Get Schooled

By Jeff

April 23, 2008 8:48 AM | Link to this

As long as you are acting in self defense only, I say beat the living daylights out of either a student or a parent who is attacking you.

I say this as someone who was physically attacked MULTIPLE times while working as a teacher, and each time I was disciplined rather than the kid involved.

Students, like prisoners, are NEVER to touch a teacher in an aggressive manner.

And if they do, teachers, like guards, should make DANG SURE they learn the lesson the hard way, since clearly the easy way didn’t work.

Act like an animal, and you should be put down like one. And note that when it comes to animals, I don’t care HOW brutal you are.

By V for Vendetta

April 23, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this

The obvious answer is the teacher should file charges against both the mother and the student and seek compensatory damages. This wasn’t some drunken bar brawl that got out of hand, this was an attack on a WOMAN by another ADULT and a CHILD. Not only is it completely absurd, and indicative of certain people’s respect for authority and education, but it should not be tolerated in any way shape or form.

As for me, we are told time and again that we should be very careful when we intervene in such situations. Use “only the physical force necessary” to stop a confrontation if it occurs, I think is the quote I’ve heard before. I suppose that has always applied to students; I guess now it applies to parents as well, eh?

Fortunately, due to several physical realities, this is not something I ever see happening to me. I’m thankful for that, but these situations do make me wonder where certain parts of our culture’s values stand. I can only imagine.

By C.R.H.

April 23, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this

What is interesting about this particular case is the student had been allowed to come back to school…until the story was reported, now she has been “expelled”. Sounds like that teacher has a great case against the school district and they are trying to CYA. Too bad schools only do anything when there is publicity involved. I love the part in this story where the mom claims she raised her daughter not to disrespect adults, very funny.

By DCResident

April 23, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this

This is why the schools are bad. All the other reasons are excuses. If you have parents beating on teachers witht he kids, just imagine the home environment. The classrooms can’t be conducive to learning.

By Gina

April 23, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this

I agree with Jeff. Schools should be ran like prisons. If you so much as bump a guard, you are sent to solitary confinement. This also screams of terrible parenting. I have to say that I am in school studying to teach. I plan on making sure I defend myself at every juncture. If you step up to fight like an adult, you deserve to get your butt whipped like one.

By Sarah

April 23, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this

Who are the, for lack of a better word I will use people, who are not rasing these kids right? A teacher should not have to go to work in fear of his/her life because someone has failed miserably at the art of parenting. These kids are nothing but bully thugs that need to be jailed and treated like the common every day criminals they are. They’re more criminal than they are student. When I read how both the mom and the daughter attacked this poor teacher I couldn’t believe it. I could never imagine something like this happening in the school I attended but then again I was raised in a two parent system by two people who loved me and cared for me and pocessed the skills to raise a child. Me going to prison someday was not their goal. Thank God I was not raised by some sanity challenged woman who carried me in her womb and deposited me into a world without the social skills, morals, values and goals to do more than face a future of dispair, prison, government assistance and neighbors who fear for their property values once they see me drive up in a Uhaul van.

By dubyahbee

April 23, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this

Bottom line, “Murphy’s School Law” which states that anything that goes wrong at a school, is obviously the teacher’s fault. The principals and assistant principals at most schools instantly forget what it was like to be a teacher. When you write up a student for an infraction, you must defend it. You are treated as though you must have been responsible for whatever happened. The biggest problem with the public school system today is NCLB. It only has provisions to hold the schools and teachers accountable. There is absolutely nothing holding the parents and students responsible.

You want to improve school performance and student behavior. Tie student achievement to welfare benefits. Failing grades, disciplinary problems, and poor attendance should mandate reductions in benefits.

By Gen

April 23, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this

I am speaking as a parent and teacher. Students should never hit a teacher, and teachers should not hit students. On the other hand teachers should not use language or gestures that provoke students and vice-versa.

We (public school and society) should making and accepting excuses for unexcusable behavior from our youths.

Parents are the first teachers. Long before a child enters school,parents have already instilled values into that child-whether positive or negative. It is the parents responsibility to teach their children respect, values, and discipline. The parent that assisted her child in attacking the teacher, lacked values and discipline, therefore she could not provide the right guidance for her daughter.

On the other hand as a teacher. I feel that the students and their parents are given all the legal rights. Teachers are not protected from verbal, physical, or mental abuse from parents or students. Some of the students lie on teachers and create chaos between the parent and the teacher.

Education is a community issue. It takes the assistance and support of all parents, community leaders, businesses, and churches to undue the social ills facing public education. Stronger schools build stronger communities. Rally behind public education, and let us all work to create productive schools.

By Tater

April 23, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this

Unfortunately their will never be a way to totally protect a teacher from an aggressive student, and in this case, parent as well. You will never stop the piles of human debris from this type of action because this is how this parent and child act all the time.

Send them to prison for 3-5 years and send out a flyer to the parents telling them so. Have the teacher sue the district if, like C.R.H. stated, the district did not expel the student until the media got involved.

Another sad case, but unfortunately it will only get worse. I really feel bad for all you teachers out there who are trying to do the right thing with no support from the administrators. You are always in my thoughts and prayers.

By Gen

April 23, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this

I agreew with Duyabee- parents are not being held accountable. The blame is always on the teachers, and the administrative team is scared of the parents.

By Future Counselor

April 23, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this

Who let them into the classroom? From the story, I gathered that the teacher had a class and was supposed to have a meeting with the parent WITH an officer present. If it wasn’t time for the meeting, why let them in if the teacher has indicated safety concerns? The teacher needs to press charges and DEMAND that someone within her school answer and be held accountable for let these idiots in.

I’m sorry, but in today’s society, EVERY TIME a teacher indicates fear over safety, it’s time to pull that student and send them to a school that’s run like a prison. Violent and otherwise troublesome students need to be taught in a different environment than the rest. Parents also need to be held accountable for PARENTING! Crap like that wouldn’t happen if the right parental support existed.

By NICK

April 23, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this

These violent acts on teachers are done by black students. You don’t have metal detectors, drug dogs or SWAT teams at white schools.

As long as there is the ACLU, NAACP and other worthless groups that accept and make excuses for this violent behavior, nothing will be done.

It doesn’t matter though, with a graduation rate at 25% in inner city schools, where these attacks occur, these animals will be eventually be incarcerated………..

By jen

April 23, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this

I really felt very sorry for this teacher because she was a first year teacher, which is by far the most challenging time in a teacher’s career. It’s so difficult when you first start out. You are trying to cope with the long hours, making admin happy, trying to do your best even though you’re inexperienced, and trying to prove your worthiness and ability to teach to staff and parents during that stressful first year. Everyone questions a first year teacher’s ability and skill until you have a proven track record. Do you think this teacher will ever come back? Doubt it! And I wouldn’t blame her. This kid and parent should be prosecuted to the fullest.

By Jeff

April 23, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this

Gen:

Regarding ‘teachers should not use langauge or gestures that provokes students’:

There is ZERO excuse for EVER striking a teacher.

I don’t care if said teacher got on the intercom and called you AND YOUR MOMMA two bit, good for nothing, bstard whres while spitting in your face, there is NO EXCUSE for striking a teacher.

Now, as I’ve said, the INSTANT you strike a teacher, I believe that teacher has every right to put you in the MORGUE if that is what they deem necessary to stop you.

By Dan

April 23, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this

As long as we keep makeing excuses for people this will keep happening. The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools. Let Darwin do his work, try them both with an attack on a public official and send them away. Maybe they will get slapped around a bit in jail

By WFC

April 23, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this

My solution is a 600 rounds per minute Gatling gun. Bring it on!

