| Author |
Message |
    
Cam1
| | Posted on Saturday, February 17, 2001 - 2:47 pm: |     |
Yesterday I called 911 to report a riot-like fight among approximately 20 high school students on Plymouth Ave. at about 4p.m. One student was apparently unconscious, lying in the middle of the road, another was attempting to hit someone with a brick, and several more were brawling or trying to help the injured boy. After about 5 minutes several police cars and officers arrived along with an ambulance, and most of the kids dispersed. It was horrifying to see such a scene in one's own neighborhood, it was especially bad because my kids witnessed it too. Are things like this happening in other parts of town too? There have been several more minor fights in this area, and many incidents of the students blocking traffic, but nothing like this that I am aware of.
Does anyone have any suggestions about how to mobilize the police? or the school to make such incidents less likely to occur? It really makes my neighborhood feel less safe to me and my kids. |
Lseltzer
| | Posted on Saturday, February 17, 2001 - 4:56 pm: | |
I know a lot of others here claim they never see such things, but I've seen many fights among Columbia students walking home. I'm usually home then. It's typically worse when the weather's good, I suppose for obvious reasons. I've called 911 a couple of times because of it. |
Lseltzer
| | Posted on Saturday, February 17, 2001 - 4:57 pm: | |
I should add I've never seen anyone use a weapon (a brick included) or anyone even get hurt, but that doesn't matter to me. If you swing your fists at someone you're trying to hurt them. |
Mem
| | Posted on Monday, February 19, 2001 - 10:52 am: | |
I have posted before about my dad getting rocks thrown at him and abuse shouted at him while walking on Parker. I don't think this behavior can be excused, my dad has live here for almost 40 years and has never seen anything like the way it's been lately. |
John
| | Posted on Monday, February 19, 2001 - 12:26 pm: | |
Does anyone know if it is the same group of kids all the time? What is usually done in these situations(what are the consequences)? |
Deadwhitemale
| | Posted on Monday, February 19, 2001 - 3:39 pm: | |
It is the Board of Education and the Superintendent who turn the blind eye.
There is an election in April, and the issue should be raised in the faux debates.
DWM |
Nakaille
| | Posted on Monday, February 19, 2001 - 4:08 pm: | |
Dead: what exactly do you think the BOE should be doing about fights off school property after school hours? What jurisdiction do you think they have????!!! Please cite some NJ legal codes or case law for us ignoramuses here.
Bacata |
Nakaille
| | Posted on Monday, February 19, 2001 - 4:10 pm: | |
Cam1 - you did the right thing and the sooner the better. I've had to call the police a couple of times myself, not just right after school hours, either. Evenings and weekends. Usually the kids scatter pretty quickly but the police are very responsive in my experience.
Bacata |
Cam1
| | Posted on Monday, February 19, 2001 - 8:10 pm: | |
Bacata-Yes the police are responsive when they are called. But, what I am looking for is some sort of preventive measure, I want some kind of police patrol or something to keep these fights and the general tone of intimidation from happening. Has anyone heard of measures like this being taken before? It is a scary time of day on my street, and it needs to stop. |
Cfa
| | Posted on Monday, February 19, 2001 - 8:37 pm: | |
DWM.....GEEZ! You'll find any excuse to bash the BOE. |
Nakaille
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2001 - 6:29 am: | |
Exactly, CFA. DWM probably thinks they should be investigated for the murder of that poor woman on Richmond as well. After all, she was a teacher (at Kent Place but let's not get hung up on details). Isn't anything that is wrong in Maplewood the fault of the BOE or the Superintendant? Maybe they're behind the failure of Arizona Burrito, too?
