On Monday my daughter goes to school and I went to work and my daughter calls me crying from school and wants to go home, her reason was that another girl in her class threatened to stab her !!!!!!!! I called the school and reported this to the pricipal and he assured me that he would take care of it. I never heard back from the principal so I called back and he said that the girl was taking a test and he wanted to let her finish before he talked to her !!!!!!!!!!! In the mean time I talked to my daughter and found out that this other girl had a box knife and was flashing it around while in class. By now I am scared and my blood is boiling, so I called and spoke with sheriff Hanks who stated that he would call the school and report the weapon and find out what was going on and get involved. Sheriff Hanks did send an officer to my house and took my girls' statements that day. The pricipal never called me back or the sheriff!!!! I have found out from other students that the girl had pepper spray and the box cutter in her pocession. So today I went to the school to talk to the principal and he had this girl in his office and we joined in. The girl set and laughed during our meeting and the principal sent the girls back to class!!!!!!! I was informed by the principal that pepper spray and a box cutter were NOT weapons!!!!! I ask him if he thought that the thousand of victims of 9-11 would agree with his theory of what is considered a weapon????? He then pulled out of an UNLOCKED cabinet in his office knifes and other things that he has confinscated from students and said that none of these things were considered weapons either???? HUH then why did he have them??? HUH where was the box cutter and pepper spray...well he gave them back to the girl!!!!!!!!!!!! HOLLY COW!!!!!!!!! This girl lives in Independence and goes to Elk Valley and he did not suspend her even though the handbook says that they will suspend any child who brings a weapon to the school. I am very angry and have been on the phone with School board members and three of them acted concerned and said that they would talk to the pricipal. I am just blown away by the ignorance of our principal and very disappointed and angry. What do all of you think of this situation and what would you do if the life of your child was threatened and the person that is supposed to inforce the rules did nothing to protect your child??? Some one please help me and give me some ideas and opinions!!
Perhaps you could contact a newspaper.
You are right to be angry. And the girl was even threatening your daughter or at least your daughter felt threatened. The more people that hear about this the better. It needs to become an issue before someone gets hurt. Just why is this girl living in Independence and going to school at Longton? Won't the Independence schools have her?
Our airlines define a box cutter as a weapon and I don't think pepper spray is allowed on planes either. I really don't know what can be done, but I would keep pushing the issue and making a noise.
I certainly don't blame you for being angry. Frankly, I am astounded that he gave the girl back the weapons. To condone her attitude it would seem to me, shows a real lack of any maturity on his part. Is looking cool to the girl more important to him than behaving like a responsible administrator? Makes one wonder who this girl is related to and as you say, why is she is going to your school. Good luck.
Just the threat alone should be enough to enrage the school administrator. Include the weapons and some heads should roll. Returning the weapons to the student is outrageous. Continue with the school board. Talking with the principal will be fruitless. If the school board does not make the appropriate decision quickly, spread the word throughout the community. Talk to teachers and parents. Do not let this drop. The children are the treasures and must be protected. Even the boxcutter child needs to be protected from herself.
I would be outraged too!! They have put the school on lock down here at West Elk for a verbal threat to the school, that included Severy and Moline. I think they did the right thing there, but I would keep pushing the issue. You need to be heard and it seems that you aren't being heard. I think also Longton has an open door policy, I think. That means that they can't turn away kids, or something like that. I would also get a copy of the handbook and see where it states about the bullying. West Elk district has enforce a policy on bullying. And you can't even bring water guns to school!! I sure would be raising some heads to the situation.
Quote from: Ole Granny on March 11, 2008, 09:46:38 PM
Just the threat alone should be enough to enrage the school administrator. Include the weapons and some heads should roll. Returning the weapons to the student is outrageous. Continue with the school board. Talking with the principal will be fruitless. If the school board does not make the appropriate decision quickly, spread the word throughout the community. Talk to teachers and parents. Do not let this drop. The children are the treasures and must be protected. Even the boxcutter child needs to be protected from herself.
I agree totally!! DO NOT STOP UNTIL SOME ACTION IS TAKING!!! Keep us posted!!
That is appalling!
So is the fact that the principle still has a job.
In my estimation, making sure kids have a safe and secure environment to learn in is a principle's sole duty.
It appears you are going about this the right way, get the ignorance out in the open so it can get fixed.
I am also appalled!!! When I taught in the Bartlesville School System (in the 90s) there was already a policy in place then which stated any student in the possession of a gun, knife, or any other type of weapon faced automatic suspension. I now substitute in the Edmond/OKC districts which have the same type of policies. It does not matter whether it is a first grader or a senior in high school--it is a "no tolerance" policy. You have a right to be angry, and besides the weapon situation, it is a legal issue for a student to be bullied by another student. Do not let this drop.........................all kids deserve a safe environment in their school. I cannot believe this is tolerated in any school district ANYWHERE!!!!!
