HOLLY -- Anti-bullying programs in schools can be effective, but experts say they're fighting a tide of violent culture on television, in the movies and on video games.
"A very substantial percentage of the population views bullying as a rite of passage," said Ted Feinberg, assistant executive director of the National Association of School Psychologists in Bethesda, Md. "It's going to take a while to change behavior."
Just this week, a 14-year-old student at Holly High School was charged for threatening terrorism for compiling a "kill list" of 12 people, including his mother. Acquaintances said the youth had been bullied repeatedly. His arrest came one day before a previously scheduled refresher course for staff on handling the bully issue.
The teasing and bullying went on despite the school's involvement in the School Violence Program of Oakland County, run by Oakland County Prosecutor David Gorcyca's office. It's the only one of its kind run by a prosecutor's office in Michigan and has helped coordinate efforts to address and head off such aggressive behavior and school violence. Gorcyca believes the program is responsible for a significant reduction in bullying incidents, based on a survey of county schools.
Holly school officials, however, said they simply didn't know about bullying directed at the teen who was arrested.
While bullying has existed longer than schools themselves, the practice has come under intense scrutiny in recent years and is blamed as a major contributor to school shootings such as Columbine, and more recently, this week's killing of seven students at a high school in Red Lake, Minn.
"One of the common areas that binds all of the school shooters together is all of them were the victim of bullying. Their lives were made miserable," Feinberg said. "What we have also found is many of them felt there is no other recourse to stop this behavior other than going home and getting a weapon and taking care of the bullies in a dramatic and final way."
Friends of the Holly High teen, who is from White Lake Township, say he was repeatedly teased and bullied at the school. "No one would leave him alone," said freshman Eddie Martin, 15.
More than 2,500 educators have been trained at 161 schools, including 56 high schools, in Oakland County since April 2001 under the county prosecutor's program, said Dan Cojanu, the county's supervisor of victims' services. Holly High participated in the program.
The program attempts to help educators identify and address potential bullying problems, but Holly High Principal Dave Nuss said he was not aware of bullying toward the charged teen.
"We are not aware of any bullying or teasing type of behavior with this student," said Nuss, adding that bullying cases come up "maybe once or twice every couple of years."
The school, which has about 1,400 students, deals with the cases by counseling the aggressor to show why their behavior is wrong, he said. If the behavior continues, the student's parents are called, and if it persists, the school takes disciplinary action, including suspension.
"Usually it works," Nuss said of the process. "Those rarely end up in disciplinary action. It is usually cleared up with counseling measures."
The county program, funded with the aid of a federal grant program, is in jeopardy after its funding was cut from the 2006 federal budget.
"The president has cut juvenile justice grants, from which we received our funds for the program," Gorcyca said. "It's such an important program, we can't let it end. I don't have the funds in my own budget to handle it. It's possible we will have to look elsewhere to keep it going. I might go to the schools themselves. Then the Oakland County Board of Commissioners. Perhaps seek private funds, like corporate sponsorships to cover it.
"But with some of the things that are happening in our schools, it's clear there is a great need for such programs." Feinberg stressed that the programs are beginning to make an impact and should be spared.
"We know that kids are exposed to an enormous amount of violent stimuli on the Internet, television, movies and videos. There has been a desensitizing factor," he said. "Sometimes, the (bullying) victim finds a way to level the playing field. They see violence in the media and think that's how to deal with problems."
Nuss said he had never had any discipline problems with the teen and was surprised by the "kill list." He questioned whether the teen intended to follow through on the threats. "Up until now, he's been almost perfect," said Nuss, who earlier this year visited the teen in a local hospital after he injured his neck playing football for the school. "It was a surprise to many of us."
"I don't know what his intent was. That behavior seemed uncharacteristic," he said. "It is a very difficult time in society, and you can't make statements or write statements threatening the institution. There are no jokes in this regard. You can't use that kind of language. It's just a different type of world today."
The teen is being held in Children's Village awaiting a March 30 pretrial hearing. Police searched his home, but found no weapons. If convicted, he may be held at Children's Village until he is 19. An adult would face up to 20 years in prison on the charge. "He's paying dearly for his mistake," Nuss said.
