Tuesday, November 10, 2009
ET's on NHS assault
The Express-Times reports on an assault at Nazareth High School on Friday 9/6/09(click here to read article)
"The girls responsible for the attack will likely face charges of simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct, police said. The incident remains under investigation."
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32 comments:
These girls have been suspended for 10 days, should be expelled for what they did. There are videos from the school security that capture what they did, its an open and shut case. THey should be expelled, anyone know the policy on what warrants expulsion, or is soley up to "Lord of high property taxes" Lesky to expell them?
My heart goes out to the victim who had to suffer the public humiliation of being targeted, beaten and having iced tea and water poured all over her while she laid on the ground as an entire lunchroom of students watched and took pictures and videos with their cell phones!
Nazareth parents of students of ALL ages...ask the school what they are doing about this. I did. In addition to expelling this group of girls (what happened to zero tolerance?), they should be talking to the students about their moral obligation to help someone in need. How many of those cell phones dialed 911? How many students ran for teachers? I am not suggesting that they throw themselves in harms way, but GET HELP! Don't take pictures.
I am sickened by this. What if it were your child?
If anyone knows school policy on expulsion please post a link or how I can find out.
Jimbob,
Per the HS Student Handbook for 2009/2010 regarding fighting:
"Fighting on Nazareth School District property during the school day or during school activities will not be tolerated. This behavior will result in out-of-school suspension and/or arrest based upon verified information and circumstances". (Page 21)
Regarding expulsion, also from the handbook:
"Expulsion results only from the Board of Education action preceded by recommendation of the high school principal to the superintendent of schools. The School Board in accordance with Section 12.6 and 12.8 of the Pennsylvania School Code gives the student a due process hearing". (Page 20)
So, this means that Davis must recommend to Lesky that these kids be expelled, then the board needs to approve it.
My guess is it is too public of a display of the problems in our schools and as usual they will want to keep it hush-hush.
As parent of a High School kid and Nazareth tax payer I agree, these kids need to be expelled! This was not two kids in an argument with tempers running wide ending up in a hallway fight which should result in a suspension. This was a group of kids that planned (pre-mediated) to jump another kid to cause bodily harm, which should result in an expulsion. I think Mr. Davis is a good principle and not sure why this wasn’t done.
I think we as parents need to go to the next school board meeting and demand an explanation as to why these kids weren’t expelled.
Anyone know when the next school board meeting is?
Perhaps a petition should be circulated and signed then sent to Dr. Lesky.
Jlmbob- How do you know what the students punishment was?
Amused- Multiple students went to get help, Only two kids got the fight on video. From what I understand it took multiple teachers to break it up.
Jacob,
You are missing a large part of the point. Some students went for help, but the majority watched, took pictures and video recorded it.
That is the reason that so many municipalities have Good Samaritan laws on their books, to punish those that watch something like this occur.
As for the 10 day suspension, number one, it is what is called for per the handbook, and second, it is pretty much none already by students and parents that this is what was handed down.
What should happen is complete expulsion. We the taxpaying public will now have to see if Davis has the backbone to make that recommendation to the board.
Jimbob, there is a way to do an e-petition. Maybe NOC can point us to where this was done some time back in one of the posts here on this site. I for one would sign it.
Jacob E. Allen:
Chances are the students themselves told their friends what their punishment was and the word spread. My child is in high school and had the same information. When I picked up from school yesterday, one of the girls was strutting around Shaffer with several of her friends. Clearly, no repercussions from home there.
Very few students ran for help...many more stood there and while these 2 videos made it to Facebook...there were many other pictures taken.
Are you seriously suggesting that it was OK for the majority of bystanders to do just that...stand by or take pictures? Even if it was only 2...isn't that too many?
This was not a 'normal' high school fight, as Nazareth Citizen noted. This was pre-meditated violence with the intention to cause bodily harm to another.
Is there anything more evil?
I ask every parent, yes even you Mr. Davis and Dr. Lesky, how would you feel if this was your daughter who was beaten?