Just a quick update. I spoke with the pricipal today and ask him where the box cutter and pepper spray were because they were not in his box of "weapons" and he told me that they were off campus. I ask them if the rumor was true that he give them back to the girl and he would not answer me!! He is acting all concerned about my daughters safety now and I told him that if anything happens to my daughter I will hold him personally responsible for it. I agreed to let the school couselor speak with my daughter and the other girls mother refuses for the couselor to speak with her daughter. This girl used to live in Longton and her parents moved to Independence and she drives back and forth to school. That is another thing that makes me angry. She has an option of going to another school and my daughter does not have that option. I would love to pull my kids and send the to West Elk but i can't afford to pay for the gas for them to make that trip everyday.
Quote from: patyrn on March 12, 2008, 08:21:59 AM
I am also appalled!!! When I taught in the Bartlesville School System (in the 90s) there was already a policy in place then which stated any student in the possession of a gun, knife, or any other type of weapon faced automatic suspension. I now substitute in the Edmond/OKC districts which have the same type of policies. It does not matter whether it is a first grader or a senior in high school--it is a "no tolerance" policy. You have a right to be angry, and besides the weapon situation, it is a legal issue for a student to be bullied by another student. Do not let this drop.........................all kids deserve a safe environment in their school. I cannot believe this is tolerated in any school district ANYWHERE!!!!!
I will not let this drop I don't know what I can do but I plan on fighting this to the fullest extent. We do have a policy for weapons and according to the policy she should have been suspended, but that did not happen.
I am glad that you will not drop this. I have nephews that go to grade school in Longton, and that really makes me angery. I can't believe that they have no weapons policy and bully policy in effect. With all the school shootings that have been going on, what are they thinking. It can happen in little school just the same as big ones. We have had at least 2 threats at West Elk School, and we as parents were notified the first time. It was done on the internet on the school web page, and we as parents had the right to keep our children home and they would be an excused absents. I really would hate to be in your shoes!! It makes me angery thinking about it!! You are doing a great job at not letting this go!! I wonder if the school board needs to revisit their policies!!!!
have you ck'd the handbook to see just exactly what is their policy and just what they consider a weapon? If a box cutter isn't a weapon, then what is? It is used for one purpose and one purpose only. TO CUT. Be sure what their policy is then follow through to make sure it is being enforced. I may not know the whole story, but from what I've read here neither the principal, the sheriff nor the school board are doing a sufficient job of protecting students. If this girl is so terrified that she feels unsafe at school, how can she concentrate on learning? Evidently the parents of the girl that made the threat are not concerned about their daughter's behavior. They need to remember that what goes around comes around. If this girl should end up behind bars in a few years you can bet your bottom dollar the parents will be saying "we tried to raise her to be a good adult" - and expect sympathy because they will be so sure that it is someone else's fault. I don't think so . . . .
I agree with you Flo, obviously the girl's parents are not going to own up to their daughter's behavior...Will they when she seriously hurts somebody?
Keep pushing Chey!
Quote from: flo on March 12, 2008, 09:56:00 AM
have you ck'd the handbook to see just exactly what is their policy and just what they consider a weapon? If a box cutter isn't a weapon, then what is? It is used for one purpose and one purpose only. TO CUT. Be sure what their policy is then follow through to make sure it is being enforced. I may not know the whole story, but from what I've read here neither the principal, the sheriff nor the school board are doing a sufficient job of protecting students. If this girl is so terrified that she feels unsafe at school, how can she concentrate on learning? Evidently the parents of the girl that made the threat are not concerned about their daughter's behavior. They need to remember that what goes around comes around. If this girl should end up behind bars in a few years you can bet your bottom dollar the parents will be saying "we tried to raise her to be a good adult" - and expect sympathy because they will be so sure that it is someone else's fault. I don't think so . . . .
Yes i have read the handbook and it does not describe what is considered a weapon. It says that ANY devise, object, or substance that, in fact, or under the circumstances & manner in which it is used, can reasonably be considered sufficient to cause serious property damage or cause serious bodily harm will be considered a weapon. Guns, knives, destructive devices or anyfacsimle of a weapon are not allowed at school, on school property or school activities. Violation of the rule could result in confinscation of the weapon & legal action against the student. Possession of a firearm or destructive devise shall result in expulsion from school for a period of one year. If any weapon is used to threaten or intimidate a student or staff memeber, a long term suspension will result. Should a weapon be used to attack a student or staff member, expulsion will result. When warrented, it will be referred to the police.
That is word for word what the handbook says!!!!!
there you have it - a box cutter was used to threaten - it can cause great bodily harm and therefore long term suspension and/or legal action is called for. If you don't get satisfaction locally, time to seek a legal opinion. The school is exempt from lawsuits, or used to be, but that student, the princial as a person and the school board members as private citizens are not exempt, and they are responsible for carrying out the rules set forth in the handbook.