Feinberg cautioned against a "knee-jerk" reaction and said the teen should be mentally evaluated before any judgment is made. (And put on PROZAC)
"It needs to be looked at instead of summarily deciding this kid is the next school shooter," he said. "A lot of kids' lives are being ruined by this. We need to take a close look at whether it is a viable threat; otherwise, we'll have a lot of false positives.
"Just simply punishing people runs the potential of creating a group of folks who use poor judgment and are incarcerated and learn what it really means to be a criminal."
Saturday, March 26, 2005
Friday, March 25, 2005
Student Reinstated After Principal Flap
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - A student who photographed his principal smoking outside a school building was allowed to return to class after initially being suspended for posting the photos on the Internet.
School district officials Wednesday reversed the suspension of sophomore Eliazar Velasquez and said principal Elaine Almagno was wrong to violate a state law that prohibits smoking within 25 feet of a school building.
"The school had no authority to punish him for the information he had up (on the Web site) or to require him to take down the site," said Superintendent Melody Johnson.
Johnson said school officials told her Velasquez was suspended because he disrupted the learning environment at the school by posting the photos on the Internet. She said she reinstated him after reviewing the incident.
Steven Brown of the Rhode Island chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (news - web sites) had spoken to school officials on Velasquez's behalf.
Johnson said Almagno has apologized for the incident over the school's public address system.
School district officials Wednesday reversed the suspension of sophomore Eliazar Velasquez and said principal Elaine Almagno was wrong to violate a state law that prohibits smoking within 25 feet of a school building.
"The school had no authority to punish him for the information he had up (on the Web site) or to require him to take down the site," said Superintendent Melody Johnson.
Johnson said school officials told her Velasquez was suspended because he disrupted the learning environment at the school by posting the photos on the Internet. She said she reinstated him after reviewing the incident.
Steven Brown of the Rhode Island chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (news - web sites) had spoken to school officials on Velasquez's behalf.
Johnson said Almagno has apologized for the incident over the school's public address system.
School Shooter Was On PROZAC
Redlake, Minn. -- Two days after a shooting rampage on the Indian reservation here left 10 dead, friends, relatives and neighbors of Jeff Weise -- the 16-year- old assailant -- began to sketch a portrait of a deeply disturbed youth who had been treated for depression in a psychiatric ward, lost several close family members, sketched gruesome scenes of armed warriors and was removed from the school where he gunned down most of his victims Monday.
"The clues were all there," said Kim Desjarlait, Weise's step-aunt, who lives in Minneapolis. "Everything was laid out, right there, for the school or the authorities in Red Lake to see it coming. I don't want to blame Red Lake, but did they not put two and two together? This kid was crying out, and those guys chose to ignore it. They need to start focusing on their kids."
On the Red Lake Indian Reservation, officials held a private prayer service Wednesday night and met to discuss when students might be able to return to school. Superintendent Stuart Desjarlait said it may take months for the high school to reopen because of the extensive damage from Monday's rampage. Five students, a teacher and a guard were killed at the school. Seven students were wounded and two remained in critical condition Wednesday at a hospital in Fargo, N.D.
Federal authorities said they were conducting autopsies on Weise and his nine victims, but FBI spokesman Paul McCabe said he did not anticipate releasing any information in the near future. Tribal leaders were even less forthcoming, strictly limiting reporters' movements.
Tensions rose throughout Wednesday, with some residents whispering fears that if they spoke to outsiders they would suffer retribution. Residents of neighboring communities offered cautionary tales about violence on the reservation, and the Justice Department created a task force to deal with gangs when Red Lake suffered five homicides in seven months in 2002. Because Red Lake is a closed reservation, it operates as a sovereign nation, running its own police force and dictating who may set foot on the property.
Those willing to be interviewed described Weise as a young man who drifted among various homes on the reservation, listening to heavy metal music, proclaiming his affinity for Adolf Hitler and periodically showing up at the high school, even though Stuart Desjarlait said that six months ago he had ordered Weise to stay at home for tutoring.
