Latest news with #SarahWilkinson
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Woman's face cut by glass after brick thrown through window
A woman sustained cuts to her face after a brick was reportedly thrown through the window of a house. Just after 2pm on Tuesday May 27, police received a report of the incident, which occurred at a house on The Woodlands in Birkenhead. A woman inside the house sustained cuts to her face from the broken glass which did not require medical treatment. It was further reported two males on bikes rode off towards Borough Road.A police investigation is underway with enquiries being carried out in the local Inspector Sarah Wilkinson, of Merseyside Police, said: 'I urge residents who live locally to check your CCTV, dashcam devices or doorbell footage for anything captured which can help with our enquiries. "Maybe you saw someone acting suspiciously in the area prior to the incident which will assist the investigation. Any information you provide, however, insignificant it may seem, could be vital to our enquiries.'Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 25000435576. READ MORE: 'Disgrace' comedian's gig cancelled after 'horrific' comment about Liverpool FC parade crash READ MORE: 'My photo was wrongly shared in connection with Liverpool parade crash' For the latest news and breaking news visit Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you. Follow us on Twitter @LivECHONews - the official Liverpool ECHO Twitter account - real news in real time. We're also on Facebook/theliverpoolecho - your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Liverpool ECHO. Sign up to one of the Liverpool Echo's free daily and weekly newsletters on news, Liverpool FC, Everton FC, what's on and more by clicking here.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Research suggests state not doing enough to help Maine districts manage student behavior
(Photo by Getty Images) Student behavior in classrooms across Maine appears to be getting worse and researchers say the state is not doing enough to provide schools with the tools they need to respond — leaving educators overwhelmed and students without the help they need. A statewide survey of more than 3,400 educators conducted by the Maine Education Policy Research Institute (MEPRI) found that thousands of educators are overwhelmed by increasing disruptions in daily class activity and feel unprepared to manage it — despite that the state has invested in various programs and initiatives aimed at deterring such behavior. The problem, researchers told the Maine Legislature's Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs on Monday, is that those efforts often lack coordination, technical assistance, and consistent implementation. The result is exhausted educators, students with unaddressed behavioral needs and inefficient classrooms, the report found. 'It's really affecting the wellbeing of both students and staff,' Sarah Wilkinson, assistant professor of Special Education at the University of Southern Maine, told members of the Education Committee during the briefing Monday. 'And we know that if the learning environments are being disrupted and staff are frustrated and fatigued and reluctant, academic instruction is likely not happening at the level that we'd like to see.' The report also mentioned the lack of state support to help districts adopt what's known as an Integrated Multi-Tiered System of Supports (I-MTSS), which is a framework designed to identify and address students' academic, behavioral, and emotional needs. Maine is currently the only state in the nation that does not offer technical assistance for districts using I-MTSS, according to the researchers. Educators are spending valuable class time every day dealing with student behavior. Nearly all of the more than 3,400 educators that responded to the survey (96%) reported managing disruptive behavior during the 2023–2024 school year, with 77% dealing with it daily. More than half said they managed behavior crises — episodes involving severe or dangerous behavior — and nearly 20% of administrators reported handling such crises multiple times a day. Educators reported spending up to 48 minutes on a single behavior crisis and losing hundreds of hours each school year managing various levels of behavioral issues, the report said. For some roles, this represents 20% of their annual work time. General and special education teachers, educational technicians, and administrators also described burnout, emotional stress, physical injuries, and an increasing reluctance to stay in the profession as direct impacts of dealing with student behavior. Administrators who participated in focus groups also said that student behavior has become a top concern, especially in elementary grades, and is now one of the biggest challenges to recruiting and retaining staff. Some principals reported spending entire days managing individual students rather than providing academic leadership. Educators also worry that unaddressed behavior problems could push more general education students into special education — further straining an already overburdened system. Maine currently has the second highest special education identification rate in the country. A Multi-Tiered System of Supports, known as MTSS, is essentially a tiered model schools use to ensure all students have their academic, emotional, or behavioral needs met. The system evaluates what tier of support each student needs to stay on pace with their peers, from the most common, tier 1, being general classroom instruction to the least common, tier 3, which includes a small