Vandals At Richland
A request was made to post this subject for discussion. What happened at Richland School, what was done and by whom?
posted by Allen Barrett | 8:59 AM
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145 Comments:
By whom: minors so there are no names. The baseball field was valdalized. Seems to be a GCHS-RHS rivalry thing. Nothing big just pranks but still need to be punished.
This may have been pranks to the participants, but major damages were done, enough $$$ amount to constiture a felony charge against offenders. This wasn't harmless and we all know if it was done py students from poor families, a lot more infor would be in the press. Nothing funny to me about vandalizing public property. These "kids" did not throw a few rolls of toilet paper into trees....
One of the prime suspects has already lawyered up. It will be revealing to see how loud money will talk in this situation. It's bought a lot of freedom for the girl so far.
It does not matter who you are or how much money, the law protects minors. No names can be legally published. Yes, they have money but if they did not their name cannot be published in the newspaper so forget calling names here. They are still kids and kids do things. They will probably be made to pay restitution for the damages.
There has never been any hesitancy in the past to print names here. It still amounts to "who you are." She's the valedictorian of GCHS and now trying out to be a cheerleader at the University of Alabama.
Do you really think it's about having a kids name put in the paper< it's not. It's about having the information about the incident, without the kids name, revealed. So far the only thing that's come out is that there was some damage at the school..... At this point it's not even clear that all involved were under eighteen.
This person is not a minor. She is 18 years old.
So why hasn't her named been published again? Can't be her parents have money could it?
Was this done by only one person and her a girl?
The main three are all 18 years old. There are seven of them. They went in shifts and alot of kids who WEREN'T involved are still getting questioned.
It's still a good question...if any are 18, why haven't they been named publicly. Most know who is the main suspect, but I am very curious that anytime this situation is mentioned, it is discussed as though she were acting alone. No doubt, money and Pulaski politcs are keeping her name quiet; If it were an "unknown" who was 18, it would be on the front page! The editor of the paper and the managers of WKSR are cowards for not giving this incident more publicity. They may say they are waiting until the investigation is complete, but that wouldn't be the case if these students weren't from prominent families. I'm surprised that the press in this county is that obvious about being bought and paid for. Even if all were minors, reliable news sources would still tell it's public more info on the damages done to one of our buildings! Even Tee, p.r. man that he is, should have made a strong statement that these vandals, (in this case, criminals) that when caught will be punished to the fullest extent the law allows! Not a word from Mr. Tee, very interesting. I remember when kids got suspended for cell phones....Gee, I wonder what the going rate is for an ounce of integrity these days???
Can you say Bud wy zer.
Rumor has it Kyle HElton is the one hushing things up.
At least the girl has fessed up but the boys are keeping quiet. NO way she could have carried all that quick quirk by herself.
Get some balls boys.
All kids involved should be punished by law, especially the "main" one. She is 18, no special favors just because of who she is. She does not deserve to be valedictorian!
Why is she the main one? It sounds to me like because her family has money that people are trying to hang her. Money does not make her more guilty than others involved. Have you ever seen Mr. Tee put anything negative in the paper? He is not the type to advertise the negative whether it is about a student or anything else. At least give him credit for that. He is not hushing anything up. He does not make public things that are not his place to. I at least give him credit for that.
Hello, as director of schools, he should go public and re assure taxpayers that he will protect our schools, that's not being negative, that's being a leader. And no, the girl should not take the fall alone, if someone participated, they are guilty, equally, that's the way most laws read, I believe it's called co-conspirators. No she should not have the awards, but it should not ruin her life. The perception that money will protect her from the law will make her another "Brittany". She she pay restitution, probation, maybe even jail time depending on court findings, and not walk in graduation. I suppose she already earned her diploma, but to be recognized in a favorable way will only fuel the fire of "money talks". And every single student there should have the exact same punishment, regardless of parental income. As for her fessing up, I don't put a lot of stock in that. She was caught, how much courage does it take to admit you're guilty when you are busted. As for the guys missing two important "body parts", couldn't agree more!
Tee has nothing at all to do with this. The decision rest squarely on the school administrator and the court system (if it gets to that point). I agree that she should not be recognized for any accomplishments for her academics. A valedictorian is a well rounded student who is a leader, not a vandal. She needs to go ahead and tell who the boys were and get it behind her. It may not help her relationship with the boys, but she COULD improve her battered image to others.
Again, it's "who you are" around here. I have seen so many others children crucified for less, yet their names were mentioned and the whole world knew about it. Granted, by now, everyone now knows who Baby is.
The kids at GCHS know who was involved. Ask them. Our kids came home yesterday and said that Richland is not pressing charges and everything has been dropped. I guess the Richland Booster Club now has a HUGE balance in their account.
If you don't think Tee has anything to do with this matter you're crazy. There is nothing that goes on in the school system that he don't know about. There's not a principal in the system that will sneeze without getting his permission first.
Principal a relative????
Principle Daddys first cousin.
I can understand if damage is paid for, but will she still get to be
valedictorian?
Parents paying for what children do and the child getting off scott free don't seem right.
Oh yes, she is still going to give the speech at graduation. THe incident has been ERASED. Let's remember, she is not the only one involved but she is the one who's parents paid all of their way out of it. I assume.
Although the kids should be punished and should have thought before they acted, I don't believe that awards should be taken away (valedictorian, etc.) That was already earned.
Tuesday, 8:15 AM-- You have no idea what you are talking about at all. You don't know the principals.
If it is true that Richland dropped the charges...What a shame! That is only teaching all other students that it is o.k. to do this kind of activity. When are we going to hold students accountable? This only proves what kind of system we have in our schools!
I, for one as a tax-payer and therefore OWNER of Richland School, have not dropped charges regarding this incident. I don't know how many folks realize that this damage was MAJOR. They destroyed a baseball field. Who do they think they are, allowing her or any criminal to give a graduation speech. What could she possibly say to inspire and motivate these LAW ABIDING graduates??? Money makes you above the law???Maybe she already "earned" Valedictorian, she can be stripped of title, look at recent news accounts of beauty pageants, and those women weren't criminals, just "girls behaving badly." Even if the parents have no character and hush this up, if the girl truly earned the Valedictorian award, that means she should decline it, YESTERDAY! That would demonstrate integrity. If not, two graduations should be held, one for criminals and one for law abiding students. This is the most flagant use of "money talking" I have ever seen. My goodness, any middle to low income child would be in jail and everybody knows it. I for one do not appreciate someone thumbing their nose at me when I am incensed because MY public property was maliciously destroyed. And to the parents of this girl and the others, if you think you are loving your child by doing this, think again. You may have just killed her, literally because look at the child stars and stars children. Privelage like that encourages more and more reckless behavior. Do you love your daughter enough to make her accountable for her actions. As for Tee Jackson not stepping up....I call for his resignation effectively immediately! He has eight schools that he is responsible for...one was horribly vandalized and he does nothing, not even a statement promising tax payers that he will pursue the offenders. THAT's his job!!!! Blantant example that he is incompetant, and bought and paid for. I've no doubt that this girl worked hard in school, but because of this pay off, I now wonder if her grades were bought as well? She deserves a fresh start, but only after she is responsible enough to accept responsibility. Show more character than your parents, "baby"
I suppose none of you ever played any teenage pranks, huh? Right. Judging by the fact that you feel that it's appropriate to gossip about an intelligent, ambitious young girl who should be encouraged for her accomplishments and that you feel spiteful enough to insult and make ignorant assumptions about her family speaks volumes about YOUR character, not hers. Money has noting to do with punishment in this case other than making this girl more of a target for punishment than any of her peers. Make the kids clean up the baseball field and apologize for their senior prank. Then, be ashamed of yourselves for being spiteful, malicious, hypocritical, and more immature than a group of 17 year old jokesters. Grow up.