He was taking the antidepressant Prozac and at least once was hospitalized for suicidal tendencies, said Gayle Downwind, a cultural coordinator at Red Lake Middle School, who taught Weise. It was not uncommon for Weise to spend at least one night a week at her home. "He considered my house a safe place to be," she said.
In his 16 years, Weise had lost many relatives. He was estranged from other family members and had a strained relationship with Daryl Lussier, the grandfather he killed at the start of Monday's rampage.
Family and friends said Weise's father, Daryl Lussier Jr., committed suicide in 1997. Two years later, a serious automobile accident killed a cousin and left Weise's mother partly paralyzed and brain damaged.
Then, about two years ago, "his other grandfather on his mom's side passed away," Kim Desjarlait told NBC's "Today" show. "You are dealing with three deaths within eight years. I think for a kid starting at 10 years old, that's a lot to take." At the time, she wanted to help raise Weise in Minneapolis, but he was sent to the reservation about 260 miles to the north.
In the sixth grade, Weise met Downwind's son, Sky Grant, and the two became close friends, often playing video games together. Grant recalled that Weise hated his mother and had a tendency to skip ahead to violent parts in movies they rented.
When Weise flunked eighth grade, he joined Downwind's special "Learning Center" program at the school. "He didn't function academically. He just sat there and drew pictures of army people with guns," she said. "He was a talented artist, but he drew terrible, terrible scenes."
Last June, Weise was suicidal. John Dudley, a part-time bus driver for the Red Lake health center, was called at the time to transport Weise to the hospital in Thief River Falls, about 60 miles from the reservation.
To some in the school, Weise was long a frightening figure, towering over many of the youngsters in all-black clothing. Because of recent bomb threats and other safety concerns, Red Lake High School insisted students secure a pass to go to the restroom, a requirement that agitated Weise, said Lee Ann Grant, Downwind's daughter, who had worked as a guard there since August.
(comment - Troubled Homelife + Troubled Child = Give Him Prozac A formula for disaster!)
"The clues were all there," said Kim Desjarlait, Weise's step-aunt, who lives in Minneapolis. "Everything was laid out, right there, for the school or the authorities in Red Lake to see it coming. I don't want to blame Red Lake, but did they not put two and two together? This kid was crying out, and those guys chose to ignore it. They need to start focusing on their kids."
On the Red Lake Indian Reservation, officials held a private prayer service Wednesday night and met to discuss when students might be able to return to school. Superintendent Stuart Desjarlait said it may take months for the high school to reopen because of the extensive damage from Monday's rampage. Five students, a teacher and a guard were killed at the school. Seven students were wounded and two remained in critical condition Wednesday at a hospital in Fargo, N.D.
Federal authorities said they were conducting autopsies on Weise and his nine victims, but FBI spokesman Paul McCabe said he did not anticipate releasing any information in the near future. Tribal leaders were even less forthcoming, strictly limiting reporters' movements.
Tensions rose throughout Wednesday, with some residents whispering fears that if they spoke to outsiders they would suffer retribution. Residents of neighboring communities offered cautionary tales about violence on the reservation, and the Justice Department created a task force to deal with gangs when Red Lake suffered five homicides in seven months in 2002. Because Red Lake is a closed reservation, it operates as a sovereign nation, running its own police force and dictating who may set foot on the property.
Those willing to be interviewed described Weise as a young man who drifted among various homes on the reservation, listening to heavy metal music, proclaiming his affinity for Adolf Hitler and periodically showing up at the high school, even though Stuart Desjarlait said that six months ago he had ordered Weise to stay at home for tutoring.
He was taking the antidepressant Prozac and at least once was hospitalized for suicidal tendencies, said Gayle Downwind, a cultural coordinator at Red Lake Middle School, who taught Weise. It was not uncommon for Weise to spend at least one night a week at her home. "He considered my house a safe place to be," she said.
In his 16 years, Weise had lost many relatives. He was estranged from other family members and had a strained relationship with Daryl Lussier, the grandfather he killed at the start of Monday's rampage.
