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.
Private school in nashville runs 10k to 30k per year
on top of horrible property taxes
Well my daughters really were little angels. When our first daughter was born, I was determined she would be raised right and was going to enforce total discipline.
She was so good I never had to switch her. Sometimes I almost wished she would do something bad so I could discipline her because I felt like I wasn't doing my job.
Now her little boy gets no discipline at all and he needs it.
We lived in Manchester for a year, when my husband was in grad school. It seems like every state has a Shelbyville and a Unionville :-). The sports news at the source finally mentioned the state!
I guess I should shut my mouth then. I pay around 2700 each. It's a wonderful school. I really like their program.
the occasional angel like my daughter number 2 never need it
i see plenty of spoiled brats who run their folks and dominate their lives who need it bad....very very bad
we're off to a night wedding in Franklin.....I hope to spank the bride given the chance....a wise custom here in Nashville
;>)
Not at all. I asked "If you ever had". I didn't ask when you stopped .... - which implies that whatever answer you give, you are admitting guilt. My question could be answered with a "NO" and there is no implied guilt.
My question was easily answered as you proved when you answered it.
Son number One's kindergarten is over 8K at David Lipscomb...Church of Christ
Some of the "types" at Unionville Community School most certainly do. Shelbyville kids aren't that bad. Cascade/Bell Buckle students are really top notch (or, at least they were). The CPS in that state and Texas (and probably many more states) should be completely disbanded and some of them prosecuted. Keith Williams is a fine fellow with strong values and devoted to excellence, at least he was when I knew him. This whole thing is a charade. If the media would look into it, they would find that most of the people in the area would defend Williams and be glad to be rid of the Manus family.
Tried to discreetly tell all of you. With a little provocation, I can be persuaded to release the bombshell about Unionville as told directly to me by a counselor years ago.
If that child were moving around while getting a spanking, he would cause that to happen. Williams in NOT so inept as to hit that kid were it is alleged that he did. I'll meet your bet and raise you 10,000 that one OR MORE lies are involved in this and it's not the school system in this case. Oh, and mostly because I said so -- I sincerely, firmly believe that. It's time...
I made no bet. BTW, you totally ignored my question.
The doctor may have reported the facts as told to him/her by the parents. It appears this is what has happened. Williams would not have paddled that child without a witness present (state law). So, we're going to see the following come true:
Proverbs 18:17 The first to plead his case seems just, Until another comes and examines him.
When this is all said and done, I expect you to apologize. If not, we'll not be able to communicate with each other in this forum. That is a definitively true statement.
Boycotted for what? Documenting swelling and localized trauma? You think a better doctor would have lied?
I picked Lipscomb because it is most conservative.
Yes.
My FIL's wife had a lot to say about these folks
If you beat your child, be careful, when you are old and feeble could be payback time.
Without commenting on the who is in the "right" in the article, I can tell you this.
I was severely, and unjustly, paddled in the fourth grade by a teacher who pulled her paddle out habitually.
That was 30 years ago. Today, I am a well adjusted man raising my own son. I make a very good living. I am happily married. If she's still alive, that teacher would be about 75.
I'd give $1000 for the opportunity to slap her so hard that her false teeth would fly into the next county.
For the record, our son doesn't go to public school, and if anyone other than his mother or I spank (or hit or paddle) him, I'll rip their arm off so they won't do it again.
The end of the story: The next time she ordered me up for my "licks" I walked to the front of the room, looked her in the eye, and said, "NO." Taking into account my age and her reputation, it is the bravest thing I have ever done in my life.
My Dad, when informed, backed me up. It threw the school into a bit of a tizzy, and some sort of investigation followed. I don't know how all that worked out, but I know one thing: her paddling days were over.
Can't tell you in this forum (and won't by private e-mail either), but I know that Unionville has not one, but a LOT of families like that. The community is KNOWN for that. The hotheads on here who keep mouthing off about what they'd do to whomever paddles their child are blaming ALL teachers/administrators for one or two bad apples they may have known. That does not invalidate paddling as discipline for misdeeds which require that type of punishment.
I'm willing to die for what I believe about the subject -- and thoroughly mean that. I am so sick of dealing with disrespectful, hateful, Godless children that I am not open to negotiation any more. On the other hand, some who have made harsh statements here in opposition to school officials correcting children (in a suitable way, not abuse) should be given the opportunity to commit to the same via hanging when (not if) the system of government changes some day. After finishing with that Godless bunch (investigation would most certainly bear that out), then radical CPS officials would be next.
To those who want to continue to argue, don't bother. God clearly states His will in the following passages. If you don't like it, say your prayers to Him and tell Him off:
Proverbs 23:13 Do not hold back discipline from the child, Although you beat him with the rod, he will not die. Proverbs 23:14 You shall beat him with the rod, And deliver his soul from Sheol.
Someone might research the original Hebrew on the word "beat". Most certainly the context of the passage does not mean beating to the point of abuse. Many more passages could be quoted, but those are pretty explicit.
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