Have you checked back with the police?? What is there take on this? I think, you could seek legal action against the girl. My niece and one of her friends stuck another girls head in the toilet at the school that they go to. I was so ashamed of her, but I didn't raise her. Anyway, the police took statements and told my sister that the other girls parents have up to 3 years to press charges against my niece. I feel that you have just as good of case as the other parents.
Quote from: flo on March 12, 2008, 11:30:14 AM
there you have it - a box cutter was used to threaten - it can cause great bodily harm and therefore long term suspension and/or legal action is called for. If you don't get satisfaction locally, time to seek a legal opinion. The school is exempt from lawsuits, or used to be, but that student, the princial as a person and the school board members as private citizens are not exempt, and they are responsible for carrying out the rules set forth in the handbook.
I agree with you too, Flo!! Cheryl I am thinking about you!! and your daughter, no child should go to school and be afraid to be there!!!!
If the child is threatening to stab or cut other children she needs counseling and if her parent refuses to let her then the parent needs counseling.
A tip from the past, when you talk to the Principal about the other children's safety make sure that he knows that you are "TELLING HIM, NOT THREATENING HIM" if your child does get hurt.
I hope you will continue to keep pressure on the School Board concerning the safety of the other children and making one set of rules for all.
One thing you could do is type up a letter detailing exactly what has happened and what the principal has done so far and hand it out to all the parents who have children in the school, the more people who know the more pressure on the principal to do something
Just checking in to see how things are going with this situation. I hope you are getting results!! Please keep us posted!!
Quote from: angtown3 on March 13, 2008, 01:17:40 PM
Just checking in to see how things are going with this situation. I hope you are getting results!! Please keep us posted!!
Well no results were made and yesterday while at work my daughter called and said that the girl was talking to her friend and they were talking about how they wished that they had a gun. That was it the police were called and my dad went to get my daughter out of there. By the time I got there from Independence two officers were there and my dad and the principal were discussing what is considered a weapon and we repeatedly ask him to show us were the definition of a weapon was in the policy and he wouldn't. The police officers agree with us and so do most of the staff at Elk Valley. So today I took off work and went and checked Cheyenne out of Elk Valley and enrolled her in the Cherryvale diploma center. Wow what a great program and it was the best $200.00 I will ever spend!!!! I have cried so much this week I thought that I was having a nervous breakdown. Now I can go to work and have peace of mind that Cheyenne is safe and sound at home doing her schooling right here in the seat that I am in right now. Sad thing is now the girl will pick someone else to bully and some other child and parent will go through the same hell that we have just went through.I used to think that I was a strong person but this has taught me that I am not as strong as I thought. Cheyenne will graduate with the Cherryvale seniors and be able to walk across the stage with them and recieve her diploma. The police have been great and so has the staff at
Elk Valley it is just the principal who is a blankity blank blank. You know the sad thing is that I was born and raised her and have always been proud of my community but now I am very bitter and hate it here. Times have changed and most children now have no morals and values anymore and it saddens me to be raising my daughters in this society, but I will keep instilling good values in them and hopefully they will never act like thugs. Oh yea and I forgot to mention the girls mother was going to the Elk County court house today to get a restraining order placed on Cheyenne for stalking her daughter!!!!!!! I don't even care anymore she can act like the fool that she is and all I have to say to this family is that Karma is a b*tch and they will pay the ultimate price one day.
How far in the mud does this mother have her head buried? I hope you have copies of the reports that were taken by the police each time that you talked to them. I don't know how old your daughter is but I am sorry that she has had to give up her classmates because of this person. And hope other parents are aware of the danger their children are in.
I am so sorry she had to leave the school but must be for the best. Even words used in a threatening way are enough to expell a student in most schools. Where did this principal come from? Hopefully, the parents of the remaining students will be aware of the activity going on at Elk Valley. So where are the school board members? Sleeping.......... You must have made the correct decision for your child's safety.
Aren't Elk Valley schools a part of the state public school system? If you have not received some sort of satisfaction from the principal and have then progressed to the school board and they have not dealt with the issue...I suggest that you contact the State Dept. of Education. Go online to the state board website and start cruising the site until you come up with contact names and email addresses. Email them. Call them. There might even be some information on safety issues Do a search within that website on anything they have posted for "safety in schools", etc.
www.ksde.org
Just because you have removed your child from that school, do not let the issue stop there. Proceed to a higher level that hopefully will have better "listening skills" to deal with the threat. It's law that our children have to attend school. As far as I am concerned it's criminal that principal will not formally deal with the situation. There is no excuse for violence in our schools. Bullying is not acceptable. Don't let it end with the principal and local school board.
