7 Arrested in School Cafeteria Food Fight


WATERBURY, Conn. (AP) - A food fight that started with fruit cup turned into a mealtime melee, serving up a full plate of arrests and injuries.

Seven seventh-graders were arrested after a spat in a middle school cafeteria left two teachers and a detective with injuries Wednesday.

The incident began at West Side Middle School after a girl dumped a fruit cup over a boy's head, police said. The two started fighting, then other students joined in, some jumping on tables and throwing food, police said.

"What was described as a riot situation developed in the cafeteria," Sgt. Christopher Corbett said.

A detective and two teachers suffered minor injuries breaking up the melee.

Three girls and fours boys ranging in age from 12 to 14 were arrested on charges including breach of peace, assault and inciting a riot. All seven were released to their parents after promising to appear in juvenile court.

OMG!! In my day we would have been dragged to the principal's office, parents called and served 3 days of suspension. If that didn't cure it, we would have been expelled. None of this arresting crap. It seems that the schools have lost control and have lost the respect of students and parents. While I did serve my time in suspension for fighting, I did learn my lesson. I wasn't a bully, but dammit, I stood up for my friends and myself.

I guess the reason they were arrested is because teachers and detective suffered injuries. Which, probably amounted to scratches and bruises, but who knows.

I hate to say it, but we, as parents, have brought this on ourselves. We are so afraid to give the schools any disciplinary okays...which is a double edged sword. If I beat my kid's butt, then I can be turned into child services. If I can't beat my kid's butt, there's no way in HELL anyone at school is going to. I truly believe that "time out" and grounding only works in certain instances - very few IMO. My parents used to beat my hind end, wash my mouth out with soap, smack my face when I was mouthy, etc. etc. etc. I turned out okay!!

I expect a lot of flak from the parents who are anti-smack. :D

Pretty boring thred

Originally posted by saycricket
OMG!! In my day we would have been dragged to the principal's office, parents called and served 3 days of suspension. If that didn't cure it, we would have been expelled. None of this arresting crap. It seems that the schools have lost control and have lost the respect of students and parents. While I did serve my time in suspension for fighting, I did learn my lesson. I wasn't a bully, but dammit, I stood up for my friends and myself.

I guess the reason they were arrested is because teachers and detective suffered injuries. Which, probably amounted to scratches and bruises, but who knows.

I hate to say it, but we, as parents, have brought this on ourselves. We are so afraid to give the schools any disciplinary okays...which is a double edged sword. If I beat my kid's butt, then I can be turned into child services. If I can't beat my kid's butt, there's no way in HELL anyone at school is going to. I truly believe that "time out" and grounding only works in certain instances - very few IMO. My parents used to beat my hind end, wash my mouth out with soap, smack my face when I was mouthy, etc. etc. etc. I turned out okay!!

I expect a lot of flak from the parents who are anti-smack. :D man, say, youre on a roll. you are so right.....to me time out is for parents, because you should never spank in anger, it has to be done in control. but i wholeheartedly agree. we have lost control, and it seems that certain laws perpetuate these situations. if you spank, your in trouble, if you dont , they're in trouble along with you......but, to me there is a way to get control. and it should be done early. i tell people that you cant change the flavor of a cake once its baked. in other words, you can't not spank your child when they're young, and then decide when they are 13 , that you want to now be a disciplinarian...i spank my children. i say, if i dont discipline them, the world will

I believe you guys are hitting the nail on the head.
A hand smack and a firm no when my kids were toddlers, taught what no meant. Later in life these early actions eleminated many problems others seemed to have with corrections.

Its never easy. We have unperfect people trying to raise perfect children. But an early view of right and wrong is a good start on the world.

But, remember that sometimes teens that show extreme disregard for rules and regulations are manifesting anger from abuse as a child.

Originally posted by Dan Fussell
I believe you guys are hitting the nail on the head.
A hand smack and a firm no when my kids were toddlers, taught what no meant. Later in life these early actions eleminated many problems others seemed to have with corrections.

Its never easy. We have unperfect people trying to raise perfect children. But an early view of right and wrong is a good start on the world.

