Violent acts surge at school

[admin]

examiner.gmnews.com/news/2008/1106/front_page/002.html

Violent acts surge at school
Middle school incidents increase during 2007-08
BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer


Incidents of violence and vandalism in the Millstone Township public school system increased from nine during 2006-07 to 14 this past school year.


Superintendent of Schools Mary Anne Donahue reported on violence and vandalism in the school district at the Oct. 27 Board of Education meeting.

According to the report, there were 10 incidents of violence, including two simple assaults on Nov. 21, 2007, and additional simple assaults on May 13 and 21; bullying on Jan. 15 and March 4; three reports of harassment on March 4 and another on Feb. 15. There was one incident of weapon possession on Jan. 28.

Four vandalism incidents occurred, including two reports of property damage on May 9 and two reports on May 19, according to Donahue.



All of the incidents this year took place at the middle school. The school district notified the police of two of the incidents, according to the report.

Thirteen students received short-term suspensions during the last school year as a result of the incidents, and one student received long-term suspension, which is defined as a suspension of 10 or more days. One student received a psychiatric evaluation, according to the report.

Donahue said that, according to statute, schools must identify each incident and student, and submit each student's state identification number in the annual vandalism and violence report. When special needs students are involved in an incident, the school district must write him/her up and include specific information about the incident in his/her education plan, according to Donahue.

Board member Kevin McGovern noted that five of the 14 students cited in the incidents are classified as students with disabilities. He said the number is disproportionate to the student population.

"Is there something we are not doing in terms of educating [these] students?" he asked.

Donahue said the district offers social groups for some of the younger students.

"Special needs students may need a little extra training in what is or is not appropriate," she said.

The superintendent said guidance counselors are working on the issues and the district is taking proactive steps.

McGovern said he did not want to deemphasize the role of parents in the process of bringing the incident number down.

Donahue said that teachers often hear students say they were "only joking" when they make hurtful remarks.

"The message we want to get out is 'if you say it, it's out there,'" she said. "Think before you act."

The board also acknowledged four students who made a public service announcement on cyber-bullying last year for a seventh grade language arts project and showed the video to the public. Sean Cummings, Gabe Gilch, Frank Juba, and Westin Lohne made the video in Rachael Bolen's class as a culminating activity for a drama unit. The students drafted scripts and had to earn an "A" on them in order to acquire the privilege to film.

"This particular group was so driven that they continued drafting and revising their script far beyond class time," Bolen said. "They continuously accepted advice about keeping their audience in mind, the incoming sixth-graders, and toned down the original ending they had written."

Bolen said it's not every day that a language arts teacher finds students willing to invest so much effort into perfecting an assignment.

"They worked equally as hard to film and edit the video and the final result is truly impressive," Bolen said.

[admin]

HA! HA! I bet I got ya! How many readers thought this might be about Freehold Borough Schools?

Instead, this is about a school system that some may consider desirable. Millstone is certainly uppercrust, sort of like a southern Holmdel. But, this just goes to show that all schools have problems. When ever we talk about our own in FB, we should not view ourselves as unique in our challenges.

Speaking of Millstone, the talk on the street is that the drug problem is so bad that the kids are referred to as "Millstoners." I thought those problems were only supposed to happen in lowly towns like ours? Surprise! Surprise!

On a positive note, Millstone is one of the few like FB who has the twenty first century program in their schools.

[admin]

Nov 7, 2008 9:27:17 GMT -5 lisas84 said:

Much of this bad behavior is, to me, the parents' faults. If they can't teach their kids how to behave, this kind of stuff happens. The parents probably gave them "time outs" instead of using the belt on the butt. No wonder these little terrors are running amok.

Nah, its the schools fault. They are raising the little monsters, not the parents. Starting at the age of three, the schools are digging their claws in. Between the pre- K day care, and the after schools programs, the schools see more of the kids than the parents.

And when the schools start teaching things that the parents don't like, the parents run into a "too bad, so sad" attitude. Remember, the people in the schools with all those fancy degrees know whats better for kids than parents do.

And don't dare use a belt! DYFUS will come and get ya! The poor little darling will be scarred for life if you use a belt!

Boy! that felt good! Thumping public education and not including FB. I gotta do this more often. ;D

[bergsteiger]

“According to the report, there were 10 incidents of violence, including two simple assaults on Nov. 21, 2007, and additional simple assaults on May 13 and 21; bullying on Jan. 15 and March 4; three reports of harassment on March 4 and another on Feb. 15. There was one incident of weapon possession on Jan. 28.”

3 fights
6 getting picked on
1 weapon possession
4 vandalisms

Not so bad if you ask me.


"Special needs students may need a little extra training in what is or is not appropriate," she said.””

What is their definition of special needs?



"The message we want to get out is 'if you say it, it's out there,'"

I hope they don't look at my posts ;D

[novillero]

getting "picked on" made it to the papers? What about the kid who called the other glue and himself rubber? In these times when a 4 year old can be charged with sexual harassment, it's hard to put much stock into these "offenses".

These outrages need to be defined a bit more. For instance, for the one item that everyone probably gasped out - a weapon in school, it needs to be answered, was this weapon a gun? or a pocket knife, scissors, home made spear, a stone, a baseball bat? (I used to carry a pocket knife when I was a kid, I also used it to make spears and fancy bows and arrows - were these the weapons here?) Did the kid bring in a hunting knife from home to show his friends, or did he bring a box cutter to shank someone? Was it a knitting needle?

What was the vandalism, carving a name into a tree? No, that's probably a more serious offense these days...