The blame shouldn't be all put on the girl. The others need to fess up, apologize and see if they can clean up the mess.
Sweeping it under the rug is not a good example for other students.
Does anyone know why they did it in the first place?
Had any of them ever been in trouble before?
Of, course it's all about money and who you are in this county. If you set a precedent by not filing charges, in all fairness in the future you SHOULD BE BOUND to any transgressions committed by anynone else's spoiled, arrogant brats to give them the same get outta trouble pass. And a pretty new Jag like her big sister..
They all need to be spanked with no pants on! I think this would fix everything
There is no other way to describe the things that people have been posting on here as ridiculous. We are talking about a high school prank, not robbing a bank. The fact that someone even mentioned jail time is completely absurd. The people in this town automatically assume that a wealthy family is arrogant and egotistical. It is not her fault that she was born into a family with money and it has not affected her morals or her work ethic. She has worked extremely hard for everything that she has achieved and the one time she acted like a teenager and, get ready for this, actually made a wrong decision should not penalize her for the rest of her life. She is a good person and just because her family has enough money to have the advantage of hiring a lawyer doesn’t mean that they by any means paid their way out of this. I find it really hard to believe that they would even resort to anything close to that. Besides, this is Pulaski, not New York City. Things just don’t work like that down here even if that’s what her parents wanted to do. It just shows that no matter how hard you work to prove people wrong in this town, it’s never good enough. If her parents wanted to buy her grades don’t you think that they would have bought her older sisters too. I don’t even remember her being in the top ten. And whose business is it if people can afford to buy their daughter a nice car. They have worked for what they have and if they want to buy their kids matching lamborghini’s, it’s their prerogative. The people who have left these absurd posts obviously don’t know anything about the situation because if they did they would be defending the girl. Her parents have done an incredible job raising an intelligent and genuine young woman who does not let her family’s wealth affect her attitude. I’m not saying that if they indeed did the damage people are talking about they shouldn’t be punished. Let the kids, ALL of them, clean it up. But the simple fact is that such harsh punishments being called for and the amount of attention being paid to this matter is only because of who this girl is. If anything, the girl is suffering MORE than she should be because of who she is, not less. And let’s just face the facts. It is really sad that you people have nothing better to do than talk about a girl who made a mistake. I’m sure all of your children aren’t perfect little angels, but the second they come home with some high-school drama to feed the gossip mill, you all don’t hesitate to spread the rumors and add your two-cents. In my opinion, its not the kids involved in this whose characters should be in question, it’s yours.
Exactly what was done to the field?
If people want to complain about the school system you would think parents would be more concerned with the amount of drugs and underage pregnancies going on at the high schools instead of a senior prank.
Let's just drop the whole thing. The next time some kid does something, not to a bseball field, but to you or your family, think about how quickly the matter should be just dropped. The problem with our children today is that too often, we have "just dropped it." I still say, "it's who you are."
I'm the one who mentioned jail time, and let's by all means set the record straight. I don't blame the gilr alone, all involved are equally responsibly; all deserve PROSECUTION, not because of who they are but because of what they did. Call it a prank if you want to, but they DESTROYED public property. It is not a "clean up" situation, grass was poisoned, dug-outs digustingly misused, concrete used in ways that make the field unusable; excuse this all you want, teachers hear it all the time, then their little darling assaults a teacher because there have been no consequences to their actions. Sure she's worked hard and is to be commended, but she is a criminal now. Played a big girl game and should suffer the consequences, but not just her; all of those involved. She earned her diploma, but vandalizing a school and then being honored by givng a speech to the graduates....doesn't matter whether it's New York of Pulaski, property was destroyed, it wasn't yards being rolled and money is buying her out of it;She probably did earn the gpa to make her valedictorian, but now nobody will ever know for sure. Pulaski doesn't get to write it's own laws and codes, no matter what the good ole boys think. Defacing public property is serious; As said before, it shouldn't ruin her life but if she suffers no consequences, then it probably will. I knew her when she was very young, haven't seen her in years, but fact is she BROKE THE LAW, all involved did. Estimates of damage range in the thousands....and our school director says nothing; meanwhile a few years ago, another valedictorian had a few sips of beer on a bus and ended up in the alternative school. Course that was a different principal and school director. Meanwhile, why is none of this reported in the local press? I repeat, Mr Jackson should resign immediately for not stepping up to the plate and promise to protect our investment in our schools, papers and radio should be boycotted for not reporting NEWS, the kids should show an inkling of remorse by publicly apologizing, restitution should be made for damages and communtiy service perfomered that mom and dad can't pay someone to do for any of them. REPEAT, this was NOT a prank. No difference than if someone had thrown bricks thru windows of schools and took off with 20 or 30 computers. Giles County, don't bury your heads in the sand, I know first hand the heart ache that comes from protecting your children from the consequences of their actions. Come to think of it, the little beer drinker is "baby's" cousin. This child/adult now finds herself in a unique position to be a real leader, take responsibilitty, pay the piper, apologize, and all our kids will benefit. Right now, though, I am more disgusted with the media, if a citizen doesn't have a close friend or child in school, they have no idea what happened. If paper did it's job, it would end many of the rumors. Admit it all of you who call this a prank, if this had been done by a child that lives in Tanglewood, or a trailer out in the country, (and their parents love them too), those kids would be burried under the jail.
All i have to say is this last guy is an idiot. The charges have been dropped and there is no reason to voice your opinion, because, quite frankly, it doesnt mean jack shit. Your a moron by bringing up what her cousin did because that has nothing to do with this. Obviously what ever happened was dumb and whoever was involved will learn from their mistakes. That is how you learn in life, and you have to move on and not live in the past. The only reason people are mad at the family is because they have money and the rest of you bitching on here are just jealous because you dont have ambition in life and wont work to earn that money. On a side note, even if charges had went through, she would have spent about 2 hours in jail, out on bail, and it would have resulted in nothing happening because she is a minor. So stop complaining because your opinion doesnt matter, and nothing will change because of your hatred towards the family
It never ceases to amaze me how so many people in this community defend
bad behavior by a select few.If you have a certain last name or old money
have your way here.Rob your own bank,
and have people defend you because you loaned them money.Teen drug use,out-of-wedlock births, duh..just look at their role models..
Folks this all sounds like reverse descrimination. You are all hanging someone because they are wealthy. The difference between this and someone doing something on a school bus is that the bus was a school function. This was not a school function. I don't agree with the what the kids did but everyone is blowing this out of proportion. Since nothing happened during something that involved a school function why should this affect her status as valedictorian. Do the rules for valedictorian say anything about conduct outside the classroom if so that would be different. If this girl has maintained the grades to get that she deserves to keep the title. It was a school prank but they (as in all involved) shoudl have to pay for all damages done. We really need to give the kids a break.
She is 18 years old and an adult. B'day in March
Look, the child is being punished so give it a rest for Heaven's sakes. Don't you have anything better to do than to throw stones at others?
