va**ng and drug use which results in other risky health behaviors. For grades 8, 10 and 12 there are questions about sexual behavior and sexual abuse. This is a multiple choice test that takes a full period of class to finish. Questions include gender identification, sexual orientation, depression, su***de and whether or not you wash your hands or wear a mask and follow Covid protocols.
The survey states, “There are things we can all do to stop the spread of Covid”, and asks “how often they usually” wash their hands, wear a mask and stay home when sick.
I personally do not support Thorp students taking this survey/test at least during a pandemic. Our kids have already missed enough school. Our kids are already struggling with grades. Our kids already think enough about drugs, alcohol, su***de and Covid.
I feel it is disturbing to ask students to put down on paper that they are struggling with drugs or alcohol or su***de or gender confusion or risky sexual behaviors if you’re not going to help them. Their names are not even on the paper and nobody is coming to help or save these students. The student has finally admitted they have a problem, finally admitted they need help, finally asked for intervention and absolutely nobody is going to know about it, and nobody is going to step in. What a useless bit of information if nobody is going to actually help that student. You’ve asked them to put their whole life out there on a piece of paper for absolutely nothing in return. I feel this could lead to more despair because the student feels like they have finally asked for help and yet no help ever comes.
Dear Washington State: Get your hands off our students and leave them alone so they can heal from the damage that you have caused by over blowing this pandemic with your godforsaken policies, protocols, plans and procedures. We do not accept any further damage to our students by your useless survey. The kids are hurting, and you don’t need a survey to figure that out.
7th, 9th and 11th graders are taking this test at Thorp this year during the last week of October. Letters were sent home to those students participating. You may opt out by calling or emailing Laura Jones. Anybody can email Mrs. Jones and/or our school board your thoughts about Thorp school being part of this test even if your student isn’t in one of the participating grades. School participation in this survey is voluntary; therefore, Thorp School does not need to participate ever but especially during a pandemic. Email your thoughts today!
