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No FL student beaten unconscious twice - Home torched two days ago

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DoYouEverWonder Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 09:00 PM
Original message
No FL student beaten unconscious twice - Home torched two days ago
Check this out folks. This is what goes on in Florida schools under Jeb Bush. This student was beaten unconscious twice in the school bathroom. The first time she spent a week in the hospital. All hell broke out a few days ago at the local school board meeting and the next day someone tried to set fire to her bedroom. In the meantime, the school insurance company is trying to intimidate the mother to get her to stop talking to the press.

Unfortunately, this is probably not an isolated incident. There have been other horror stories going around lately. In the meantime no one from the local School Boards all the way up to the State level seems to be willing to do much about these situations.


Angry parents question Bradford School Board

Nov 15, 2005

STARKE - A standing-room-only crowd packed the Bradford County School Board Room in this close-knit city Monday night, but only two parents got a chance to speak about a rash of violent attacks that rocked the district's high school this fall.

Nearly 100 other residents - including the parents of a 14-year-old girl who was beaten unconscious twice in a school bathroom - left the meeting unheard because the board limited public comment to three pre-scheduled speakers.

"They didn't do anything here. It was a joke," lamented Billy Rehberg, the father of two children in the district. "We want some answers, and if we have to take control of this system, we will. It's our school system, not theirs."

After the meeting, parents and friends comforted Jackie Howard, the mother of the beaten teen. Her daughter, a freshman, sustained broken ribs, a fractured wrist and a concussion in beatings that were her "punishment" from female classmates after she turned in two boys for groping her in class, according to police and school officials.

The teen's mom said, "My personal opinion is that this meeting tonight shows the integrity of the School Board of Bradford County, that my daughter's safety is not important enough to be on the agenda in spite of all these people who were here to support us."

She said an adjuster for the school district's insurance company told her she won't be compensated for her daughter's medical expenses or transportation costs to attend a different school unless she stops talking to the news media and signs an agreement releasing the school system from any blame in the attacks. The mother said she flatly declined the offer.

http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051115/LOCAL/51114042/1078/news&template=printart



The following day, someone set fire to this mother's home.


Fire burns home of teen beat at school

November 16, 2005

The bedroom of the 14-year-old victim in a string of attacks at Bradford High School was set on fire late Tuesday night, according to the Bradford County Sheriff's Office.

Lt. Kenneth Hines with the Sheriff's Office said deputies received a call at 9:04 p.m. that there was a fire at the home near Starke.

Few details were known about the incident, but Hines said deputies as well as two or three dogs from Florida State Prison searched the area for two suspects who reportedly started the fire. He would not say how the fire was started; the state Fire Marshal's Office was investigating the incident.

No one was injured and there was minor damage to the home, Hines said.

http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051116/LOCAL/51115044/1078/news&template=printart
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Doctor_J Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 09:06 PM
Response to Original message
1. Florida is a banana republic
Run by Jeb Crow, "shoot at will", rigged elections, and now terrorism in the public schools... I can't imagine living in that hell-hole.
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Wetzelbill Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 09:06 PM
Response to Original message
2. wow, that is awful
damn, one of the saddest things I have heard in a long time.
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kevinbgoode Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 09:09 PM
Response to Original message
3. I would love to get the name of that school's insurance company
because we could launch a nationwide boycott of them and pressure school districts to change companies if necessary. I don't take kindly to corporate intimidation.
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DoYouEverWonder Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 09:10 PM
Response to Reply #3
5. FL is a Sunshine Law state
that sort of information is public record.

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FreedomAngel82 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 09:10 PM
Response to Original message
4. Any reason to go after the girl??
This is horrible. :(
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stillcool Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 09:16 PM
Response to Reply #4
7. here's the reason....
After the meeting, parents and friends comforted Jackie Howard, the mother of the beaten teen. Her daughter, a freshman, sustained broken ribs, a fractured wrist and a concussion in beatings that were her "punishment" from female classmates after she turned in two boys for groping her in class, according to police and school officials.

There's your American Morality
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lonestarnot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 09:49 PM
Response to Reply #4
19. Not to detract from the topic of this thread,
but your avatar is in my kitchen window, bigger n shit!
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Aimah Donating Member (598 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 09:14 PM
Response to Original message
6. They were worried that Clinton set a bad example for teens...
It seems kids are learning to attack innocent people for no good reason. Who could be setting that example?
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bloom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 09:18 PM
Response to Original message
8. that's insane.... eom
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Syncronaut Seven Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 10:03 PM
Response to Reply #8
20. It's not insane.
If you were trying to push school vouchers and it wasn't going well, what would you do?

Well, the answer is to let public schools become so violent no one dares attend. It's no accident, it's policy.