By Future Counselor

April 23, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this

The more I think about, the more I’m starting to agree (a bit) with you Jeff. NEVER for any reason should a student strike a teacher. In general, keep your hands to yourself. However, I starting to think that if a teacher is allow to open a can on a student that has struck him/her, that would discourage other students from trying to strike a teacher. (This mostly applies to high school teachers.) I don’t think that students respect, and for a lack of a better word, fear teachers enough as they did back several years ago while I was coming up. Until that changes, parents and students will continue to trample over teachers.

By Dan

April 23, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this

Actually Jen the teacher had 15 years experience, it was her first year in that school, not that it diminishes her pain. It may even suggest a higher likelihood that she did everything possible to avoid the confrontation

By HS Teacher Too

April 23, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this

Future Counselor, it may not be a matter of who let them in, as much as how open the school was in general. Particularly in cases where teachers are isolated in trailers, there are countless ways to bypass the old-fashioned enter through the main entrance, pass the main office, walk the halls and get stopped by teachers … that’s history.

I used to teach at a school where for parent-teacher conferences, teachers who taught in trailers were permitted to move their conferences to the main building, just for safety’s sake.

People are people, and jerks are jerks. A school can not protect all personnel from all possible acts of violence, but until schools start “dropping the hammer” with discipline, students and their parents alike will continue to behave worse and worse, without normal boundaries, until they are just like the savages of this story. On the other hand, if both parents and students were arrested immediately, if students were expelled — in short, if the school systems “got a pair,” so to speak — I believe that incidents such as this would be rare, if not entirely unhead of.

As for me, if I were the teacher in question I would be suing the parent, the student, pressing criminal charges, and suing the school on any grounds I could think of for failure to protect me. And, to the extent that the school allowed the student back, a good attorney could probably make a case that that amounts to “ntentional infliction of emotional distress”on the part of the school as to the teacher’s well-being. I am not a torts expert, but I sure as heck would hire one!!!

Sometimes, the only way to teach a lesson is to hit the wallet and the newsoutlets. Seems like this teacher has one down, one to go.

By Amelia

April 23, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this

Disclipine needs to be put back into the schools. The principal needs a huge paddle in his office, and the kids need to fear the adults in charge. It’s called RESPECT, of which our kids no longer have for the adults in their world, because they have been given EVERYTHING, and not been taught that their actions have consequences. Our pansy society doesn’t want us touching our children and as a result they are in charge. And the children know this. They know that the teachers and schools cannot touch them. How sad.

Parents don’t teach their kids respect anymore. Kids DEMAND respect, but do absolutely nothing to deserve respect. Respect is EARNED, not DEMANDED. As a result, someone gets “dissed” and they run home and get daddy’s gun and shoot the offender. Or grab Mommie and go beat up a teacher. WTF?????

What’s even more scary, is this ADULT WOMAN took her daughter with her, and they both beat the teacher up. I say sue their asses, make them attend Anger Management classes, and then make them go to jail for battery.

By Jeff

April 23, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this

Future:

As hard-line as my stance is, it comes with that exact knowledge:

A sufficient beat down of ONE STUDENT in a public setting such as a classroom or a cafeteria will deter 99% of the rest.

Much like the easiest way for an elementary school kid to ensure he never gets picked on by bullies is to walk into the playground on the first day of school and lay out the biggest kid there HARD and FAST, so it is with teachers. Put the FIRST kid that strikes you aggressively down HARD and FAST, and you have nothing to worry about. (And I would even do this for a kid that did it ‘jokingly’. Yes, it may be over-reaction to that specific incident, but you’ve just sent a double message to every other kid in that class: 1) We do NOT joke when it comes to hitting teachers and 2) You do NOT want to mess with this teacher anyway, because you WILL get your tail beat DOWN.)

By T

April 23, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this

Thank you Jeff, you are always good for a laugh first thing in the morning

By V for Vendetta

April 23, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this

Unfortunately, what’s the answer for terrible parenting? Do you want the government to take their children away? You want the same government that runs public education responsible for raising some disadvantaged kids? There’s no answer in sight, and we are heading down a very slippery slope—one that will lead us into enormous socioeconomic class disparity in this country.

And, although Jeff tends to be a little more extreme than I am, I somewhat agree with him in this matter. If a confrontation crosses the line into physical, I think I would defend myself as I would on the public street. Sad that we even have to discuss such things …

By Jeff

April 23, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this

V:

Our primary difference here - and one that we share between me and MOST teachers - is that I have actually had to deal with being physically assaulted in my classroom, you have not.

You teachers keep telling me ‘You were only in the classroom one year. You never had to deal with this.’

Well, in this issue, I DID, and for the most part YOU HAVEN’T.

This is one of those (admittedly rare) situations where I get to tell YOU “until you are there…”.

By DS

April 23, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this

I saw a T-Shirt this weekend that read….

Dear God, why do you let so much violence and drugs remain in our schools? signed a concern student.

Dear concern student,they won’t let me in your school, signed God.

Says it all doesn’t it….

By RCH

April 23, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this

You cannot make a school into a fortress. Unruly students need to be sent to special schools at the parents expense, no exceptions. If a student attacks a school employee, that employee should defend themselves to the fullest.( Beat the crap out of the student) and then the so called child should be arrested and charged with battery,put into a real jail where the other inmates beat the hell out of the so called child again. Maybe they will then learn.

In this case the parent set the example. Maybe the parent and delinquent could share the same cell in jail!

By nita

April 23, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this

I would encourage all teachers to protect themselves at any cost. I’m in school to become a teacher and I plan to whip any parent or student who lays their hands on me. So please be advised to all unstable, foolish acting, wild children and the fools that raise them, if i am attacked, I will go into survival mode and it will be on and popping.

By j

April 23, 2008 10:41 AM | Link to this

nita, I completely agree with you that you have every right to defend yourself. But thinking realistically, do you think any principal, community, or parents will let you keep your job if you did? They should but what do you think the outcome would be in this pc system?

By BMS

April 23, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this

We just had a student who was caught with a knife after she told friends she was going to stab the assistant principal and another student to death. The student was expelled for one year and put on probation by the courts. We can only hope that most are stopped and caught before anything happens.

By Akima

April 23, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this

Oh Puh-leeze, taking God out of school didn’t cause this……

Lack of parenting caused this. Black fathers in jail caused this. Lack of disclipine caused this. The Hip Hop culture caused this. The teacher DID NOT cause this…..

People, take responsiblity for yourselves. Raise your kids to take responsibility for themselves. Teach them respect for themselves and others around them.

You are responsible for you actions, and your actions have consequences. Grow UP!!

By Edward

April 23, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this

I’m a teacher. My administration would expect me to remain calm, don’t become emotional, turn the other cheek and take the beatdown like a man. Afterward the parent would feel better because they were allowed to “vent” and then they will leave us alone. Until next time.

By DMV

April 23, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this

When you take into consideration the low pay teachers receive for being a college graduate and often someone who has done post-graduate work, the job is often not financially rewarding for the time the teacher invested in their eductaion. Many teachers teach out of desire and a love of teaching. When they have to face violence on campus from an unruly, unparented child, common sense will dictate that we’ll start losing the good teachers and we’ll be stuck with teahcers who are less then the cream of the crop. The school board and laws should protect teachers. Make examples out of the bad students AND their parent. Let the others kids watch them being thrown to the ground by a law officer, handcuffed and carried out kicking and screaming. Do whatever it takes. I think the rule of basic survival should apply in the classrooms just like it applies in your private home. If you invade my space with the intent to cause me bodily harm, by law I will do whatever it is necessary to protect my life and limbs. Some parents think their kids should get by with anything. Naturally, these people shouldn’t be caring for a plant but because procreation is not a big scientific deal; anyone with an IQ of 8 and above can be one…..we must deal with the mistakes of years and years of horrific parenting.

By GW

April 23, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this

Edward, Don’t forget to “don’t take it personally.”