I don't know who the heck Babe or who in Pulaski is rich enough to buy their wayout of anything.
I don't think the children should get off scott free. I don't see them having to go to jail, but this should go on their record.
In reading all this blog, why is Kyle Helton not mentioned as letting them off free also? Did he find out who all was involved?
We don't know that the girl's parents are not punishing her someway, maybe no car because of this. What about the others in this so called prank? Maybe their parents are rich and helping pay for the damage also.
I think parents should have to pay for the damage,
Someone said the feild couldn't be used.... I hope that didnot mean ever.
Now let me say something about the school system, "Why are children allowed to use sell phones in school." Text messaging teacher may not be able to see them do.
How amusing that you bring up her cousin. Any idea where "the beer drinker" is now? She graduated from Vanderbilt University a few years ago, and she's now at UT getting a Masters degree to be an opera singer. A perfect example of someone you people tried to crucify not for what she did, but because of "who she is", whatever that means. Kids make bad decisions, and they'll be punished but that punishment shouldn't provide you with some sort of sick entertainment or satisfaction. Go on with your lives and worry about your own kids.
Yea, I remember another girl who graduated from Vanderbilt after being caught cheating on a finals. Nothing was done to her either.
This situation at Richland was far from a prank it was plain old criminal behavior. Please explain what is the difference in someone doing several thousand dollars of damage to school property outside the building and someone breaking into the school and doing damage? What's the difference in spending several thousand dollars to repair the ball field and spending several thousand to replace broken machines or stolen computers?
Just so the county don't have to pay for the repairs. Watch that.
I don't think the parents would be happy about having to pay for a prank their child did, no matter how much money they had. So they will punish her someway.
What if students who damage schools were made to clean it up and the cleanup be a funderaiser for the school by charging a a gate few for other students to watch? Might discourage students from some of their pranks.
Sorry for typo errors in above. Need only 1 a before gate and meant fee instead of few.
Does the high school have a "handbook" or some kind of guidelines to follow that involve taking awards away? ....superlatives (Most Popular, etc.), class officers, top gpa's, etc.
Yes, the girl's parents have an influential name and yes, they are not hurting in the money department. BUT, she wasnt the only one involved. There were at least two boys who are also 18 who were involved. One of them is on the GCHS basball team and the other used to be but cant now bc of a scholarship he has received. These three can be identified. (By the way, the girl has earned every grade she has gotten.)Nonetheless, all involved should be punished by the law. This was vandalism, pure and simple. This was very thought out. They are all smart enough to know not to buy all of the quik-crete and bleach in one place. There were 7 and they went in shifts. A text message was sent out about the meeting place. Some chose to go, some didnt. Whom ever has decided not to press charges has set themselves up for the next group who does something like this.........they shouldnt be punished either. I hope Kyle Helton is not letting this slip under the rug bc if he does.......I will have to say he is not the man of integrity I thought he was. I will be very disappointed.
Three day suspension to begin Monday and loss of her Valedictorian position. The boys have still not been identified.
I think that stinks. They should be punished, but I doubt there's a clause anywhere that says that you can be stripped of your "title" if you get into trouble.
Apparently Babe has not ratted out the others. I have to admire her for that. She does have integrity just bad judgement. I don't see how the school can punish her for something she did outside of school hours or function unless the rules for Valedictorian state that conduct outside school would mean forfiting the title.
That's what I want to know.....are there "rules" or guidelines???
GO GILES COUNTY BOBCATS!
I'm the "moron" someone referred to, also a teacher. If you are saying cousin graduated Vandy and is doing well in spite of her prank you are correct; however, she was PUNISHED which is probably why she is doing well;learned from mistakes...maybe this one will learn to take somebody else's vehicle instead of her own family's,.Not quite the lesson she needs. I don't hate the family, have never met them; but I have met hundreds of parents who think the rules apply to everybody but their child and I hate to see a child with as much potential as this one has figure out that money does indeed expempt a person from common standards of decency. I blame the school system, namely Mr Jackson for not pushing this harder; it's sending a bad bad msg to the kids and also to the tax payers. Personally, I don't find it so ethical that she hasn't "ratted" out the others. I can see where an immature child might call it noble; I call it aiding and abetting. Maybe it's because I am a teacher and see the result of kids having no responsibility, but I just can't believe more people aren't outraged that tax payer property was destroyed and tax payer property will have to fix it and the one man responsible for that property has not opened his mouth on the subject. That, to me, is way more disturbing that the kids keeping quiet. It's scary to me that this is obviously being hushed up and those with authority couldn't care less that the public knows it. Like we're not even worthy of any explanation.
I agree with you 100%. I have seen all too well what a parent bailing a child out of trouble all the time leads to and its not pretty. People learn from their mistakes and if there is no consequence for their actions to them personaly there is no lessons learned. Tee Jackson is a whole different monster, he is all about politics.
Everyone is jumping to a quick verdict. It is not over, nothing has been decided yet. THEY ARE STILL INVESTIGATING. No one has gotten away with anything. Folks be patient. I know that is a lot to ask of this crew but before this time next week something will have been decided and done. Give them a chance and don't think that nothing is being done.
April 15, 2008 9:07:00 PM - thanks for laying it out for laying it out like it is.
99% of the respondants on this topic are nothing but a bunch of pissy old codger's that are still ticked off about school consolidation and will take every opportunity to blame Pulaski and talk about, and how, the County School / s are getting screwed over. Get a life!
A Giles Countian
To Thursday, April 17, 2008 6:35:00 AM
You need to wake up and smell the roses and get a life!
This is not about consolidation.
You must be a pissy old codger related to T. I'm young and went to Pulaski, so why would consolidation bother me.
Could be they are afraid of their job or related to someone else.
I must of missed something, I didn't see anything about county schools getting screwed over.
Let's hope the investigating.
I do agree all the facts shouldn't be layed out to fast.
I think what's happen is someone saying it was over and dropped.
There are a lot of crazy people in Giles county as well as good. Take the person that sent in the story about Judge Damon and trying to blame it on Fagan Sneed. I look for more to come from that, just a little more investigating.
Anyone with any sense knew Fagan didn't write that.
Maybe the next time we need a tax increase it will be on beer and liquor. Lets call our comissioners on this.
The two boys who can be identified intials are J.P. & P.H. Look in the yearbook.
To moron of the April 16, 2008 11:24:00 PM message, excellent, very excellent statement I agree fully.
It is sad that we have people in our community, especially teachers, who are so ignorant. I do not know where some of you were educated, but it seems that your teachers failed to inform you that every American is entitled to a presumption of innocence, as well as the right to “Lawyer Up”. It might do everyone some good if they would take a look at the Constitution. To call someone a “Criminal”, due to some unsubstantiated rumors, really does indicate a lot about your knowledge. Maybe if our educators would worry more about teaching, than damning students for something they may or may not have done on their own time, more quality students would come out of the Giles County School System. It is sad that the administrator's in our school system are not more concerned with drugs, violence, and the obvious dis-interest in learning that the students are facing. I am graduate from GCHS, and I was blown away by how unprepared I was for the “real world”. I had to learn for myself what it took to excel, and luckily I did. Whats unfortunate is that our students are forced to figure it out on their own, what happened to teachers providing an education???