number of students who need personalized instruction or significant mental or behavioral health support interventions. If students don't make sufficient progress in their assigned tier, MTSS models require districts to intensify personalized support. The Maine Education Policy Research Institute, a nonpartisan research institute funded by the Maine Legislature and University of Maine System, recommends the model because it helps schools meet students' needs in a more organized and effective way. The system gives teachers tools to step in early when problems start, instead of reacting after things get worse. When used well, national research has shown that MTSS can reduce behavior issues, improve learning, and make schools feel safer and more supportive. So far, the Maine Department of Education has only offered basic introductory training on the system, largely leaving districts on their own to decide how to use the model, researchers said. In response to questions about state support for MTSS, Chloe Teboe, a spokesperson for the department, pointed out that MTSS is currently something that districts can opt into. The department provides resources such as monthly office hours, one-on-one consultations, mentoring and regular training, available for districts that want them, she said. However, during the legislative meeting, Wilkinson recommended the department help districts implement the framework, with dedicated resources and support, as well as to expand professional development in behavior management and de-escalation strategies. 'Without those skills, educators will continue to struggle to respond effectively to the behaviors that are occurring,' she said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Al Manar
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Manar
Israeli Occupation Forces Continue Aggression in West Bank's Tulkarm, Ramp Up Home Demolitions
For the 39th consecutive day, Israeli occupation forces continue their assault on the city of Tulkarm and for the 26th day on Nur Shams refugee camp, carrying out large-scale demolitions, infrastructure destruction, and military reinforcements. Israeli forces began on Thursday morning demolishing several residential buildings in the Al-Manshiya neighborhood of Nur Shams, following demolition orders issued a day earlier for 17 homes. The demolitions, under the pretext of constructing a new road to alter the camp's geographic landscape, targeted properties belonging to several Palestinian families. 🎥 VIDEO: Israeli occupation forces demolish 17 homes in Nur Shams camp in Tulkarem, leaving widespread devastation. — Palestine Info Center (@palinfoen) March 6, 2025 Residents were given just two hours to enter the camp and retrieve their belongings, yet occupation forces obstructed the evacuation process, firing live rounds to intimidate them. Since the onset of the assault, Nur Shams camp has faced relentless attacks, with Israeli forces repeatedly raiding homes, forcibly displacing residents, and turning houses into military outposts. The camp has suffered extensive infrastructure devastation, including the destruction of homes, shops, and vital facilities through demolitions, bombings, and arson. In recent days, Israeli bulldozers have razed more than 11 homes as part of a broader scheme to carve out a road from the camp's main square to Al-Manshiya. Meanwhile, in Tulkarm refugee camp, Israeli forces maintain a strict siege, preventing entry and exit while conducting raids on abandoned homes, looting their contents, and forcibly evacuating residents, particularly in the Al-Matar neighborhood. Witnesses report that Israeli bulldozers continue to tear up roads, destroy property, and seal off streets with dirt barriers, including the camp's main northern entrance, which has suffered unprecedented destruction. The occupation has also reinforced its military presence with fuel tankers and additional troops, positioning forces in front of residential buildings seized on Nablus Street, a key route connecting Tulkarm and Nur Shams. This has severely disrupted civilian movement. Additionally, Israeli occupation forces have seized multiple homes in the eastern Tulkarm neighborhoods of Dhanaba and Izbat Al-Jarad, expelling their residents and converting them into sniper posts and military bases. Armored reinforcements have also been deployed from checkpoints at Tulkarm's southern and eastern entrances, leading to further incursions into the town of Anabta and the city's southern entrance before returning to their original positions. With precise & venomous timing, the israelis storm the town of Anabta in Tulkarm in armoured jeeps & military vehicles minutes before Ifta began — Sarah Wilkinson (@swilkinsonbc) March 5, 2025 The ongoing assault has so far resulted in the killing of 13 Palestinians, including a child and two women—one of whom was eight months pregnant—alongside dozens of injuries and arrests. The offensive has also displaced more than 9,000 people from Nur Shams and 12,000 from Tulkarm refugee camp.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Church's parliament urged to back independent safeguarding to ‘restore trust'
