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Surely, this is over the top sharing.
Teens asked if they are gay or poor during 'kindness workshop'
Parents have reacted with outrage after middle school students were asked whether they were gay, poor, or an immigrant as part of an anti-bullying workshop.
Eighth grade students at West Allegheny Middle School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, were given the questions during a bizarre 'kindness workshop' held by teachers last Wednesday.
Staff at the school have defended the exercise, saying it was intended to stop bullying, but parents say it has simply opened their children up to abuse and reduced some pupils to tears.
According to CBS Pittsburgh and Action 4 News, students as young as 13 were given masks to wear before being asked to stand inside a circle if they agreed with certain statements.
These included : 'You or someone close to you identifies as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender', 'you or your family has ever worried about not having enough money and 'you or someone in your family is from another country.'
Others identified students whose family members had been in jail and had a problem with drugs or alcohol, singled out religious affiliations and asked about disabilities.
School supervisors said that a letter had been sent to parents explaining the workshop beforehand, and that students were told they did not have to participate.
However, officials admitted that the letter did not contain a list of questions students would be asked, and said they had not consulted with parents about the topics to be covered beforehand.
A three-hour meeting was held with parents yesterday to discuss their concerns, though reporters were not allowed to go inside
Speaking after the meeting, Marie-Noelle Briggs, whose son took part in the exercise, told reporters: 'The damage they’ve done to our kids.
'How do you fix it? How do you fix what’s already been done? All they’re doing is covering themselves
'I never would expect a middle school to ask 13-year-old kids if their parent was in jail, if they’re same-sex, if they're having financial issues.'
Pam Brosovic, who has a nephew at the school, added: 'I asked them to do the same thing they asked the kids to do: Stand in a circle, put a mask on and say all your problems.
'Your mom's in jail, your dad's a drunk - good Lord she gave the bullies ammo.'
Local attorney Robert Mielnicki confirmed that several parents had contacted him intending to sue the school, saying the workshop violated the right to privacy.
School board president Debbie Mirich said: 'We do stand behind the intentions of our workshop and we look forward [to] continuing our work with parents to address this very serious issue of bullying and the unintentional acts that continue to marginalize different groups of students.'
Authorities also contested that similar programs had been run in nearby schools, and that it was based on a workshop created by local non-profit Public Allies Pittsburgh.
However, Jessica Ruffin, the director of that organization, said school officials did not seek permission to use the materials, adding that they were not designed for children.
Teens asked if they are gay or poor during 'kindness workshop'
Parents have reacted with outrage after middle school students were asked whether they were gay, poor, or an immigrant as part of an anti-bullying workshop.
Eighth grade students at West Allegheny Middle School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, were given the questions during a bizarre 'kindness workshop' held by teachers last Wednesday.
Staff at the school have defended the exercise, saying it was intended to stop bullying, but parents say it has simply opened their children up to abuse and reduced some pupils to tears.
According to CBS Pittsburgh and Action 4 News, students as young as 13 were given masks to wear before being asked to stand inside a circle if they agreed with certain statements.
These included : 'You or someone close to you identifies as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender', 'you or your family has ever worried about not having enough money and 'you or someone in your family is from another country.'
Others identified students whose family members had been in jail and had a problem with drugs or alcohol, singled out religious affiliations and asked about disabilities.
School supervisors said that a letter had been sent to parents explaining the workshop beforehand, and that students were told they did not have to participate.
However, officials admitted that the letter did not contain a list of questions students would be asked, and said they had not consulted with parents about the topics to be covered beforehand.
A three-hour meeting was held with parents yesterday to discuss their concerns, though reporters were not allowed to go inside
Speaking after the meeting, Marie-Noelle Briggs, whose son took part in the exercise, told reporters: 'The damage they’ve done to our kids.
'How do you fix it? How do you fix what’s already been done? All they’re doing is covering themselves
'I never would expect a middle school to ask 13-year-old kids if their parent was in jail, if they’re same-sex, if they're having financial issues.'
Pam Brosovic, who has a nephew at the school, added: 'I asked them to do the same thing they asked the kids to do: Stand in a circle, put a mask on and say all your problems.
'Your mom's in jail, your dad's a drunk - good Lord she gave the bullies ammo.'
Local attorney Robert Mielnicki confirmed that several parents had contacted him intending to sue the school, saying the workshop violated the right to privacy.
School board president Debbie Mirich said: 'We do stand behind the intentions of our workshop and we look forward [to] continuing our work with parents to address this very serious issue of bullying and the unintentional acts that continue to marginalize different groups of students.'
Authorities also contested that similar programs had been run in nearby schools, and that it was based on a workshop created by local non-profit Public Allies Pittsburgh.
However, Jessica Ruffin, the director of that organization, said school officials did not seek permission to use the materials, adding that they were not designed for children.
