Children taunt bus monitor and make her cry

[JeannaT]

Originally Posted by gitana1

You mean the landmark case that gutted 75% of the Arizona legislation? Perhaps that's true - 5% couldn't intelligently discuss that decision but almost every American is aware of it, IMO and millions have commented on it.

You stated you could not understand why this lady's case is getting so much attention and why people are fascinated with this case as opposed to others. There seemed to be a bit of condescension in that post, IMO. I explained why such a case would grab the public's attention so strongly. I thought I did a pretty good job of it. Maybe not, because your response was to simply state she wasn't doing her job. Could be true but it is not a response to arguments as to why this incident was so important to the public.

You've fallen victim to the media spin on the Supreme court decision. They upheld the meat of the Arizona law. But probably that's a discussion for another thread.

There's no condescension in my post, or my thoughts. Just truly curiosity. I really don't get the stories that captivate the American public 24/7. I really don't. The stories that captivate the public's attention seem so very trivial compared to other profound stories. Just my opinion, of course.

[gitana1]

Originally Posted by JeannaT

You've fallen victim to the media spin on the Supreme court decision. They upheld the meat of the Arizona law. But probably that's a discussion for another thread.

There's no condescension in my post, or my thoughts. Just truly curiosity. I really don't get the stories that captivate the American public 24/7. I really don't. The stories that captivate the public's attention seem so very trivial compared to other profound stories. Just my opinion, of course.

The only media I have seen that agrees with your position is Fox news. Regardless, as an attorney, I am well aware of what the Supreme Court decision means. I don't need the media to interpret for me. A year of constitutional law was very helpful in teaching me how to analyze a case and its ramifications.

But you are right, that's a discussion for another thread.

Again, I gave what I thought was a pretty good explanation as to why this story struck a nerve. You haven't responded to that or given a reason why you think it is the case.

You have, however, stated that only 5% of the population could intelligently discuss the recent Supreme Court decision and you also stated: "There are people who have been tortured to death and the country is on its ear about verbal taunting of an adult by middle schoolers on a school bus." Right after that, you indicated that Ms. Klein should have reported the incident because it's her job.

This (along with your statement that I have fallen victim to media spin), kind of gives me the impression that you feel the reason for the public's fascination with this story is stupidity, because after all, it was the woman's job to stop inappropriate behavior and she failed to do so, so why should she be rewarded or unduly pitied? I disagree with that sentiment.

The word "trivial" in this context tends to support a feeling of condescension as well, IMO.

[JeannaT]

I'm always a little surprised at conversations on the internet, Gitana. In real life, I never encounter this kind of angry reaction to my musings. I honestly believe that it's a function of tone of voice and facial expression. I'm musing about why this story has captured the American attention, and am surprised by how angry my thoughts have made you.

I didn't intend to make anyone angry, and this doesn't happen to me in personal face to face conversations. If you knew me in person, you'd be surprised that my reputation is a thoughtful peacemaker.

I'm just a bit surprised that this story - all in all - has captured the American public's attention and netted her half a million bucks. That's all.

Peace.

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by JeannaT

I'm always a little surprised at conversations on the internet, Gitana. In real life, I never encounter this kind of angry reaction to my musings. I honestly believe that it's a function of tone of voice and facial expression. I'm musing about why this story has captured the American attention, and am surprised by how angry my thoughts have made you.

I didn't intend to make anyone angry, and this doesn't happen to me in personal face to face conversations. If you knew me in person, you'd be surprised that my reputation is a thoughtful peacemaker.

I'm just a bit surprised that this story - all in all - has captured the American public's attention and netted her half a million bucks. That's all.

Peace.

I've had to do rewrites after reading my stuff when I preview it. I've learned the hard way about not being clear, especially with my sense of humor. When I first came here a lot of people thought I was genuinely angry when responding to their posts. I had to tell them that if they see one of these in my post it's guaranteed to be a jest. I also had to point out that I very, very, very rarely get offended, and if I was I'd contact them through private email. I've only had to do that once and that wasn't because they attacked me, it's because they attacked one of the sweetest people here. The person had a very sick mind and was banned as soon as I flagged their posts because of their vitriol. They had a lot of hate inside them and took it out on another person. They are also the only posts I've flagged for being offensive.