surely by now enough has come to light that there will be a thorough investigation on all sides of this issue and corrections made where appropriate to clarify wording that is left unclear in this handbook and that all rules in this handbook will be strictly enforced by the school administration. This incident happened at school, but was there an off-premises underlying cause. No excuse, but needs to be investigated to maybe get to the heart of this issue. This is where, I am sure, local law enforcement comes into play. Again, I feel the principal was wrong in the way this was handled, but remember, we have only heard one side of the story. Yes, children need to feel safe when they are in the care of teachers and personnel, and parents have the right to expect this same safety for their children. Perhaps Elk Valley needs to install metal detectors, if that's the only way to keep these children from feeling threatened. If this was caused by an off-premises situation, either between the girls or the parents, then shame on the whole bunch for blaming the school.... (I'm sure this will not sit well with a lot of forum friends :-\ but I am exercising my right to state my opinion and to change my opinion if I feel it necessary. Not afraid to contridict myself when "reading between the lines" warrents a change of a previous opinion.)
Very good point, Flo! After raising eight girls (with a few strays stuck in the group) and several grandchildren, I do know that there are times the whole truth does not always merge immediately. This is one reason the trial and jury systems works so well.
As parents we do want to believe our children.
I kinda of see where you are coming from Flo, but the has to be a point where the girl that brought the box cutter to school should be in trouble. To me that is a weapon anyway that you look at it. You are right we have not heard both sides of the story. I have children, too. But I have to tell you, from being a teacher I make sure and try to get the whole story before going to the school with information. I know that a few weeks ago, my daughter came home limping with a huge bruise on her leg. She told me that a 5th grade boy kicked her. I was hot!! I did not understand why an older kid, a boy none the less, had kicked my daughter hard enough to leave a bruise. But before I contacted the school, I asked several times why the boy kicked her, she finally told me that she kicked him first. I then told her that if she kicked him, then why did she not expect him to kick her back? She needs to learn that if she hits someone, or kicks someone that they can and just might get her back. I am not trying to be a mean parent, but she really needs to learn this lesson. Life is so full of ups and downs, it is how you deal with the situations. It has been a tough school year for my daughter, but you know, I can't hold her hand forever. She needs to know that.
I am not saying that the other situation is anywhere near the same, but the girl had a weapon. Threatning to hurt another student, not matter if the other girl called the other girl ever name in the book, you should have rules that prohibit weapons and threats in schools. With all the school killings, I think that we need to really look into all of this. Bullying seems to be the underlying thing in all the school shootings, I am not for sure about all of them but some. I remember teasing others, but to the point where the kids were afraid to come to school? No!! Bullying is a true problem in schools. We as parents need to address this issue with our kids. I try and remind my children everyday!! Maybe one of these days they will understand why. But alot of the bullying comes from peer pressure to!! They want to fit in at any cost. I again try to tell my girls, that we are all different people and we all can't look or dress alike!! But I never thought that my daughter would recongnize big or small kids. Did you know that when she was in 2nd grade someone called he fat. She is now in 4th grade and only weighs 63 pounds, now come on, she wasn't or isn't fat. I think that is way to young.
To all of you that have raised your children already, I commend you. I would much rather have raised kids in the 50's and 60's then now!! To much press all the way around!! I can't spank my child in public, but they can throw a fit in public. Come on, I have learned that the way that I was raised is the best way to raise my children. I have to admit, my children have had spankings and I am not afraid to give them one. I had many, many, many while I was growing up. I am still alive, it didn't damage me, well at least I don't think it did.
Ok, I got off the subject. I wrote a book so I'll go. Don't let this go!!! The girl deserves some sort of punishment for taking a box cutter to school!!!
The number for Kansas School Safety Hotline is 1-877-626-8203.
The district my kids are in prints this number on the school calendar. Perhaps this is something that could be added to your school calendars.
Good for you, Angie! Good to hear that you took the time to find out the "real" story from your daughter, rather than just jumping down someone's throat first. And it's good that your daughter understood that telling a lie could get her in even more trouble (not to mention the other boy).
I think that we're teaching kids to lie... examine your own life; even just a little white lie that a child hears you tell can teach them it's OK to lie. For example; you don't feel like going to a neighbor's house, so when they call, you just tell them you don't feel well... or the kids are sick... or you're busy... And when your kids hear that; they think it's OK to lie. And they don't understand the difference in a white lie or a big lie!
Kjell is going to throttle me for responding to this..( we both agreed to stay out of it..) and I wasn't going to post at all... but I have to...will just say this one thing..
The box cutter isn't to blame.. My god.. are we going to paranoid out on every single thing that can be used to hit or hurt someone?
It could have been her fist.. it could have been a rock from outside...or a ball bat or a potato peeler. It could have been a number of items.. that are used on a daily basis for something..
I understand that a box cutter is the same as a knife..and no.. I am NOT condoning using any kind of object to threaten to hurt someone.. and schools and the society of kids are "different"..
But listen..........when I was in school... all the boys carried pocket knives and some even had pliers and snap blade knives on their belts.... and 21st century sin of all sin... Some had their rifles in their back windows of their trucks .