But, remember that sometimes teens that show extreme disregard for rules and regulations are manifesting anger from abuse as a child. true...and thats because, alot of parents that i see, that say that they discipline their children, smack them in the face or punch them. your right, imperfect people trying to raise perfect children. i was beaten by my father, and i dont do that to my children, but it didnt make me anti-discipline either. i spank them only on the behind with my hand. its not so much the pain that bothers them, its that they made dad upset. then we hug, i tell them i love them, and why i spanked them...they are getting older now and i have to do it less. and that was the plan......i also have them in martial arts, and believe it or not, its a source of discipline for them. they are very respectful, and thats what i demand.

I don't think that the discipline meted out by parents should neccessarily be compared to the discipline we expect to be meted out by those we ask to care for our kids.

Whether or not we choose to use physical punishment as parents, I don't think teachers, or other people who have contact with kids, should be using physical means to discipline the children.

Personally, I don't think it's ever neccessary to hit a child, and I doubt it really does the child any good. I think merely the threat of violence is enough, and the damage it causes is strictly psychological...:D

Originally posted by Vilepagan
I don't think that the discipline meted out by parents should neccessarily be compared to the discipline we expect to be meted out by those we ask to care for our kids.

Whether or not we choose to use physical punishment as parents, I don't think teachers, or other people who have contact with kids, should be using physical means to discipline the children.

Personally, I don't think it's ever neccessary to hit a child, and I doubt it really does the child any good. I think merely the threat of violence is enough, and the damage it causes is strictly psychological...:D i hear ya vile

Korg you spoke of the fact that you were beaten by your father.
I am proud for you,and those you love, that you "broke the cycle".
I also "broke the cycle". I endured beatings as a child from a step-father.
But today,I am my own person.

Originally posted by Dan Fussell
Korg you spoke of the fact that you were beaten by your father.
I am proud for you,and those you love, that you "broke the cycle".
I also "broke the cycle". I endured beatings as a child from a step-father.
But today,I am my own person. man , that hurts to hear, but look at you now.....good for you for overcoming it man

I live 15 minutes from Waterbury...it is the poorest city in the state of CT. Sadly most of these students do not have parents that take any interest in their schooling, let alone discipline...many times it is a single mother that is trying to care for these kids and there is no male figure in their lives. When this was on the local news I did not pay any attention to it because stories like these come out of Waterbury so often. I will say though detention, suspension, etc. does not work with these kids and had they not gotten arrested at school they most likely would have after school at some point.

my personal experience with it is that vioence is totally not necessary to rasiing a child. I personally have nevrer been seriously punished by my parents. I nkow what they expect pof me, and I dion't cross boundaries. some kids can't deal with such an unstructured way of dealing with their parents, but for those who can, there's no reason to discipline them a lot. by teraching kids right and wrong from an early age and enforcing it contantly most seriosu stuff can be avoided.

OMG!! In my day we would have been dragged to the principal's office, parents called and served 3 days of suspension. If that didn't cure it, we would have been expelled. None of this arresting crap. It seems that the schools have lost control and have lost the respect of students and parents. While I did serve my time in suspension for fighting, I did learn my lesson. I wasn't a bully, but dammit, I stood up for my friends and myself.
That is the best response I've seen in a long time! I couldn't agree with you more.

Police Called for N.Y. Teens' Food Fight


Jun 12, 6:15 AM (ET)


WOODBURY, N.Y. (AP) - Some 300 teenagers waged a food fight in their school cafeteria so fierce that educators had to call police to help them restore order.

The students at Monroe-Woodbury High School, about 40 miles north of New York City, had ignored school officials' attempts to end the disturbance.

With officers standing by, the teens were ushered out of the cafeteria and into the gymnasium, where school officials tried to determine who instigated the melee. A surveillance video also was being reviewed to determine those responsible.

Nine police cruisers from three agencies, including state police, responded to the call , the Times Herald Record of Middletown reported Friday.

No one was injured during the fight.

When asked by the newspaper what was on the menu, district Superintendent Terrence Olivo replied, "Whatever's on the floor."