Bacata |
John
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2001 - 9:00 am: | |
Bacata, CFA- DWM may have a point on this one. Not to say that it is solely the responsibility of the schools· These kids are going home from SCHOOL and, although the BOE may not have jurisdiction over the territory, there may be something the schools can implement to correct the problem. Are the schools notified of who is causing problems on the way home? What about the parents, have they been notified of the problems their children are causing? Do the police keep a record to see if we have repeat offenders? This is one of those cases where if you just pass the blame nothing will ever get done. However, if all work together (PARENTS, Teachers, police, BOE, Administration, TC, Home owners·) there may be a solution to the problem. |
Manley
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2001 - 9:22 am: | |
My son told me that the rule at Columbia is a suspension if caught fighting on the way home from school.If you have any trouble with students, call Mr. Bailey the Dean of Students at 378-2993. |
Overtaxdalready
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2001 - 10:10 am: | |
Thanks John and Manley. I'm sure there is something the school can do about it. Not sure what the point was of all the sarcasm from the other posts. |
Cam1
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2001 - 11:27 am: | |
Thanks Manley, I will call Mr. Bailey on Monday. I will also call police chief and the mayor. I have had enough. I moved here for peace and security, and as it turns out, to some degree I felt safer in the City. |
John
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2001 - 11:56 am: | |
Does anyone know if there is the same rule in place for the Middle School and Elementary schools? Any numbers to call? Does this rule only apply to those caught fighting or does it encompass all delinquent behavior? |
Cam1
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2001 - 12:32 pm: | |
Also does anyone have ideas on how to address this issue without inflaming the racial divide that already exists? I think that this needs to be a community building effort somehow. |
John
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2001 - 1:49 pm: | |
I can't see any reason why this should inflame any racial divide. It should be a simple matter that any such incidents should be reported to the schools and the parents of the offending students. The primary responsibility for correcting such behavior rests with the parents, thus they should be notified. The Schools responsibility is to be certain they reduce the possibility of such occurrences, thus they should be notified. It would seem reasonable that a student is suspended in such a case as long as the parents are notified and a solution is worked out.
And you are correct Cam1- it should be a community building effort somehow-
Let us not look at the race, gender, or anything else. Lets look for a solution to the problem. If there is in fact an incident, there is a consequence (for anyone). That is why I ask if there is such a rule in place for all the schools. |
P_Man
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2001 - 3:38 pm: | |
Cam1-unfortunately we are probably another generation away from not inflaming the racial divide that exists. I heard the fight was among African American students, some from SO. Does anyone know what became of the child who was beaten?
The person in my family who witnessed part of the attack was understandably horrified, but not surprised at the savagery of the beating. This member is from outside of the states and has had limited experiences with people of color (any color). But while here in the states the constant stories on the news and in the paper has made her even more fearful of African Americans. She actually refused to let the gas man into my house one day even though he flashed his credentials, and she's only been here a few months. You can imagine what a life time of exposure will do to some people.
That being said, I now am fearful of the students who use our neighborhoods to pass to and from school. I am fearful for my small son, that he should have to witness this type of behavior, should have to witness the lack of respect for peoples property, witness the lack of respect for common courtesy that these students often show. I regret to say that my child will not grow to attend CHS, not if I can help it. Its a shame because not too many years ago CHS was considered one of the better schools. Now I fear that it has started to succumb to the same problems that plague many inner city schools. And for this I get to pay more in taxes! ;) |
Ucnthndlthtruth
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2001 - 3:57 pm: | |
The point is :
Everyone, the BOE, residents, students etc. has to first acknowledge that there is indeed a problem.
All to frequently in the past, the immediate response has been to deny and vilify.
Point out a problem with after school hoodlum like activity and you'd likely hear,
"Ah c'mon, it's just a bunch of kids playing. maybe it's YOU that has the problem !"
Hope we're moving away from this type of childish rhetoric.
I agree with Cam1. Preventive measures are needed. We, as a community must make it clear that this type of behavior is unacceptable, will not go unnoticed and will not be tolerated.
Bye the way, I was recently told by a school official that the schools are responsible for students from the time they are dismissed until the time they reach their homes. |
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