Further, To propose an increase on a beer & liquor, truly is a lousy idea. Taxes on consumption, while fair to everyone because everyone pays their fair share, are regressive in nature. Meaning that taxes on consumption affect people with less money greater than they affect people with more money. This is true for several reasons, but mainly because the items consumed, (whether it be beer, wine, milk, or eggs), represent a larger percentage of people of lesser means budget. Let me break this down for the teacher who needs to use his brain rather than his mouth. This means that the man making $20,000 per year and drinks one gallon of milk per day, pays more tax (as a percentage of their income) than the man making $100,000 per year drinking one gallon of milk per day. To propose that we raise taxes, because “that'll send a message”, is silly.
Please don't misunderstand me, there are several teachers in our school system who are of the highest quality. Unfortunately, they are the exception rather then the rule.
Money doesn't buy class!!! Her parents did not raise her. She raised herself!
Like you know anything about the girls home life, real classy comment...
1:51 you are missing the point of the beer and liquor tax or you don't realize the connection. Besides which beer and liquor are not a necessitiy. Go ahead and raise those taxes. Familes may need milk and other things but not liquor. Alcohol is not needed in any household that I know of. It has ruined many a peoples life. I don't know of anyone's life that has been improved because of an alcohol drinker do you? The families of alcoholics suffer as well as people in the community who are touched in many ways like, driving accidents, behavior of drinkers both recreational and alcoholics. Tell me one good thing that comes from drinking. The point is that the family of the "accused" is profiting from it therefore the recommendation to raise the taxes on it. No, I am not the teacher. I do think that you have it backwards. The majority of Giles Counties teachers are good or excellent, but as in anything there are always bad apples.
6:32, I do realize that you are not the teacher, I was simply commenting on several posts. However, your argument regarding alcohol is fundamentally flawed. You assume that by raising taxes on alcohol, that people will be deterred from from drinking it. That is simply not true. The people you seem to want to protect are alcoholics and the people around them, whether they be family or a fellow motorists. Do you actually think that by raising the tax on alcohol, which is already taxed at close to 50%, will keep a drunk from drinking??? I think not. If anything, you will drive these people to further hardships by taking more of their money. And here I thought you were concerned about their well being...
You know, I don't know of anyone, whose life has been improved by an “Ice Cream Eater” either. One could argue, that the effects of obesity in this country are worse than the effects of alcoholism to our citizens. Does this mean that every time someone goes to the grocery or McDonalds, that we should levy an extra tax on them as well??? Of course not, we would all hate to see the “Dollar Menu” cease to exist. You know 6:32, if you are so concerned with protecting society, and you think that we can only be protected by taxes being levied, then maybe you need to look into this tax on Ice Cream and other fatty foods. Society as a whole would benefit. I would venture to say that heart disease and diabetes hurts far more people and families every year than alcoholism. For those of us who have been lucky enough to not be touched directly by such diseases, we still suffer indirectly. Have you paid a health insurance premium lately, or is that something you think we should be taxed for as well??? If you think, “Tax, Tax, Tax” is the answer to the problems that our society faces, you need a reality check.
Can sure spot family post. I AGREE WITH YOU 100%- 6.32 post.
Can a tax be put on the distributors of alcholic beverages?
You say that you agree with 6:32, but dont want to explain why you disagree with 8:40??? Not a family member, just an educated American. I cant understand why anyone would want to pay more tax. You know, we probably need to raise the tax on gas as well. After all, those damn oil companies are making money. Lets do that. Regarding 9:46, taxes of that sort, cannot be imposed at the county level.
This is 6:32 again. Comparing an alcoholic and an obese person are absolutely ridiculous. I know a lot of overweight but none that have beat their wife and kids because they had too much ice cream. Or a person that just ate too much ice cream and as a result could not control their car and hit someone head on and killed them. Hey, I just had a large fry and abused my wife!! Do you see any comparision here? I don't think anyone could. I am not saying that taxes will stop anyone from drinking. I did not bring up the tax in the first place, I was just saying that the other poster probably brought up the tax as a way of trying to get at the family involved. I just happen to think that there is a lot of evil in alcohol. I know a lot of people who drink responsibly but I know a lot more that drink irresponsibly. I don't think that taxing things are an answer to stopping people from drinking or smoking or any other drug. And they are both drugs, just legal. I don't think that someone being overweight is changing the behavior of someone, I do agree that it is very bad for that person even deadly, but that is something that affects them and the loved ones who watch their health deteriate. It is not an excuse for a behavior toward someone else though.
I personally think that there is a lot of good in alcohol. It helps the digestive system, relieves stress, and just helps me get through the week. I don't know how anyone can go through life without having one every now and then.
Speaking of foods and how it affects families, for the first time in society, parents will outlive their children........ because of obesity
You seem angry 6:32. It seems rather narrow minded of you to think that people who are low down enough to beat up their wife, do it because they have been drinking. Don’t be fooled, that sounds like an excuse. As you failed to see, I was simply pointing out that taxing people because they do things that are bad for them or bad for others is a lousy idea. However, you failed to open your narrow mind and actually read what I wrote.
While you might never hear of someone saying, “I just had a large fry and abused my wife”, I also doubt that you will hear someone say, “Hey I just had a cold beer and had a coronary”. Having a tax to get at the family involved???? That’s what is ridiculous. This might me a relatively new concept to you, but most companies pass such expenses along to the consumer. Since when are the citizens of Giles County about trying to hurt someone’s family because one of the family members did something wrong???? Didn’t Harold Ford Jr. carry Giles County???
For the sake of your health, don’t be so angry, have a drink.
I agree 6:16 it is sad...
The only thing I am angry at is that you could compare alcoholism with obesity and the effect it has on a person behavior not on their health. I don't drink because I have seen the results of alcohol first hand so I would not put my family or society through that. We have MADD not MAO. Maybe our children would be more healthy if more mothers did something about obesity healthwise and I agree wholeheartidly that we should. We should bring back a period of physical education for all age levels and get kids moving, no argument with that. We always had PE in school or least since about 6th grade. Before that we had recess and at that age were active. Too much TV and video games too keep children active now days. We as adults are responsible for that. I know some parents are afraid to let their children go outside and play like we did when we were kids. We played from early morning until we had to be home when Dad came home for supper. That meant when the street lights came on we had to be home!! I don't care about the taxes you just got me wrong on that. I don't think the parents should be punished. I think the kids need to be punished but not jailed. I think that it was a simple case of high school pranks. Someone should pay for the damage and maybe the kids should be the ones to physically go out to the field and repair it themselves. An example should be made but don't take the title of Valadictorian away from the girl. This has nothing to do with her title she earned it. If she did this at a school event it would be different. The punishment need to fit the crime.
I can't believe how ridiculous some of these posts are. What nonsense is posted by some as the truth. No permanant damage was done to the field, the cost for cleanup was a couple hundred dollars not thousands which means it is a misdemeanor not a felony. The vandals can't be punished by cleaning up the field because police investigations take time and the principle at Richland had someone clean it up immediatly to get it playable for the next game. And they have already played games on it since and didn't miss one. And she did turn it over to the police and ask them to press charges even though she is related to one of them. No buildings was damaged either. The field was rolled with toilet paper and had some quickreete and clorox put on it. Call the sherriff's department and find all this out for yourself. Find out the truth instead of just posting nonsense rumors. It's up to the police and principle at GCHS to take care of it now since they are his students. They are still investigating, so nobody can say they got off because of money or any other reason. At least not yet. I think the ones who did it should have to pay for the damage and deserve to be punished but not destroyed for life for making a bad decision like a lot of teenagers do. And I think people should quit posting stuff as true that they know nothing about, just rumors they've heard. Like I said, call and find out the truth instead of posting nonsense.