On Wednesday, at a middle school in Waterbury, Conn., seven seventh-graders - three girls and four boyts - were arrested after a food fight in a middle school cafeteria left two teachers and a detective with minor injuries. The charges included breach of peace, assault and inciting a riot. All were released to their parents after promising to appear in juvenile court.

Administrators are calling police in way too much these days, I dont know if they are afraid of the kids or law suits.
In Orlando a 6 year old went to school on Halloween as a fire fighter rubber axe and all, he was suspended and his mother was cited for allowing him to carry a weapon to school. I thought this was one of the most ridiculous things I had ever heard.
In my day the dean could hand out corporal punishment and that threat kept me out of his office.
I have heard more than a few stories of schools overreacting to student actions and I find it alarming.
Maybe we could go back to community schools run by people from the communities. I would love to see a one room school house type system again, maybe one that includes parents in a teaching role or at least in a support role for all children in the school.

this is hardly world news. i think it shoudl probobly go into chat.

anyway kudos to the kids who were arested.

vive la revolution

BV: one room school houses? the last time those were widely used education still consisted entirely of rote memorization. having one teacher and sitting in the same classroom all day long is complete torture. remember elementary school? anyways, the real way to solve schooling problems is to give students more options so that they can learn the way that sauits them best, and that will be most beneficial to them.

yes BV, i'm sure that one room schoolhouses would be a terriffic idea for solving the educational problems in our nation's cities. instead of public schools, we should just build about 900,000 of these one room schoolhouses. /sarcasm

Originally posted by Vilepagan
I don't think that the discipline meted out by parents should neccessarily be compared to the discipline we expect to be meted out by those we ask to care for our kids.

Whether or not we choose to use physical punishment as parents, I don't think teachers, or other people who have contact with kids, should be using physical means to discipline the children.

Personally, I don't think it's ever neccessary to hit a child, and I doubt it really does the child any good. I think merely the threat of violence is enough, and the damage it causes is strictly psychological...:D

In a school situation, physical punishment isn't just for the good of the kid actually punished, it's really for the good of the entire school system. When one kid is disruptive, the entire educational environment is shut down while the teacher deals with him. If the way the teacher deals with the disruptive is a reasoning process, the delay will likely be more lengthy than a delay involving physical punishment.

While parents might have the time to reason with their child, teachers do not. Teachers are often not only trying to maintain order in a room full of 30-40 kids, but are also trying to educate them. We really need to have more faith in our teachers if they are to do their job.

Every teacher you talk to will admit or decry that there is a serious disipline issue in our schools. It's clear that the suspension/detention punishment techniques are not getting the job done; We need physical punishment back in the classroom. While we fail to recognize these obvious necessities, American students suffer from a notoriously inferior educational system among first-world countries.

Originally posted by WhammyBar
anyways, the real way to solve schooling problems is to give students more options so that they can learn the way that sauits them best, and that will be most beneficial to them.

That's nice in theory, but where do we get the money to quadruple the number of teachers so that we can adequately monitor the progress of all of these kids studying in their own ways?

Regarding the rubber ax, these zero-tolerance policies are dreamed up by people convinced that if the public servants we hire because of their training and expertise are actually allowed to use that training and expertise bad things will happen. Can you imagine the chaos that would occur if a principal were actually allowed to distinguish between crack cocaine and aspirin? My God, the kid bringing in aspirin might not even be punished!!! We couldn't have that!!

Originally posted by Leper
When one kid is disruptive, the entire educational environment is shut down while the teacher deals with him. If the way the teacher deals with the disruptive is a reasoning process, the delay will likely be more lengthy than a delay involving physical punishment.

While parents might have the time to reason with their child, teachers do not. Teachers are often not only trying to maintain order in a room full of 30-40 kids, but are also trying to educate them. We really need to have more faith in our teachers if they are to do their job.
Agreed, but why physical punishment? Rather than interrupting the class every ten minutes to deal one-on-one for fifteen more minutes with a disruptive kid, AND rather than swatting the kid with the paddle, what's wrong with sitting him apart? Put his desk facing the wall in the back of the room, or out in the hallway; send him to the office. Thirty seconds, then you turn back to the rest of your class and teach.


