Bus ride/school discipline

I just read the article in the Enterprise about 4 young boys from the Downey School assaulting a young girl. The investigation determined that they urinated on the bus and , minimally, dropped their pants and assaulted a 10 year old girl. They received a one day suspension for this act! No wonder why our system is a joke ! "It is inappropriate behavior but I am not shocked by it" was the quote from the hand picked Superintendent Smith! Is she for real? Why empathy? Imagine if there were her child? Wow.....is our school system so insensitive? I must comment also that the Principal of the school is another politically connected hack who received the job after an extensive search for a quality principal!! LOL!

brockton sucks in every conceivable way... can not wait to leave

I haven't read about this but that is insane these kids did not get any other punishment. If I was that girls parent I would be calling every news station, anyone who would listen to me. This type of crap infuriates me.

I would be happy to Answer legit questions from people anytime they want to speak with me via phone but I wont answer silly allegations.

Perhaps people should read the full article and digest it and read up on the uncle making the accusations

boston.cbslocal.com/2013/05/20/is-philli...an-in-massachusetts/

This probably Should be moved to school thread?

Ray, one can dispute the uncle due to other issues. But one can question the dislpline? What's not clear however is if the young boys just pulled their own pants down or also pulled the little girls down? If they did engage anyone else other than themselves, they should be banned from bus transportation. And IF they urinated, the suspension should be a lot harsher. And these kids are 10 years old. They are old enough to understand the ramifications of their actions.

And Ray, not sure why we are being chastised for commenting on a story printed in the Newspaper? If there were issues with the Uncle prior, doesn't mean his facts aren't right? Or perhaps he is embellishing. But that's not in the printed story.

And what bothers me the most is the Superintendent's comment "“It’s inappropriate behavior, but I’m not shocked by it,” Smith said. Oh ok. Maybe parents and guardians are shocked about it.

Per the Enterprise:
m.enterprisenews.com/article/20151014/NEWS/151017789
"Superintendent Kathleen Smith confirmed Wednesday that four boys who attend the Downey School were disciplined after an incident on a school bus, but said no inappropriate touching occurred. On a dare, four boys pulled their pants down while on the school bus, said Smith, noting witness statements were made to school officials and school police.“These are four young students. They were disciplined appropriately with consequences for the type of behavior. At no time was anyone touched at all,” Smith said Wednesday.

Superintendent Kathleen Smith confirmed Wednesday that four boys who attend the Downey School were disciplined after an incident on a school bus, but said no inappropriate touching occurred.

On a dare, four boys pulled their pants down while on the school bus, said Smith, noting witness statements were made to school officials and school police.

Per the school.

The comment that was made by the Super "that it was inappropriate but not shocking" , is what I have the biggest issue with. These boys were 10, not 5. And Even If no touching was apparent, these 10 year olds exposed themselves, and a 1 day bus suspension is not enough in my opinion. And if that's what is listed in the disipline handbook, perhaps it should be changed?

Our handbooks follow the state chapter 222 on discipline.

New rules were enacted by the state under Deval Patrick with regards to application around discipline

I cannot discuss what discipline was or was not handed out for these students

Didn't expect you to.

It's always something, that's my point. I hope the story is correct and the punishment is consistent. And perhaps if we stopped the hiring of Deputy Supervisors and Assistant Headmasters and Vice this and Vice that, perhaps we could hire more/any bus monitors which really would resolve potential issues.

This is wrong. Is it shocking? No. It's the nature of the world surrounding us with parents who allow kids to surf the internet, watch news, TV etc. with little supervision. Even 8 pm shows are surprisingly sexually-oriented. Hell, even I will not watch Family Feud anymore because it is downright embarrassing and that is a daytime program. I'm not sure what the video of the uncle has to do with it, though, except to prove that many kids have bad examples surrounding them, including family members. What shocks me is that there are no bus monitors. Parents are primarily responsible when a 10-year old does something like this. At that age kids should have a decade of scruples and rules of respect under their belts. I also agree one day of punishment (if that is correct) is not appropriate. Parents should wake up because if they fast forward a few years, this same dumb-@ss action of public exposure could land these kids on a sexual offenders list.