I think the lack of public notification is the reason for so many rumors. If the paper had published a story that minors had done such and such then all this flack would have been minimized at least. When it is not made public people just assume the worst.
No-one ever said we had a quality paper.
Considering the number of residents in Giles Co and the usual percentage anywhere that subscribe to a newspaper, Giles Co is fortunate to have the newspapers we do have - and don't forget the radio station and the on line paper - all funded from the same source. This community is really not large enough to fund what we already have and I imagine the owners of the media sources here are actually going in the hole and continue to fund for the sake of the community.
Then lets think about this vandalism thing - is it not correct that while a matter is still under investigation pubicity cannot be done?
All the responsible parties of the "prank" at the Richland baseball field received FIVE days out-of-school suspension. Now, let's drop all of the nonsense and move on.
What amazes me is the emphasis placed on this issue. We have recently had a tornado destroy homes and lives in this county, yet no one seems nearly as concerned about assisting those in need as they do in defaming young people who made a bad decision. Since when does the general population have the right to become involved in every issue that arises? This is a matter for law enforcement, the schools involved, and those students who were involved and their families to resolve. Yes, I realize the public does have a right to know,and I do not deny that right, but there is a difference in the right to know and the right to judge and criticize and be involved. This was a very unfortunate situation, but not newsworthy in comparison to the recent weather-related tragedy faced by many here. Yet I've been told that more phone calls have been received at the newspaper and sheriff's department about this situation than about any other in recent history, including murders, assaults, tornados, etc. That's the real shame here, and that's what needs addressing most in this county and society.
Let's face it. Kids, as well as adults, make bad decisions. Get over it and move on. The participates in this matter have been punished. Maybe not the way that "you" think they should...but apparently that was not left up to you.
Check on what is going on in the schools in Maury County with gangs and murders...and just be very thankful that all that was hurt in this matter was materials that can be replaced and not your family or friends who can't.
Let's focus on something that really matters. When you were growing up..did you ever do anything stupid and immature?? I think we all have.
Privacy act stops lots of things from being told.
I hate one girls name is known and so much said about her and her family and the others are not known by the public.
She was punished on this blog and the others scott free.
Anyone who thinks the Lake family media is "going in the hole" has not paid for advertisement with them. Open your eyes and look at their homes, cars, lifestyles. If that's "in the hole" dig another one for me to jump in too.
Thing is, a few yers ago some cars were vandalized - prominent citizens' children - doctor, etc... The Lakes just thought they had to run the story. Had to do the right thing. Where is that right thing now?
A story is a story. Where is the story on the vandalism?
If you feel it is that important for all of the facts to be told..."Write a Letter to the Editor"..sign your name to it and tell us the facts as you "want" them reported.
The media is the same across the world..they only report what they want...will you critizing and fussing about it change it..NO..so just let it go or report it in the public forum that is available to you.
But remember...this young person or persons might be yours or your grandchild at some point. It will usually come back around to you. It did for me when my daughter was involved in a prank and I came to realize that what goes around usually comes around.
And no it is not fair that the one girl has had to take most of the public humiliation, but that is called "Jealousy and Envy"!!!
I think it was a "high school prank". I don't know the kids so I am not biased. We all know kids who have done something like this. Yes, they were caught so there has to be punishment, but some of you people seem to want them to be sentenced to hard labor. Maybe the chain gang would be good enough!! Leave the judgement to the law and the school and stay out of it. I think we have all done stupid things that we should not have done especially as young adults or kids. I agree it should have been reported in the news as what happened without the names of those involved and then maybe a lot of this would not be being said.
I'm a little confused...when did it become a principal of a public school'S option to press charges for a criminal act that was committed to a public building? When one becomes a principal, do they become owners of the school where they work and therefore can decide whether or not to press charges as if it were their home being vandalized? That's what WKSR makes it sound like. She was going to press charges, but now she's not...I always thought once a police report was filed, it was the authorities who pursued the case; so if she is not pressing charges did she file a false report; is this like when battered women file charges against their spouse, then get scared and drop the charges; Is Mrs Mc Masters scared of somebody? Of course the question still remains, who owns the property and therefore has the right to press charges?
Sign me, "VERY CONFUSED"
Mrs. McMasters should not have any decision making in this. Her family was involved and she should step down as far as this matter goes. It would not be fair to even ask her to decide. She could not win either way. Either the family is mad at her or the public.
I see that the complainers have gone full circle now. On another thread, it's back to crucifying Barry and Julie, and now it's McMasters again. What boring and shallow lives some of us lead.
I see that the complainers have gone full circle now. On another thread, it's back to crucifying Barry and Julie, and now it's McMasters again. What boring and shallow lives some of us lead.
Nothing wrong with restitution & apology. Nothing wrong with a whack on the rear end. - All things that will be remembered for a life time, but never limit the possibilities of that lifetime. Latrine duty or a week of helping those who may need it might even be a life enriching experience.
Removing them from classroom & learning plus the possibility of lowering their gpa could deny admision to higher education or limit job opportunity. Formal prosecution would definately screw up a life before it really begins! The reality of $300 damages makes every bit of this beyond absurd! Go to Nashville or any bigger city & spend the week end in a ghetto - if you make it out alive, you might look at a little mischief by basically good kids differently.
Only a sick society would believe a painless lobobomy is preferential to an old fashioned whack on the rear. Whelps are gone the next day. A scarlet letter & lobotomy is forever!
Only a fool would believe there was only 300 dollars in damage, the real cost would have upped the charge to a felony.
Based on What 9:12??? Did you write the check for the clean up??? Maybe you are the fool.
Based on the number of people that were required to actually clean up the mess, dig up the base anchors, dig out and sod the grass that was destroyed,the time involved with the investigators, the administrators and lawyers. Count it all up and you have several thousand dollars most of which was paid by taxpayers. There was four people from maintenance that worked several hours that by itself totalled more than 300 dollars. I don't care so much about the legal action but they should have paid the real cost of clean up. Them coming out there and walking around while the guys from maintenance worked was a real joke. They still thought it was funny.
Paper stated $300 & they ID'd themselves as writers of the article. they're real - you're a fart in a windstorm.
If they didn't have to clean up their mess fully & completely without help, don't blame the kids - blamed the idiots who are teaching them they don't have to be accountable for their actions! Government will take care of everything
Typical liberal lesson of medicated compassion (ridilinize the mind so they don't snicker when the liberal leader makes grunts clean up the mess, saying, "naughty little tads - mustn't make big messes for grunts to clean up.") No wonder we have idiots like Bush & Teddy, Pellouzy, & Barney running this circus. I'll be it took four or five PHD dufus's a couple reams of paper & three days just to establish the minimum amount of verbeage to put on each line of the reprimand book!