It's clear that the suspension/detention punishment techniques are not getting the job done; We need physical punishment back in the classroom. While we fail to recognize these obvious necessities, American students suffer from a notoriously inferior educational system among first-world countries.
How many of the other first-world countries still have corporal punishment? Comparing countries with corporal punishment against those without it, how does their education compare? (Honestly I don't know and am asking.)

Originally posted by WhammyBar
BV: one room school houses? the last time those were widely used education still consisted entirely of rote memorization. having one teacher and sitting in the same classroom all day long is complete torture. remember elementary school? anyways, the real way to solve schooling problems is to give students more options so that they can learn the way that sauits them best, and that will be most beneficial to them. forgive me whammy, but i think that we are more concerned about the rights of a child ,than rights period. to me , when it comes to school, the only right a child has is to not be molested, prejudiced, or severely beaten. outside of that, they are suppose to learn for the next step in life. if anyone, parents should straighten that stuff out before they come to school. i often tell parents that the teachers have their degree. if you want your child to be productive, give them the understanding of how important it is. this thing with children is in the hands of parents. i even think that if a parent is on welfare, their children should have to maintain a decent passing average just to ensure a slimmer chance of them repeating the welfare cycle. and if they are not doing well, cut beneifts. ! we have to get a hold of this.

Whammy and Sputnik I was refering to a style not actually buidling 9000000000000
schools. I am for Homeschooling and for major parent involvement in the education process.
Schools had a chance to educate our youth but it appears that they are more worried about not offending the ACLU and being sued than they are with the children.
If someone wears a shirt that says Bush is a terrorist and it does disrupt the class environment it will probably only last a day and it will blow over. But when the school starts their ban on the item it becomes a year long fight and everyone is distracted.
Schools should be more concerned with not advancing students because of the child age, and we need to stop the everyone wins thing. It teaches kids that you dont even have to try. I worked very hard for my awards and was very proud of them. My son received a d on a project and was given a certificate. When he showed it to me he was laughing saying that he only worked on the project for 20 minutes and he was awarded just like the kids who worked for months.
So I went to talk to the teacher and asked them why would you reward bad habits. I was told that all children should feel equal in the classroom environment. Well when my son moved on to HS and the BS stopped he dropped out. It has taken him 5 years to learn that the world rewards on merit mostly.
So did the schools do him a favor? no. The one room schoolhouse I was speaking of is a concept not literal,

lionel: I think if we proritize our spending and use money for important thing we could aford a school system like that. for instance, if we chose to stop funding space exploration, just as a random thing, and used the hundreds of billions of dollars to revamp the school system, it would definitely pay off. I really beleive that good education can change a lot, and that it is worth the investment.
leper: would you have put up with corporal punishment when you were in school? how would you feel if you were at work, and you screwed something up, and your boss punched you? children and teenagers are people. we have the same rights as you. by taking away our rights when we enter scool, what do you think is being taught to us? being treated as secind class citizens will only create resentment amongst students. the most productive classrooms I, or anyone I know, have been in have been those where the teacher viewed and treated the students with respect, and didn't look down upon them. there is always more respect towards the teacher, and thus more learning, if the teacher respects the students.

Whammy I think that your analogy of being punched at work is not a good one. I understand your point and if I was a proponent of Corporal Punishment I would not want someone from the school to administer it to my child. I would want them to teach, reinforce what we are teaching at home.Like rewarding good work ethics and not reinforcing bad ones as some do now. I believe that the best teacher in ones life is the student themselves, by setting up a good system of guidance we can achieve more than by lecturing kids who might be thinking of swimming.
Schools do alot of our children an injustice it is the first place a person is put into catergories. Sometimes those catergories last a lifetime, most successful people have worked outside of the box to better themselves.
Now I am not saying teachers are bad, I respect most for their devotion, but something needs to be done to allow our children to spread their wings and soar.