[admin]

Well, it looks like we got ours......

newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2008/1112/front_page/039.html

Local intermediate school reports 12 acts of violence
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer


FREEHOLD — According to administrators in the Freehold Borough K-8 School District, the Freehold Intermediate School had a total of 13 incidents that were reported to the state (one act of vandalism; 12 acts of violence) during the 2007-08 school year.N

o incidents of violence or vandalism were reported at the Freehold Learning Center elementary school or at the Park Avenue Elementary School.

Superintendent of Schools Elizabeth O'Connell reviewed the information concerning violence and vandalism in the schools during a recent meeting of the Board of Education.

O'Connell said there was one incident of vandalism — a shattered window in the boys locker room at the Freehold Intermediate School — that cost $135 to replace.



Also reported at the school was one incident classified as a criminal threat; three fights between students; three incidents for possession of a weapon; three simple assaults for pushing, hitting or shoving in the hallways; and two incidents of harassment or bullying.

"In September 2007 we documented four suspensions, compared to six suspensions in September 2008. In October 2007 we documented 16 suspensions, compared to nine in October 2008. It should also be noted that the offenses leading to suspension in 2008 have been less volatile than those in 2007," the superintendent said.

O'Connell thanked Freehold Intermediate School Principal Nelson Ribon for doing his part to help keep the school running smoothly and without much conflict among the teenagers. She said Ribon has put several programs in place that she believes have helped in monitoring students.

O'Connell said Ribon has increased staff member duty assignments in the hallways, outside in the morning when students are arriving, and in the afternoon when the youngsters are leaving school. He also increased staff presence in the hallways to provide more staff visibility as students are passing from class to class.

Ribon has also initiated a transition and mentoring program for sixth-graders at the school called WEB, "Where Everybody Belongs." The program, started last spring, allows eighth-graders to mentor children who are entering the intermediate school.

O'Connell said Ribon has provided assemblies and guest speakers for the students and he has articulated with the Freehold High School administrators and staff. She said the school district has a good relationship with the Freehold Borough Police Department.

In reacting to the annual report which documents the level of violence and vandalism in the schools, board President Jim Keelan said, "In addition to providing a superior education, Freehold Borough schools continue to provide a safe learning environment for all of our children. Our schools are great. The facts and statistics continue to prove it."

Contact Clare Marie Celano

at [e-mail]

[admin]

Nov 13, 2008 8:14:06 GMT -5 admin said:

Well, it looks like we got ours......

newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2008/1112/front_page/039.html

Local intermediate school reports 12 acts of violence
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer


FREEHOLD — According to administrators in the Freehold Borough K-8 School District, the Freehold Intermediate School had a total of 13 incidents that were reported to the state (one act of vandalism; 12 acts of violence) during the 2007-08 school year.N

o incidents of violence or vandalism were reported at the Freehold Learning Center elementary school or at the Park Avenue Elementary School.

Superintendent of Schools Elizabeth O'Connell reviewed the information concerning violence and vandalism in the schools during a recent meeting of the Board of Education.

O'Connell said there was one incident of vandalism — a shattered window in the boys locker room at the Freehold Intermediate School — that cost $135 to replace.



Also reported at the school was one incident classified as a criminal threat; three fights between students; three incidents for possession of a weapon; three simple assaults for pushing, hitting or shoving in the hallways; and two incidents of harassment or bullying.

"In September 2007 we documented four suspensions, compared to six suspensions in September 2008. In October 2007 we documented 16 suspensions, compared to nine in October 2008. It should also be noted that the offenses leading to suspension in 2008 have been less volatile than those in 2007," the superintendent said.

O'Connell thanked Freehold Intermediate School Principal Nelson Ribon for doing his part to help keep the school running smoothly and without much conflict among the teenagers. She said Ribon has put several programs in place that she believes have helped in monitoring students.

O'Connell said Ribon has increased staff member duty assignments in the hallways, outside in the morning when students are arriving, and in the afternoon when the youngsters are leaving school. He also increased staff presence in the hallways to provide more staff visibility as students are passing from class to class.

Ribon has also initiated a transition and mentoring program for sixth-graders at the school called WEB, "Where Everybody Belongs." The program, started last spring, allows eighth-graders to mentor children who are entering the intermediate school.

O'Connell said Ribon has provided assemblies and guest speakers for the students and he has articulated with the Freehold High School administrators and staff. She said the school district has a good relationship with the Freehold Borough Police Department.

In reacting to the annual report which documents the level of violence and vandalism in the schools, board President Jim Keelan said, "In addition to providing a superior education, Freehold Borough schools continue to provide a safe learning environment for all of our children. Our schools are great. The facts and statistics continue to prove it."

Contact Clare Marie Celano

at [e-mail]

Well, I guess our superior Borough is equal to the lowly Millstone schools. We got our article on bad incidents. Realistically, this article is very good.


Before going further (and on a serious note), I have to admit, off line I hear a great deal of concern from parents about sending their kids to the Intermediate school. I have heard it from parents at both ends, those who do not want their kids to go to the school, and others who are glad their kids are out of middle school. Not long ago, I had received an email that was very disturbing. I often wonder if it is our school, or just a reflection of that age group of kids. When I was in school, I recall middle school being far worse than high school.

And that brings us back to the articles, both of them. By comparison, we are no worse than Millstone which would be recognized as a desirable area. I view the article about our schools as very good. O'Connell did well and Keelan followed through with some very good comments. This shows that they are proactive in not only trying to stem any problems, but also in promoting our schools for the right reasons and not allowing bad press to dictate our reputation.

[bergsteiger]

"Where Everybody Belongs."

That's a real hoot. ;D Too bad that place never existed and never will.