Testimonials

"Duane Alexander, director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, writes, 'Being bullied is not just an unpleasant rite of passage through childhood. It's a public health problem that merits attention.' MPS is to be lauded for paying attention."

~ Jill Moore, Milwaukee

"As a child I was diagnosed as being emotionally disturbed. This was because I often did not attend school. The reason I didn't attend school was because of the constant tauntings and abuse. This came not only from peers but also from older students. On one occasion I became a "human ashtray" and one of the high school students put out a cigarette on my arm when I was riding my bike (I was 12 at the time). On other occasions these students spat on me and threatened me. I am 44 years old and still trying to work through some of these incidents in childhood and how it made me feel about myself. A school like Alliance is sorely needed so other kids don't have to hurt the way I did."

~ Mary E. Croy

"If I had a school like this I would probably have been a 4.0 student!"

~ Gary C.

"All students deserve a safe place to learn, and unfortunately our schools are yet to be that to all of our students. I know this from first-hand experience as a teacher at a public high school. In an ideal world, all schools (students and staff alike) would celebrate and embrace diversity, creating safe and positive environments for our children to learn and grow--and perhaps, The Alliance School will be the example for the rest of us to follow."

~Amy Daroszeski
Teacher, Milwaukee Public Schools

"I believe in The Alliance School because it will help today’s youth become stronger, self-sufficient human beings. I believe by placing like-minded individuals in a safe environment we are encouraging students to accept one another and in turn this will help boost their self-esteem. For Gay and Lesbian youth to be in an open and accepting environment where they can be true to themselves, this will be the ultimate opportunity for growth. "

~Angie Guerra
The LGBT Community Center of Milwaukee

"Pathfinders has been helping the youth of Milwaukee find safety, hope and healing for 35 years. Although we would like schools be a safe environment, often young people experience bullying and harassment. One quarter of students experience it on school property, forcing 10 % of them to drop out. We gladly partner with The Alliance School to help all Milwaukee youth achieve academically and to feel safe as they learn."

~Julie A. Bock, MSSW, LCSW
Program Director, Pathfinders Shelter for Runaways

"I suffered from abuse in high school because I was different. Later, I left high school completely. I fully support the idea of the Alliance School: learning and growth in a safe and diverse environment would have helped keep me in school.

~James Carlson
Executive Director, Bucketworks"

"Alliance has the potential to make a world of difference for students who do not fit into the often rigid social structure of traditional schools. My research has confirmed that small schools, which have a clear focus on supportive mentorship from caring adults, can give young people who have failed to thrive in traditional school settings a chance to gain resilience and succeed in high school and beyond.

~Kimberly J. Cosier, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor – Art Education
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

"I believe the Alliance School of Milwaukee is a building block to show Milwaukee supports all of it's children. Growing up in a school district where I was a minority in more ways than I even knew at the time was a challenge. People that understand we are all individuals that are on this earth for a purpose are intelligent people. It is unfortunate that there is so much hate in this world. This school can protect young minds from hatred and allow them to grow in an encouraging and positive environment."

~Nicholas Lemus
Assistant Director of Student Activities, UWM

+The Morning Mail+
From Journal Sentinel readers
Posted: March 18, 2005

TEENS

School plan shows MPS is paying attention

Matt Peer objects to Milwaukee Public Schools' proposed Alliance School for teens who have been bullied ("Opening school won't address real issue," The Morning Mail, March 14). His reasons: School administrators are trying to "pawn off their responsibilities"; educators "are not trying to make a difference in the lives of our children"; and somehow this is all tied in to "liberal nonsense."

Perhaps Peer should consider that there is an increasing connection between being bullied and teen homicide and suicide and that according to the U.S. Department of Justice, one out of four school kids is bullied and abused each month. According to the National Institutes of Health, 282,000 kids are physically attacked in secondary schools each month, 100,000 kids carry a gun to school and 8% of students miss one or more days of school each month as a result of bullying.

Duane Alexander, director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, writes, "Being bullied is not just an unpleasant rite of passage through childhood. It's a public health problem that merits attention." MPS is to be lauded for paying attention.

Most bullies share one key trait: the inability to empathize with others. When Peer suggests that instead of providing a safe environment for victims of bullying, MPS simply administer "a proper reprimand" to the instigators, he is illustrating that trait.

Jill Moore
Milwaukee

TEENS

Yes, Alliance School will fill a need

I read the article about Alliance School with interest ("Creating an ally for students," March 7). My high school years were not all that great because I was tormented by many of my classmates. Some were nice, but others were mean because I was shy and a bit awkward.

If I had been given an option of going to an Alliance School as a teenager, I would have taken it. If only people were nicer and more accepting of others' differences, Alliance Schools would not be needed for different teenagers.

Bridget Hainline

Mukwonago

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