Originally posted by WhammyBar
we have the same rights as you. by taking away our rights when we enter scool, what do you think is being taught to us? being treated as secind class citizens will only create resentment amongst students. the most productive classrooms I, or anyone I know, have been in have been those where the teacher viewed and treated the students with respect, and didn't look down upon them. there is always more respect towards the teacher, and thus more learning, if the teacher respects the students.

Nope, you don't have the same rights as us. You can't vote, for one thing. You can't enter into contractual relationships. There are all sorts of things you can't do until you reach the age of majority. I hate to say this, because I never would have agreed with this when I was 14, but sometimes parents do know better. It just comes with experience. But I don't think that makes you second class citizens.

When I was in elementary school I was in this "gifted" program that let the smart kids (sorry this comes off as conceited, but what can I say?) do all of this individualized schooling and special projects and all sorts of stuff one day a week. It was a nice idea but in reality we just screwed around all day. But in any event, school, however painful it is, is excellent preparation for the real world, where businesses don't want to spend all of their time teaching you how to do things in a way that will reach you and stimulate your mind. They'll give you a little instruction, maybe a manual, and send you on your way. If you don't learn the discipline to learn when you're in school, you're in for a rude awakening when you hit the real world. I'm not saying that it's right or it's wrong, but it's reality.

What ever happened to getting what they used to call 3 licks "Paddling"when I went to school all those centuries ago ??

Lawyers.

Originally posted by LionelHutz
Can you imagine the chaos that would occur if a principal were actually allowed to distinguish between crack cocaine and aspirin? My God, the kid bringing in aspirin might not even be punished!!! We couldn't have that!!
Or... :::ghasp::: COUGH DROPS!!

If I want my kid to have cough drops in school, I need to ask the Dr. for a note, then bring the note and the drops to the nurse's office, and have my kid called down to the nurse's office at set times to go, suck on the cough drop while sitting in the nurse's office (can't take it back to the classroom!!), then go back to class. Kid shows up with cough drops, he's suspended.

lionel: yes, parents sometimes do know best, but the rights you mwntioned aren't the one's I was talking about. the ones I was referring to were freedom of speech, expression, press, et. we son't get those in school, and not having them does in fatc make us second clas citizens. schools are run like dictatoriships, and it gets really really ugy sometimes. yes, schol is preparation for the real world, the only reason the governemtn bothers with all the energy put into schools is becasue it breeds perfect little Americans who make our country fuinction. schools are for what is essentially brainwashing- they teach kids how to behave a certain way, and think a certain way. if we learn something, we lucked out and got good teachers. it's sad, but it's true.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by P Marie C
Agreed, but why physical punishment? Rather than interrupting the class every ten minutes to deal one-on-one for fifteen more minutes with a disruptive kid, AND rather than swatting the kid with the paddle, what's wrong with sitting him apart? Put his desk facing the wall in the back of the room, or out in the hallway; send him to the office. Thirty seconds, then you turn back to the rest of your class and teach.

Have you ever seen this punishment applied? I wouldn't go so far as to say that it's completely ineffective, but kids who sit apart are often just as distracting in their new position, which in turn often results in taking time to discipline the child multiple times.



How many of the other first-world countries still have corporal punishment? Comparing countries with corporal punishment against those without it, how does their education compare? (Honestly I don't know and am asking.)

This is a good question. I've always been under the impression that other countries punish disobedient/disorderly students much more harshly that we do our students, particularly in Asian countries, but I can't cite a specific source....maybe I'll do some research, although that would be a difficult thing to measure.

Originally posted by WhammyBar
freedom of speech, expression, press, et. we son't get those in school, and not having them does in fatc make us second clas citizens. schools are run like dictatoriships, and it gets really really ugy sometimes. yes, schol is preparation for the real world, the only reason the governemtn bothers with all the energy put into schools is becasue it breeds perfect little Americans who make our country fuinction. schools are for what is essentially brainwashing- they teach kids how to behave a certain way, and think a certain way. if we learn something, we lucked out and got good teachers. it's sad, but it's true.