It is funny. What is even more funny is that you people have nothing better to talk about. Right on 2:01
I agree, the story on WKSR and in the paper was misleading. Mrs. McMasters really had no say so in it. When the police told her about the vandalism, she asked them to file charges and they said they would do it since they found it and already filed the report plus it was public property and so they could do it. Then somehow Mr. Hastings got involved, I guess because they were from GCHS. The decision about the punishment and dropping charges was between Mr. Hastings and the sheriff's department, the story even said that, and they didn't even ask her or tell her until after it was done. Maybe that's why they told her they would file the charges. I heard Tee Jackson made her tell WKSR she agreed with the decision so it wouldn't make Mr. Hastings look bad. Everybody knows they are buddies. Her statement to the radio and in the paper it said she said she turned it over to the police, but it cleverly didn't say she dropped the charges, probably because they couldn't say that since she didn't even know they were dropped until after it had been done.
Nobody is buddies. McMaster, Hastings and the rest of the crew do what Tee says because if not they would not have a job. He will put up with complaints as long as they go along with what he tells them to do. He writes the statements they just read them.
Thursday, May 01, 2008 11:19:00 AM...
what an idiot. you have absolutely no idea what your talking about. where did you get that information, did you just make it up to try to make someone look bad or get mad? it took two or three people a couple hours to clean up the field the morning after it happen. no maintenance men did nothing it was the coach and two other people. no base anchors had to be dug up and no grass had to be sodded. no taxpayers had to pay nothing. all the money was paid by the vandals. thats a FACT. "Them coming out there and walking around while the guys from maintenance worked was a real joke." who is them??? if you mean the vandals they didnt even know who they all were yet so they couldnt of been there walking around and no maintenance men ever touched the field. actualy it was lucky for them those smart kids they werent so smart becasue they didnt know how to mix the concrete and it didnt even harden right. if it had of and the police hadnt of caught it right after it happened then yes it probably would of cost alot more maybe thousands but it didnt. all they had to do was scrape off mostly concrete dust and some of it wet and pick up the toilet paper. thats it and thats the facts. if you dont know what your talking about and you obviuously don’t then stop spreading rumors or you could be sued for slander.
Sat. May 03, 7:51AM--You are an idiot. As I said before, Tee does not control all the principals. You need to be quiet and move to China with all the other complainers on here.
Tee does control them. That does not mean they do what is right but as long as they do what he "wants" then all is well. What did I complain about? I am not moving to China or anywhere else. I have lived here all my life so why would I move now.
Shame on America and their government if the blogger thinks China is a better place to live. May 3, 3:07 P.M.
China & American have two things in common. 1. Both have a Constitution. 2. Neither uses it.
Here's something to ponder over... on Friday, May 16th twelve boys from Giles County High School were suspended for the day, put in ISS for three days AND have to go to court in June - for being in a food fight in the GCHS cafeteria. Don't get me wrong, what they did was stupid and immature. But come on, they are high school boys! All they were doing was participating in a harmless prank at the end of the school year! These boys got far more punishment than the children that vandalized RHS. Why is that? At the most, they should have been made to clean up the mess and maybe put in ISS the last 3 days of school. I really think this is an outrage. There are far worse crimes being committed in the halls of GCHS every day -- why bring down such harsh punishment on a bunch of high school boys just having a bit of fun at the end of the school year?
AMEN!!!!!!!!!!! May 18th-8:05 am-Its ridiculous!!!!!!!! Especially the going to court thing. I have being saying for years they need to stop worrying about the little things (foof fights, cell phones, being late, etc) and concentrate on the drugs being sold in the halls or on the parking lot. It was a tradition to have the "end of the year" food fight and whoever was involved had to clean it up and run laps for a hr right after they cleaned it up. End of it!!!!!If I were one of their parents, I would have to take action.
And what's sad about this is that the principal (if you want to call him that) knew about what was going to happen. Every student in the boulding knew, as well as the teachers and administration. An entire lunch period of students participating in a food fight and 9-12 of them are punished. Kids had ponchos on, umbrellas and video cameras waiting on it to happen. Now tell me no one in administration knew about it. That incident at GCHS could have been disatrous on Friday. What a relief that it was not a mass shooting or physical fight. School for those at GCHS can't end fast enough this year. Earlier in the day, a fire alarm was pulled too. They "needed" a missed fire drill as one of the administrators said. HA!
Let's start a new blog on GCHS for a change and leave RHS alone for a day or two.
nothing was said about RHS for several days it's all been about the GCHS and the lack of effective and clear leadership, guess the principle is to involved with the cute teachers
or any teacher or student with a skirt.
There were food fights when I was at GCHS and as posted above, everyone involved was punished. May 19th @ 8:13 pm is absolutely correct. The kids all knew what was going to happen. My children both knew. They didnt tell me ahead of time. There were ponchos...hats......etc. Not every child in the lunchroom was involved. There were alot of them who sat back and watched and dodged the food. I agree that this school year cant end fast enough...GCHS is a joke. Even some of the teachers think so. As far as Mr. Hastings is concerned......he's a joke too. Has anyone ever had to go over there for anything? Every other word out of his mouth is a lie. I dont know about the skirt chasing but it wouldnt surprise me. Hurry up May 23rd!!!!!!!!!
Each of those boys were told that none of them wouyld be arrested for the food fight. Now, today, they ar being told they must go to the jail to be fingerprinted. I don't recall any of the students from the RHS baseball field ever being fingerprinted. This is nothing but a bunch of lies from all of those involved in the administration and law enforcement. I understand now why people coming to visit refuse to allow their children to attend GCHS. They are going to Cornersville instead. BAD
Money talks. No intelligent person with any concept of right and wrong could possibly think there is an equality in this town.
I heard all of this today and can't believe it. How can anyone justify the punishment for those involved in the food fight and lack of punishment for the ball field. I had argued that the ball field was a prank but this was also a prank and should be punished but not by the law if the Richland incident wasn't.
5:17 maybe now you see the injustice that prevails in this county and it goes all the way to the county mayor.
A big question I have is what will Damron, a man who has been carried home drunk after being stopped more than once for DUI, do to these kids?
If there is any justice in the world Damron would be in jail instead of sitting in judgement of others.
Damron got pulled over for being drunk??? Do Tell...
The food fight was just another end of the year prank,just like the RHS deal, so why don't the people who were involved in this end of the year prank just get the same punishment as the people who were involved in the RHS so called prank???
This was posted on WKSR's website in reference to the food fight at GCHS.
"Director of Schools Tee Jackson said in a statement today, that he discussed the incident with school officials and feels that the appropriate action was taken.
Asked why charges were being brought in the food-fight incident and not in the vandalism incident last month at Richland School, Jackson stated that there are different perspectives on different incidents. “Again, I think that the appropriate action was taken in both cases,” Jackson went on to say."
I wonder if anybody can guess what that difference in perspective could be?
MONEY MONEY
What about the GCHS cheerleading tryout scandal?
Cheerleading scandal? Do tell!!
I would hardly call the food fight a harmless prank. Put it in perspective...Would those involved ever dream of having a food fight at the supper table at home? Of course not. It wouldn't be considered a prank by parents if it happened at home so it shouldn't be at school either. And I don't think being late, having cell phones, or disobeying any rules should be considered as "little things", though yes of course there are much worse things such as drugs. Some people seem to think its ok for kids to do things at school that they would be punished for severely at home. It's a matter of teaching children respect, dignity and self-control and making them responsible for their actions.
Clothes could easily have been ruined, and they don't come cheap, not to mention the extra work created for custodians or cafeteria workers to clean up the mess when they already work so hard for very little pay. They're lucky it didn't cause a real fight and someone to get hurt. And it shows a complete lack of respect for authority and for themselves, and some parents may have lost wages if they had to take off work to go deal with this at school. Hardly a harmless prank.
I do think though that it should have been handled at school. I don't see no reason for criminal charges in this situation, especially when there weren't any charges for the ones that vandalized RHS. That was a lot more serious that the food fight. I was told that everybody from the top down up there feels the same way about it too. The principle didn't care what happened to RHS, but when it was his own school it was different.
I see them both as pranks but that does not mean no punishment. The kids in the food fight should have been made to clean up the lunch room. They also should have the punishment that the group who vandalized RHS had. If no police were involved in Richland why would they be at GCHS. That makes no sense. If I were one of the parents I would sue for discrimination.
something fishy about cheerleading tryouts...sponsor quit, another one hired...new sponsor's child didn't make squad....old sponsor relieved of softball duties...wanted cheer back?
A kid in middle school wasn't allowed to try out for basketball because he had been in a fight at school. A girl who made cheerleader has a court record for fighting at school, was 30 min. late for tryouts.......why was she allowed to try out?
Here's an idea...Next time teenagers want to engage in "teenage" behavior, buddy up to some of the "important" citizens kids and get them to go with you. Both incidents were expensive pranks, as kids are prone to engage in now and then, both groups should be punished and let the "punishment fit the crime", (i.e. clean up your mess, restitution, etc.), but the very idea of making one group go to court and not the other....can anybody with authority over these matters look taxpayers in the eye and say this was right??? Of the two "pranks", which one was an actual CRIME? (as far as I know, a "food fight" is stupid, not illegal)...Just a thought...
disillusioned taxpayer
Food Fight is Disorderly Conduct, which is a crime.
Think of all the "disorderly conduct" each day, even by the cops, and it does not go to court. I hope when May 29 10:16 gets into something simple, he/she reconsiders what disorderly conduct is. That whole matter should have been handled within the school. What Haskings, Tee Jackson and the SRO did was to remove the discipline from the school and put it in the court system, which will cost taxpayers more money. Let's hire 2-3 more administrators at GCHS. That surely will halt all the mess at that school. (Wanna bet?)
12 people wouldn't be much of a food fight, so what you are saying is only a select few were charged. Agreed that disorderly conduct is a crime; so they have to go to court (but only some of the participants, of course). Is destruction of public property less of a crime? With a crowded court system and money crunch, one has to wonder which clean-up was more expensive and which was more "politically correct" to make "go away"...
disillusioned tax payer
To the person who wrote that the Cardin girl was not raised by her parents is true. They had Child Services on them numerous times for neglect and someone picking them up way down the street from home many times. They were out in very cold weather without jackets or shoes and people would turn them in. The lifeguards at the Country Club kept them in the summer. Her mother always starts her drinking around eleven each day and brags about how much she can drink. She is usually drunk by bedtime. Baby thanked her parents during the awards ceremony for getting her out of trouble. She is as cocky as her dad. She will grow up like her parents with no scruples.
OK the entire food fight issue was blown way out of proportion compared to what that snotty little twit did to that baseball field. As much money as they make people THINK they have, that's how much class they are actually lacking. No one she graduated with even likes her not to mention she has her nose stuck up so high in the air all her friends have abandoned her. I say her not making the Alabama cheerleading squad was a beautiful example of karma
Special thank you to the disillusioned tax payer. Couldn't have said it better myself
I have read all the posts on this subject and both actions may legally be considered crimes but one was actually destruction of property and the other was just a mess that needed to be cleaned up. When I was in school we had food fights-punishment was we had to clean up the mess and the ones who were caught had ISS for 3 days. I was told by a public servant that there is no justice in Giles County, and also a friend who works in the courthouse said the group, and yes they know who they were, who defaced the baseball field at Richland didn't get the punishment they should have because of who they were. No I don't think a prank should ruin a young persons life but they should not be allowed to get away with anything they want to do either. If the children who are having to go to court for the food fight were the ones who did the damage to the ball field there would have been charges filed. The way the girl was brought up is NO EXCUSE for her behavior we all have the choice to do or not do, be or not be she chose to do and be what she is. There are children raised in worse situations who become pillars of their communities-they chose to be better than how they were raised.
Am I understanding the May 29, 6:42poster saying that this graduate thanked her parents for getting her out of trouble during her speech???? Did she express any remorse for her actions?? I do hope I misunderstood that. I have no knowledge of how she was treated growing up or what kind of people her parents are and it's none of my business, but as a teacher in this school system, I am deeply ashamed that any student that goes through our schools could not have witnessed enough repectful behavior to show a tiny bit of regret over bad decisions, regardless of her home life. True that parents are responsible, first and foremost, but all adults should act in such a way that "good" citizenship is modeled. But to thank someone for getting them "out of trouble"????? If that is a fact, it actually happened, I hope that someone in charge has enough decency to strip that title from her and any awards that she received as a result of being the valedictorian. The salutatorian deserves that honor. Does Mr Jackson have any integrity? If so, now is the time to step up and say that awards can't be bought, not at any price...Please, someone who was at the graduation tell me that she showed a little remorse!!!!
Nope, just smiled and thought it was funny!
Breaks my heart as a citizen, tax payer, parent, teacher, and human being...We've all done stupid stuff, as I tell my students but if you learn from it, it's okay, pay the consequences, and grow and learn. Sounds like she learned some lessons that may hurt her badly one day. She may be a big fish in a little pond in Giles county, but this little TN town is far removed from the realities of most places. Her parents buying her way out of trouble and Jackson aiding this process for his own agenda may cost that little girl a great deal someday. Hope they are prepared to pay THAT price!
dissillusioned tax payer
want to know what im ashamed of, teachers who act worse than students. what the girl did was wrong and yes its unfortunate if she didnt show any remorse. but she is still just a teenager. being a kid doesnt excuse her behavior but does make it at least more understandable. you people are adults, and public educators even, and here you are gossiping about a teenager on a blog and ridiculing her and calling her names. and you are the people teaching our kids??????? if all teachers are like you than i can certainly see why kids dont witness enough respectful behavior in schools to know how to act. oh sure you try to hide your ridicule and gossip under the pretense of being ashamed and having a broken heart at the thought but anyone with any sense can tell your just getting your jab in too. you just used this situation to defame the girl and as another opportunity to try to make the director look bad. its so obvious its pathetic. all adults should model good citizenship? try starting with yourself. your obviously a long way from it. i hope to goodness my child never has these teachers. they are an embarassment to education and are guilty of even worse than they accuse others of.
I am not a teacher but I am the mother of 3 teenage children, regardless of the age the point is being made this YOUNG WOMEN-she is no longer a child she just graduated- should have stood up and apologized for her actions. She was Valedictorian of her class, when I was in school that honor would have been stripped from her in a heartbeat. My schools Valedictorian was an upstanding citizen and excellent student. You say she is still just a teenager, do you think if this teenager pulled that same stunt at a place of employment they would have said "oh it's okay because she is just a teenager"? No they would have prosecuted her. People are upset because she got away with what she did because of who she is, I guarantee if it were one of my children they would have had to go to court. No I am not jealous-if you make a mistake you must pay the penalty-just being honest. That is the way Giles County is run-Who you know and how much money you have!
To the 8:20 poster: You misunderstood every single word of my post, at least I think you did as I couldn't tell where your sentences ended and began because of your lack of capital letters and punctuation. I never called that young adult a derrogatory name and my heart does break for the hardships that she and many other young people will have to endure because they have never been allowed to learn from their mistakes. Her parents may or may not have done a good job parenting, as I said, I have no knowledge of that and it is none of my business. But I do know this as does anyone with any common sense at all; If someone never has to pay the consequences of bad choices and is rewarded for those same bad decisions as she was,then she was denied an important, quite possibly, a life saving lesson, and that is a bigger crime than the one she took part in. And for Mr. Jackson to publicly say, which he obviously did by his actions, not words, that her family's money and prominence makes it okay for her to be so flippant during her speech, is truly disgusting. Actions speak louder than words. Jackson, her parents, and the young lady have sent all of us a msg that they are above the law and if they do something wrong, money can make it go away. Hmmmmm, that seemed to work out great for Brittany Spears, Heath Ledger, River Phoenix, Marilyn Monroe, numerous other child stars. That was my point, whoever you are that disagreed with me so illiteratly. The graduate obviously is extremely talented and intelligent and my heart does break for what could happen to her if she continues to believe she can do whatever she wants and mommy and daddy will buy her way out of it. And it angers me that so many of our students of wealth take it for granted when there are so many out there that have to struggle for every crumb they get and an arrogant man like T J just turns a blind eye to their needs and rewards the "elite" of the county. (Oh, and just so you know, I was close with many of these people, but am gradually drifting away because although I am comfortable financially, I disappointed most of them by denying my kids many material things and instead made them work for the "extras")
disillusioned tax payer, teacher, and a citizen with some common sense.
7:03 you have apparently raised your children the correct way. I have raised mine the same. My children have never been in any kind of trouble such as this situation. I only would hope this young lady gets a dose of realty before she moves on to another city or state where her parents can't help her when she gets in trouble. See, here those people are big fish in a small pond as another poster had mentioned. Outside of Giles County these families and their money are not squat. This county has so many corrupt people running it. Politics has to enter into every aspect here. My husband and I own a small business here and have come to the conclusion that we stand to benefit more doing business out of our home county versus in it. It is a shame. You have some people in this town that want to be in control of everyone. It is the same old ones with the old family money that have been here for years. How dare anyone surpass them in succeeding in this town. People want to keep you down here and cannot be proud for you and your accomplishments, rather they snub their noses at you and talk behind your back. That is why I do the majority of my personal business out of town. I have a hard time giving back to a community that isn't willing to help their own. Forget shopping on the square. You walk in a number of stores and are treated, (atleast I have been)like less than a second class citizen. My husband and I have not been passed down family money we have had to work for everything we have the old fashioned way. One thing is for sure, I will never forget where I came from and will never treat anyone like I am better than them. I have traveled all around this world over the years and have found many Giles County people to be some of the most clickish and unfriendly people I have ever met. Although, there are a great deal of good people here. Sorry to say that about my hometown people but the truth is the truth.
You are correct about TJ he is one of the most corrupt people in this town. Those of us who have had intimate dealings with him know that. People want to run to his defense but they don't know what he is really like or they wouldn't feel the way they do. Again, I totally support you in all you have said and only wish more people took notice and got involved to learn. You sound like you are a real good person and you are doing a good thing by distancing yourself from those individuals. Good luck to you as you will need it. I know how hard people can make it on you in this county when you choose to not follow.
7 03, just because i dont use capital letters or punctuation doesnt meant i dont know how. its just faster to type this way, like more than half the people on the internet and on here do. "If I wished to type using proper punctuation and grammar and in complete sentences, I most certainly could do so as could any educated person." and sorry but i didnt misunderstand anything you said. i just called you on it and you backpedaled to try and cover it up. did you not say her parents bought her way out of trouble. and what proof do you have of that? none i imagine. like i said, just pure old fashioned envy. and i never said she wasnt in the wrong or shouldnt have paid the consequences. what i said was it was just as bad or worse that adults especially a teacher uses a public blog to slander a child.
and to 6 22, you said "she is no longer a child she just graduated". let me get this right, your a child the day before you graduation but not the day after. wow you expect them to grow up really fast huh. if you had actually read and understood what i said you would realize i never said she wasnt responsible or shouldnt have been punished---she was and should have been---what i said was its more understandable for a teenager to make an error in judgement than for someone much older with several children and more life experience to make an error in judgement. she was wrong but its more wrong for an adult with children to talk about and defame a teenager on a blog. thats really setting a good example for your children isnt it. no teenager is perfect. how would you like it if your teenagers did something wrong and adults starting saying ugly things about them on here. bet youd be furious and rightly so. or maybe you did understand what i wrong and you were just trying to evade the real point i was making and take the heat off of you and put it back on the girl. or maybe your just obtuse.
and by the way the valedictorian could not be stripped from her or anyone even when you were in school either because it is not based on leadership or citizenship or anything else but just grades. whoever has the highest grade point average is valedictorian, plain and simple. if her grades were highest then the principal by law could not take it away from her. get over it already.
A student was stripped of the title a not too many years back. You are wrong!!
There is no law regarding awarding of the valedictorian honor. How silly that sounds, a law requiring the principal to give an award... There is tradition. Some things cannot be legislated. Thank you 5:26 for saying I raised my kids right. We tried and they made mistakes as do all of us. The poster who is so upset is obviously close to the graduate or very immature and just spouting out. I guess we all did at that age. Sure sounds like they feel a sense of "entitlement" which is so prevalent in today's society and is a pet peeve of mine. I can see myself thinking that I was owed a the school's highest honor regardless of my bad behavior when I was a new graduate. That poster really thinks I am being evil by speaking reality on this venue....So many of our young graduates are getting ready to be smacked with a great big dose of "REAL LIFE". I hope they can handle it.It's too bad that little poster can't even take my PERCEIVED critiscm...Like the t.v. show title these young adults are going to find out that.."REALITY BITES"
Well said 9:54. The shame in all of this is that the parents didn't have the sense to do a better job. Mommy and Daddy are not going to be around forever and society has no sympathy for you, so what do you do now? That is the reality!
Is plagiarism worse than vandalism?
CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio -- An Ohio teen has admitted he plagiarized the high school commencement speech he gave last weekend and has given up the title of class valedictorian.
Officials said Melanio Acosta IV sent the principal of Circleville High School in central Ohio an e-mail Wednesday acknowledging that he used part of a speech he found online and saying he didn't consider the consequences.
His speech Sunday was titled "You Say Goodbye. I Say Hello" and was filled with references to Beatles songs.
Circleville Superintendent Sam Lucas said the district is deeply disappointed but encouraged by the 18-year-old's confession.
Acosta's mother, Ofelia, said the family is devastated but also describes the punishment as too harsh. She said her son worked hard to make valedictorian.
http://www.newsnet5.com/education/16508997/detail.html
WOW! The article says the youth "gave up" his title....If that is true, he showed some real character potential. Guess we don't know the rest of the story, was he caught first, or just felt that he should take the high road. Speaking only to what is written here, sounds like the mother is so typical of the ones that us teachers must deal with, "don't make my child suffer consequences for their actions."
Anbody know what happened when the "food fight" gang went to court?
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