By Miss Ann

April 23, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this

A little over two years ago, I was hit three times in the face by a student just for asking her to refrain from cursing at me and making physical threats. After the third closed fist hit taken from the student, I struck back twice with my fist. I had a choice to resign or be fired. I chose to resign. The student was charged with simple assault and battery, disturbing the peace, and causing a fray. As for me, I was served with a pre-issue warrant and had to appear in court. After about two hours, the judge found no grounds to arrest me and ruled that I had used self-defense. Lastly, I was reprimanded my the GAPSC. Go figure!!!!

By JustMe

April 23, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this

Can schools protect teachers? Yes. Do schools protect teachers? Hardly ever.

Many alternative schools have giant fences, metal detectors, security guards everywhere, security escorts for visitors, etc. Teachers there are very safe.

However, most schools do none of this. Most schools have little to no security at all. Most schools have things like this happen, and then blame the teacher (because otherwise the school or school system would be at fault and this leads to law suits).

Teachers are left to defend themselves from crazy students and parents. And, God forbid, if the teacher hits a student (even in self-defense), the teacher is immediately punished. As others have said, administrators expect teachers to get beaten and just take it.

Oh yeah, there may be some little buzzer for emergencies. If the teacher hits the buzzer, about 15 minutes later the secretary may come over the intercom and ask what you want while the security guard is outside sitting on a bench enjoying the sun. By that time, the beat down is over, the teacher is on the floor bleeding, and the students are all laughing at the teacher running amuck. And of course, it is the teacher’s fault.

By CJ

April 23, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this

I teach at a Charter school in Alpharetta where we get many of our students from South Fulton. We have had many fights at the school, and 2 of them were attacks on a teacher or principal. The attack on the teacher came from an Alpharetta student with behavior disorders. The teacher pressed charges on the student. He was promptly removed from school. Only then did we get a security officer. The other attack happened when the principal tried to stop a gang member, and talk to him. From what was said, the kid was trying to walk away to catch the bus…and the principal tackled him. We never got a clear story. Many of the students say that is what happened.

By Teacher, Too

April 23, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this

Okay, I’ve remained quiet on all the posting dealing with the topic of God in our schools. Whether a school has overt religion in it does not solve the problem of discipline. Discipline stems from the home, and then it’s up to teachers and admins to enforce the rules at school.

My parents taught me about my religion. I was raised in a religious home; I didn’t need to pray at school to behave well (or for my peers to behave well, either).

Quite frankly, this seems to be a socio-economic problem. The correlation is clear- the lower the SES, the higher number of discipline incidents at a school.

Having said that, what I am not saying is that there aren’t any problems in higher SES families. I know first hand. My sister was a smart girl, but she took the very wrong path of life. She has had a drug problem off and on for 30+ years, starting in junior high. We were upper middle class, both of us brought up in a religious home, with strong a ethical and moral environment.

So, to my original point: It’s not necessary to have overt religion in school. It’s about learning how to behave appropriately, respect for authority, and discipling when necessary.

I think we’ve gone too far in relaxing societal standards. This shows in the way people dress to come to school, how they behave in restaurants, etc…- the standard of behavior has hit the bottom.

By Da Dawg

April 23, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this

And you wonder why I skimp and save to pay private school tuition, so my kids don’t have to go to school with this kind of ghetto thug trash.

By Vee

April 23, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this

Sometimes, the only way to teach a lesson is to hit the wallet and the newsoutlets.

Yep. I wholeheartedly agree with this one. The only sad thing is that the mother and daughter probably don’t have a pot to p—- in. I say that they should spend a little time in prison—NOT jail. I think at least three years should be it.

What really got me were the smirks on their faces in their mugshots.

By MCR

April 23, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this

I believe Beyond indelable reproach that there is an underlying reason for everything. People want to blame. Its poor parents, or the school board, or the local political genre’ da da, la da, de da. Can you blame young people for being so confused? Here you see the result of blame. Somebody got pregnant and here I am. Hell, blame me. Just because we live in a country where your rights are violated and nobody wants to talk about the solution. Can you blame me for complaining loud and long? But now you gotta listen. Because young people who do not know are loading up on anger and taking the law into their own hands. Things got ugly that time. In that case, I would be glad to listen. When self worth and life become a volitile commodity. So as conditions get worse with civil unrest and bloodletting, the only thing we can say is to pray. Hope things get better. They could always get worse, so we pray. Its a falacy people take for granted. You don’t have to live that way. The answer is in know how. Usually, when we don’t know how. Nobody wants to be bothered. “Til you need help, you really don’t need no help. We also know in America the cost of freedom and observance to the law means the criminal usually goes to jail. So the things people do illegally become a question personal choice and desire. Thats the law. Choosing one’s life style then becomes a case sensitive issue. If we make wise choices it means success. If we choose wrongly the outcomes is futile. The fact of the matter is we need to be teaching common sense terms and how to deal with the substence of ones thinking. Some ideas are a bomb to begin with. Who wants a damn friend who is out in the shadows robbing, hurting the innocent and getting killed in the process. For love or money somehow critical thinking has to become another subject of interest to America’s youth. Everybody has to realize street corner entrepreneurship has its drawbacks. But please don’t blame me when it rains on your big day out. We can no longer push mass ignorence under the table. Not yet a prophet

By S.A.F.

April 23, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this

Unfortunately situations like this do occur and with all do respect, I believe a person has the right to defend them self. If the situation can not be peacefully resolved or help can not be acquired in record time, then by all means DEFEND yourself.
Sometimes, it is also in the best interest of the teacher if the meeting, or conference is conducted with other co-workers, administrators or staff available to sit-in rather than the teacher assuming it is ok for me to tackle the problem alone.

By Matt

April 23, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this

It is more SES than anything else. Poor white kids act like poor black kids. I pray everyday before I enter my class for me and my students, and I pray that I am never in that situation. That being said, I would forget my religion and my lady like stance to beat down any parent or student who thinks they are going to handle me. It ain’t happpenin.’ I wouldn’t take a beat down oustide of school, but I am suppose to take one in school? Yeah right. I hope the teacher sues the school, the district, and anyone else she can think of. Hopefully, the criminals will be charged with multiple felonies.

By JustMe

April 23, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this

Honest, I want to start encouraging everyone (not just teachers) to contact your GA State representatives about changing the State law to allow for teachers to have/allow a real union. Only when teachers can organize legally will we have enough power to protect ourselves, to make positive changes in education for students, and so on.

IMHO, this would help education in GA more than anything.

By jim d

April 23, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this

A couple of things here. First, being the lover I am—I see no acceptable excuse for violence in any school environment, by parents, students or teachers. I think most of us would agree on this.

Now, as to the sschool failing to provide a safe working environment—Hey, they do have obligations. But I’m afraid suing the parents for monetary damages in these type of instances would prove to be fruitless. What they gonna do, give you their welfare checks? JMHO, but scumbuckets exist in every society, only way to rid ourselves of them is to lock em up for a while. But even that is only a temporary fix at best.

By C.R.H.

April 23, 2008 12:11 PM | Link to this

A lawsuit against the parent would be good only for a paper judgement, but should she ever win the lottery… However, the school knew this parent could cause a problem and didn’t protect the teacher. I would still like to know why the student was allowed back to school after this and was only “expelled” after the media got the story out.

By Teacher, Too

April 23, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this

One more comment on God in school. Some of my most disrespectful and rude students are the ones who go to church on Sundays and Wednesdays. They are condescending with their, “I’ll pray for you,” and then turn around and become one of the “mean girls”. How hypocritical is that? If that’s how they behave at church, then please don’t pray for me, they need all the prayer help for themselves.

On the flip side, you get the parent who just doesn’t know what to do anymore, so they are just going to pray. Hello? How about being a parent and instilling some discipline in your child’s life? Doesn’t the saying go, God helps those who help themselves?

Okay, I’m finished.

By Jeff

April 23, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this

jim:

Pacifists are the very reason we need an ultra strong military.