Was their fights? Occasionally.. But you can bet that if there was.. that person got in BIG trouble at school and HUGE DOUBLE trouble when they got home. THAT was part of the reason kids were better acting..cause the parents were part of the solution and NOT part of the problem.
And yes... there is ALWAYS 2 sides to every story.
Sometimes there are just mean hateful people.. that have to constantly be doing mean things.
I was "threatened" when I was in school once by some upper class girls and they were going to beat me up. They put chewing gum in my hair.. They took scissors and cut one of my gym blouses up. ( threatened to take the scissors and cut off all my hair.. ) They tore up my papers. They poured fingernail polish in my purse..etc etc... That lasted about a week. Was I terrified? Yes.. and the principal did what he could ..but gum or scissors were certainly not banned. The other side of the story was.. I was a freshman and these girls were seniors and it seemed that I was getting the attention of their boyfriends... so they decided to "get even " with me.. ::) They got in pretty serious trouble.. but the concentration was on WHAT they did.. not on what they used to do it.
Which brings me to my next statement.......
The problem is the PERSON using the "item".
The person is the problem...and in this case.. the parents are the problem also. Too many school officials and parents use the (http://www.rightnation.us/forums/style_emoticons/default/00000506.gif)..
I understand we all believe or want to believe our kids. ( I have been there done that) so I know. But we all know deep inside if your child is a hellion... :-\ so I think it is the parents job to wake up and start to take charge.
I thin the public needs to concentrate on the people involved .. Take care of the lawbreakers..and use the laws that are in effect..make them stick ... We keep freaking out and banning all of the items that people are getting their hands on, there won't be a single sharp thing left to use other than a rubber spatula..
( unless someone beats the hell out of someone with it..then they will remove those from the kitchens too)
((I also know that times have changed and society is cranking out more sick and demented people every day.. and I also know that I have opened up a huge can of worms . But like Flo said.. It's just my opinion. )
Whew............... I got carried away and I have no idea if that made any sense and I am not going to go back and read it .. cause I know I will try to change it and I will most likely STILL sound like a babbling fool.
And Kjell is going to "ban ME" :police: from posting ever again. :-X
Teresa, maybe you can post under an assumed name 8) incognito, cause we do need your input. One last comment then I'm off this subject. I raised three girls and believe me they were not angels and the older they get the more I find this out. Something about laughing while you tell mom what you did when you were in highschool, knowing I can't ground them now. But at the time they were in high school, marijuana was a big thing and yes, they tried it, and yes, they got caught. The guilty one was made to watch Dad flush it down the stool. One parent told me thank God her child would never do drugs. Know what I told her? Get her head out of the sand cause her child was no different than any other, mine included. Mine were red blooded americans and I knew if it could be tried, they would be right in the middle of it. As far as I know they never done anything to hurt themselves or anyone else, but entirely innocent all the time???? I don't think so.
Like I posted... " I've been there done that!" But you ALWAYS wanted so bad to believe your kids.
Lord.. Danny was for the most part a very very easy child to raise. Did well in school.. top in sports. popular with a good crowd.. never got in trouble too much. ( Now I know that he just didn't get caught ::) ) But He DID take his dads truck and ran into the drivers Ed car at about 4 in the morning. THAT was a mess. He lied of course and Mark investigated bumper marks and dents and etc etc.. and we KNEW he had done it.. and finally... he confessed.. but we pretty much had him cornered.. And yep.. he got in big bad trouble. He had to spend evenings sanding out the dents in the Dr. Ed car and body filling in the dents..and after that.. he wasn't so keen on lying...
Then along came Derek and I got paid back 100X for every single thing I did plus every single thing Mark did .. plus all that my dad did and what Marks dad did in the teenage years. my my my but he was a handful... I got to where I KNEW that whatever happened in the day that there was 2 sides to the story..
I can "kinda" laugh now.. but raising him to become the wonderful man he is now was a tremendous challenge.
sighhhhh.. Flo... I hear ya..
To hear all the stuff that BOTH boys did ... Lordy..makes my hair curl.... :o
It also makes me wonder.. Just where the hell was I and WHY didn't I realize or know any of this was going on.. ? And I always thought I was right on top of things as a mother..
