no, try reading the article. ONE YEAR suspension.

couple of weeks? they got a year

You must of misunderstood the suspension, it was for a year not a couple of weeks. And Karen did not want this to happen. If you have been keeping up with this story she wanted sports and school activities taken away from them.

Those kids shoulda gotten the death penalty.

Send them to Catholic school? When I was in school the Catholic kids also rode our bus (small school system), and they were the nastiest compared to the public school kids!

well, once we can get teachers ... and I mean ALL teachers to do their jobs and be competent maybe we can cut away those that dont belong being teachers.

Too many times I have personally seen and heard teachers not teaching the topic, but preaching to the students on their opinions of the topic .... that isn't a teachers job. I have seen teachers who cant do simple math, spell properly and don't speak proper English .... how in the hell are these teachers going to teach anyone ?

I myself wouldnt even waste my time sending a child to a public school, but to a Magnate instead ... ever since the Dept of Education was started the school system has failed the kids .... and the damn unions are not doing them any favors either.

... these kids got exactly what they deserved .... now the parents need a foot in their a55.

1 year is not a suspension it is expulsion...

suspended for 1 year...

Bob A from Western NY - THANK YOU!! I could not have said it better myself!!!!!

The suspension was for more than a couple of weeks, but they got off easy. That video was one of the most disturbing I have ever seen. If these "kids" are this cruel and vicious now, what are they going to be like in five years, unless severe and permanent measures are taken? They don't deserve to be out among civil people until they can prove they deserve to be. Being part of a community is a privilege, not a right. They had no right to interfere with this woman's, or anyone's security, happiness, and daily work. They did all three. BTW their parents need to be punished as well.

One-year suspensions for the Bullies. Good news.

Now send their parents to another class, "How to Parent"; teaching their brats how to treat others with respect, and compassion. One never knows what situation the victim has been through. Human beings all have their troubles. Parents, never stand up for your child who has wronged another person. The parent could also apologize.

Justice has been served in this case.

This is the most stupid punishment I have ever seen, I hope the board will see later, when these get out of normal life now, and will forever become delinquent, and wind up in jail.

Instead, make them stay after school for 3-4 hours every day, and make the parents pick them up every day after their work/job.--And they then would be better than average!--No teacher, just forcing them to actually do the homework exstras.

Bob A. from Western NY - In the state of Colorado I believe that Magnate schools are Public Schools that specialize in a specific curriculum. By the way, this did not happen in the classroom. Bob, I guess your teachers' didn't teach you that well since you have many grammar and spelling errors in your comments. This happened on the school bus and unless the kids were on a field trip there are no teachers on the bus. Maybe you should check your own comprehension skills.

I'm wondering, does she have to pay federal and/or state taxes on that money donated to her? Anyone know for sure?

As much as I am glad that they finally got some sort of punishment, it would have been nice if the article was just on that and not how much money was raised. Author of the article, please stay focused on the topic at hand.

Bob A, from Western NY

Buddy. She's a bus monitor. Not a teacher. C'mon pal, work with us.

BTW, Love the Bills and The Anchor Wings.

Send them to Catholic school? When I was in school the Catholic kids also rode our bus (small school system), and they were the nastiest compared to the public school kids!

Ha, perhaps on your bus, but I went to both Catholic and public schools. The public school kids were a lot worse, but nice try being another "Catholicism-bashing" jerk. Shall I generalize jewish kids?

These boys got what they had coming.. As for some of the posts here about Teachers, you need to be made to TRY teaching a classroom of these kids. They are the criminals of tomorrow. When the teachers were no longer able to spank a child for not listening and disrupting class and thier only recource to that type of student was to send them to the principle that is when kids stopped learning and started becoming bullying idiots. Your Teachers cannot correct what parents have done which is to spoil the kids until they run roughshod over every adult! How dare you accuse teachers unions for what you and society have let get out of hand.

I KNOW I heard at least one girl's voice harrassing that poor woman as as badly as those boys were. What has happened to her? Please do not tell me she got off the hook because she is a girl.

