You're right. If it were me, the punishment would have gone straight to caning. Paddling is not effective. Caning is.
And, here's the family:
Posted on 10/28/2005 4:53:52 PM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
A Unionville mother and father are complaining about the paddling of their 14-year-old son, allegedly by Community High School's assistant principal, and they've taken their concerns to the superintendent of schools, the sheriff's department and have released their boy's medical records showing bruises and swelling at his tailbone. "Diagnosis: Child Abuse," is a notation in the physician's notes. Community High School Principal Robert Ralston declined comment and deferred questions to Bedford County Schools' Central Office where Superintendent Ed Gray said he's in the middle with responsibilities to protect students' as well as employees' rights. To avoid duplication of efforts, Gray said Bedford County Sheriff Clay Parker and/or his detectives would be investigating the allegations.
Samuel Manus suffered a "knot and bruise on [his] lower spine," which showed "swelling due to excessive force ... punishment with a wooden paddle," according to Dr. Corbi D. Milligan, a physician in Smyrna who examined the eighth grader on Monday. The paddling on Wednesday last week, Oct. 19, was a result of an incident on a school bus Oct. 18. The boy didn't tell his parents, Freddy and Tracy Manus of Virgil Crowell Road, until Sunday, Oct. 23, "because he had a run-in with Mr. Williams last year," Freddy Manus said. The father says he was escorted at that time from Community School by a school resource officer and that on the way out, Assistant Principal Keith Williams told him "'I call the shots. You don't.'"
The distinction seems important because of an apparent difference in paddling policies between Community High School and Community Elementary School, as interpreted by Tracy Manus, who points to Student Handbooks. Parents are asked if they'll give permission to paddle elementary schoolers, but the high school student handbook doesn't have such a reference. Regardless, Freddy Manus says his son, Samuel, didn't deserve a paddling that resulted in such injury. He took Samuel to Dr. Milligan on Monday afternoon after he and Samuel visited the superintendent that morning.
"After listening to their explanation of the incident, I advised the parent that he could file a complaint with the school system, file a complaint with the sheriff's office or make a report to the Department of Children's Services. He took a copy of the school system complaint form," Gray said in a prepared statement. "The father returned to my office and related that he had chosen to file with the sheriff's office. I explained to him that the school system would cooperate with the law enforcement investigation."
Ralston said: "Community High School has been made aware of a complaint being issued regarding our staff. It is our policy not to comment on student matters except with their parents or appropriate authorities. Any further questions can to be directed to our central office." Samuel Manus said he was paddled by Williams who used a paddle with a face approximately 4-inches wide and perhaps a foot long. He had to bend over with his hands on a bench for the paddling which was observed by Ralston, the student said. His doctor said she'd not seen such injury from paddling before.
"It hit the lower part of the spine," Milligan said. "Most times when kids are spanked, they're hit on the buttock," she said. "He would not have had bruising had he been hit on the buttock. "The American Academy of Pediatrics' policy on corporal punishment is ... it's not an appropriate form of punishment at any age," the pediatrician said. "I understand there are cultural differences, but there have to be boundaries," she said. "If marks are left, then the punishment is excessive." What led to the paddling is described by the Manus family: Samuel was seated on a county school bus with a friend. They were going to his house after school on the other boy's normal bus ride. Samuel had a foot in the aisle of the bus, an infraction of rules on that bus. Freddy Manus sees merit to the rule but only if a passenger is trying to trip another. Because of the infraction, the bus was stopped and Samuel Manus was told to sit behind the driver. The boy told the Times-Gazette that he told the driver, "'If you don't leave me alone, I'll get my daddy on this.'
"He said, 'Shut up,'" Samuel Manus reported.
Freddy and Tracy Manus concede their son has been paddled before. The three "licks" he got last week brought his total to five, having had two administered during one previous "butt whuppin'," the parents said. Freddy Manus said Thursday he's taken medical records to the Bedford County Sheriff's Department that afternoon, having left them for Detective Chris Brown. The father and detective had spoken earlier. A call to the Sheriff's Department resulted in no contact with Brown or Parker. It was not totally clear whether the department would proceed toward an arrest warrant or whether the information gathered would be presented to the grand jury for the potential issuance of an original indictment. Meanwhile, the Associated Press has reported that a new state law requires anyone who suspects a child has been abused to report the case directly to the Department of Children's Services, or face a $2,500 fine. The law is expected to have the greatest impact on teachers, day care workers, nurses, and institutions dealing with children. Another state law says teachers and principals may use corporal punishment in a reasonable manner against any pupil for good cause to maintain discipline and order in the public schools.