Oh please, stop pretending like your a political prisoner being reprogrammed by the Supreme Soviet. Besides saying the Pledge of Allegiance every day, I can't think of anything that happened to me in school that even approached brainwashing. Unless learning calculus is a form of political indoctrination.

And hey, guess what - I don't have freedom of speech in a lot of places. Try expressing your opinions in a federal office building and see what happens.

Whammy, as long as you look at the experience like that you will never learn anything. The teachers are really there as a guidance and it is up to you to learn.
I found that out too late in my experience and then I spent the next 30 years craving information.
Also, Lionel is right, freedom of speech isnt pure, it comes with a great responsibility. One must ensure that your speech doesnt offend or threaten, No one is ever truly free.

think about the way history classes are taught. it's all very biased and meant to make the U.S. and it's allies look as good as possible. it's not brainwashing, but think about it: we're tsight to raise our hands when we wnat to talk, move from task to task as soon as a beel sounds, go to certain places at certain times, and we listen. we do it all. school is menat to teach ius a cerytain way of thinking and functioning, and though it's not exactly 1984 type stuff, it can get a little freaky. I take what I can from school, and I nkow that when I have good teachers I can learn a lot. I was lucky enough to have a couple of excellent teachers this year, who taught me tons of stuff that I feel is really important. unfortunately, it was only luck, and not everyone gets good teachers and gets to learn a lot from school. even a lot of teachers a gree with me on this.

Whammy, it is called discipline, work ethic, etc. Not a bad thing unless you are independently wealthy.

it teaches us to function mindlessly in an inherently flawed society. I nkow that to get by in life I have to learn how to function that way, but I don't have to like it, or shut my mind to what's going on.

Originally posted by Leper
This is a good question. I've always been under the impression that other countries punish disobedient/disorderly students much more harshly that we do our students, particularly in Asian countries, but I can't cite a specific source....maybe I'll do some research, although that would be a difficult thing to measure.

That would depend what someone thinks of when they think discipline. Sure, we no longer have corporal punishment, but considering our zero-tolerance policies, suspending students for aspirin and calling the cops on a food fight, some may say our discipline is more harsh.


(P Marie C):Put his desk facing the wall in the back of the room, or out in the hallway; send him to the office. Thirty seconds, then you turn back to the rest of your class and teach.

(Leper)Have you ever seen this punishment applied? I wouldn't go so far as to say that it's completely ineffective, but kids who sit apart are often just as distracting in their new position, which in turn often results in taking time to discipline the child multiple times.

Twice, 30 seconds each. First time, to face desk to the wall, next time, to send to the office. Then if it continues other days, skip the desk, just send kid to the office. If it happens 'x' number of times, automatic detention, suspension, etc.

I agree schools are too lax with what matters, and too strict with their zero-tolerance policies. However, I don't think swatting them is the answer.

Kids can walk down the hall with their wasteline at their kneecaps, swearing up a storm, disrespecting the teachers, and NOTHING is done. They throw a food fight, cops are called. That seems a little imbalanced to me. There needs to be middle ground, on both ends. I certainly don't want the school suddenly implementing "zero-tolerance" with suspension/expulsion/police for their dress code and swearing; however, if the school finally gets it into their head that swearing is bad, that's what I see happening. ::sigh::

Originally posted by WhammyBar
think about the way history classes are taught. it's all very biased and meant to make the U.S. and it's allies look as good as possible.
That, I agree with.


it's not brainwashing, but think about it: we're tsight to raise our hands when we wnat to talk, move from task to task as soon as a beel sounds, go to certain places at certain times, and we listen. we do it all. school is menat to teach ius a cerytain way of thinking and functioning,
My first full-time job, I had to raise a little red flag whenever I had a question. I was not allowed to talk while working. I had to punch-in and punch-out within a minute of my start/end time. I had bells telling me when to take my lunch and breaks. I had to move from task to task, go to certain places at certain times, and listen. Sounds like your school is teaching you how it's going to be in the real world, especially if you get a factory or mfg. job.