This behavior in our schools is completely unacceptable. However, this being said, I would be shocked if any further disciplinary action will be taken by the school. What I find it a total disgrace that we have our students participate in a “Second Step” program that tries to teach about being accountable for your actions and dealing with anger; and yet our students are falling apart. The violence, hatred, drug and alcohol use in our high school and middle school are increasing and the current administration is turning the other cheek. This being said, I believe we as parents are the first line of character education for our children.
I think we should also think about the students and parents of the girls who beat this student. What went wrong? Are we as parents truly communicating with our children? Are we aware of what they are watching? What are they texting to their friends/enemies? What our children posting on their Facebook and MySpace accounts? I am sure there are many parents who would be shocked see their children’s text messages or Facebook/MySpace accounts.
We can ask the administration to take action, but we as parents are also responsible to take action. I hope ever parent/person who is reading this post will take the time to talk to their children about how wrong this incident was, not only those who committed it, but those who watched it, those who taped, and those who posted on Facebook.
As a student and fellow classmate of NAHS I would like to send my best wishes to the girl who was injured. I truly believe that the girls who did this were truly wrong and I agree with most of you's that they should be expelled because fighting is not right over such a stupid issue which i will not reveal. First I think that the students did the right thing by not joining because if they did more students would have been injured and it would have turned into a worse situation. Some students ran for help and some taped the fight which I dont think is right but how can fellow students tell another student to stop taping the fight? How can you control their instinct???Secondly I think the personal attack on Mr. Davis is not needed because I assure you he will take the right legal actions and i'm sure you will not see the girls who attacked the one girl back in NAHS. If you guys want to attack Mr. Davis and Mr. Lesky how about you think for a second what you would do in their footsteps??
Dominator3333,
If I were in Mr. Davis' and Dr. Lesky's "footsteps" as you put it, I would throw these kids out of school.
Second, the fact that it took a newspaper to break a story that the administration should have informed the parents about five days after this "incident" happened, if I were Mr. Davis or Dr. Lesky, I would hang my head in shame then quickly resign my position for complete and utter incompetence.
Sorry, they clearly tried to cover this one up and keep it under wraps. No names need be released, but the fact that they did not inform the parents of NASD students in unforgivable.
They should resign or be removed immediately. In the real world, managers are fired for less negligence than this.
An important trait in life is integrity, and this is just another episode that shows the total lack of it in those that are running our schools.
Of course, now I am wondering how many things they were able to successfully cover up. They almost succeeded with this one.
Do you think in other schools that they send home letters about fights that happen on a daily basis. This is high school fights happen what do you want the administration to do to prevent these fights?? And as of these things you talk about NAHS covering up why would they want to do that?? I support Mr. Davis and Mr. Lesky 100% on their decisions, this school could be a lot worse without them.
NazoRanter:
Do you really want the students to get involved in breaking up a fight? That would cause all hell to break loose in NAHS.
I am not going to comment on the specific punishment. But, the handbook does not say that is an automatic 10 day suspension.
I am a junior at NHS and I did not hear these exact punishments.
I did see both videos of the fight but did not see any still photo. If you know of any student with still photos please contact the administration so they can take care of them like they did with the video.
Amused:
Don’t believe everything you hear about the punishments.
Only 1 video made it to Facebook and that was removed soon after. The Administration made the students delete the videos.
No I did not say it was ok, but only so many kids can go and get an adult and students should not try to break it up themselves.
Dominator 3333:
Thank you for your comments all of which are mostly true.
This doesn't appear to have been a fight, in the traditional sense of two people having a misunderstanding or disagreement and deciding to have at it either immediately or at some set time in the near future.
Instead, this was a decision by a group of individuals to publicly punish, beat, and humiliate an individual.
Mission accomplished, the victim made it to the hospital, many witnessed the attack, and it was recorded and distributed for posterity's sake.
I first heard about this on Friday, it wasn't until Tuesday, after individuals contacted the school and press, that the media forced the issue into the public record.
I wonder where school employees where when this incident began.
I wonder why it lasted as long as it did.
I wonder why the individuals who conducted the assault weren't arrested immediately.
I wonder why no one stepped in to do the right thing - and yes I disagree with the notion that it would have been worse if students attempted to stop the assault.
I wonder when our school officials are going to stop worrying about their reputation and start doing what is in the best interest of the students they are entrusted with.
