SC - Columbia - Sheriff Slams Female Student to Floor In Class - #2

[Morag]

About black trees and also OT-

In my elementary school back in the day, the only principal (no assistants necessary) patrolled the hallways with a paddle in hand.

We were not allowed to talk AT ALL during lunch and she sat on the stage, paddle in hand , to enforce that rule. Imagine a school cafeteria filled with 100 plus 1-6 graders all eating, silently.

One day, my back to her, I whispered to my friend sitting next to me. That principal couldn't possibly have seen my lips move, much less heard me. No matter. She boomed out my name, told me to stop eating, and to report to her office when everyone else had finished eating.

I was terrified. Went to her office fully expecting to get actually beaten. She pointed to a chair, told me to sit, and for the rest of the day- HOURS- had me write over and over- " I will not talk at lunch. I will not talk at lunch. Pages and pages and pages. When dismissal bell rang she walked over, paddle in hand, and I thought...now it comes.

She grabbed the pages of writing, tore them in half, and told me she never wanted to see me in her office again. Yah. She never did.

Wow! What an inhumane way to treat children. Sometimes the end doesn't justify the means. I think even prisoners are allowed to chat during mealtime.

 

[Morag]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/04/o...ecommendation&src=rechp&WT.nav=RecEngine&_r=0

It points out the trend of criminalizing behavior that is not actually criminal. Suddenly an ordinary good kid can have a record for a very minor act of disobedience. Is this really how we want to treat our children?

 

[K_Z]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/04/o...ecommendation&src=rechp&WT.nav=RecEngine&_r=0

It points out the trend of criminalizing behavior that is not actually criminal. Suddenly an ordinary good kid can have a record for a very minor act of disobedience. Is this really how we want to treat our children?

I think we have to remember that this is an opinion piece by a very liberal media source, not researched, and with no citations for their statements of "fact".

The author makes a GIANT leap when he says:

These police-driven policies have not made schools safer. But they do make children more likely to drop out and become entangled with the justice system.

BBM. That's absolutely absurd! Which came first-- the chicken or the egg?

This author clearly believes ANY police presence in schools CAUSES black and minority students to drop out, and become criminals AFTER they drop out. Who-eee, that's just all kinds of crazy talk, IMO!

THEN the author makes another GIANT leap that this student was treated harshly because of her RACE.

Then the author politicizes the argument by bringing the Obama administration into it.

Then the author wanders into the weeds by discussing students with disabilities. Again, not at all the situation at Spring Valley High.

The whole thing, IMO, is just not a cohesive argument.

This officer was out of line with how he handled this particular situation, AND the student was VERY wrong and out of line for the defiance she started and escalated. The officer has been fired, and faces consequences like potential prosecution. The student has escaped all responsibility for her actions, and will probably end up with a pile of donation $$, and a big settlement to boot. All of which will likely only reinforce her sense that she was "right" all along to act in defiance and challenge authority. And she may do that again in the future-- my strong sense is that this isn't the first time she has defied authority. It may be part of the reason she's in foster care, and has been moved to a new school.

The cop that responded didn't "make" this girl act belligerantly and defiantly-- she was doing that long before he ever arrived.

That NYT opinion piece never even mentions HER behavior, and how she acted to escalate the situation.

 

[al66pine]

.... The student has escaped all responsibility for her actions, and will probably end up with a pile of donation $$, and a big settlement to boot. All of which will likely only reinforce her sense that she was "right" all along to act in defiance and challenge authority. And she may do that again in the future-- my strong sense is that this isn't the first time she has defied authority. It may be part of the reason she's in foster care, and has been moved to a new school.

^sbm bbm Good points.
Yes, seems school dist's reaction may encourage this student to repeat same behavior in future. Ditto soc media attn.
And..............................encourage other students - plural - to do the same.
Not just students in her class, not just in her school, but students in other high schools, other districts, other counties,
other states. About anyone who saw youtube vid.