If this were China, school officials would become concerned real fast.
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bloom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 10:57 PM
Response to Reply #20
29. Actually - what I thought was insane
was girls beating up another girl until she was unconscious because she reported being groped.... And then having her house burned.

Although the school official's behavior is also disgusting.
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Arkana Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 09:18 PM
Response to Original message
9. That's absolutely repulsive.
I hope the parents sue the fucking school board. What happened to that poor girl is unacceptable under any terms.
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DoYouEverWonder Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 09:22 PM
Response to Reply #9
12. What happened ?
It's still happening. This is an ongoing situation. This is a very small rural community where everyone knows each and is related in some way. Unfortanetely, this is a very bad situation that may get worse before it gets better. That's part of why I'm trying to draw some attention to the story.

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yorkiemommie1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 09:20 PM
Response to Original message
10. this is positively barbaric.

n/t
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proud2BlibKansan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 09:20 PM
Response to Original message
11. As horrific as this is,
I don't see the connection to jeb bush.
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DoYouEverWonder Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 09:23 PM
Response to Reply #11
13. Violence in FL schools is becoming a problem through out the state
But unfortunately the people in Tallahassee continue to turn a blind eye.

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proud2BlibKansan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 09:45 PM
Response to Reply #13
16. What do you think they could do
that would address this problem?
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Swamp Rat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 09:24 PM
Response to Reply #11
14. Yeah, he's in a lower grade.
:D

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proud2BlibKansan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 09:45 PM
Response to Reply #14
17. LOL
good answer. :rofl:
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bloom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 09:27 PM
Response to Reply #11
15. Seems like part of the agenda of a lot of right-wing nuts
Edited on Thu Nov-17-05 09:29 PM by bloom
is to destroy public schools.

Seems like this school is being destroyed by incompetence - as the Federal Gov't is - as seen by the Katrina example. The State gov't can have a hand in underfunding schools and who knows what all.

P.S. the insurance problems and the intimidation not to talk to the press - also sound rather familiar.
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proud2BlibKansan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 09:48 PM
Response to Reply #15
18. I agree about their agenda
but I see the responsibility here lies with the school district. I can't imagine what the state could do that would help this girl out. This is clearly a case of assault, which is certainly already illegal in Florida. So the district should be pressured to deal with the kids who assaulted this girl. Her parents also have the right to press charges themselves.
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DoYouEverWonder Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 10:10 PM
Response to Reply #18
21. The parents went to the School Board
the School Board won't even allow them to speak at a public meeting. Since the HS and the School Board are basically refusing to address the parents concerns or to try to find solutions then the state needs to intervene. When kid's are turning up severely beaten to unconsciousness on school property and then their house is torched, we are dealing with a life and death situation. On top of that, the school's insurance company is also trying to intimidate and has threatened the mother, then it's way past time for the state to intervene.

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proud2BlibKansan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 10:26 PM
Response to Reply #21
23. What would the state do?
Have the parents pressed charges?
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DoYouEverWonder Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 10:35 PM
Response to Reply #23
24. What would the state do?
Oh nothing I suppose?

Since these latest events have just happened in the last day or two, I am not sure what the mother has done in regards to pressing charges.

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proud2BlibKansan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 10:41 PM
Response to Reply #24
25. If you were assaulted like this,
how long would you wait to press charges? If it was your child, how long would you wait?

The parent definitely has grounds for a lawsuit. But I still don't understand what the state could do to help this victim.
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DoYouEverWonder Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 10:48 PM
Response to Reply #25
26. In regards to the past incidents
Edited on Thu Nov-17-05 10:52 PM by DoYouEverWonder
the mother did press charges for the original sexual assaults and at least the first beating and a few people have been charged and arrested. That is part of the reason why the situation is getting out of hand. The people who support the boys who did this, ie family and friends, have continued their threats and intimidations, hence the arson incident the other night.

Edit: Here's the bit from the article that addresses your question:

The district also immediately suspended and planned expulsion hearings for the two boys in the initial assault as well as three girls accused of retaliating against the 14-year-old. Various criminal charges were filed against the accused students, and the Bradford County Sheriff's Office is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest of another suspect.
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proud2BlibKansan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 11:15 PM
Response to Reply #26
30. Thanks
So I still ask my original question - why is Jeb Bush responsible and what can the state do to help?
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DoYouEverWonder Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 11:28 PM
Response to Reply #30
31. Since Jeb is still the governor last time I check
then he is the head of state and these things are happening in his state. Also, the Dept of Education is suppose to oversee and regulate the countries and the school boards. Since the school and the Branford CO School Board have lost control and can not provide a safe school environment for the children in that county, it is up to the state to intervene.