Family and friends said Weise's father, Daryl Lussier Jr., committed suicide in 1997. Two years later, a serious automobile accident killed a cousin and left Weise's mother partly paralyzed and brain damaged.
Then, about two years ago, "his other grandfather on his mom's side passed away," Kim Desjarlait told NBC's "Today" show. "You are dealing with three deaths within eight years. I think for a kid starting at 10 years old, that's a lot to take." At the time, she wanted to help raise Weise in Minneapolis, but he was sent to the reservation about 260 miles to the north.
In the sixth grade, Weise met Downwind's son, Sky Grant, and the two became close friends, often playing video games together. Grant recalled that Weise hated his mother and had a tendency to skip ahead to violent parts in movies they rented.
When Weise flunked eighth grade, he joined Downwind's special "Learning Center" program at the school. "He didn't function academically. He just sat there and drew pictures of army people with guns," she said. "He was a talented artist, but he drew terrible, terrible scenes."
Last June, Weise was suicidal. John Dudley, a part-time bus driver for the Red Lake health center, was called at the time to transport Weise to the hospital in Thief River Falls, about 60 miles from the reservation.
To some in the school, Weise was long a frightening figure, towering over many of the youngsters in all-black clothing. Because of recent bomb threats and other safety concerns, Red Lake High School insisted students secure a pass to go to the restroom, a requirement that agitated Weise, said Lee Ann Grant, Downwind's daughter, who had worked as a guard there since August.
(comment - Troubled Homelife + Troubled Child = Give Him Prozac A formula for disaster!)
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Friday, March 18, 2005
5-year-old arrested after school outburst
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A 5-year-old girl was arrested, cuffed and put in back of a police cruiser after an outburst at school where she threw books and boxes, kicked a teacher in the shins, smashed a candy dish, hit an assistant principal in the stomach and drew on the walls.
The students were counting jelly beans as part of a math exercise at Fairmount Park Elementary School when the little girl began acting silly. That's when her teacher took away her jelly beans, outraging the child.
Minutes later, the 40-pound girl was in the back of a police cruiser, under arrest for battery. Her hands were bound with plastic ties, her ankles in handcuffs.
"I don't want to go to jail," she said moments after her arrest Monday.
No charges were filed and the girl went home with her mother.
While police say their actions were proper, school officials were not pleased with the outcome.
"We never want to have 5-year-old children arrested," said Michael Bessette, the district's Area III superintendent.
The district's campus police should have been called to help and not local police, he said.
Bessette said campus police routinely deal with children and are trained to calm them in such situations.
Under the district's code of student conduct, students are to be suspended for 10 days and recommended for expulsion for unprovoked attacks, even if they don't result in serious injury. But district spokesman Ron Stone said that rule wouldn't apply to kindergartners.
"She's been appropriately disciplined under the circumstances," he said.
The girl's mother, Inda Akins, said she is consulting an attorney.
"She's never going back to that school," Akins said. "They set my baby up."
The students were counting jelly beans as part of a math exercise at Fairmount Park Elementary School when the little girl began acting silly. That's when her teacher took away her jelly beans, outraging the child.
Minutes later, the 40-pound girl was in the back of a police cruiser, under arrest for battery. Her hands were bound with plastic ties, her ankles in handcuffs.
"I don't want to go to jail," she said moments after her arrest Monday.
No charges were filed and the girl went home with her mother.
While police say their actions were proper, school officials were not pleased with the outcome.
"We never want to have 5-year-old children arrested," said Michael Bessette, the district's Area III superintendent.
The district's campus police should have been called to help and not local police, he said.
Bessette said campus police routinely deal with children and are trained to calm them in such situations.
Under the district's code of student conduct, students are to be suspended for 10 days and recommended for expulsion for unprovoked attacks, even if they don't result in serious injury. But district spokesman Ron Stone said that rule wouldn't apply to kindergartners.
"She's been appropriately disciplined under the circumstances," he said.
The girl's mother, Inda Akins, said she is consulting an attorney.
"She's never going back to that school," Akins said. "They set my baby up."
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Cop shoots self in school in front of students!
He's the "only one professional enough to carry a Glock 40"! Good job dude!
