The Emporia Gazette

Take action sooner

You are absolutely correct. If you hold a public job, you do get to hear the public displeasure at unpopular decision that are made over circumstances that are of a PRIVATE matter. In other words, we the public get to judge their decisions over private matters in which we know nothing about. We get to voice our opinions without reprocussion, under the safety umbrella that "Hey, it's a public job. You have to listen to me. Regardless of whether I know the facts or not. Deal with it." While the other side, by law, cannot comment. Pretty fair fight, right? It's all good. The police deal with it all the time. Nothing new, and not going to change.

May 20, 2010 at 7:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Take action sooner

Giggles and GPride, I actually agree with both of you. A letter going home saying something happened and it was being looked into, without any names, could have extinguished many fires. I also think the staff probably should have been in the know from the outset. What I cannot agree on is the attack by Mrs. Walker on the principal and the staff. Apparently, an unknowing staff. Something positive needs to come out of this, and when the local newspaper resorts to finger pointing and accusations, emotions get worked up and sides get set. She very easily could have stated something to the fact of we can all work together to solve these intolerable actions for the better of our community, or we can point fingers and question people's judgement and without stating it, question their integrity, professionalism, and competency. I guess mud slinging sells papers. No wonder i keep hearing people say they refuse to take the gazette.

May 20, 2010 at 6:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Take action sooner

And the school did what it is told to do. Contact the authorities and investigate. Listen, I have no problem with parents doing what is best for their children. I'm just saying the school's hands are tied when it comes to he-said, she-said. Right or wrong. Ask any lawyer how well an 11 year old's testimony stands up in court, especially against another 11 year old. What I'm saying is, don't drag the school or the principal through the mud for doing going through the steps that are outlined for them. Imagine, reading in the paper someone questioning you for following guidelines that were already in place before you got your job. You were simply doing what you were told to do.

May 20, 2010 at 5:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Take action sooner

meth, that didn't answer my question, but I'll answer yours. No, it wasn't just one, it was two. And they are best friends. What people are failing to understand, this isn't a private school or a church school. It is a public school and they have legal obligations they must follow. No where in any of my posts have I stood up for the character of this bully. Bottom line. The school did it's legal obligation and included the authorities. The authorities concluded there wasn't any grounds for action. So what can the school do? Expel him on grounds of what an 11 year old girl and her best friend say? Did he say it? I have no idea. But there is only so much the principal can do. But to personally attack her and the rest of the staff at lowther south, not to mention the rest of the district, isn't going to solve anything.

May 20, 2010 at 4:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Take action sooner

methusla and create....do you know for a fact that it is being shrugged off? Just because it's not public how the boy is being handled, you think it's just back to normal? There is a reason you don't know, because it's none of your business. Or mine. But don't assume nothing is being done, simply because it isn't public.

May 20, 2010 at 3:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Take action sooner

"When a gun threat was allegedly made by a student at Lowther South last month, why wasn’t every parent of every student at that school immediately notified?" Well Ashley, you answered your own question by including the word "allegedly." Remove that word, and by all means. Parents should be informed without hesitation. But sadly, allegedly is the accurate word in this circumstance. A complete investigation of this incident was not only conducted by the school district, but also by the Emporia Police Department. Both of them came to the same conclusion. There is no evidence that this happened. And in finding such, blurs the backbone on which you wrote your very one sided editorial. You used "in loco parentis" as a reasoning for your argument. Let me use it for mine as well, because you see, in your haste to judge you forgot to include the second part to the law. In loco parentis "allows institutions such as colleges and schools to act in the best interests of the students as they see fit...." Make sense. However, unfortunately for you Mrs. Walker, it continues, "....although not allowing what would be considered violations of the students' civil liberties." Civil liberties such as making false claims when in fact proof was found otherwise, maybe? No matter how bad the school may have wanted to throw the perverbial "book" at this bully, he still has rights. And these rights must be protected. Due process must be followed. And it was. Not only by the school district, but by an independent entity. A fact of life is that 11 year old children sometimes embelish the facts. It just happens. And it is on an 11 year old's statement, that you Mrs. Walker, found it well within your professional responsibility to personally attack Mrs. Griffen. I realize this is your family's paper, and this is your editorial. But to patronize all of the hard working employees of the district by stating they should "put themselves in the shoes of parents (wonder how many actually are parents....1 or 2 maybe?) and find a better way to handle the situation" when you offer nothing but judgements based on an 11 year old girl, proven to be false, is very irresponsible. Or to use your profound statement.....baffling.

May 20, 2010 at 2:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Board hears allegation of threats

youwillneverknowmyname........your report on "why i'm such an idiot" is due monday. get cracking

May 15, 2010 at 11:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Board hears allegation of threats

and to any parents who want to know "what is going on there" i suggest you pop in some day unnannounced to see the lawlessness going on. It's rampant.

May 15, 2010 at 4:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Board hears allegation of threats

I don't support you bashing the school and the way it was handled, but that's your right. This is mine.

Devil's advocate here. You have a son or daughter who has a few enemies. Those enemies get together and fabricate a story of bullying against your kid. Both saw it, both heard it. Your child tells you he or she did nothing, and those kids accusing him or her just have it out for them. School calls you to tell you your child is suspended. No witnesses other than the two accusers. But your kid isn't allowed back at school.
I'm not saying at all, this is what happened. I'm sure the "bully" did act in a threatening way. I'm just trying to show where the schools have to rely on facts to give out punishment.

Food for thought

May 15, 2010 at 4:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Board hears allegation of threats

akamai...just read the rest of your post and I'd like to give you a virtual high five. on all accounts you make a great point. as for the EDA i really think if someone got their ducks in a row, hired a super lawyer, there really is a case there.

By the way, i hear those meds they give kids for anxiety, are delicious for adults too. I'm not saying...........I'm just saying.

May 15, 2010 at 3:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )