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Crip Dyke's avatar

Thanks to Lisa for catching three garbles in an unexpected and non-consensual proofread. Sorry, Lisa! Fixed now!

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Aaron Clow's avatar

I'm a white, cis, middle-aged guy. I often wonder what I can do to show - outwardly - that I'm "safe" for anyone and everyone to be around. Talk with me for a minute and you'll know, but I feel I need to do more than that. I wish it was as easy as a tattoo or piercing or something - like a metaphorical light on in the dark.

I might have missed it in this piece, but supposedly, this kid asked many times for help with his deteriorating mental state. It wouldn't be the first time we've heard parents ignoring pleas for help. My own parents did when I was in high school - they took me to the family doctor, who told them I just needed to exercise more or something.

This is when educators as mentors become more and more important. But more and more states and school districts are passing legislation mandating that there be no "secrets" between teachers and students, that anyone who outs themselves to a teacher needs to be outed to their parents. Way to eliminate the only safe place so many kids have.

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