The fact of the matter is that there will ALWAYS be people who want to do you harm.

The best way of dealing with them is putting them down. BRUTALLY and FAST.

Again: I do not condone active aggression. But the INSTANT someone strikes a teacher, they should be put down like the insect they are.

By Future Counselor

April 23, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this

School fail to protect their teachers by keeping the deliquents in school. I had to pause when I read the garbage about a student bring a knife to school intending to USE and KILL others and got a year long “expulsion”. That’s bull.

High School Teacher Too: I get that how open the school is a factor. What I can’t understand is how a HIGH SCHOOL can fail so miserably at monitoring its grounds. What happened to locking the doors from the inside to keep people from entering anywhere by authorized, highly monitored areas (e.g. Main Office, Field Door)? Also, if there are trailers, where the hell is the person(s) walking around looking out for those kids and teachers? Aside from the mother in this case being a complete explicitive word, the part that is getting to me is the fact that these people didn’t have to be anywhere near this teacher if there was some kind of vigilance.

By Needless

April 23, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this

I don’t condone violence and object to the administration, teachers, parents and students acting in such a manner. I believe the school systems should do more to protect teachers, administrations, other staff and students from other violent students, parents and/or any person who walks into a school off the streets.

I don’t think teachers should act in unprofessional manners and should not want to be seen in an unprofessional light. I don’t think they should be attacked or verbally abused by students and/or parents.

The gate keepers at schools are not doing their jobs.

By HS Teacher Too

April 23, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this

I should clarify what I meant about hitting people in the wallets. I meant to hit the school systems and the administrators, not the parents. (Heck, any plaintiff’s attorney worth the cost of his education knows you go for the deep pockets!) Now, I realize that if we sue the schools, that comes out of our own pockets in the long run; but it also sends a powerful message about liability and responsibility, and my guess would be that schools shaped up their “security” in short order.

I don’t advocate abusing our judicial system; but I do support using it the way it exists, and right now in our country, that means regulating by litigating. It works.

By scott

April 23, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this

Yeah, lily white schools like Columbine and the one listed below in South Carolina are really safe havens.

The question is how can you provide a safe environment, all schools regardless of their location have student that have the potential for violence.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/21/school.bomb.plot/ South Carolina high school senior arrested in an alleged bomb plot had the ingredients to assemble a bomb in minutes, police said Monday. Ryan Schallenberger, 18, was arrested Saturday after his parents called police when 10 pounds of ammonium nitrate, an oxidizing agent in explosives He planned out in detail — down to the costs of the bomb supplies — his plans for multiple explosions at the school, Lear said.

Scott Radkin, the principal of Chesterfield High School, said Schallenberger is among the top students in the senior class, according to an AP report.

By Teacher's Kid

April 23, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this

One word that will help end this problem and most problems with public education in GA: U-N-I-O-N!

My fiancee’s father is an arbitrator for the teacher’s union in NYC and the teachers there or in any other state with an active union would not put up with this for one minute!

By Sven the Blog Catalyst

April 23, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this

Isn’t this is PERFECT scenario for tasers? I would be all in favor of providing tasers to teachers and administrators in “those” schools where a significant number of kids have no idea how to act, because their parents have no idea how to parent (or act themselves, for that matter). If all that these kids understand is force, a couple thousand volts should do the trick, with no lasting harm.

By Taxpayer

April 23, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this

Sterilize the mother and the girl. Nothing good will ever come of them or from them. The mother should not have the chance to warp another kid. The girl should not have the chance to pass her warped values to another generation. If not sterilization, then how about a lifetime supply of condoms? Our gene pool could use a hefty dose of chlorine.

By jim d

April 23, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this

Teach too,

Yeah, I gotta admit that those that think courts can keep god out of school are a bit foolish. Contrary to popular belief, The courts have ruled that God can remain in school. Just not under the auspice of a Government employee promoting him.

It is truly a shame that the right has continued to propogate a myth and that people have bought into it. As I recall there’s something in the good book about barring false witness.

By My Two Cents Worth

April 23, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this

The single parent should stop spending money they don’t have in the first place buying their kids throw back jersey’s and high price tennis shoes and instead spend money on books. ” Hooked on Phonics” is a good starting place. The single parent should meet with the teachers when requested to do so and stop giving lame excuses like you can’t leave your job early. Your child is your job. Name your kid a name that will fit in corporate Amercia. I shouldn’t be able to tell your race by your name. Try taking the chip off your kids shoulder before they leave for school in the morning. Try being positive with your child and instead of telling them how beatdown you were all your life and forever being a professional victim, encouage them and convince them they can be anyone and anything they try to be. You are your child, your child is you. It seems we have a big pink elephant in the room that no one, being polite we are….seems to want to notice. Most of the kids doing this, or at least the ones I have heard first hand accounts of from friends and family members who are educators, most of these violent kids are black kids from lower income areas and I think white teachers are afraid to do anything in fear of being labeled racist. When hip-hop, gangs and violence is your day to day life, you really expect this culture to stop at the door. I think not.

By HS Teacher Too

April 23, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this

Future Counselor — that is exactly my point; there is no vigilance. There is no excuse for doors being unlocked, or for teachers not stopping unfamiliar faces and escorting them to their destinations, and so forth.

But to be fair, there are some instances where even the most vigilance would fall short. (I’m speaking specifically of trailers, but I am sure there are other examples. But as to trailers, if there is only one guard circulating some of the trailer cities as we see around the larger schools, that guard may well be effectively useless.)

By HRC

April 23, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this

Ga. Code “Use of Force in Defense of Self or Others” grants a citizen or victim permission and legal entitlement to defend himself or third person against another person’s unlawful assault. Simple Assault, Simple Battery and Battery are misdemeanor offenses which define unlawful assaults while Aggravated Assault and Aggravated Battery define felonious unlawful assaults. Why do we allow school administrations to permit and entitle unlawful assaults by parents and students while penalizing the teacher for utilizing the statutory right to protect themselves?

By Lilli Whyte

April 23, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

Taxpayer, that’s an excellent idea & should have been done years ago, to those two AND all the other ghetto trash but sadly, it’s like closing the barn door after the horse escaped. Say this girl started popping out babies at say, age 10 or 11 & she has one every year. She’s, what, 17 now? You do the math

By The Truth

April 23, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this

NO! Schools can not protect teachers. GUNS CAN! If every law abiding citizen carried a firearm we’d all be better off. Liberals and unions are more dangerous! That is why our system is broken. Too many pansies running the court system and lawyers setting criminals free.

By deekay

April 23, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this

As a teacher of 13 years (and a rap music fan) Hip hop did not cause this….stop blaming rap music…did rap cause the incident at Mill Creek??? No more than heavy metal caused Columbine…Black fathers being absent had nothing to do with this I know many people with no idea who their father is who would not do such a thing…..The bottom line is this, our kids have no fear….It used to be a time when a teacher could threaten to call a parent and the children would instantly straighten up, now the kids threaten the teacher with calling the parent and incidents like this happen….Atlanta Public Schools for the most part are a joke and we know it….That entire system needs to be cleaned out from top to bottom….Parents are the first teachers and we as educators should only be reinforcing the values a child is getting at home….If a child hits me I am going knock the living sh_t out of them as a deterrent for ever disrespecting an adult again…same for the parent….

By scott

April 23, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this

By race, 60.5 percent of arrestees for violent crime were white and 37.2 percent were black. The remainder were of other races.

(according to FBI statistics)

By jim d

April 23, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this

Teachers kid,

another good word is C-H-O-I-C-E

By Nja

April 23, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this

Thank God I did not move to Atlanta. Some of these comments are VERY scary.

By One

April 23, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this

ALL teachers (esp. female) should take at least one self defense class. And letting those (lovely) little brats know that you are not going to stand for any bull would help! Lastly, always, always be ready for confrontation (esp. when you know you have roudy types in the class). Sad, but true. I’m willing to bet that this teacher saw signs of this coming, if she was paying close attention. Now, I’d be ready to sue, and never have to teach again!