The Church of England must choose to make its safeguarding processes independent to 'restore trust' among abuse survivors, its parliament has heard ahead of a significant vote on the issue. General Synod members are choosing a new model for how abuse allegations are handled, but views have differed on how independent it should be. Of the two being presented on Tuesday one, known as model four, would see all safeguarding officers currently working in dioceses, cathedrals and the national Church transferred to work for a new independent organisation. This is the option generally favoured by abuse survivors, with a lawyer supporting some who gathered ahead of the meeting in central London saying it is a chance for the Church to 'step away from secrecy and self-protection'. A different option, known as model three, would see most national staff move to a new outside non-Church body, but other diocesan and cathedral officers remaining with their current Church employers. Both options would see safeguarding work scrutinised by a second external body, but papers published last month say it would take 'a minimum of two years to legislate for a scrutiny body as a statutory body'. They are being presented following reviews in recent years by former chairwoman of the national Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) Professor Alexis Jay, and barrister Sarah Wilkinson. This five-day session of Synod is the first sitting since the resignation of the archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who stood down amid condemnation over safeguarding failures. Archdeacon of Liverpool Miranda Threlfall-Holmes urged members to vote for model four, branding the Church a 'ridiculously complex institution' which is in need of more simplified processes. She said: 'Model four represents the seriousness with which we need to take this. 'Yes, it will be expensive and complex but…we are a ridiculously complex institution. 'But we, Synod, are the lawmakers. We can change that. It is ridiculous that there are 85 different employers and systems for safeguarding. Let's sort that out. Let's take the pain now and just have one.' Labour MP Marsha de Cordova, who represents the Church in the House of Commons, said choosing model four was the 'first step towards restoring trust', noting it is the approach preferred by Prof Jay and abuse survivors. Echoing this, lead safeguarding bishop, Joanne Grenfell, who put forward model four to be debated and voted on, said, while 'much has changed and improved' on safeguarding, the Church must listen to survivors 'telling us that they don't have confidence that we can do this ourselves'. She added: 'To restore trust, we need to set things up in a way that means there can be no actual or perceived conflicts of interest or undue pressure exerted from anyone inside the Church.' Bishop of Leicester Martyn Snow said model four would ensure a 'cultural reset', but other members voiced concerns. Arguing for model three, Bishop of Rochester Jonathan Gibbs said it could help towards a change in culture 'where safeguarding professionals embedded at the diocesan level are able to see and challenge the way things are done day by day'. He suggested model four 'could actually make it harder, in some ways, for us to bring about the cultural change we need, and that would be a loss, though it may be one we have to accept as a consequence of our collective failures'. Reverend Nicki Pennington, based at a Church in Cumbria, said she was 'concerned as to whether culture change can be effectively driven and supported by an outside agency'. Leaflets being handed out by demonstrators in front of Church House ahead of the debate branded the Church's attitude and processes to date a 'safeguarding failure'. One man, who was abused as a child in Liverpool saying the Church should 'close its doors' if Synod does not back this option. Craig Freedman was abused by John Roberts, who was based at St Peter's Church in Woolton, Liverpool, and was convicted in 1989 of indecent assault. But instead of being defrocked, Roberts was eventually promoted to the position of Canon before he retired in 2013. Mr Freedman said he felt 'persecuted' through the Church's actions in allowing Roberts to continue. He told the PA news agency: 'I'm banking on Synod to vote for independence through model four.' Mr Freedman said this would show the Church's 'willingness to make change'. He added: 'I'd call for the Church to close its doors if it doesn't vote model four. I have lost all my faith. As far as I'm concerned the Church has persecuted me throughout my life.' Abuse lawyer David Greenwood stood in solidarity with victims on Tuesday. He said the vote presented an 'opportunity to step away from secrecy and self-protection'. The lawyer said: 'Model three won't deal with conflict of interest, deference, and uneven funding arrangements. 'I support model four, subject to policy being created by an independent body and bishops and officials being mandated to comply with the external body's advice. 'The project board and scrutiny body will also need to be independent from the Church.' One Synod member, also backing model four, praised Bishop of Newcastle Helen-Ann Hartley for having had 'the guts to stand up to the archbishops'. Cornwall-based priest William Harwood, who said he is a survivor of Church-based abuse, described her as being 'the bishop of courage and transparency' for speaking out on abuse. She was the only bishop to publicly call for Mr Welby's resignation and has also called on the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell to quit over safeguarding failures. Responding to her comments this week about feeling isolated, he said: 'You are not alone. 'You are not the bishop of negativity, you are the bishop of courage and transparency and you give a dissenting voice at the top levels to so many survivors who have no voice.' As his voice broke with emotion, he was met with applause. He said survivors like himself will 'never trust the House of Bishops without wholesale change'. A vote is expected to take place on Tuesday afternoon.