My advice would be that when you write something, preview it. Read it like you were the one being responded to and how you'd take it. Is what you mean coming across clearly? Is what you're saying being said in an inoffensive or possibly misinterpreted way?

Like you said, face to face is a lot easier than writing things out. There are times I've just thrown away an entire post because I realized I couldn't adequately express my opinions. BTW, while learning to post more concisely and getting people to understand my sense of humor I was timed out a few times. Like I said, I learned the hard way.

[Dewey2Me1MoThyme]

Steely, you have a sense of humour? I never noticed!

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by Dewey2Me1MoThyme

Steely, you have a sense of humour? I never noticed!

[Abbey5]

Originally Posted by JeannaT

She didn't report this, that's true, and my guess is had she reported what happened she probably would have lost her job. I would have to think that was top on her mind - you can't keep a job as a disciplinary figure on a bus if you report that you were unable to control the children. Had she taken a stand, taken names and then marched into the principal's office after that shift that would be different - but she didn't take any measures at all during this long episode of miserable behavior by these kids. That's what's at the heart of this, IMHO, she was not in a position to be able to report this story - it would be tantamount to resigning from her job. I don't see it as losing her job "for making waves", but rather, making it clear to her employers that she doesn't have the skills she's hired to have. It's not like a classroom teacher who's hired to teach. She's hired to keep those kids in line, that's her sole job.

There were no children harmed on the bus that day or any other day. All of the grandmothers that I know would have kicked some butt if they saw a child in danger and I do believe this woman would have done the same. We don't know who the parents of these boys are. I heard that this womans income was $15,000 a year. So, do you get where I'm going here.

[believe09]

I dont believe that gitana's response was even slightly angry.

I am always entertained however by posters, and there are many, who choose to polarize a discussion rather than to debate it. Inevitably there will come a post where they will claim they are being misunderstood and that others are over reacting. This is just my experience and an observation.

[JeannaT]

Originally Posted by believe09

I dont believe that gitana's response was even slightly angry.

I am always entertained however by posters, and there are many, who choose to polarize a discussion rather than to debate it. Inevitably there will come a post where they will claim they are being misunderstood and that others are over reacting. This is just my experience and an observation.

Fair enough, but I'm always surprised by people who want to debate instead of muse. I'm not trying to debate anything (which, BTW, is the most polarizing thing you can possibly do, IMHO), I'm just wondering aloud. Not trying to convince anyone.

Anyway, hopefully this case has brought to light this situation and caused school districts to have a written plan of discipline for bus behavior and bus monitor duties.

[Pandora]

Students suspended for one year.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/29/us/new...html?hpt=us_c2

I've seen these suspensions before; the parents will simply move them to another school.

[believe09]

That is pretty stiff-as I said home school those little darlins and spend some quality time.

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by believe09

That is pretty stiff-as I said home school those little darlins and spend some quality time.

They aren't being home schooled. They'll be sent to the district Reengagement Center.

[JeannaT]

I wonder, at this point, how many parents of bullied kids, and the bullied kids themselves, are shaking their heads in disbelief. How about treating bullying of children this severely? My own experience with kids, and as a kid, and as a Sunday School teacher of middle schoolers, 10 minutes of verbal harassment and joking and taking the insults a step higher with each laughing verbal insulter, is an every day thing for many kids. For MANY kids.

How many bullied kids in that school district - and throughout the States - are thinking "my kid endures this daily, and no matter how much we complain nothing is ever done".

How many kids (how many thousands?) of kids endure a bus ride like this as a daily experience, and so the parents pull their child from the bus and drive them back and forth, because it's accepted that this is part of growing up?

Really, there are SO MANY kids who endure this daily. Why as a populace do we ignore all that and then react this incredibly strongly to this one situation? I wonder tonight, all the families across America who are shaking their heads wondering why they can't get any reaction whatsoever for their situation, and this school district has sentenced these children to something our school district doesn't even allow - a year at the alternative school.

[zippitydoda]

Maybe because this was so "in your face". Maybe many people could identify with what she was put through, and saw themselves at one point in their life. Maybe by giving to her, they felt that a personal and private wrong that was done to them was in some way righted.