By scott

April 23, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this

Let’s not even begin on the teachers that are having “relations” with the students. Remember Harrison High a few weeks ago. Every time a case comes up these sexual crimes seem to always come from a “certain group” of perverts, oops, I mean people.

By soma

April 23, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this

I pray that this teacher gets justice. The parent had no right to do this to a teacher and the student is a FRUIT CAKE. Teachers are so important and to let something like this go on is horrible. The parent and child was out of control and needs to seek Dr Jekyl for help immediately…..

By soma

April 23, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this

I pray that this teacher gets justice. The parent had no right to do this to a teacher and the student is a FRUIT CAKE. Teachers are so important and to let something like this go on is horrible. The parent and child was out of control and needs to seek Dr Jekyl for help immediately…..

By RCH

April 23, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this

Laura

Another blogger mentioned seeing the mug shot of these two. Would it be possible to provide a link or post the pictures for us.Thanks

By jim d

April 23, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this

While everyone is pointing fingers again, here’s one worth reading;

[Teacher-sanctioned violence]http://findarticles.com/p/articles/miqa3614/is/ai_n8950514)From Childhood Education, Spring 2001

By Georgia Goober

April 23, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this

Tasers! I like it! Maybe these kids won’t look so cool to their peers (the main thing they care about) when they’re lying on the floor, drooling and pooping their pants.

By scott

April 23, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this

Can someone please explain to me why whites commit violent crimes? According to some of the above posts I would think that all the ills of society and crime were only committed by blacks when in fact we ALL know that is not the case.

By jim d

April 23, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this

oops!

Try this one Teacher-sanctioned violence

By One

April 23, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this

scott, dear, crime is not restricted to any one race, creed, origin, or nationality!! The tendency is in us all, it’s how we process it (or not) that makes the difference! And you should no better than to believe every post you read, some of these folks “bread ain’t completely baked” either!!

By Da Dawg

April 23, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this

Scott, every race commits violent crime, just like you’ll find good, quality people in every race. It’s just that, PER CAPITA, blacks commit several (if not many) times the percentage of violent crime (and most other types of crime) than do whites.

While we can argue over whether police are more likely to arrest young blacks than any other demographic group, that still can’t explain why 1 out of 3 young black males is currently in some phase of the criminal justice system.

Anyway, I’m not judging, or pondering here the reasons why, but … while white students commit violent crimes, too, it is just a fact that (young, especially) blacks are several (if not many) times more likely to commit violent crimes. Again, we can debate the reasons for that all day, but math doesn’t lie.

By Simple Solution

April 23, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this

Homeschool this child and all unruly children. Since the child does not have to respect authority and is violent, let them stay at home with the parents who accept that mess. Afterall, that is where that child will remain because no one else in society will put up with that mess besides that parents who raised them that way.

By Vicki

April 23, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this

RCH

The story is at www.ajc.com under the Metro Section: “Mom, Daughter Charged….”

I sit here and just shake my head.

By Jeff

April 23, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this

regarding Tasers:

Heck, I say equip every faculty member in the school with them!

Taser International (the company that makes them) has a handful of different devices, and any would be appropriate in school. I’d equip teachers with the Taser C2 (it is designed to look somewhat fashionable, yet the civilian version shocks harder and longer than the police version). I’d equip administration and security with the regular gun-type model.

And I’d give security the TASER XREP - a new shotgun based cartridge they are developing.

By Gen

April 23, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this

All the school shootings and campus killings were done by whites.

By Gen

April 23, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this

All the school shootings and campus killings were done by whites.

By john

April 23, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this

Scott,

Whites are 64% of the population and according to you commit 60% of the crimes, blacks are 13% of the population and commit 38% of the violent crimes. So all other ethnicites are committing just 2% of the violent crime? Understand the math when you are trying to make a point.

By GEDgrad

April 23, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this

I have a cure! Do away with the government laws making parents educate their children. If a parent does not want to educate their kids so be it. We need ditch diggers, construction workers, and so on. Hey less illegals.

By Sick&Tired

April 23, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this

It’s a total lack of taking responsibility for what you spawn….period, end of statement. I think the requirements to have a child should be as stringent as they are to adopt. This isn’t a one time thing, this happens to teachers on a daily basis. We need to start holding the parents responsible financially for anything their children do and stop listening to them whine about how difficult things are for them. I’ve seen plenty of single parents and parents with 2 jobs each, do a fantastic job of raising their children. But here we are, still supporting generation after generation that know nothing about anything but popping out kids and not raising them. It’s no wonder we have a teaching shortage. I agree with Jeff….schools should be run like prisons…uniforms, strict rules, etc. You’re there to learn, not to impress your friends.

By Gen

April 23, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this

This is not Black or white issue. It is a society issue…stop using the Blog to promote your hate and lies.

By scott

April 23, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this

The math certainly does not lie when it comes to mass shootings or violent behavior against the student body as referenced in my first post: http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/21/school.bomb.plot/ I certainly know how to read and understand statistics also, people pick and choose how to decimate stats.

My point simply goes back to what the Master said in Matthew Chapter 7; for those of you that do not have time to look it up it simply states: New Living Translation version

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others.[a] The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.[b] 3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye[c] when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend,[d] ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.

In a somewhat related issue, many people are watching what type of sentence the “gang in Johns Creek” who burglarized 100’s of cars and conspired to sell the contraband on-line for a profit. The same familie that want to lock up all the criminals in the city are going to want mercy for their own children. They already received mercy in the type of charges that were pressed against them.

By Sven the Blog Catalyst

April 23, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this

Gen, a grasp of facts does not constitute hate, and calling it “hate” merely puts a delusional and self-defeating spin on the truth. A failure to understand this, or worse an obfuscation of same, hinders and frustrates any reasonable solution to the problem at hand.

By scott

April 23, 2008 2:14 PM | Link to this

John I understand what I am saying, but do you get the point. You probably fall in the group that blames all of societal ills on NBA and NFL stars making a lot of money but are always in the news for moral failings. But on the other hand are silent to the fact that CEO’s like United Healthcare have a $1 BILLION dollar compensation package just for himself, yet our healthcare co-pays and payroll deductions continue to rise. Or the CEO’s from Enron, Bear Stearns, and other corporate criminals that bring down our economy continue to get a pass because you do not write your Congressperson but want to blame all of our problems “other people”. I am pretty sure you voted for “W” twice and you see where that has gotten us - WAR, ECONOMY, need I go on. I am finished with this for the day, I shall share my intellect elsewhere.

By InWonder

April 23, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this

It amazes me how kids get away with! They get whatever they want, never get told “no”, parents think they are perfect, rarely get disaplined or even taught a social skills/manners,etc. - YET it seems that we have the most ANGRY generation of kids in our school system. They have no coping skills at all when a teacher tells them “no” or get disciplined - they just try to start a fight WITH the teacher. They KNOW full well Mommy and Daddy will take their side. SOOOOO… put SEVERAL video cameras (with sound) in the classroom and ask the parents “ok, is this YOUR child BEATING the teacher (or harming whoever)?” Tell the parents that they are calling the cops because this is battery and WRONG…too bad, this is the CONSEQUENCE to YOUR childs action. Even if the parents say, “well I bet that teacher did, did ‘whatever’.” Doesn’t matter. Teach your kid SELF CONTROL! Cops show up and arrest the ‘kid” in front of everyone. Embaressed? Too bad, maybe next time you learn to get over your egocentric self and cope, show some self control. Parents didn’t teach you…they had HOW MANY YEARS to? Guess you have to learn the hard way because your parents DIDN’T parent. That punishes and embarasses that parent too. Oh, and how is this “mature” behavour, since now our kids are more mature. That IS a joke! Kids aren’t more mature…their behavour is STILL VERY IMMATURE!!! and their parents are TOO!!