Will kids on the 'straight & narrow' follow her lead? Not likely.
Kids on the cusp? Yes, lemmings, esp when they see virtually no consequences for her.
JM2cts, could be wrong.

 

[sorrell skye]

So is the consensus that a defiant teen should be body-slammed & thrown across the floor, in order to teach other teens that they should not dare to defy a teacher's or an admin's directive?

 

[K_Z]

I fail to understand why it is so difficult for some to understand that they were BOTH wrong-- the student, AND the RSO. They each should receive consequences for what they did. But ONLY the RSO has been targeted for punishment and consequences.

The RSO over-reacting and resorting to that kind of physical force in no way relieves the student of her responsibility for all that she did prior to the RSO's arrival, IMO.

I am strongly opposed to this student not receiving any appropriate consequences for her behavior. At a minimum, she should have received "zero" participation points for that day, an in school suspension of 3 days or more, be required to give apologies in writing and in person to the teacher and the vice principal, and agree to a behavior contract as a condition of return to the classroom. That's what I feel is appropriate for the circumstances.

And I would feel the exact same way if she was asian, white, green, or purple, or captain of the cheerleader squad. Her BEHAVIOR is the issue. But now, the school admin is clearly afraid to hold her accountable for her actions, because of all of the media attention, and all of the social/ racial activism and commentary. IMO, she is let off the hook completely because they don't want to be accused of "further punishing" her, and stir up the "activists" any more than they already are.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

Maybe the school administration thinks she has been punished enough.

 

[K_Z]

Or maybe the admin is holding their collective breath waiting for the inevitable lawsuit to be filed, that will take 3 or more years to conclude. And if they hold her accountable for her actions, like they would with any other student, it will be like pouring gasoline on a fire.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

Yes, it's unfortunate the RSO reacted the way he did. Had he handled the situation in an appropriate manner then perhaps there wouldn't be a lawsuit.

 

[K_Z]

I REALLY hope the school district will not be named in a lawsuit. That would be a huge tragedy, IMO, and set a very bad precedent. I don't think that's appropriate at all.

There will, of course, be at least one lawsuit-- and probably more, since we now know who her attorney is. A lawsuit against the officer alone makes some sense to me-- but not the school district, or anyone that works there-- nor the sheriff's department. But it's typical to cast a wide net, and target the deepest pockets in these kind of circumstances, IMO. I fully expect THIS attorney to target the school district. I hope I'm wrong. The district is NOT responsible for what the officer did.

 

[MIKAYOYO]

Yes, it's unfortunate the RSO reacted the way he did. Had he handled the situation in an appropriate manner then perhaps there wouldn't be a lawsuit.

Uh no, it's unfortunate she acted like a brat. Yes, the SRO was wrong, but it didn't start with him. Moo

 

[Hope4More]

So is the consensus that a defiant teen should be body-slammed & thrown across the floor, in order to teach other teens that they should not dare to defy a teacher's or an admin's directive?

Not a single poster here-- in close to 2,000 comments --ever said that.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

Uh no, it's unfortunate she acted like a brat. Yes, the SRO was wrong, but it didn't start with him. Moo

What's really unfortunate is assault being excused because a child was a brat and after all she started it.

 

[kimlynn]

Not a single poster here-- in close to 2,000 comments --ever said that.

Maybe not in those exact words but some want to shake the hand of the RO and thank him.I take that as approval.
Some laughed with delight and said she got what she deserved.
IMO

 

[K_Z]

I don’t want to shake the officer’s hand for what he did. But I am satisfied that he will never be in a position to do that again, he has been fired, his livelihood and career are gone, and he’s facing prosecution. He IS being severely punished for his part in this.