I take what I can from school, and I nkow that when I have good teachers I can learn a lot. I was lucky enough to have a couple of excellent teachers this year, who taught me tons of stuff that I feel is really important. unfortunately, it was only luck, and not everyone gets good teachers and gets to learn a lot from school. even a lot of teachers a gree with me on this.

That's good that you take all the learning you can. And I agree that not all teachers are honkey-dorey. I can't *stand* my son's history teacher. He's failing history solely because he thinks for himself, instead of reciting rote "facts" from the book. He can still recite those "facts", but the teacher's politics and pride refuse to allow debate of those "facts". Which again, goes back to the beginning of this post.

Originally posted by P Marie C
Kids can walk down the hall with their wasteline at their kneecaps, swearing up a storm, disrespecting the teachers, and NOTHING is done. They throw a food fight, cops are called. That seems a little imbalanced to me. There needs to be middle ground, on both ends.

And it's not just that nothing is done because teachers are lazy.. but because teachers' hands are tied. If a teacher isn't physically threatened, it seems they aren't ALLOWED to discipline for insubordination. And that really is sad.

swearing and loose pants are the least of schools problems. weapons and fights nd kids failing every class are what schools need to worry about, not how kids dress.

" think about the way history classes are taught. it's all very biased and meant to make the U.S. and it's allies look as good as possible. ... "


The winners get to write the story. How often do you read the story of a conflict from the loser's point of view?

Originally posted by es347fan



The winners get to write the story. How often do you read the story of a conflict from the loser's point of view?

true, but that doesn't make it right. history classes are a prime example of what the real purpose of the school system is.

Originally posted by WhammyBar
true, but that doesn't make it right. history classes are a prime example of what the real purpose of the school system is.
Have you considered researching it and learning the truth outside of school.
Only the truly weak can be manipulated, I dont believe you are in that catergory.
:)

Originally posted by Beirut_Veteran
Have you considered researching it and learning the truth outside of school.
Only the truly weak can be manipulated, I dont believe you are in that catergory.
:)


I always try. the fact that I read my mom's education theory books in my free time that talk about how terrible the public school system is might give you some idea of how "weak" I am.

Originally posted by P Marie C
That would depend what someone thinks of when they think discipline. Sure, we no longer have corporal punishment, but considering our zero-tolerance policies, suspending students for aspirin and calling the cops on a food fight, some may say our discipline is more harsh.



Twice, 30 seconds each. First time, to face desk to the wall, next time, to send to the office. Then if it continues other days, skip the desk, just send kid to the office. If it happens 'x' number of times, automatic detention, suspension, etc.

I agree schools are too lax with what matters, and too strict with their zero-tolerance policies. However, I don't think swatting them is the answer.

Kids can walk down the hall with their wasteline at their kneecaps, swearing up a storm, disrespecting the teachers, and NOTHING is done. They throw a food fight, cops are called. That seems a little imbalanced to me. There needs to be middle ground, on both ends. I certainly don't want the school suddenly implementing "zero-tolerance" with suspension/expulsion/police for their dress code and swearing; however, if the school finally gets it into their head that swearing is bad, that's what I see happening. ::sigh::

I'm sorry, but you're sorely mistaken if you think 30 seconds of time out for unruly behavior would save our schools' floundering disciplinary system. Punishments like detention, suspension, and time out need to be supplemented with a form of punishment that relates to kids who couldn't care less about missing class. That's where corporal punishment should come in. Let's face it, most unruly kids don't care about being in detention, being suspended or being given time-out. In fact, those punishments are often status symbols for the kids who most need an effective disciplinary response.

I wasn't in high school that long ago, I used to substitute teach, three of my immediate family members (and one of my best friends from college) either teach or used to teach in public high school/middle school, and I now work with juvenile delinquents. And now I'm telling you flat out, you don't know what you're talking about if you think we are too harsh on kids in school.

Granted, I don't believe in blind punishment like suspensions over aspirin, but we need to take a more serious approach with the problem children. One of those approaches is corporal punishment.

don't you think corporal punishment will just turn into the same deal as detentions and suspension? it's not the punishment that's wrong, it's the entire system.