This goes way beyond a fight and is a genuine black eye on the district and its response to situations.
NOC, very, very well said.
Jacob E. Allen and Dominator3333, I am truly scared for our future if you really believe what you are saying.
5 DAYS. It took 5 DAYS for something to come out.
For regular fights, agree, nothing need be said or sent home.
THIS was a planned brutal attack of one individual by THREE other students. That is gang mentality that is more typically seen in inner city schools, not NASD.
NASD had missed a huge opportunity to communicate to students (as Amused said) what is expected of them as HUMAN BEINGS and what it means to do the right thing in a bad situation.
I don't know if I'm reading into this too much, but one of the statements by a student has me troubled. They believed that it is hard to "control thier human instincts" not to video three people beating one individual. Where I came from, it would be hard to control stepping in for that individual. I guess it's just my generation. I guess with that mentality there would be no reason for veterans day. I'd rather have VETERANS DAY
As a victim of an assult, these three girls need to learn a valuable lesson. Absolutely appalling that these girls plotted and attacked another human being. 10 days suspension is a far cry off from what should be done within the school. My heart breaks for the victim in this case. She will forever carry the memories of this horrific day with her. It is the schools responsiblity to take harsh action on these three girls and to ensure a feeling of safety for not only the victim here but for all students. Time to set an example of what WILL happen if others think of taking this type of action against someone. Not just in school but for the rest of their lives. Isn't school meant for teaching? What is being taught if only 10 day suspension is enforced.
Regarding expulsion what more must one do?
I couldn't find the student code or rights and responsibilities, but I did find the weapons policy and it seems the following are 10 day suspensions (the same as these girls received for a premeditated beating) as I read it: having a hunting rifle locked in a car, having a facsimile of a weapon, and having a pocket knife.
The school has an obligation to protect and safeguard our students, when an incident like this takes place and the punishment amounts to a two week vacation, it will be repeated.
The NASD needs to provide a punishment that helps ensure it doesn’t happen again and they need to safeguard every student in the building which means getting rid of these three.
The comment that one of these girls was hanging around Shafer is a bit disconcerting.
I also wonder where this took place that no staff was in the vicinity, what the purpose of the security cameras are if they aren't monitored, and what steps will be taken to prevent a similar attack from happening in the future.
The first step is for Principal Davis to write a letter recommending expulsion and have Dr. Lesky co-sign. Let's put this in the hands of elected officials to decide and not in the hands of administration.
If a recommendation isn't made, I'd like a statement to be made explaining why.
I would like it be known that the morning of the incident the student from the school was on their way back from Votech. One of the assailants, also on that bus, made it known to the student that the attack was going to occur in school that day. Upon arrival to the school, the student alerted an elderly teacher with grey hair, it is not known if she, this teacher, took any action, which would have been her professional responsibility.
I feel these students should be expelled from the school. The school district, by allowing them to return to school, after only two weeks, appears to have given them only a slap on the wrist. I would hold the school district responsible for any future harm to the victim or any other students who may become victims to these predators.
In a duration of suspension, any student suspended should have to attend and comply with community service hours. Being able to sleep in and watch T.V. all day is not acceptable.
AMUSED AND EVERYONE ELSE:
I am disturbed to hear one of the girls was out walking around Shafer. From what i understand they are not allowed on school property, period. PLEASE, if you see them near or on school property call the Police. Upper Nazareth Police Department number is 610-759-7448. Thank you
Here is a thought that is more disturbing. Let's hypothetically change the location. If this would have occurred at the mall or the movies, these girls would have been arrested on the spot.
I really cannot imagine a crowd of onlookers using their cell phones to take pictures and video. Given that the majority of the students present did not know any better, are we really to believe that their perception of right vs. wrong will change that dramatically in the next year or two before they leave high school as adults?
Again...I never suggested that any student jump in and chance injury themselves, but they had other options. Call 911, run for help, yell for help...
Tolman,
Great catch and I cannot agree with your more.
Life is full of hard choices, and the ones you make define who you are.
If you are okay taking pictures and video taping a brutal attack versus jumping in to stop it or getting authorities to do it, that speaks volumes about your character, or lack of it.
To think it is okay, or beyond one's ability to not take photos or video, that speaks even more about your character.
