The Education Wonks
Are you arguing that bullies do not exist at Catholic schools or at prep schools or at the chirstian academy at the corner? Are you arguing that there is not a code of silence at catholic schools or that private schools will make excuses for bullies either? Who is being naive now?
Ugh. I saw this too. I don't know what to say, except these adults who run this school and classroom and district are negligent. This kid should be out of there, this teacher should get remedial training in classroom management, and the superintendent ought to be looking for an attitude adjustment--perhaps on the unemployment line.
These idiots are being charged as Juvenile offenders, so I believe they will get little or no jail time. I was unable to learn what, if any, prior record that these two had.
As for private vs. public schools, private and Parochial schools may easily exclude or expel anyone they please.
The great majority of our children (mine included) attend public schools, which are reluctant to expel criminals such as these.
We need to make our schools safe.
In some states if you expel a student for more than a few days, the school district is required by law to provide them a tutor. It's too bad the old option of taking such young men down to the local Marine Corps recruiting station isn't still available.
Greg
I used to be a public school teacher (grades 6-
, and this is definitely one of the reasons why I got out of the profession.
It's very hard to control students these days, but unlike this case, as a teacher, I was always being blamed for anything and everything the students did wrong (even blaming me for the fact that they earned a D or an F in my class instead of an A or a B). Eventually, it became too much for me. I began to wonder where student accountability had been lost, and why it was always my fault when parents weren't happy with their childrens' performance. In addition, a lack of support by my administration didn't help matters any.
I finally got fed up with being a policeman and disciplinarian. I went to school to educate children, not to be a police officer. After two years, I burned out and am now working in a field that puts me in zero contact with children.
Too bad, because I think I was a good teacher. But the system just made it too difficult to be a good teacher because there was very little support (IMO) for the teachers who were on the firing lines.
Edwonk,
If you think private schools expel trouble making students, you should look at the SAT cheating scandal at the elite, prep Landon School in Washington, DC. The members of the championship Lacrosse team were not expelled for organized cheating on the SAT test but a couple of students who witnessed it were. The thing about private schools is that they are just better at covering it up versus public schools.
I went to public and private schools and the observation I made was you learn really quick not to screw up in private school...
Late to class...JUG.
Didn't shave in the morning...Do it know or go home and JUG.
Disrespect a teacher...JUG.
Start a fight...Suspension & Lots of JUG or expulsion.
Cheat...Suspension & JUG or expulsion.
My sister was at the same Middle School 8 years later and it was worse. Faculty couldn't and wouldn't do anything to fix discipline problems, cowered to parents even if thier kids caused the problems even going so far as to blame the kids who had nothing to do with a problem or who were victims of it.
A close friend of mine was teaching at a high school in LAUSD. She left because the faculty weren't allowed to do anything. Kid smoking pot, go track down a administrator. Kids tagging, find a adminstrator. Hands were tied nothing could be done. Anyways most of the administrators couldn't be bothered to care anyways.
DD - Everyone thinks they are a good teacher :P. Just kidding I'm sure you were.
SD - I get the feeling you just hate the idea of private school, probably homeschooling too.
> And when they get to their new campus, they will be free to terrorize other victims.
Darwin Awards nominating committee holding on line 1 . . .
The Pirate,
I am not against private schools or homeschooling. I just detest the constant overselling of private schools, vouchers, charters, or homeschooling. Do you really believe that private schools do not have bullies? Or that principals of private schools never cower to parents?
Lets not forget the mantra that those suffering from the disease "Liberal" have inflicted upon public education and others who work in law enforcement; RIGHTS. Those punks have RIGHTS. The RIGHTS of those punks supersede the RIGHTS of the vast majority of society. Until the legal pendulum swings back to protecting the RIGHTS of the majority, expect that this type of thing will still happen in schools.