[Abbey5]

Every school district has a set of guide lines that they must adhere to as far as discipline. Each of these families waived their rights to a hearing and agreed to the one year suspensions from school and bus transportation, the Reengagmement center, fifty hours of community service with senior citizens and the formal bullying prevention program. If these boys were model students and had never been in trouble before, I don't think this would have been the outcome. I think that there is more to this story than we will ever know because these boys are minors.

[SwampMama]

I taught public school for many years and I can tell you firsthand that many schools simply ignore bad behavior and tend to blame the teacher, suggest it is their fault and instantly jump on them if they attempt to discipline them by words or taking away privileges.

At the schools I worked, suspensions counted against the school's state score. So kids weren't suspended, even for breaking windows on my car. We were told if a child attacked us and hit us that we were to stand there with our hands up in the air so that the child couldn't accuse us of putting hands on them.

One of the main reasons I gave up teaching is because it became too dangerous and there was no backup from the principal, the parents or the administration. I didn't work all those years to get a degree to have my whole career destroyed by an angry kid who hot me and then lied and said I hit them. I saw that happen a few times.

There wasn't much the bus monitor could do. She couldn't fight back verbally, she probably had no power to do anything but give out idle threats which would only make the situation worse. I feel for her. I am so glad she will be able to retire.

This is exactly why we need cameras in classrooms and buses. I worked at a place where we had cameras in the class and I loved it. All it did was prove what a good teacher I was and protected me against sue happy parents and kids who lied when they did wrong.

[jjenny]

Originally Posted by zippitydoda

Maybe because this was so "in your face". Maybe many people could identify with what she was put through, and saw themselves at one point in their life. Maybe by giving to her, they felt that a personal and private wrong that was done to them was in some way righted.

It might not be so shocking when these kids bully each other because people are used to it.
But she is an older woman and yet these teens showed no respect whatsoever.

[daisy7]

A bullied bus driver will turn honored guest at the Sandestin Hilton.

New York school bus monitor Karen Klein’s story became national news for a bullying she endured from four seventh graders.

Since the story spread, people throughout the country have come forward to offer their support, including the folks at the Hilton. Those at the resort hotel have stepped in to provide her an all-expenses-paid trip to the beaches of South Walton.

(snip)

http://www.waltonsun.com/news/bus-92...n-bullied.html

[gitana1]

Originally Posted by daisy7

A bullied bus driver will turn honored guest at the Sandestin Hilton.

New York school bus monitor Karen Klein’s story became national news for a bullying she endured from four seventh graders.

Since the story spread, people throughout the country have come forward to offer their support, including the folks at the Hilton. Those at the resort hotel have stepped in to provide her an all-expenses-paid trip to the beaches of South Walton.

(snip)

http://www.waltonsun.com/news/bus-92...n-bullied.html

Thanks. Is that Florida? Good for her!

[daisy7]

Originally Posted by gitana1

Thanks. Is that Florida? Good for her!

Just read this post. Yes, it's in FL on the Emerald Coast. It's about 45 minutes from me and it is beautiful! We have the best beaches in the world here

[daisy7]

The bullied bus monitor made famous by a viral video is calling it quits after receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations.

Karen Klein, a grandmother from suburban Rochester, N.Y., told the Associated Press on Friday that she is leaving her job. She has been a bus monitor for the Greece School District for three years.

(snip)

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012...lling-it-quits

[gitana1]

Originally Posted by daisy7

The bullied bus monitor made famous by a viral video is calling it quits after receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations.

Karen Klein, a grandmother from suburban Rochester, N.Y., told the Associated Press on Friday that she is leaving her job. She has been a bus monitor for the Greece School District for three years.

(snip)

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012...lling-it-quits

Oh, good for her!!

[kmclaren]

Bullied bus monitor collects $703K cheque in Toronto

The 68-year-old has since retired from her job as a bus monitor, but has no other big plans for the money, other than possibly getting her modest suburban home re-carpeted.http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toront...eo-cheque.html

[StephanieH]

Good for her! Enjoy your retirement, Karen!