It is a shame all they got was a slap on the wrist. They should be held back a grade and sent to one of the troubled youth boot camps.

I would also like to see them castrated so they cant pass on their genes in the future, we do not need their kind in the country. Lets hope they and the parents get what they deserve, so far they have not. Perhaps the kids would be better off in a state run foster care since their parents have failed society.

Bob-A: Teachers??? What about the parents? The parents are the ones who are responsible for their kids not the teachers. I used to coach Little League Baseball. Parents would drop their kids off and expect me to turn a kid who could not throw, catch or bat into the next Reggie Jackson while not lifting a finger to help thier kid. Don't blame the teachers. Blame the parents.

and I mean ALL teachers to do their jobs and be competent maybe we can cut away those that dont belong being teachers

Most teachers teach because THEY LIKE TO TEACH. However, teaching these days means that teachers spend a significant amount of time asking students to be respectful, put their cell 'phones off, etc.

When are you people going to stop blaming the teachers for the failures of Education? ALL teachers need to take many classes to get their teaching certificate renewed. How many of you are asked in your jobs to go back and take classes, or else loose your jobs? There are CONSTANT seminars and accreditations that teachers need to attend, besides preparing their classes and make sure to finish the curriculum -that grows every year-

You need to spend more time with your children and TEACH THEM MANNERS. Spent time with them and stop expecting teachers to do the raising and education for you. PLUS taking the BLAME FOR YOUR FAILURES.

jac: it is reported as unearned income on your tax return.

Jac:

FYI. Yes, Mrs. Klein will have to pay taxes on the money she received as a Donation. It is considered "Income".

Only if one donates to a charity or makes a donation, there is a tax break. 35-39 percent, depending on what tax bracket one is in.. Keep all your checks, receipts, when donating to an Organization, or a Charity.

@Bob A from Western NY - There are people in every profession that are bad at their jobs. The difference is that even the good teachers get paid about half of what they would make in other professions that require similar education. If we want good teachers, we need to stop paying them the same as a manager at McDonalds.

My sisters and brothers and myself all went to Catholic school. Teachers were not allowed to touch us. They had to call our parents. Now mind you, my dad worked at night, so getting a call from the school to come and deal with one of his children was not a good thing. Let's just say that my parents got compliments all of the time on how well behaved we were. It's not so much the teachers being able to discipline the children, because that is something that should have been done at home long before they entered a classroom.

And it is insane to ask any teacher to try to teach in a class with over 30 kids. In our area some classes are almost to the point of 40 per classroom. That is just NUTS!!!

Jeanette:

There is no such thing as "Unearned Income".

G.ped:

If the bullies are suspended for 1 year, essentially they have been set back 1 year of schooling, unless the parents scramble to get a good tutor or home school.

As I understand it, each "giftor" can gift anyone up to $15000 and the "giftee" doesn't have a tax liability. Why should that change when 1000's of people are making small, individual gifts? Case in point: If I win over $600 on a lottery scratch ticket, I have to go in to the office, fill out a 1099 and then pick up my check. If I have two tickets that each won $300, I get two checks for $300 and no 1099 required. (I know. It happened to me once). So here you have a situation where this woman has several thousand small gifts. Unless any one gift is over $15000, she shouldn't be liable for taxes.

Hey Bob, it's a magnet school, not a "magnate" school. I guess the school you went to didn't teach too well either.

@ IRESPOND-2315268

I am happy for her that people gave so generously. I only I had a camera every time that I have seen a middle schooler being that disrespectful OR MORE towards their teachers, people would really have a lot more respect for teachers, and really pay them more.

Mtt Romney should try to teach a class of 28 seventh grades. Pick something that American students hate, such as languages. Let's see how long he keeps up the rhetoric of cutting more jobs for teachers.

Total oblivion!

Mitt Romney currently does not serve this country at an official capacity, therefore he cant really cut jobs for teachers now can he? Kool-aid drinker

while i m happy for her and agree the punishment should have been worse, doesn t anybody think that money is exsessive. she should keep 25.000. give the rest to charity

Not only did they get a one year suspension, they do have to take alternative classes about NOT being a bully but have to do community service with the elderly for 50 hours. That punishment may suit the crime.