Years ago, I delt with the rare fight that occurred in my classroom. One kid got up from his lab table and began slugging another kid. I quickly broke up the squabble and sent both to the office, as per school regulations. Later, the princilal told me about this fight. It seems that something exceedingly rare had occurred in my classroom; the kid that 'started' the fight was defending one of his friends against bullying by the other kid. The "friend" was forbidden by his parents and religious beliefs to even defend himself. Finally, his buddy took matters into his own fists and stepped up to defend his friend. I later told him that I agreed with his defending his friend from abuse, but try to let the teachers know.
From the video and descriptions written about this Ohio incident, It seems that none of the victims classmates took any steps to defend the kid. So much for valor, integrity and doing what is "right".
superdestroyer wrote: Do you really believe that private schools do not have bullies? Or that principals of private schools never cower to parents?
No and no. But these are the problems of freedom, and free people can solve them; whereas slaves can only wait around for their masters to solve them -- or not solve them.
Um, what's a JUG?
I'm a liberal, and I do agree ppl take thing too far. These bullies should not have rights.
That they put it on tape is premeditated enough I think they should be tried as adults.
*ShudderS*
Gods..I hated school and we had our share of all kids.. but it wasn't the battlefield it is now in so many ways. Last night's CSI shook me..now this.
"And when they get to their new campus, they will be free to terrorize other victims."
This just makes me sick. Substitute "parish" for "campus", and you have a description of the pedophile scandal in the Catholic Church. The excuses are only slightly different. But nobody gives a damn about bullying.
Dan Savage wrote after the Columbine shooting describing how he and other people were bullied in school and how he at times fantasized about shooting the bullies. He said he wasn't surprised Columbine happened. He was surprised it hadn't happened sooner.
Never said private schools didn't have bullies, but from my experience they have much more latitude in dealing with them.
At my private school, it was the Dean of Men who dealt with discipline problems and most parents were fine with it, sure some complained, but they didn't change the response. Cause really it came down to, if they didn't like it, they could leave and there were dozens who would be more than happy to take the spot.
As for JUG, it stands for:
"Justice Under God"
It was the Catholic Version of detention only worse. Came in things like write out this latin sentance 1,000 times and count the number of vowels or hand copy 4 pages front and back from the white pages. If you were there on a good day it was sitting with out moving or making any noise for a length of time.
Sometimes it would be doing service work around the school like washing gym towels or folding up the 2000 chairs after a school mass. What ever it was, it took a lot of time, had to be completed, and it never ever involved anything school or homework related.
This is horrible. And what a teacher! Talk about not putting much effort into your work. I'm more angry with the teacher than with the bully.
Happy New Year to all the Wonks! May 2005 bring you, and yours, nothing but health & happiness.
Thanks for the tip on this - missed it as I was out of town for a few days, but this is just crazy. I can't believe the kid had this videotaped.
The vid isn't working any longer at the TV station, at least for me - have you seen it elsewhere? I'd like to post something about this and the vid will be super helpful.
Thanks! Happy New Year!
I fixed the link.
They should be expelled from the district. If another district doesn't want them, tough luck. Education, like any 'right', can be forfeited
Expelled hell, they should be hauled up on charges for assault and stalking. As for other placement - what do they call reform school these days?
Of course if the student in question had tried to defend himself, any odds on that he would also face expulsion for violent behavior? (We can't have people defend themselves...they might learn independence from the protection of authorities...who of course are unable to protect them.)
Unfortunately, the little punks were charged as juveniles. Translation: No jail-time, and a slap-on-the-wrist. No justice for the victim. 
Damn, I'm glad I didn't go to government schools. Catholic schools were bad enough.
I go to Midview High school and I am friends with the guy doing the beating. What he did was wrong. But it was not planned and my friend did not know that the other kid video taped it till a couple days later. That’s the truth. Plus it was nothing of a fight considered to what we see each and every day. Are record is five fights in one day. One fight, a student was sent to the hospital in a ambulance! It just so happens some random kid got this one on tape. In conclusion, I'm not saying that my friend is innocent but other people that get in fights in our school never get punished. Now my friend is suspended for 80 days thanks to the media. The media ruins another life.
Screw you all that said he sould be expelled and charged and what not. You cant talk shit about him and not evan know what kind of kid he is. The kid he beat up desirved it.
ASS HOLES!!!
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