Amused
Students did go for help. Students were yelling to get someone. Teachers came to help, it took multiple teachers to break this up.
NazoRanter
Students are not to get involved with breaking up a fight themselves. Students are told to get help when this happens.
MomOf2
In a duration of suspension, it is the parents responsibility to dicipline the children.
JImbob
If the victim did report something to a teacher and the teacher did not report it, then that teacher needs to be repored to the Administration by the victim.
NOC
Where this happened was in the hallway outside of the Cafe and teachers are in the classrooms teaching or in the lunchroom. Teachers can not be everywhere at all times.
Jacob E. Allen,
Clearly your feeling is that the administration is not at fault here as you appear to think everything was handled correctly.
You stated in an earlier post that you are junior, which makes puts you in the 15-17 year old range.
Far be it for us who have lived on this earth for a much longer time than you to point out that the administration did NOT handle this correctly.
These students were not immediately arrested. As amused points out, had this happened in a public place, they would have immediately been in central booking.
It took five days and a newspaper reporter to make this known publicly, other than word of mouth from students.
This was not an ordinary fight. This was a calculated attack on one person by a group.
If you don't see the problem here, we can agree to disagree, but I personally have to question in which direction your moral compass is pointing.
No need to get upset with Jacob, consider him the devil's advocate.
What continues to gnaw at me is the idea of what one has to do to get expelled if this incident isn't severe enough?
And to Jacob and the note about the location, you have to remember that lunch periods tend to be the times where there is the greatest potential for a big problem - you have the most kids assembled at one time in one location.
As such, it is typically well patrolled. Most schools have several teachers and at least one or more vice principals in the room during each lunch period.
The fact that this happened in the hallway right outside the cafeteria, during a transition, and there were no teachers or administrators nearby to stop it is a flaw.
Is there the potential that an individual trying to stop this beating, could get injured themself? Yes. Does this make it right to do nothing and watch? No.
I don't know how many students ran for help, watched, or walked by, but I'm guessing it was greater than five. I'd venture to guess any group of that size or larger could have done something to stop the three girls from continuing their beating of a defenseless individual.
When you consider that and couple it with the fact that the Principal and Superintendent didn't feel the premeditated attack by three on one warrants a recommendation for expulsion, it shows that our leadership is lacking and that has filtered down through the ranks.
NOC
Just to point out just about every day in NHS we have 1or2 teachers, 3 cafe monitor, the resource officer, and normally at least one principal in the cafe monitoring. I can't remember Friday exactly to tell you if we had everyone present but, normally NHS has the cafe well monitored.
Also the fight lasted I would say about minute and a half. So now lets think in student time to react, go find someone, get back, and hope other teachers are there to help at the same time because it took multiple teachers to break this fight up.
Also this is interesting there was a fight the other day in Central Dauphin East High School and teachers tried to break it up and got hurt and some people posting on here wants students to break up fights.
From: www.pennlive.com
"Breaking up a fight between students can be a dangerous scenario for a teacher, said Wythe Keever, assistant communications director for the Pennsylvania State Education Association. Fights can materialize quickly, and it’s easy for even the most well-trained teachers to be pulled in, Keever said. “Often in these types of situations, the teacher doesn’t have much of an opportunity to react,” he said. “They get caught up in the moment. That’s why we advise them to take a moment to think through things.”"
Jacob,
Let me pose a simple question to you.
You are walking down the street, maybe somewhere in town or elsewhere, and you see a couple people savagely beating a person.
What would you do?
A) Take a picture
B) Video tape it
C) Dial 911
D) Step in to help
If you even think that A or B are okay, you failed.
Personally, I would do C then D because you don't know how long it will take the police to get there and the person could be dead at that point.
It all comes down to your moral fiber and willingness to stand up for those that can't.
You keep talking about the school policy to get a teacher, but you ignore the moral responsibility to protect the victim.
Is there a potential to get hurt as what happened in the item you quoted? Sure.
Did the soldiers that stormed Normandy know there was a good chance that would die on that day? Sure, but they did it none the less.
You will learn when you exit your teens and get into the real world that there are rules and there is what is right.
I only hope you and your peers have the intelligence to recognize the difference and which route to take.
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