Growing up in this small town, fellow Jefferson Township Highschool students and I have grown accustomed to the gossip and twisted stories that are easily and rapidly spread throughout the minds of childrens parents whenever something like a fight happens during the school day. It is an unfortunate phenomenon that happens all across the world, in all different age groups, and sadly even in our own town, between grown adults. Now I know there is not much I can do to stop this ridiculous occurance that we all call "gossip" from ever occuring again, but after reading a recent article about a "Brutal Attack" at Jefferson Highschool, I felt it was my responisibility as a student at the highschool and a sane human being to say something, especially because not one person who I have seen comment on the issue or even write the article on the issue actually attends the school.
First of all, it is a very dissapointing thing to see adults that have full time jobs, pay taxes, vote for the government that controls us, that have raised kids, and all together have been around on this planet twice as long as I have, so easily believe an article that they read on a website like this one (not to undermine the credibility of the Jefferson Patch, but come on, this is the first time I've ever been on this website and I am writing this) and cause any sort of uproor about it.
There was no brutal attack, it was a tiny, meaningless altercation that commonly happens in life between two immature children . No prinicple is to blame for it, no board of education needs to waste it's time dealing with an issue of such futility. If you'd like to blame something, blame the human condition, blame our dystopian society, blame John Lennon for not getting his message out to enough people in time. But if you really would like to go for gold, blame the two children that were involved in the incident! Things happen, that is life, get over it and move on. All of these grown adults who claim this incident is "digusting" and "shocking" like they have never heard of a fight happening in human history before, and speak all of this hooplah about how "bullying" needs to be stopped, well they should probably just shut up. Not just because it bothers me personally, but because it causes an issue for the entire town and the school that about one thousand other students who are not getting into fights attend. But honestly with a title that says "My Son was Brutally Attacked", it is not surprising that so many narrow minded people would create a mountain out of a molehill. Throughout the past four years of attending Jefferson Highschool, I don't believe I've witnessed one true case of bullying, ever. But when one tiny incident happens, all of these gossiping mouths rally together and blow things way out of proportion and cause more problems than the actual incident caused.
I guess these things are inevitable in any society, but I can't stand witnessing it with my own eyes and not saying something. Just please, for the sake of our community, which on a small scale can represent all humanity, please just stop your gossiping.
Elisa DeYoung
7:52 am on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Way to go! There are so many people in this town that love threatening to sue, sue, sue... you know who you are!!! The truth is you are in the public eye and everyone knows who YOU are too!! The laugh is on YOU!!! YOU are ridiculous and making a spectacle of yourself. Don't you think its a reflection on your kids too. Get a life!!
Alyson Music
8:32 am on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
I graduated JTHS in 83, does that count?? I have witnessed bullying in JTHS, does that count?? I have witnessed fights at JTHS. BUT, never have I seen or heard of anyone blinded in an eye from a kid fight! The injuries sustained, by this child in question, amounts to a brutal attack.
Obviously you have never been bullied or you would know the pain it causes. I was never bullied, but I used to protect one that was. To this day, she is emotionally scarred. Parents don't teacher their children compassion. What happened to compassion? Everyone can't and shouldn't be the same. Why is it alright to pounce on those that aren't the same,? Why is it ok to lay your hands on someone that makes you mad? It's not ok.
I teach my children to be kind, respectful, and compassionate. They have never bullied, nor would I allow it. They have never been bullied, nor would I allow that either!
Makenzie Peter
3:53 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012
He wasn't blinded.... he's perfectly fine.
Alyson Music
8:34 am on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
cont'd...
I think you are missing what the parents are upset about, but you also have some good insight. You are probably right, the principal is probably not to blame, but parents are upset that rules and policies are not set up to address this kind of situation. The wrong message is being sent to the other child as well as the rest of the student population. It's wrong to resolve your problems with your fists and illegal.
If it were you that fought and hurt one of my children, I would have marched up to the police station and filed criminal charges against you. Depending on how your parents responded, I would probably sue them. There has to be accountability. As parents, it's our job to teach you that it's not ok and it's illegal to lay your hands on another. Immaturity is not an excuse. Most kids learn from experience or watching events around them.
I commend you for such a well thought out and written letter, but stay in school and leave this to the grown ups. I can see exactly where you are headed in life. Stay on course, enjoy your youth, and hope and pray you do right by your own children one day!
Lisa Imperante
11:57 am on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
I know from the perspective of a student it may seem like parents are gossiping Dan. I know personally the parents and student in this case. You may not know all of the facts, and many parents are simply trying to show support. I don't live in Jefferson anymore, and my kids were never bullied in the school system, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen. There has always been, and will always be kids that get teased and pushed around in school. A concussion and vision damage has to be unacceptable. I know there have been other cases with serious injuries to students that I know personally, and this happens in schools all over America, not just JTHS. It needs to be addressed.
Tell the Truth
5:35 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Tell the Truth
http://patch.com/N-d43L
Dan Barrecchia
11:01 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Alright and this is exactly what i was trying to avoid. I said what needed to be said, I will not stoop down to any lower level of bashing or arguing with anyone, especially over a website. Goodbye
casual observer
12:57 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012
Thank you Dan, keep speaking the truth.
Louis C. Hochman
10:35 pm on Friday, May 18, 2012
Hi, all. I'm a regional editor with Patch. We've removed certain comments from this post and elsewhere on the site. While we understand people have strong opinions about this topic, and want them to feel free to express themselves, we won't allow any posts with profanity or personal attacks among our site users. Please make sure to keep the discussion civil and respectful. You can disagree with someone; you don't need to insult him or her to do so.
We also won't knowingly allow posts that make statements about the involved parties that can't be verified, that may not be relevant, or that would unduly expose the privacy of those discussed here, in particular minors. So if you've heard a rumor, if you've got an impression of the teens involved in this incident, if you've got something to say about the personal histories of the families ... please keep it to yourself. Feel free to comment based on what's said in the story, about what you saw/heard at the board meeting where this came up, about school policies or those of other institutions, or about anything else in the public record.
Thanks for your understanding.
Beachbum
10:06 pm on Sunday, May 20, 2012
I must have missed the juicy stuff but... having also gone to JTHS, I know that the same spread of rumors and misinformation exists within the school as it does on the outside. It seems that this problem has been brewing with these two students for many months. It should have been foreseen. The school needs to adhere to their own policies and ensure that there are no inequities in the system of discipline. As a parent, I would take every step possible to protect my child. If the school fails to respond, it is my right to sue and I will use it, albeit as a last resort. That being said, I was not involved and I gather that neither were you Dan. Let the adults sort this out.