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proud2BlibKansan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Nov-18-05 12:13 AM
Response to Reply #31
32. But can they intervene?
In my state, the state dept of ed can intervene when school districts fail to educate, and that determination is made by examining test scores. I'm not at all sure there is a legal precedent for states to intervene when schools are deemed unsafe. I would think that would be the responsibility of local law enforcement.
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DoYouEverWonder Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Nov-18-05 07:23 AM
Response to Reply #32
33. Since the Branford County School Board refuses
Edited on Fri Nov-18-05 07:24 AM by DoYouEverWonder
to even allow parents to speak at public meetings or to even put the issue on the agenda, I don't think the parents have any other choice but to appeal to the State to intervene.

Also, the School Board refuses to return parents phone calls, the HS won't answer the phone either and parents can't even put their children in any other school because since no one will answer the phones, no one can get their children's school records.

The police have done what they can but that is limited to charging and arresting some of the kids who committed the original sexual assaults. Unfortunately, the student that was beaten can't positively ID the people who did the beating because they beat her so badly she can't remember who did what.

What do you think these parents should do?
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proud2BlibKansan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Nov-18-05 01:17 PM
Response to Reply #33
35. I think they should appeal to the police for help
and also hotline it. The school won't be stubborn about working with the police or child protective services.

I understand why the board is not allowing these parents time at a meeting. School boards set policy and ideally stay away from the day to day operation of the school district. This is a problem that should be addressed privately by the superintendent. If he/she fails to respond, then it would be appropriate to contact the school board. But airing the details of these assaults at a public meeting is a violation of the privacy rights of the injured student. So yes, I understand the board's reluctance to get involved.

The parents certainly CAN enroll their kids in a different school. Most districts allow parents to choose schools if they waive their right to transportation. The parents also have the option of enrolling their kids in private schools or charter schools, if any are in that community. Records requests are handled from school to school 99% of the time. Rarely do parents walk in to enroll and have records in hand. In fact, most districts prefer to get records directly from the sending school rather than from the parent, for obvious reasons.

I honestly find it hard to believe that an entire high school is refusing to answer the phone because they are in the middle of this messy situation. LOL

I can see that they may not want to talk to the parents of the assaulted student. But to say they are refusing to answer the phone and talk to ANYONE is pretty silly. A typical high school gets 100s of phone calls every day. No way could they ignore calls for long.

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shanti Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 10:15 PM
Response to Original message
22. oh geez, this is horrible
if that had happened to my kid, i'd have pulled him from that school so fast his head would spin. they wouldn't have had a second opportunity!

you wouldn't believe the fighting that goes on in public high schools these days (actually it's worse in middle school). my son's friend was knocked unconscious by another kid last week over some really stupid shit/childish insult. he was out before he hit the ground. the bad part is that his head hit a pole first, then the cement. blood was coming out of his eyes and ears. he's out of the hospital now, but won't be returning to school for another two weeks. the other kid was expelled on the spot.

i hate violence:-(
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Akoto Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 10:52 PM
Response to Original message
27. The violence is ramping up. I have a younger friend ...
I live in Florida. One of my mother's co-workers has a 16-year-old daughter with whom I sometimes talk (I am twenty). She ended up in an argument with two girls in the school cafeteria. It escalated, and the girls ended up brutally attacking her. She wound up bleeding all over the place, bruised, swollen eyes, and her jaw was broken and hanging. You'd think the school would be rushing to her aid, right?

That wasn't the case. Evidently she was brought to the nurse's office, and the school called her mother at work. They said that her daughter needed to be taken to the hospital, but had not themselves called an ambulance, nor the police. They didn't want to be liable. Her mother ended up having to rush to the school, pick her up, and then take her to the hospital. They treated some of her wounds, but the damage to her jaw was so severe that she had to immediately visit an oral surgeon and have it wired shut.

In the end, the school resisted assisting in the legal proceedings every step of the way. It took some sort of victims' law suggested by the aforementioned surgeon just to get my friend's medical bills paid. Other than that? The girls had to give letters of apology, and they were right back in school. Meanwhile, she never went back to school, instead (like me) fleeing the system and finishing her education independently.

It's really sad.

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DoYouEverWonder Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Nov-17-05 10:55 PM
Response to Reply #27
28. Same thing happened to a friend of mine up here in NO FL
Her son was beaten so severely on the school bus that he had to be rushed to the hospital. Even though there was video from the bus documenting what happened she has had an impossible time getting anyone to do anything.

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BiggJawn Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Nov-18-05 07:30 AM
Response to Original message
34. But the school board has PLENTY of time to discuss I-D, I bet...
Only time to hear from 3 parents on the violence issue, but I'd bet "Professor" Behe could have the whole damn meeting to explain how Adam and Eve rode dinosaurs around the garden and why the kiddies should have their time wasted with that bullshit....
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