Parents have accused an academy school in east London of causing serious harm to children’s mental health, with teachers humiliating and “screaming” at pupils, and have urged the local authority to exercise extraordinary powers to intervene. A group of nearly 30 parents and former teachers has spoken out about treatment of children at Mossbourne Victoria Park academy (MVPA) in Hackney . The secondary school, rated outstanding by Ofsted and known for its high examination grades and tough discipline, is in the same federation as the acclaimed Mossbourne Community academy, also in Hackney and originally run by Sir Michael Wilshaw, the former chief inspector of schools for England who led Ofsted from 2012 to 2016. A dossier of allegations about children’s experiences at the academy, shared with the Observer , includes first years being “screamed at” by senior leaders and five accounts of secondary-age pupils with no prior incontinence issues soiling themselves, or menstruating through their uniforms, because they were not allowed to go to the toilet or were too scared to ask. A number of parents said their children had suffered anxiety and depression as a result of the school’s treatment. All the children’s experiences took place within the last four years. Seven of the children have been removed from the school by their parents. Local authorities have little power over academies but the campaign group, which includes two local councillors, are demanding Hackney council launches a safeguarding practice review – more commonly used for serious individual cases of child abuse. As well as calling on the local authority to investigate MVPA, the group wants it to review all Hackney academies and is asking other parents with concerns to come forward . Earlier this month, the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, told a conference of educational trusts that children feeling a sense of “belonging” at school was just as important as attaining good grades. Andy Leary-May, the parent leading the campaign, acknowledged that MVPA gets “great results” and “works well” for many pupils. He has one child at the school himself, but took his other child out after they had negative experiences. He said: “I believe it should do this without throwing a significant number of pupils under the bus – children who struggle to fit in through no fault of their own.” A former teacher who left the academy recently and asked to remain anonymous said other colleagues “threatened and humiliated children” and “regularly screamed at them”. They said: “I watched new year 7 pupils lined up on the field while senior leaders were shouting at them and threatening them about what would happen if they broke the rules. It was scary.” When the first Mossbourne academy opened in 2004, with Wilshaw as its superhead , it was celebrated for transforming attainment in one of London’s most deprived boroughs through rigid discipline. Its rules – including no special handshakes, no hugging and no gathering in large groups – became well known and influential, and the academy was lauded in 2011 by then education secretary Michael Gove for its “exceptional” results and for managing to send children to top universities such as Oxbridge. MVPA opened in 2014 and the former teacher who spoke anonymously said they were initially impressed by how well behaved and engaged its pupils were, but added: “I soon realised the price for that was too high.” Many of the complaints put forward by the parent group relate to children with special educational needs. One mother said her “conscientious” daughter was “terrified” at the academy. The mother liked the idea of a school with strict boundaries but said: “Teachers yelled and even swore at students. They took pleasure in having power. It was psychological abuse.” Her daughter was referred to the child and adolescent mental health services (Camhs) for self-harming, panic attacks and suicidal thoughts. The mother asked MVPA if her daughter could drop a GCSE subject, as she was “overwhelmed”, but her request was turned down. “They said it might give her the idea it was OK to give up on a commitment,” the mother said. “They did not take her suicidal ideation seriously. It was devastating.” Sign up to Observed Analysis and opinion on the week's news and culture brought to you by the best Observer writers after newsletter promotion Another parent whose child attended the school said: “To watch my son walking into that school in fear was awful. I deeply regret every single day I sent him in.” She had noticed that her son, who was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, was repeatedly rewriting words in his schoolbooks. She said he had been “utterly terrified” he would get a detention for messy handwriting and struggled to write his homework in his planner in time at the end of the lesson. “He was terrified about getting a detention for packing up too slowly, or for being late to the next lesson,” she said. “Then he was terrified he would get a detention as he didn’t know what the homework was.” The boy’s psychiatrist and psychologist advised he drop one GCSE subject to reduce his anxiety. The school refused. His mother said: “There is this cookie-cutter mentality. They don’t care if it destroys your child.” Another father said his son became “obsessively fearful” of getting detention for having the wrong pens. He often got up in the night to check his school bag and stopped sleeping. His anxiety became so bad that he was unable to go to school for a year. When he attempted to reintegrate, his parents said a teacher publicly reprimanded him and sent him home to have his fringe cut. “They knew he was under a psychiatrist, on medication, had only just made it back in and was scared, but they still pulled him out,” his father said. The group alleges that the school tries to deter special educational needs children from attending. A mother said that she and her autistic daughter attended the MVPA open evening but the school “refused to offer any flexibility or reassurance”, saying her daughter should expect shouting and would not be given somewhere to go if she was feeling overwhelmed. “They just kept repeating this mantra: ‘There will be no exceptions’,” the mother said. Dan Rosenberg, partner at law firm Simpson Millar, who is representing the parents, said: “Failure to make reasonable adjustments is discriminatory, and given the state of Camhs waiting lists, schools cannot hide behind the lack of a formal diagnosis.” A spokesperson for the Mossbourne Federation