By Lilli Whyte

April 23, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this

Very poor argument, Gen. Compare the number of school shootings to the number of violent crimes committed DAILY by blacks. I rest my case.

By InWonder

April 23, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this

The ENTIRE world is FULL of problems…more problems than the average person has the time to “fight” for. The average person will just fight for that which THEY believe in. Not what YOU believe in? Too bad. You can NOT make them believe in everything you believe in and fight for. Get over it and grow up. You cannot control the world population to agree with you…that is NOT right. Everyone has a RIGHT to THEIR OWN OPINION,etc. (even if their government doesn’t think so).

By InWonder

April 23, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this

The ENTIRE world is FULL of problems…more problems than the average person has the time to “fight” for. The average person will just fight for that which THEY believe in. Not what YOU believe in? Too bad. You can NOT make them believe in everything you believe in and fight for. Get over it and grow up. You cannot control the world population to agree with you…that is NOT right. Everyone has a RIGHT to THEIR OWN OPINION,etc. (even if their government doesn’t think so).

By RCH

April 23, 2008 2:34 PM | Link to this

Scott

If I remember correctly and it is the same case you are talking about, the Father turned in his own son .He did the right thing even though it was his own son. Can you say the same thing about this mother. Did she lead by example?

By InWonder

April 23, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this

What scares me…seriously…is how this generation of kid’s kids end up and how they will be. Back to the old way of teaching your kids at home because public schools would be WAY to dangerous and teachers teach behind a wall of bulletproof glass…wouldn’t suprise me.

By Magenta

April 23, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this

It would seem to me, that if a teacher knows that even in a self-defense scenario, s/he will be fired or forced to resign, then that teacher would feel free to use whatever force was necessary to put the attacker out of commission. At least make your last act as a teacher a meaningful one.

By Momma Sense

April 23, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this

When my first born, a son, was born the first things I told him (after telling him I was his Momma) where:

• I love YOU unconditionally.
• I will do all I can to make sure you are NEVER hungry, have clothes on your back, a roof over your head and that you get an excellent education.

I saw him born imperfect…able to do wrong and it was my JOB to show him the difference between right and wrong and show/lead/encourage to him to the right. (He wasn’t born with a chip in his head telling him this.)

Too many of my friends didn’t see it that way…they all were like “my kid is going to have whatever they want!”, “I will defend him no matter what”, etc. on those lines. Today, their kids are the most spoiled, self centered, have not a manner to be had! (I could go on). I get asked by them all the time why my son behaves so different than theirs and why we don’t have the same issues they all share. I now get people in PUBLIC thanking me on keeping my child behaved in public. That NO ONE does that anymore. So sad….and those majority of misbehaving kids are in our schools. The minority are those who do know HOW to behave and do so. That is what I have witnessed first hand in the public schools.

By Charles

April 23, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this

This comment will resonate with those persons who have experienced/ come in contact with the supernatural; whether it is good or evil.

There are several questions that we must answer truthfully. Have the powers that be, administrators, teachers, and their enablers worked to properly educate generations X and Y? Are they working at this very hour to confuse people, and to keep the world turned upside down? Have their enablers worked for money to dumb down Americans via education for the purpose of establishing a New World Order thereby acquiring power over and enslaving the world? If any is true, each of us must give an account for our action or inaction.

I believe that we as a nation knowingly or unknowingly are guilty of the aforementioned evil deeds among others. But all is not lost. Teachers and others must do all of the rational things to protect themselves from physical aggression. But most importantly, above all, because we are struggling not only against physical manifestations, everyone must be certain to take the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…

But in the final analysis, after all is said and done, it is God who is able to protect us. It is he who executes judgment.

By Earl

April 23, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this

Scott always does this on any blog. Scott, you can’t change our mindset, it’s established. If we didn’t have this little outlet called the news, perhaps your arguement would fair better. We know who’s doing the crimes. No one is saying white people do not do crimes, thats absurd to think that way. But, per capita your math is seriously flawed. To those that think a child without a father at home will not have an impact, you apparentley have never been inside a two parent home. A father is very much a positive influence a home. When 68 to 70 per cent, depends on the study you want to believe, of one race is born to a single mother and you don’t think this is an issue, you’re lost. If you don’t think the hip hop lifestsyle that glorifies guns and violence isn’t a terrible influence, well then you’re a major contribution to the problem. Instead of being so defensive Scott, use your Saturdays to mentor a fatherless black kid, there’s plenty out there in need of a good influence. This mother in particular, the one in the story, needs to be jailed and so does the out of control child. You let her come up to me and hit me, I’d take her and her big cow of a daughter out…right then and there. I refuse to be a victim to p** parenting and a kid so mean and stupid, she needs to have her butt kicked all over this city. Accounantabilty Scott, accountability. Stop being ashamed and help the situation. But then again, I would be ashamed too.

By Vee

April 23, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this

Scott and Gen,please do not stoop to the level of the fools that had been ignored pretty much until now. Wise people don’t argue with idiots. We all know that there are thugs in every race.

Recognize stupidity, ignore it, and move on.

Per the topic, there are things that schools can do—but they,for the most part, won’t.

By john

April 23, 2008 3:27 PM | Link to this

Scott,

You are stereotyping. I didn’t vote for W twice (but have to admit I did vote for him the first time) and could care less about how many moral failings NFL stars have. My point was that you are defending the indefenseable when it comes to the demographics of crime in general and violent crime specifically. School shootings are horrible things but it would be untruthful to say that there is an epidemic of them. I do, however, totally agree with your views on the lack of concern/publicity for the white collar crimes. The lack of media attention is disgusting.

By Gee

April 23, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this

As an administrator, I never had a teacher physically attacked. But I made it clear, parents could meet with teachers with an administrator present. If a parent is found in the building at any other time, they would be charged with trespassing. I was never going to let anyone just roam freely through the building. It just was not going to be something we allowed.

Also, I never would back down from a parent. If the position was established that they would meet at the designated point in time and not sooner, for instance trying to meet with the teacher before school when the meeting was set for 3rd block planning, then it would be then or not at all.

Belligerent parents were not tolerated. They were escorted from the premises immediately. The meeting was adjourned by me and all staff members were dismissed.

Does this protect all teachers from the heinous attack that occurred? I don’t know, but administrators must take a strong stand and put the message out there that nonsense will not be tolerated in any form.

By catlady

April 23, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this

I foresee a student on teacher attack at my elementary school soon. All I can do is warn and DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. I send copies to my home computer as well. Had a kid assaulted by a group of other kids today in the restroom at 8 am. So far (3:30), NO ONE has been sent home, no arrests made. Ringleader made a threat against this kid 2 weeks ago. I reported it. Still no action on that, either, to my knowledge. (“He wasn’t serious”…)

There is a theory of behavior management that says when you have an infraction, YOU HANDLE IT DECISIVELY THE FIRST TIME, INSTEAD OF “SAVING UP” THE SEVERE PUNISHMENTS TO THE END OF THE YEAR. However, we don’t follow that line of reasoning, and we reap what we allow to be sown. Unfortunately, our well-behaved students reap it as well. Until we are willing to defend the 90% of kids who do right, instead of making excuses for the others, we continue to spiral downward. FAPE for EVERYONE!

I hope if something happens to me at school (I try to enforce reasonable behavior standards, so I might be a target) my children will sue everyone in sight. Then, if that does not work, I hope they show up at school with a bat and revenge on their minds.

So, so sad. This used to be fun.

And at my school, it is all WHITE kids doing this.

By Tray

April 23, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this

yeah, that mother raised her kid to respect adults?? My ARSE!! Then why did she join momma in the beatdown? Personally, if any kid strikes a teacher, the kid should be taken by DFACS and placed into foster care. Why? Because the parents are apparently not raising their kids right.

