LucyOso
Verified Registered Nurse
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- Apr 18, 2011
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Great post above Lucy! Thank you!
With regards to the following:
How much time passed between Mr. Pash requiring the students to turn in the writing assignment and Roger's disappearance? It might be mentioned, but I don't remember.
I agree. Could there have been something so private in the journal writing of Roger's, that he was shocked that Pash would have the students turn in said work and even though the responses were anonymous, would the students still have known something about Roger from the responses on the board? What was the purpose of the assignment and for which of Mr. Pash's classes was it assigned?
However, I don't think Roger would say to his friend Mitch, "I'll see you in class and we'll catch up than." if he had planned on that day to run away. Why would he put his friends parents through that kind of pain and devastation? I totally agree that when a student does as well as Roger did in school and sports, feelings of something being wrong are often masked and not talked about. Very powerful insight!
Satch
BBM. Thanks Satch, good points.
Ok...The class was a basic psychology class and they had to focus on 10 aspects of themselves and journal or something. Mr. Pash was teaching it under the umbrella of social sciences, though it was not in his field. Since it was psychology, I am sure most students (thinking it was not to be turned in) did take it seriously. From personal experience as a student and teen, they are a very sensitive, self-absorbed, insecure, conspiracy theory bunch. I know if the teacher put something I thought was private on the board, I would be so embarrassed and being a teen ASSUME everyone could figure out who posted it. Think about simple things...like the teen girl who has a pimple and thinks everyone can see it and it is the size of Everest and she is certain she will get stares and comments, etc. And she creates this catastrophe in her head about a zit. When in reality, no one noticed, because teens are all caught up in their own pimples, fears, etc..LOL. Something like that could really push a kid over the edge. This actually happened to me on a creative writing assignment once and up until a few years ago, I was pretty upset about it. Long story...but, it was awful. In hindsight after talking with some old classmates, none of my peers were even paying attention to my story as they were so afraid their stories would get read out loud. Yes, so the content could very well be a catalyst for him to run away or be suicidal.
If Roger was planning to leave or commit suicide, I am sure he would try to act as normal as possible without having to discuss what was going on. I don't think he would do anything other than say to his friend, we will catch up later. See you on the flip side. Why would he risk someone interfering with his plan? Obviously, what ever occurred wasn't attention seeking behavior. In kids who are suicidal or running away, the quiet ones who do not talk are the serious ones. Those are the ones who follow through. Not the kids who talk to everyone about it. So...the Mitch response is very appropriate if he was trying to seem normal, not let anyone into his inside world, and had a plan. Anyway, a suicidal or depressed person actually believes they are doing people a favor by leaving or ending their life. It is a strange kind of thinking that not many people understand or can empathize with, but, they honestly feel their existence is far more harmful to the people around them if they stayed alive. They feel they ARE being selfless and thoughtful...IMOO.
I also would like to add one thing: If Pash was what he is claimed to be on blogs, I am certain he would not have stuffed the assignments in his desk so police would find them. I am sure if certain kids in his class were going to his house, he would have read those assignments. The other side of that is perhaps, he kept the assignments for the purpose of his argument. But, i am more apt to believe he was just overworked, underpaid, and really forgot about them.
:twocents: