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- Jan 26, 2003
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But he NOT arrested for "not saying the pledge". Mouthing off and making threats in front of cops when they've got hold of you is always dicey.
They called the school resource officer because he was sitting. He hasn't stood for the ENTIRE year, and yes, the sub wasnt aware of the policy. But this person literally called the "school police" on the kid, and THEN he made a scene. Why was he being asked to leave class because he wouldn't stand for the pledge? Why does that deserve someone calling school cops on you? Yes, he should not have made a scene and threats after this (which is what allegedly the arrest was for), but the whole thing was blown so far out of proportion from the start.But he NOT arrested for "not saying the pledge". Mouthing off and making threats in front of cops when they've got hold of you is always dicey.
The boy, who had refused to stand for the pledge the entire school year, had a substitute teacher that day who confronted him when he did not join his classmates.
She then called the school’s administrative offices “because I did not want to continue dealing with him,” according to her statement.
A school resource officer with the Lakeland Police Department eventually responded to the classroom and arrested the boy...
The Lakeland Police Department said in a statement on Sunday that the boy was not arrested for refusing to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance but on charges of disrupting the classroom. The school resource officer and the dean of students “attempted to calm the student down” in the classroom, asking him to leave the room over 20 times, the police said.
“The student left the classroom and created another disturbance and made threats while he was escorted to the office,” the police said. “This arrest was based on the student’s choice to disrupt the classroom, make threats and resisting the officer’s efforts to leave the classroom.”
In a just society with just laws there would be a "fruit of the poison tree" rule that applied to police and arrests. If police responded to a call for an unjust arrest and harassed someone unjustly, the resulting trouble from the person would not be criminal. It would be the result of the poison tree.
AGBF
I would like to know his threats in his exact words. Short from threatening to kill the police officers, this seems totally unjustified.
They called the school resource officer because he was sitting. He hasn't stood for the ENTIRE year, and yes, the sub wasnt aware of the policy. But this person literally called the "school police" on the kid, and THEN he made a scene. Why was he being asked to leave class because he wouldn't stand for the pledge? Why does that deserve someone calling school cops on you? Yes, he should not have made a scene and threats after this (which is what allegedly the arrest was for), but the whole thing was blown so far out of proportion from the start.
Made mine too Deb. I grew (and probably you too) saying the pledge, our dad's, granddad's, uncles somebody fought in WWII (WWI also in my case). I understand the love of our country and the pledge, but then I went thruthe 60s, then I found out the priest that I really loved in high school because he liked me as a person was a pedophile, then I found out how black Americans, Puerto Ricans (when I moved to the Bronx), Jews, were all treated and I didn't feel the same about the pledge, I think of one does not feel a part of America and stands for truth, justice and the American Way in todays worrld, they may have a hard time saying and believing in the pledge. my .02 on a soon to be snowy evening.
It was wrong of the teacher but still not an excuse for the kid to act like an ass.
So children should be arrested for acting like asses?
The boy was provoked by an adult that was behaving inappropriately.Not arrested but there a should be consequences which often are lacking these days.
By all means stand up for yourself but don't extend that to being belligerent. If you are belligerent enough that the school cop thinks you are out of line, then you are out of line.The boy was provoked by an adult that was behaving inappropriately.
I guess the message is that children should never ever stand up for themselves.
The boy was provoked by an adult that was behaving inappropriately.
I guess the message is that children should never ever stand up for themselves.
On Monday, Polk County Public Schools also said in a statement that the student was arrested after becoming disruptive and refusing to follow repeated instructions by members of the school staff and law enforcement. But the school district added that it did not “condone the substitute’s behavior” and had not asked for the boy to be arrested.
I really wasn’t going to respond to this as you likely have not spent a day let alone years in an inner city school with middle schoolers. Please don’t assume you know my message. I have spent my adult life trying to make a difference In my students’ lives. Have a great night!
You mean sit down Or kneel...The boy was provoked by an adult that was behaving inappropriately.
I guess the message is that children should never ever stand up for themselves.
@Sandeek thank you for all you do in making a difference in your students lives. I know that you have improved many students lives and they are lucky you are there for them.
I have taught middle school (as well as high school). It is better not to poke children with electric cattle prods if you don't want them to act belligerent. Why not call in the social worker who can probably stop the situation from accelerating to threats or potential violence? If the social worker can't manage on her own, she will at least have calmed it down so that the authorities who need to be called can be called. And sometimes they must be called.
A girl (not provoked by her teacher) I knew in one special ed class broke a window with her bare arm. The school's director calmly called 911. The girl was bound up gently with bandages, and later charged by the police. That's a professional way to deal with actual violence by a student.
AGBF
On Tuesday, Brian Haas, the state attorney for the 10th Judicial Circuit in Florida, which handles cases in Lakeland, said that his office would not prosecute the boy despite statements by the police that he had made threats after disrupting class. “The case is closed,” Mr. Haas said.
So strange for you to assume where I’ve been. I grew up in a crappy, poor suburb of Oakland, CA. Aside from growing up in Oakland itself, you can’t get more inner city than that. I’ve seen too much and lived through too much because of that area.I really wasn’t going to respond to this as you likely have not spent a day let alone years in an inner city school with middle schoolers. Please don’t assume you know my message. I have spent my adult life trying to make a difference In my students’ lives. Have a great night!