:-\ ::)
yep - and how did they ever survive some of the stunts they pulled to be adults. When the girls got old enough to have drivers licenses, we let them bring the car to Howard "to the movies". HA HA Ha = learned in later years that there wasn't a car in elk county that could outrun ours >:( - so that explained the mud on TOP of the car when the only place they had been was to the movies. (pavement both directions) ;D ;D and I thought sneaking out somewhere to smoke a cigarette was being big and bad ::) ::)
Ok I feel that my daughter and I are being attacked her now. I am not a perfect person and neither is my daughter. I have made mistakes in my life and so have my kids. MY KIDS ARE NOT PERFECT AND I NEVER SAID THAT THEY WERE!!! Has my daughter lied to me ....yes but never about serious things. Do I believe her when she tells me that this girl said that she wanted to stab my daughter..YES...have the girls fought in the past...YES....and when they fought did i go to this girls house and beat on the front door and curse her daughter out and call her names that i will not ever put on here...no but this girls mother did just that when the girls were 13 and my daguhter called hers the B word. Was that the only nasty word said ...no...did my daughter get grounded..yes she was punished...did hers...no. Did ever call her daughter a whore like this girls step father did mine...no...when the girls fought when they both worked at McDonalds did i curse at her then..no I made my daughter quit her job so that they would not be around each other since they could not get along. Did I go into the principals office and curse at him and act like a crazy woman ....no I did not do that. I have cried and cried while in the because my daughter was truly scared. Cheyenne is not a bad kid and by no means is she perfect but she does have remorse when she does something wrong. The police are trying to do something but not one kid will step forward and admit that all of this happened...why??...because who wants a bully to turn on them next !!!! This girl carried the pepper spray due to being jumped in another twon.....Huh my daughter does not need to cary pepper spray because she does not go places and cause trouble. When I went with her to every classroom the teachers all were sad to see Cheyenne leaving...and alot of the kids told her that they loved her. My daughter was class president for 5 years. If she was that bad of a kid why would her peers elect her for such an honor??
As for my character. My maiden name is Stacy Edwards and I have alot of family here in Elk County. I have lived in Longton all 38 years of my life. I have been married twice and have two wonderful daughters. I also have a young lady living with me who has been in foster care for most of her life and wanted to come back here asnd live with me. I am raising this girl without any help from the state. I tell my kids daily and several times a day that I love them. When they are wrong they get punished. I am not a perfect mother but I am a big enough person to tell my kids I'm sorry when I am wrong. So I guess that there are two sides to everything and everyone is intitled to their own opinion. I just had to get my two cents in and defend my character and my morals.
:-XI have no children so cannot speak first-hand! However, it doesn't take an Einstein to realize
the injustice here. Speaking from 2nd. hand experience, a family members daughter, left West Elk for
similar reasons, went to Longton only to be bullied and threatened there as well, as a result quit
because of threats against her and being told they were watching her and she better be on the lookout
when driving because they know her car. Her biggest problem, and I should make that paranthetical, is
two-fold, she is a very pretty girl [jealousy] and very friendly and outgoing [a threat] both threats
to those who don't get along with others.
Keep trying, I know justice will prevail! Our collective prayers are for and with you! Amen. :police:
Quote from: Knut on March 14, 2008, 09:16:00 PM
:-XI have no children so cannot speak first-hand! However, it doesn't take an Einstein to realize
the injustice here. Speaking from 2nd. hand experience, a family members daughter, left West Elk for
similar reasons, went to Longton only to be bullied and threatened there as well, as a result quit
because of threats against her and being told they were watching her and she better be on the lookout
when driving because they know her car. Her biggest problem, and I should make that paranthetical, is
two-fold, she is a very pretty girl [jealousy] and very friendly and outgoing [a threat] both threats
to those who don't get along with others.
Keep trying, I know justice will prevail! Our collective prayers are for and with you! Amen. :police:
thanks Knut and I know who you are talking about and her dad is my dads cousin. Also you are right she is a VERY beautiful girl and I was so sad and ashamed of Elk Valley kids when she had to leave the school and be home schooled also.
It was certainly not my intention to make light of your problem. I apologize if that is the way it came accross. I think Teresa and I may have gotten off the path talking about things our kids pulled when they were growing up. How could I judge either you and your daughter or the other family when I don't know you. That would be presumptous on my part. I am familiar with the Edwards' around Elk Falls and Longton, but whether this is part of your family or not, I do not know. They could and could not be because my maiden name is Edwards and no relation to them that I know of. Again, if my postings have hurt your feelings, I again apoligize and shall refrain from stating my opinions so openly on the forum. I sometimes get carried away with stating my mind too openly. Sure helps keep the BP down, tho. ;D
Quote from: flo on March 14, 2008, 10:55:51 PM
It was certainly not my intention to make light of your problem. I apologize if that is the way it came accross. I think Teresa and I may have gotten off the path talking about things our kids pulled when they were growing up. How could I judge either you and your daughter or the other family when I don't know you. That would be presumptous on my part. I am familiar with the Edwards' around Elk Falls and Longton, but whether this is part of your family or not, I do not know. They could and could not be because my maiden name is Edwards and no relation to them that I know of. Again, if my postings have hurt your feelings, I again apoligize and shall refrain from stating my opinions so openly on the forum. I sometimes get carried away with stating my mind too openly. Sure helps keep the BP down, tho. ;D
I guess my wounds are still fresh and I apoligize but i just wanted to get the facts out there. I never want to go through this living hell again. I guess there are just no words to explain the feeling of your child being threatened. I know that lots of boys carry pocket knives and that as long as they are not flashing it and making threats to stab someone then they are not a problem. Yes my family is the Edwards' in Longton and Elk Falls . Once again I'm sorry just some fresh wounds here, and very bitter towards the principal. Pretty bad when his own staff have no faith in him and feel that he is in the wrong on this.