Another section says teachers can hold students accountable for disorderly conduct on campus and the school bus. However, boards of education shall adopt rules as deemed necessary to implement and control any form of corporal punishment. Gray says there is no system-wide policy. Some schools follow the state law. Others have their own policies. The discrepancy has been approached, but not resolved by the school board.
Thanks.
I've seen these threads here forever....thanks for getting it though :)
That is it.... Thanks :)
Farah was a major hottie, no doubt about it.
Actually there were two girls in my high school who to this very day, I have never seen a prettier girl. My best friend dated one of them. The other had a crush on my Brother who was a star athlete and handsome as a movie star.
The kid is obviously a smartmouth, and he's used to his father backing him up. Boys need to be raised with a firm hand. But schools should not be paddling kids. If they're acting up, call the parents and tell them to come get them. If the behavior persists, dismiss the child from school, but don't hit him. Weed out the troublemakers so that the kids who want to learn can do so.
I have three sons, and I say the only times you ever have to "roughen" a kid up is when he's starting in on you first or endangering himself or another person. But I never used a paddle or really hurt them. The look on your face should say it all. And, when they smartmouthed me, I punished them in other ways. They're still all under 10, but I'm told they're very well-behaved (for boys, that is). ;-)
Actually, sounds like some of the people on this thread. Now I know what Americans need -- some need to get a "beating" every day once the place is taken over by another country. Killing some people with sorry attitudes would be too nice. Better yet, just beat them every day and send them to work in the fields. If you think a spanking is dreadful, you need to grow up in Cuba and then speak your mind. LOL.
Do you? You're not going to like what's coming, then.
In case it is not clear, I am old.
Same time, I am old too. I didn't know anybody that couldn't read or write and drop outs were rare. I don't know of anyone who did drugs although some smoked and drank a little. If you misbehaved you were sent to the office and took your licks and hoped your dad didn't find out or you would get more and worse licks.
You're assuming the story is as the McManuses say.
What if it's not?
And it might be that kind of attitude that makes Michigan the paradise it is today.
Personally, I'll take Tennessee - and so for that matter will Michigan's auto companies!
If more people had my attitude, I doubt we'd have this zero tolerance, wussification, gun grabbing, and left wing authoritarian nonsense that we have today. Interesting that you make that comment, since my anti-authoritarian streak I have in me is a major reason why I'm not a democrat. "Autority's respect" needs to be earned. Most school admins (Principals, VP's, Supers) I know are a joke. There's only been two admins, and two school board members who I've really respected either as a student or a voter. On a side note, I'm not against corporate punishment. I'm against it being delivered by those who aren't family. School admins aren't mom and dad. If my kid is a trouble maker, call me and I will take care of the problem.
If this incident took place in a public school, then we know for sure that this assistant principal lives off the public dole. The story does not say, but if we are to assume that this kid's parents have real jobs in the private sector, that I know whose story I believe.
My science teacher in Jr. High used to throw his pointer like a spear at kids who were sleeping in class.
You're right. If it were me, the punishment would have gone straight to caning. Paddling is not effective. Caning is.
And, here's the family:
and how do schools compare today.
My wife's dad and his wife are in Unionville....she's from cattle folks.
The parents of the boy are very well known in the area as total wankers and folks loathe them.
I bet you have little angels right?
You said "hit" sweetie....not "beat". I doubt anyone here endorses beating children.
Spanking is hitting ...with a paddle or belt or some implement within reason. God admonishes using one's hand.
and I approve it.
You're projecting your getting picked on issues to the rest of us.
My 5 year old is wild as a buck but has the best manners in his school. Yes maam. no maam etc.
My second daughter never needed any corporal punishment. It just depends
I just spent the afternoon in Unionville on Longview Road and you are quite correct.
The parents are the problem more than the children.
Ruffians...some even suggest they are "travelers"....note the surname.
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