said: “We were saddened to read these accounts as we do not recognise the characterisation of the school. While we have high expectations of behaviour and attitudes to learning, we are very proud of being a diverse and inclusive trust, in which children and young people thrive and go on to secure outstanding results. “We take any issues raised by parents seriously and investigate them fully. We have also had external reviews by Ofsted and the local authority – in none of these were any concerns raised.”Boys Town Nebraska, Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Boys Town today announced the filing of patents for two groundbreaking AI-integrated innovations in virtual training & mixed reality technology. Boys Town is a leader in changing the lives of children and families across the country. Boys Town's success comes with teaching caregivers researched-based strategies to effectively change the behaviors of at-risk children. Boys Town is also a leader in helping children with hearing loss and communication disorders. This new AI model will help to effectively teach more caregivers across the country and aid those using American Sign Language (ASL). "Boys Town is known for its groundbreaking research informed care that serves children and families nationwide," said Rod Kempkes, CEO. "This new technology will help us share the Boys Town mission with even wider audiences across the world and sets Boys Town apart as a thought leader in the nonprofit sector." The first system is an AI-driven training application designed to instruct individuals on effectively implementing the Boys Town Model for teaching social skills to children. This new technology can help train caregivers how to respond when working with children. The system features AI-powered characters designed to simulate children's behavior, enabling realistic and dynamic interactions. Users can engage with these AI characters through natural language while the system leverages computer vision to interpret and respond to user cues. These teachings can then be used when dealing with real world scenarios and provide AI-driven feedback on how the interactions were handled. The second technology facilitates seamless communication between individuals using American Sign Language (ASL) and those communicating verbally. It translates ASL into speech and converts spoken language into text, which is displayed as captions on smart eyewear, allowing both parties to communicate effortlessly. Boys Town is a leader in communication disorders research along with treating those with hearing loss. This technology will be an asset to helping children and families navigate communication barriers. About Boys Town: ​​​​​For over a century, Boys Town has been a beacon of hope, transforming the lives of America's children and families through innovative youth, research, and healthcare programs. Boys Town provides compassionate, research-proven education, prevention, training, and treatment for behavioral and physical problems in multiple locations throughout the United States, with a comprehensive array of services. In 2023, more than 715,000 children and families across the United States were impacted by Boys Town programs. You can find more information about Boys Town online at www.boystown.org . Attachments Artificial Intelligence in Training Boys Town Reality Coach © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.DA, academe teach organic farming60 jilibet 。

By KATE BRUMBACK ATLANTA (AP) — A judge is weighing whether a Georgia state Senate committee has the right to subpoena testimony and documents from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis as it looks into whether she has engaged in misconduct during her prosecution of President-elect Donald Trump. The Republican-led committee sent subpoenas to Willis in August seeking to compel her to testify at its September meeting and to produce scores of documents. The committee was formed earlier this year to examine allegations of “various forms of misconduct” by Willis, an elected Democrat, during her prosecution of Trump and others over their efforts to overturn the former president’s 2020 election loss in Georgia. Willis’ attorney, former Democratic Gov. Roy Barnes, told Fulton County Superior Court Judge Shukura Ingram during a hearing Tuesday that although the Georgia General Assembly has subpoena power, that power is not automatically conferred on a single legislative chamber or its committees. Even if the committee did have such power, he argued, the subpoenas in question are overly broad and not related to a legitimate legislative need. Barnes said the focus on Willis and her investigation into Trump shows that the committee was politically motivated and not a legitimate inquiry into the practices of district attorneys’ offices: “What they were trying to do is chill the prosecution of Donald Trump and find out what they had.” Josh Belinfante, a lawyer representing the lawmakers, said there is nothing in the Georgia Constitution that prohibits the Senate from issuing a subpoena. The duly formed interim committee is looking into whether new legislation is needed to regulate the practices of district attorneys’ offices in the state, he argued. “They are investigating and making an inquiry into these allegations that may show that existing state laws, including those establishing the processes for selecting, hiring and compensating special assistant district attorneys, are inadequate,” Belinfante said. The resolution creating the committee focused in particular on Willis’ hiring of special prosecutor Nathan Wade , with whom she had a romantic relationship , to lead the prosecution against Trump and others. It says the relationship amounted to a “clear conflict of interest and a fraud upon the taxpayers” of the county and state. One of the committee’s subpoenas orders Wills to produce documents related to Wade, including documents related to his hiring and payment, documents related to money or items of value that Wade and Willis may have exchanged, text messages and emails between the two, and their phone records. The committee also requested any documents her office sent in response to requests from the U.S. House, as well as communications Willis and her office had with the White House, the U.S. Justice Department and the House relating to the 2020 presidential election. And they asked for documents related to federal grant money Willis’ office has received. Before the deadlines in the subpoenas, Willis challenged them in court. Willis’ challenge was pending in mid-September when she skipped a hearing during which the committee members had hoped to question her. In October, the committee asked Ingram to require Willis to comply with the subpoenas. The committee’s lawyers wrote in a court filing that Willis’ failure to do so had delayed its ability to finish its inquiry and to provide recommendations for any legislation or changes in appropriations that might result. Barnes also argued that once the regular legislative session has adjourned, which happened in March this year, legislative committees can meet to study issues and come up with recommendations but do not have the power to compel someone to appear or produce documents. Belinfante rejected that, saying the state Constitution expressly permits the creation of interim committees and allows them to make their rules. Even if these subpoenas were validly issued, Barnes argued, they ask for too much, including private and personal information that is not a legitimate target of a legislative subpoena. Related Articles National News | Eminem’s mother Debbie Nelson, whose rocky relationship fueled the rapper’s lyrics, dies at age 69 National News | Founder of failed crypto lending platform Celsius Network pleads guilty to fraud charges National News | FACT FOCUS: Vermont ruling does not say schools can vaccinate children without parental consent National News | Are you a former SmileDirectClub customer? You might be eligible for a refund National News | Justice Department announces sweeping reforms to curb suicides in federal prisons and jails Belinfante said the lawmakers are simply trying to do their jobs. He asked that Willis be ordered to appear before the committee in early January. He also asked that she be ordered to provide the requested documents and explain what privilege justifies any that are excluded. With a glaring lack of state case law on the issue of the General Assembly’s subpoena power, that’s one issue Ingram will have to address. She said she will consider the arguments and release her order as soon as she can. Willis and Wade have acknowledged that they had a relationship but have said it began after he was hired and ended before the indictment against Trump was filed. Trump and other defendants argued that the relationship created a conflict of interest that should disqualify Willis and her office from continuing with her prosecution of the case. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee ruled in March that Willis’ actions showed a “tremendous lapse in judgment,” but he did not find a conflict of interest that would disqualify Willis. He said she could continue her prosecution as long as Wade stepped aside, which he did. Trump and others have appealed that ruling to the Georgia Court of Appeals, and that appeal remains pending.Robertson throws for 204 yards and 2 TDs, Baylor beats Houston 20-10

Amorim adamant Arteta wouldn’t have been given time he got at Arsenal to transform things if he was at Man Utd

Holiday playdates are great for kids – but ditch the stress and don’t compare milestones

MSI’s new Claw gaming handhelds have Lunar Lake processors and nondescript ‘AI’ powersZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Croatia’s incumbent President Zoran Milanovic has a sweeping lead in Sunday’s election and could win the five-year presidency in the first round, according to an exit poll released immediately after the voting. The poll by the Ipsos polling agency and released by the state HRT television showed Milanovic winning over 50% of the votes, while his main challenger Dragan Primorac, a candidate of the conservative HDZ ruling party trailed far behind with 19%. Milanovic thanked voters in a post on social networks. The first official results are yet to be published. Pre-election polls predicted that the two would face off in the second round on Jan. 12, as none of all 8 presidential election contenders were projected to get more than 50% of the vote. Left-leaning Milanovic is an outspoken critic of Western military support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. He is often compared to Donald Trump for his combative style of communication with political opponents. The most popular politician in Croatia, 58-year-old Milanović has served as prime minister in the past. Populist in style, he has been a fierce critic of current Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and continuous sparring between the two has lately marked Croatia’s political scene. Plenković, the prime minister, has sought to portray the vote as one about Croatia’s future in the EU and NATO. He has labeled Milanović “pro-Russian” and a threat to Croatia’s international standing. “The difference between him and Milanović is quite simple: Milanović is leading us East, Primorac is leading us West,” he said. Though the presidency is largely ceremonial in Croatia, an elected president holds political authority and acts as the supreme military commander. Milanović has criticized the NATO and European Union support for Ukraine and has often insisted that Croatia should not take sides. He has said Croatia should stay away from global disputes, though it is a member of both NATO and the EU. Milanović has also blocked Croatia’s participation in a NATO-led training mission for Ukraine, declaring that “no Croatian soldier will take part in somebody else’s war.” His main rival in the election, Primorac, has stated that “Croatia’s place is in the West, not the East.” His presidency bid, however, has been marred by a high-level corruption case that landed Croatia’s health minister in jail last month and featured prominently in pre-election debates. During the election campaign, Primorac has sought to portray himself as a unifier and Milanović as divisive. “Today is an extremely important day,” Primorac said after casting his ballot. "Croatia is going forward into the future. Croatia needs unity, Croatia needs its global positioning, and above all Croatia needs peaceful life.” Trailing a distant third in the pre-election polls is Marija Selak Raspudić, a conservative independent candidate. She has focused her election campaign on the economic troubles of ordinary citizens, corruption and issues such as population decline in the country of some 3.8 million. Sunday’s presidential election is Croatia’s third vote this year, following a parliamentary election in April and the European Parliament balloting in June.Victor Wembanyama plays 1-on-1 chess with fans in New YorkMusk's Controversial Endorsement Sparks German Political Storm