Oh, and it is the parents fault-they whined about teachers slapping their kids for smarting off. Teachers are sompletely defenseless in schools, they have NO AUTHORITY to give MEANINGFUL DISCIPLINE to students. Suspend the kid? yeah, like the kid wouldn’t rather be at home than at school anyways!!

If the United States was that worried about crime rates and the similar, maybe they should start handing out punishments that fit the crimes. If the punishment for rape was to get raped by bubba, i bet less rapes would occur. If you beat up someone, like the kid and mom, then you need to get your butt kicked. bet they’d learn then!

By Mike

April 23, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this

If this girl did this to a teacher then she will do the same to another person at some point and the next person very well may be carrying a handgun and pull it out and shoot her right between the eyes just as they should do. This is Georgia and the law under the dome states that if your safety is being threatened you can react with deadly force. She just hasn’t hit the right person yet. Let her hit me, she’ll be sporting this years new toe tag. I am permitted legally to carry a handgun and I do, because of violent people like her.

By dICK

April 23, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this

My spouse is a teacher and let me say if some one did this to her, and the school board acted uncareingly or slowly, I would sue bd of ed, local, state and federal. Waycross had 8 to 10 students planning on killing their 4th grade teacher. NAACP got involved and have now sold bd of education it was all a joke and they only planned on throwing p[ies at their teacher. Yeah, one kid brought knife, another brough papre to cover windows, another borugh duct tape, the other students brouhgt other items. I can’t understand why our school official are so scare of NAACP and the students and their parents. I say to hell with all of them, if you don’t respct elders and abide by rules, drop out of school=——providing you sign a form that you will not accept nor apply for any state or federal aid from that time forward. Oue eudcation and our elected officials are a bunch of jokes walking around.

By SET

April 23, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this

Sigh*

You handle this problem with combat training, contingency plans, profiling of dangerous students and families, weapons, and deadly force as needed, that’s how you “handle” the problem.

If anybody dares manhandle a teacher on campus that person should be met with sudden crippling violence. Thereafter arrest and criminal prosecution must follow. All the arrangements should have been mapped out in advance in contingency planning. It goes without saying that both a criminal stay away order and a civil tresspass order/restraining order should ensue as a matter of course. Expelling an offending student comes also but they’d be excluded from campus already by the other orders.

Our Junior Colleges have all this down to a science - they don’t have these problems. If there is one thing the Jr Colleges are great at it’s maintaining the physical safety of their campuses. They have their own armed police forces here in CA and they don’t even need to call 911 - just hit the intercom to police dispatch. Their cops have Tasers and Mace (Guns too) and don’t hesitate to use them.

Any teacher may suspend a student from campus for the day - they are escorted off by police - and the student must report to administration before returning to any classes. Administration may suspend from campus open ended, and the board of the college has the final vote on expulsion which I’ve seen them to pro-forma. They do not tolerate any criminal activity (contraband on campus), stalking behavior or verbal attacks on anybody especially the staff.

I wish the high schools would get with it. Every school year the local JC has to make examples of males and females who come to college and behave as they were trainied to by the high schools. Within the first month of class there are arrests made and suspensions done (some for the year) and word gets out that this isn’t the 13th grade after all.

One JC staffer told me of laughing in the face of a student under arrest and being taken to the county jail (for something he said) who asked if the would please call his mother. He was told they don’t do that, this is college. He was jailed for threatening someone who annoyed him (a felony and a strike), and kicked out for the school year.

The only reason the public schools have these problems is because they invite them. If they put a few people in the ER and in jail - the teachers probably wouldn’t get jumped at school.

By Troglodyke

April 23, 2008 5:06 PM | Link to this

I saw a T-Shirt this weekend that read: Dear God, why do you let so much violence and drugs remain in our schools? signed a concern student. Dear concern student,they won’t let me in your school, signed God. Says it all doesn’t it….

Yeah, it says it all…just not what you think.

It says that people are stupid, especially religious nuts who have been brainwashed into believing that their god is “not allowed” in schools. It’s pure BS and propaganda. What else do you expect from the church?

Kids can pray in school, read bibles there, and even gather together for fellowship. God is allowed in schools. Get your facts straight.

It ain’t gonna help the situation, which is crappy parenting and schools who are not allowed to adequately discipline students who need it.

That’s why schools are in decline. It has nothing to do with any god.

By jim d

April 23, 2008 5:06 PM | Link to this

only 20 more days of school. :-) Indeed I am counting down to graduation!

By WhatWillLauraDo?

April 23, 2008 6:27 PM | Link to this

Well Laura, what’s it going to be? Report on the discipline problems, or close ranks and shill for the system, like the eminently forgettable, departed hack, Bridget?

If you’re going to report, then report that it is the Metro Association of Classroom Educators who is supporting the teacher in this case, not Paul Evans of GAE who you chose to quote instead. If you are interested in real reporting, you might find out that the student was expelled only after MACE became involved.

Once you find out why the action was taken (Was it because it was the right thing, or because she has the right representation in MACE?) you might want to, instead of making vague references, state specifically what wasn’t done to support the teacher. You know, like the other media outlets who are trying to get to the real truth of the matter did.

By Craig Spinks

April 23, 2008 6:58 PM | Link to this

Cowardice and incompetence are characteristics which are overly represented among our school administrators. So long as The Public acquiesces in cowardly and/or incompetent folks holding positions of authority in our educracy, The Peach State will NEVER have a first-rate, much less a world-class, public school system.

By Lee

April 23, 2008 8:19 PM | Link to this

The seeds of this attack were sown many years ago - probably from the first day this student set foot in school.

For years and years, this student was probably allowed to disrupt the class and act up with little or no consequence - other than an occasional trip to the principal’s office and that was only after she got her clothespin moved from the green to the yellow to the red light.

No parenting at home and no discipline at school equates to a ticking time bomb waiting to go off. Usually, it is another student on the receiving end of one of these assaults. Today, it just happened to be a teacher in the crosshairs.

Which brings up another point, I wonder if administration tells teachers to curl up in the fetal position and not strike back? You know, to try to defend yourself is actively participating in a fight and you know about that zero tolerance policy schools have regarding fighting. (Yes, I’m being facetious. Don’t go getting your panties in a wad)

Here’s the bottom line. No matter how sorry the parents are, they have no control over the student between the hours of 8am and 3:30pm. That responsibility falls on the shoulders of the school. When the school fails to maintain standards of conduct, it is only a matter of time before you have an incident such as this.

By Cactus

April 23, 2008 9:14 PM | Link to this

Cat Lady, I agree with you. I have a very good friend that teaches in central Ga.. If one of her students attacts her I will be going to the school looking for the student, their parents and the administration. Like you she keeps a daily log.

By Steve

April 23, 2008 9:16 PM | Link to this

Simple solutions. No more free public education - convert all schools to parents pay and volunteer time at school. Compulsory military duty with special ops training for teachers during the summer. Finally, take all in political office that have so severly screwed up education and juvenile justice and make them teach in alternative schools for a year. See, very simple solutions.

By Sad

April 23, 2008 9:17 PM | Link to this

It is truly sad when one seems to NEED to toot his own horn….

By phil

April 23, 2008 9:23 PM | Link to this

Combat pay for teachers, It’s the coming thing. (taught 46 years btcs) Before the crap started

By becky mattix

April 23, 2008 9:27 PM | Link to this

I second that Lee. The teacher should sue the district. If that student’s file was not shredded, I bet you would find she has been in trouble since elementary school, not dealt with properly and pushed through the system. Build more alternative schools, get rid of the students that are disrupting the other student’s right to a non-disruptive learning environment. Oh, I have a novel idea, let’s hold the parents accountable for their children’s actions. .

By Clayton Co HS Teacher

April 23, 2008 9:36 PM | Link to this

The last 3 years, I have pressed charges against students 4 times. I filled out a police report and turned it in. Yes, I went to court and the student was given what they had coming.