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Playground insults banned
Sexist insults are to be banned from the playground. Teachers are warned today that words such as "slag" and "slut" lead to boys feeling superior to girls and make domestic violence seem more acceptable.
Monday, March 07, 2005
Local teacher had affair with student and his father
Boca Raton resident Carol Flannigan, a music teacher at a Boynton Beach public school, not only slept with an 11-year-old former student, but also had a sexual relationship with the boy’s father at the same time, according to a deposition filed this week in Palm Beach County Circuit Court.
Flannigan, a music teacher in Rolling Green Elementary in Boynton Beach, is awaiting trial on one count of capital sex assault on a child under 12 and one count of lewd or lascivious assault stemming from her alleged relationship with the man’s son. The first count carries a mandatory life sentence.
http://www.bocaratonnews.com/index.php?src=news&prid=11025&category=Local%20News
Flannigan, a music teacher in Rolling Green Elementary in Boynton Beach, is awaiting trial on one count of capital sex assault on a child under 12 and one count of lewd or lascivious assault stemming from her alleged relationship with the man’s son. The first count carries a mandatory life sentence.
http://www.bocaratonnews.com/index.php?src=news&prid=11025&category=Local%20News
Friday, March 04, 2005
Police Arrest 8-Year-Old After Alleged Outburst in Williamsburg Elementary School
AP) - James City County Police arrested an eight-year-old boy who allegedly had a violent outburst in school.
Authorities say he head-butted his teacher and kicked an assistant principal when he was told he couldn't go outside to play with other students.
The four-foot pupil was led away from Williamsburg's Rawls Byrd Elementary School in handcuffs Tuesday and charged with disorderly conduct and assault and battery.
Major Stan Stout says the student began tossing chairs and turning over desks after a teacher - and later the assistant principal - tried to stop him from joining his classmates.
The child was later released to his parents.
http://www.wavy.com/global/story.asp?s=3030689&ClientType=Printable
Authorities say he head-butted his teacher and kicked an assistant principal when he was told he couldn't go outside to play with other students.
The four-foot pupil was led away from Williamsburg's Rawls Byrd Elementary School in handcuffs Tuesday and charged with disorderly conduct and assault and battery.
Major Stan Stout says the student began tossing chairs and turning over desks after a teacher - and later the assistant principal - tried to stop him from joining his classmates.
The child was later released to his parents.
http://www.wavy.com/global/story.asp?s=3030689&ClientType=Printable
Suffer The Children
While this story does not fall into the teacher-school horror story area that this blog will focus on, it is itself a horror-hell story. Suffer the little children indeed:
66 face child sex ring trial
ANGERS, France -- Sixty-six men and women are standing trial in western France in a harrowing and massive pedophilia case.
Prosecutors allege that children aged 6 months to 14 years old were raped by their parents or offered to other adults in exchange for small amounts of money or parcels of food, AP reported.
http://www-cgi.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/03/03/france.trial/
66 face child sex ring trial
ANGERS, France -- Sixty-six men and women are standing trial in western France in a harrowing and massive pedophilia case.
Prosecutors allege that children aged 6 months to 14 years old were raped by their parents or offered to other adults in exchange for small amounts of money or parcels of food, AP reported.
http://www-cgi.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/03/03/france.trial/
Teacher Accused of Sex Abuse
A Braxton County middle school teacher is in police custody after allegedly confessing to sexual misconduct with five of her students.
Toni Lynn Woods, 37, of Strange Creek was arrested Wednesday on eight counts of sexual assault.
State Police said several students reported they had been treated or touched inappropriately.
In the criminal compliant filed against Woods, she admitted she had sexual intercourse with three students a total of four times.
She also admitted to performing oral sex on two different juveniles a total of four times.
Toni Lynn Woods, 37, of Strange Creek was arrested Wednesday on eight counts of sexual assault.
State Police said several students reported they had been treated or touched inappropriately.
In the criminal compliant filed against Woods, she admitted she had sexual intercourse with three students a total of four times.
She also admitted to performing oral sex on two different juveniles a total of four times.
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