But some commenters here, and elsewhere on the web, are very eager to completely excuse the student’s behavior because of the officer’s actions. Some are eager to provide a litany of wide-ranging excuses as to why this student should not be responsible for her own actions, the actions she alone initiated and escalated before the officer was called. And they call this 17 year old teen, who is clearly a young woman, a "child" to reinforce their characterization that she is "less" responsible for her actions. She is a minor for a few more months, but definitely not a child.

A litany of excuses for her behavior is not what this particular student, in her particular set of circumstances, needs, IMO. The school has done her, and every other student, a disservice by letting her off the hook.

That is a very unfortunate message for her, IMO. It’s an EXTREMELY confusing and mixed message for the other students, as well. And for the other teachers in the building.

Neither the staff, nor the students, know what the "rules" are. What a disaster for classroom management techniques, and student behavior expectations.

The “right” thing to do, IMO, was to hold EACH of them accountable for their actions. That sends a consistent message.

But I know I'm not going to change any minds here.

 

[human]

Just stop the violence! I was talking to hubby last night . We are retired. I was a teacher.

When he was in high school teachers routinely brutalized students. It seems unreal to me. And no, kids were not better then.

There are so many techniques on working with students in positive methods that this whole episode makes me ill. There is no excuse for it.

We are adults. We lead by example. There is plenty of training out there.

I cannot get over it. I feel like I am looking at something from a repressive regime somewhere.

Those adults have power and control issues they need to deal with. It so disgusts me!

 

[MIKAYOYO]

What's really unfortunate is assault being excused because a child was a brat and after all she started it.

Theres nothig in my comment thatt excuses him or his actions. However, if we look at the facts only and set feelings aside, had she listtened to her teacher, none of this would have happened. Period. Like for real.

 

[Morag]

I live in a beautiful state that has good schools and low crime rates. Do some kids get into trouble? Of course. But in this state, the state makes every effort to save kids from having criminal records over minor things.
I can't say for sure that no kid has every been arrested for sassing a teacher or for being uncooperative in class, because those records would be sealed. I doubt it, however. That's what in school suspensions or demerits are for.

But I do know a fair number of young people who have actually been arrested for such things as possession of marijuana. shooting off fireworks, pranking their classmates. And if they are arrested, they go to court, usually with their parents. In fact, they go to court eight or ten times over the period of a few months. Sometimes community service is assigned, but not always.

There is no jail time, and at the end of this several month period of appearances, if there is no further "trouble", the charges are dismissed and the records sealed. The kids continue their growing up process, they go to college, they're eligible for student loans (because they have no criminal record), and most of the time, that's the last time they appear in court.

How can this be the wrong way to handle it? Not every offense is worthy of ruining a kid's life. I'm proud of living in a state which values and understands its young citizens. I can't understand why South Carolina is so afraid of their children.

 

[JeannaT]

Or maybe the admin is holding their collective breath waiting for the inevitable lawsuit to be filed, that will take 3 or more years to conclude. And if they hold her accountable for her actions, like they would with any other student, it will be like pouring gasoline on a fire.

That is so true. You don't want to make a martyr or a hero of someone like this. The American public is crazy fickle, and will flock to support the lamest of cases with the smallest of information. Sometimes what mom said is true - ignore it. Just ignore. Don't encourage her.

 

[K_Z]

Wise words, Jeanna. Perhaps ignoring the student's behavior IS the best possible outcome in this situation.

I agree-- this student is neither a hero, nor a martyr.

Whether or not she learned anything from this situation is probably a moot point. She has a very rough life ahead of her, IMO. I'm shocked all over again by the justifications for her behavior "released" to the media by her attorney-- who has pretty dubious motivations for representing her, IMO. Which boil down to "she didn't like or agree with the rules". I'm just dumbfounded he would release "a statement" like that on her behalf. Really???? This young woman will have a great deal of difficulty in life, trying to get and hold a job, and getting the charges dropped, if that is really her message on what occurred in that classroom, and why she behaved the way she did.

How about a sincere apology for her behavior?? That might go a long way towards getting her charges dropped.