As an Area Rep, I have helped teachers fill out police reports and file them. While the school did not say NO, they were of little to no help. Every year teachers quit because of violence to them. I’d taught 25 years before I had a student accost me. I just happened to be “in the way”. There are plenty of rules for students to follow, but as those of us from Clayton Co know, they are not enforces; therefore, they are worthless.

By the way, I waited to do this on home email.

By WhatWillLauraDo?

April 23, 2008 11:26 PM | Link to this

What’s sad is that teachers are being battered, and that the two largest educational organizations in the state have had a tepid, at best, response to the problem.

That’s what’s sad.

By RC

April 24, 2008 1:33 AM | Link to this

First-The laws need to change, teachers and other civil servants in education need to be considered like the police in matters of assault. The punishment for assault a cop is higher than for someone else. Change that law.

Second-To get more parents involved. Change all the laws to make the parents responsible for their kids. How do you do that? What ever a kid gets as a fine/punishment from the courts, the parents get it as well. Skip school both the kid AND the parent will either pay a fine EACH or BOTH serve community service, etc.

Third-change the stupid attendance, NCLB laws. Right now an OSS student counts against a school’s attendance for the purpose of AYP, as a result schools are reluctant to suspend kids.

Fourth-Mandatory military service for a kid who is expelled by a school district and upheld by the courts. Let our federal government pay for this, give the kids some discipline and some direction.

By Lee

April 24, 2008 5:26 AM | Link to this

RC, there are additional penalties for an attack on school personnel. See below:

§ 16-5-23.1. Battery

(a) A person commits the offense of battery when he or she intentionally causes substantial physical harm or visible bodily harm to another.

(b) As used in this Code section, the term “visible bodily harm” means bodily harm capable of being perceived by a person other than the victim and may include, but is not limited to, substantially blackened eyes, substantially swollen lips or other facial or body parts, or substantial bruises to body parts.

(c) Except as provided in subsections (d) through (l) of this Code section, a person who commits the offense of battery is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(i) Any person who commits the offense of battery against a teacher or other school personnel engaged in the performance of official duties or while on school property shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years or a fine of not more than $10,000.00, or both.

Also:

§ 16-5-20. Simple assault

(a) A person commits the offense of simple assault when he or she either:

(1) Attempts to commit a violent injury to the person of another; or (2) Commits an act which places another in reasonable apprehension of immediately receiving a violent injury.

(f) Any person who commits the offense of simple assault against an employee of a public school system of this state while such employee is engaged in official duties or on school property shall, upon conviction of such offense, be punished for a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature.

Bottom line, if the District Attorney does his job, Mom’s going to jail for a little while. Not sure about daughter (provided she is still a minor…)

By Tired of Racists

April 24, 2008 8:08 AM | Link to this

Why does the AJC allow such racists comments on the blog? Doesn’t matter if the offender is black, white, asian, or native american, the punnishment should be as brutal as what they did to the teacher.

You people need to grow up. For all the talk you’re doing on the blog, I bet my life savings you wouldn’t look that woman in the face and say it to her unless you had 12 of your largest friends with you.

Therefore, that makes you no better than this savage woman and her savage daughter!

By JustMe

April 24, 2008 8:08 AM | Link to this

Guys, you can quote laws on the books all you want. However, that doesn’t mean squat!

First of all, the Principal and school administration will try to keep it hush hush. Why? Because otherwise the school must report the incident and that puts the school being put on a list of ‘bad schools’ for violence.

Second of all, the school system will next try to keep it hush hush. They will ‘meet’ with the teacher and try to bully her into NOT pressing charges. Why? The school system does not want the negative publicity. They (like the principal) really do not care one bit about the teacher.

Both the principal and the school system may go so far as to try and turn the whole incident into the teacher’s fault to try and keep her quiet. They may even threaten to take it to the PSC and have her professional certification revoked even though the teacher was the victim.

So, through all of this drama, the teacher could be violated multiple times - by the student, by the principal, by the school system, and then by the GA PSC. What is the teacher to do?

Currently, the teacher ‘organizations’ (NOT unions) in GA supposedly offer legal help. PAGE, however, is first and foremost an administration organization. So, of the administration is victimizing the teacher, PAGE legal help will be useless. The other organizations are not much more helpful. Those lawyers are not paid by the case, and will simply want to put in minimum effort.

So, jd, I guess your response will be CHOICE? And, so I will be making the choice to leave GA asap. I am looking into finding another State that allows teacher unions. Someplace that values teachers and values education, but I hope that it isn’t too cold! I was born and raised in GA and it is a shame that because GA mistreats its teachers is the reason I must leave my home state.

By jim d

April 24, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this

JM,

I realize we seldom see eye to eye and that you generally hate when I post a link. But here’s one just for you.

Hope you find it helpfull. Happy hunting!

By Former Teacher

April 24, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this

Home school your child to ensure they get a good education that is not interrupted by the little pieces of worthless crap that ignorant violent parents raise. Leave public schools to warehouse the trash that those with low values spawn.

By Certified Teacher

April 24, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this

Hoe school your children so they will not have to try and learn while packed into a room with a bunch of worthless trash that have not been socialized as well as most dogs by lazy ignorant parents.

Face it. The public school systems have become 8-5 warehouses for ignorant defiant little jerks and the connvenience of their inadequate parents.

Keep your kids home, educate them well, and watch them exceed anything that comes out of the local public institution of ignorance, apathy, and political correctness.

By skeeter

April 24, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this

Years ago, my mother was a teacher in an inner city New Orleans public school. She used to come home with all kinds of stories about students terrorizing the teachers. The principal did nothing about it. The New Orleans teachers union did nothing about it. Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore and quit, for her health and sanity.

By jim d

April 24, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this

Certified teach,

I’m not too sure Hoe schooling would do much good.

By Lilli Whyte

April 24, 2008 4:39 PM | Link to this

Hey, “Tired Of Racists”, how many “baby mommas”/”baby daddies” do you have? What are you doing with all those “weffare” checks that the “gubmint owes” you for “bein’ slabes all dem years”? We’re sick of people like you pulling out the old race card & using it as an excuse to take drugs, booze it up, commit violent crimes, rip off taxpayers & breed like the filthy animals you are. Statistics don’t lie; race has a LOT to do with lifestyle & (lack of) values

By Lee

April 24, 2008 10:41 PM | Link to this

Justme, regarding your post about the travesty of a school system that punishes the victim, I agree 100%.

A more common scenario, though, is when a student is on the receiving end of an unprovoked attack and tries to defend himself. Most often, the victim is suspended along with the aggressor. Seems we blogged about this several weeks ago - the teachers and administrators would rather suspend the victim rather than investigate and try to find out what happened.

It’s really a b*** when the shoe’s on the other foot, ain’t it.

Got that Karma thing working….

By jim d

April 30, 2008 7:50 AM | Link to this

Lee,

Speaking of karma, ya gotta love this one

By JC

April 30, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this

It’s very sad that violence against teachers is not a larger national issue. I am trying to raise these issue both in the book “Self-Defense for Teachers: An Unfortunate Necessity for Modern Educators” and at safeteachers.com

It is very difficult to get the word out when stories of teacher assaults end up buried in the newspapers, if they are mentioned at all.

By JustMe

April 30, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this

LEE Please do not confuse teachers with administrators. We are completely different people with completely different job descriptions. Teachers have the ability to suspend NO ONE. That is the role of the administrators.

Because administrators don’t want to do their job to find out who started it has NOTHING to do with a teacher getting beaten by a student.

Your attempt at being a smart-a$$ is Karma back on you!

By dokie

May 11, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this

“…You want to improve school performance and student behavior. Tie student achievement to welfare benefits. Failing grades, disciplinary problems, and poor attendance should mandate reductions in benefits.” AMEN!