I am the same era of school that Teresa is and I agree on how things were for our age group ... 38 years or so ago. I agree that parents today should take a more pro-active role in monitoring, disciplining their children (along with the nurturing, loving, and guiding). BUT....
I still think that the local school district has a huge responsibility to make sure they maintain a SAFE learning environment for all students. I think that local school district has a legal responsibility to act upon situations that breach that safe environment. As parents we have a legal responsibility to make sure that our children are educated. We also have a legal responsibility to make sure our children are safe AT ALL times...no matter where they are, who they are with. A threat made with box knife in hand...that IS a safety concern. It shouldn't be made less of, it should not be ignored. Unfortunately what worked 38 years ago won't work today.
Cheyronni I really do hope that you will pursue this beyond the local school district. You might be surprised how interested the state level department of education would be in what has taken place. Remember your tax dollars at work, you do have a say.
My apologies, too! I was speaking in reference to the "other" child and probably the lies that were told to that parent. I think all of us who have responded to you were "rooting" you on and trying to share our opinions and fears with the system and society today. There is no one who knows and understands the situation like you do... and none of us can fully share in your frustration, sorrow, and anger. We can just be here for a sounding board... and to throw our 2 cents worth in, too. Again, sometimes when we get on a "rant", it's hard to keep the real issue in focus, and for that I apologize. Keep protecting your child and your family, and we're sorry this incident has happened in such a small community!
Tobina,
Very well stated!
I bet you are angry, I know I was. My daughter was in a class of 325 students. The administration did not take lightly to any treat against another student. If it was taken care of in large school district, I can not understand why this was not addressed in a very small school district. The Principal and the Sheriff should have jumped right on the problem.
I only hope you made out a complaint with the Sheriff in writing and then followed up on how it was being handled. I would turn the Principal in to the St. Board of Education. Not living in the area it sounds like he is afraid of the girl and her family.
So hang in there and get this taken care of, do not let them beat you.
Army Mom
I too, apologize. I want you to get justice, too. I know, first hand, how parents like that can be. They are the ones that don't think there children do anything wrong. I would love to believe that my children do nothing wrong. But I know much better than that. I told my husband when our middle child started school, that if she said any bad words at school he was going to be the first one to go to the principal's office and take care of it. She used to go feed cows, and work cattle with him, and you know the language that they use. But thankfully, we have got that problem undercontrol before she started school. But I know about wanting to keep your children safe. I had a situation while I was teaching. I don't want to get into that, but I really did all that I could for the children, and no upper level support. It stinks, but you as the parent have the right to protect your child anyway that you see fit. It is just ashame that you had to pull her out of public school to do this!!! :( :( :(
I have got on the forum in the last 2 days with the express interest of following up with you! Then I got waylaid in the Political section...
Anyway, how is your daughter getting along in her new school? Is she still on track to graduate with all her credits? Will she be attending college or tech school? I hope she's adjusted well; that cannot be easy on her!!! Any further headway with the old school and school officials? Keep after 'em!
I am very sorry for your situation and sorry your daughter won't graduate with the classmates she has known and grown up with. I am, however, relieved that she is in a safe learning environment and will complete her high school education.
I know of this situation only because of what is written here. I am extremely disappointed in the Principal, but most of all the school board. That is the body that is elected by the people to run the school. The Principal of a school is paid by tax dollars, YOUR tax dollars. He is accountable for both his actions (inactions) and his policies, as are the members of the school board.
I think your restraint is admirable Stacy. If I were in your shoes I would probably be in more trouble with the law than everyone else combined in the situation! I probably would have had an executive session with this principle to see how he liked being bullied :o. (I think that would be the redneck coming out in me.)
I have tolerance for many things and many types of stupidity, but you best not mess with my family and especially not my kid.
Wow, stuff like this is everywhere now it seems. My daughter goes to a county-wide high school down here and they have had 3 bomb scares so far this year. The first one was a senior girl that just didn't want to go to school, so instead of just skippin like we would've done, she called in a bomb threat FROM the pay-phone in the school! Boggles my mind...they evacuated, I had 3 or 4 heartattacks then they called the all clear, there never was a bomb. The next Monday tho there WAS a homemade device found lit in the jr. high right behind the high school and the next day another one stuffed in a backpack in the high school. The first girl was suspended and arrested but nobody knows where the others came from. It destroys your peace of mind in lettin your kid go to school every morning. She wanted to keep goin tho, says she ain't scared, but I am. How did kids get so messed up? When I was in school if you had a beef you had a wrestlin match or a hair pullin contest and got over it. Whoever got the whuppin didn't go home and get a gun and shoot you! If you weren't exactly friends when it was over at least you agreeded to disagree and went your merry way! God, sounds like I'm gettin ready to say "back in the good ol days sonny........." LOL
Being a former teacher myself, I have been watching all this with great interest, as serious school violence has increased so much over the years.