I remember as a little girl (in the stone-age) being harassed by little boys on a regular basis. It isn't the times, it's always been like this. I think now, we actually take it a little more (LITTLE) serious than when I was a little kid. I am surprised that they only got a one day suspension. My kid was caught throwing an empty water bottle when she was a freshman on the Southeastern bus. They have a security camera on the bus and could see what happened. She had to sit in the front of the bus for the remainder of the school year (she hated that).

I remember teasing by grammar school boys, but luckily never had more serious incidents. I also remember when mooning and streaking were considered a fad. This incident was wrong - we all agree. But isn't what the high school boys do, pulling their pants down and waddling like penguins. only one step away from it? Suddenly the world thinks it is OK to walk around displaying parts of their body only meant to be seen by a doctor or their future significant other. My kids had to look at boys' underwear for years and nobody said a word to them at BHS. Stinking, dingy, ripped, underpants. What about bras? I was told that, if someone could see my bra strap it was wrong. Today young girls have their chests exposed, wear skin-tight clothing, and bras are part of the design. Many of the girls at BHS are showing their rear ends when they paint on their leggings. It all goes back to parents, in my opinion. They need to teach boys and girls self-respect. Until they understand what that really is, they will be unable to extend the sentiment to others. Ten year old boys should know better and be strong enough to say "no" if a peer dares them to do something like this. Do the First Student buses in Brockton have video cameras? That is a great idea granny.

I know that the Southeastern bus my kid rode on had a video camera. I assume that the rest have them as well. They were probably installed by the kids in my daughter's shop, lol. Also, my daughter has been spoken to about a crop top she was wearing. There seems to be a double standard, girls get talked to and boys get a free pass with the arse-pants. Boys also have to walk duck-footed if they are sneaker-heads. It's hard for them to get around, they hold up their pants with one hand and walk like ducks. Looking like idiots, rofl.

clifton heights wrote: I remember teasing by grammar school boys, but luckily never had more serious incidents. I also remember when mooning and streaking were considered a fad. This incident was wrong - we all agree. But isn't what the high school boys do, pulling their pants down and waddling like penguins. only one step away from it? Suddenly the world thinks it is OK to walk around displaying parts of their body only meant to be seen by a doctor or their future significant other. My kids had to look at boys' underwear for years and nobody said a word to them at BHS. Stinking, dingy, ripped, underpants. What about bras? I was told that, if someone could see my bra strap it was wrong. Today young girls have their chests exposed, wear skin-tight clothing, and bras are part of the design. Many of the girls at BHS are showing their rear ends when they paint on their leggings. It all goes back to parents, in my opinion. They need to teach boys and girls self-respect. Until they understand what that really is, they will be unable to extend the sentiment to others. Ten year old boys should know better and be strong enough to say "no" if a peer dares them to do something like this. Do the First Student buses in Brockton have video cameras? That is a great idea granny.

I remember when I was in high school, my friends had a code word we would say to each other if our bra strap was showing. Funny how times change

I know! We would scrutinize each other "just in case." We also had to stand up in homeroom (junior high) so our male teacher could "measure" our skirt lengths above our knees. That was extreme. This kind of thing (not exposing) should be an easy one to teach kids.

"Principal under fire for blaming alleged victim in Brockton bus incident".

m.enterprisenews.com/article/20151023/NEWS/151027240/13406/NEWS

In his report, school police officer Brett Baker wrote that four girls riding the afternoon school bus home witnessed the Oct. 8 incident.

"Some of the girls laughed at the boys, while others had changed seats on the school bus, Baker wrote. One girl “made comments to the boys (about the) size of each of their penis(es). Which led the principal to believe she was a willing participant and somewhat 'judging' Baker wrote.

Downey School Principal John Kelly could not be reached for comment Thursday. A spokesperson for the school system said on Friday that Kelly would not be commenting any further on the incident.

I stand corrected. Not only is this inappropriate, but it IS shocking after reading this. Also - I HATE the Enterprise. This 3-articles-for-free thing is nuts.

I know t hey found t his qualified principal through a relationship.............yes, another nepotism hire!! This school system has fallen,,,,,,and it won't be getting back up!

clifton heights wrote: I stand corrected. Not only is this inappropriate, but it IS shocking after reading this. Also - I HATE the Enterprise. This 3-articles-for-free thing is nuts.

Two options...clear your cookies, stop and restart your internet browser or browse "incognito" or whatever it's called on your internet browser.

Boston Globe is the same way.