Cheyonni, if you could have had your druthers, how would you have liked this incident to have been handled? Should the child have been moved to another teacher? To another school? Suspended? Expelled? What is the child's home situation?...some kids like that are desperate for attention. Had there been similar problems with this child before or since? Was the offending child herself bring bullied by someone else? Were the parents willing to come in for a sit down? Violence counseling? I know around here some teachers can get desensitised to certain behaviors because they are dealing with them so often. You should not have had to move your child to another school. But someone has to consider behavior modification for the other little girl...ya can't just toss her on the scrap heap. But that's not for you to have to deal with. What would have satisfied you? I'm so sorry you've had to go through all this.
I think alot of the violence comes from the home situation. I know that my children watch tv. Yes, but we try to talk to them about what they see on tv. We do own guns and the girls have seen the dad use them. But they are taught right from wrong. They are disaplined, when needed, and most importantly taught right from wrong. I think this is the problem in schools today. Yes, my oldest has seen the news and now reads alot of bad stuff in the paper. But she and I discuss what she sees and what she reads. I am not a perfect parent by no means, but I feel that you have to be involved in your childrens education and school. I sometimes feel sorry for those kids who have no attention at home. I have taught before too. It was at Moline. I had a kid whose parents thought the child did no wrong. He would hit the other kids at school and be really rough. When the parents were called on this, there comment was well he does it at home with his brother. Well, as a teacher and Parent I wanted to say,"You need to teach your child that at school we don't do that." But I didn't. I continued having problems with this child. And the parents didn't see that there was any problem. Do you see where I am going with this? If the parents don't see a problem how are the kids????
But I do hope that your daughter is getting along good and you have a better piece of mind, cheyronni. I would have to say, I don't really know what I would have done in your situation. And I feel that you have done what is best for you and your child.
Diane, you are so very right about about the other girl. I worry that she is in a bad situation at home, or some where. And if she is bullying one child, there are more that she probably is doing the same to. You are right about teachers becoming desensitised with certain behaviors. Because there are more and more children with problems these days. It is sad!!! :'(
Well, let me put in my two cents worth. cheyronni, you need to stay on top of this. It sounds like the officers are doing their jobs just fine. However; if you don't stay on top of this, it may linger on a desk in the prosecutor's office. Keep in touch with the sheriff and I am sure that something will be done to the best of the officers abilities. I don't remember who the principal is at Elk Valley and that is not the issue. The issue is that he needs to do his job and do it correctly. This young person needs to have her behavior checked and doing it in court is sometimes the best way to do it. Sometimes not, but in my experience, most of the time, yes.
Just wanted to give everyone and update on what is going on in our little world. Cheyenne is depressed and misses her friends and is feeling very isolated at ome all the time. She is upset that she will not be getting to go to prom and I told her that we will go to the movies that night and just the two of us will spend the evening together. As uncool as a mom can be this seemed to make her happy that she will have some special time with mom. As for the school I will be going to the school board meeting on 4-14-08 and will probably be treated like crap but I want to let them know that there must be a change made. My other daughter come home from school this week and said that a boy was suspended this week for taking his pocket knife out and flashing it around. So either the rules have changed or the pricipal did not liek this child??? I don't know but I have not stopped yet and I have not done much but I had to take care of Cheyenne first and now I am ready to fight this. I will let the school board talk and if they do not satisfy me I plan on contacting every memeber of the Kansas school board of education. So just an update. If anyone wants to come support me Monday night at the school board meeting feel free to show up.....lol.....ok just pray that they listen to what I have to say.
Good luck on Monday!!! Show them what you've got!
Tell Cheyenne to hang in there. School's almost over, and there's much bigger and better and more important things out there after high school. This should only make her stronger and encourage her will to survive in a mean, cold world. She should be thankful for having such a strong, loving, and caring mother who will stand up in front of the dreaded school board for her! Even though she may not understand your actions now; there will be a day she'll thank you. (This coming from a former mom-hater b/c she'd NEVER let me do anything cool... and now I thank her daily for instilling such good morals in my life!)
Thank you Tobina !! I don't know if I have the courage and strength to stand up and talk to them but I will do it for my children and everyone else's children that are stuck in such a bad invironment like Elk Valley. I think sometimes we all think well that would never happen in Elk County OUR kids would never kill anyone. I think that with all of the bullying that goes on now and the pattern that the children are taken with killing those that hurt them that our small town attitudes need to change or it may be one of us watching our child lowered in the cold earth in a pine box. I don't know why the kids react with such violence but lets face it folks it is not the good old days anymore.