.... well, I didnt know that Mc Donalds Managers made the same amount as a tenured teacher here in NY State ..... many teachers here make as a general average (depending on what degree you have + experieence ) you can make from $35k to $70k or more with a very lavish benefit and retirement package .... seems pretty good to me

Marchant--well, if there is no such thing as "unearned income," then you might want to correct the Social Security Administration on the point: www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.21/handbook-2136.html

As far as I know, "unearned income" is money that you get without working for it--like money that is given to you by a relative or shelter and food that you get because a relative paid for it, prize money, inherited money, and so forth.

Further, the bullies are attending an "alternative program"--which is a bit like an in-district reform school. They will not fall behind in their scholastics. The "alternative school" in my district has all the basic classes (none of the frills) that the regular high schools and middle schools have.

It would be nice if you would doublecheck things before posting.

Hey...a few of you guys seem to know the tax code.

QUESTION - if she reports that the money was for "settlement" of a claim (i.e., she "could" have sued and settled) would it be better for her tax wise ?

ALSO...I think the punishment was appropriate. I LIKE that they are in an "alternative" school/environment AND have community Service with seniors AND have to take a formal anti-bullying class. Yes - very appropriate.

Bob A.

I usually not one to correct someone but your anger and degrading are disrespectful.

Maybe you need to attend a MAGNET school...

Wow gped, I guess you were a perfect child who never did anything wrong, never said anything mean? Castrated??? Seriously? Thank God you're not in ANY position to make decisions about people's lives!

This is from News10NBC (the local news for Greece). MSN, as always, leaves out details.

"The district says each of the boys will be suspended from school for a year and must perform community service with senior citizens. The boys will also have to complete a formal program in bullying prevention. The district says their parents agreed to the punishment."

Also karen klein said in an interview she didn't want the boys to be expelled from school, she just wanted them not be allowed to participate in sports, after school activities, and no riding on the bus for a year.

I think the punishment in fair. They have to do community service for the elderly and be in a program for bullying prevention for the whole year. And that doesn't include whatever their parents' punishment is (which I'll assume is something along the lines of being housebound for a long while).

@IRESPOND-

Just couldn't control yourself could you. Just had to bring stinking politics into what I believe is a GOOD story about people with a CONSCIENCE donating their working dollars to a nice lady who was treated so poorly.

Go to another thread or crawl back under your rock.

Mitt Romney currently does not serve this country at an official capacity, therefore he cant really cut jobs for teachers now can he? Kool-aid drinker

Mitt Romney is the "Presidential Hopeful" Haven't you hear? Seems that you have been out of the country, or somewhere else. He is promising to cut jobs for teachers, police officers jobs, and other similar jobs.

Watch the news before you vote. -if you can vote- May be helpful to know who the candidates are. Their names are: Mitt Romney for the Republicans and Barack Obama for the Democrats.

You are welcome!

Well, Bob A, aren't you "sweetie". You claim to have some intelligence, yet you prove yourself to be just as low as those kids on the bus. And really, go take a midol, really? That's all you can come up with?? Shame on you, sir. What a hypocrite....

Just couldn't control yourself could you. Just had to bring stinking politics into what I believe is a GOOD story about people with a CONSCIENCE donating their working dollars to a nice lady who was treated so poorly.

Go to another thread or crawl back under your rock.

Oh Look ! I am just telling it as it is. Do you think that politics have NOTHING to do with this story? Look again! It is DIRECTLY related to politics. As we speak, thousands of teachers are taking furlough days to help pay for the economy, while all of you keep on blaming them for the behavior of these students, just as politicians do.

When are you people going to realize that bad stuff "does not happen to other people"? I am talking about the teaching profession. Many good teachers are leaving the profession because of the attitude of many people like yourself.The US is # 25 in Math and Science. Yeah! Just keep on blaming the teachers. Many are leaving to teach overseas because of the attitude of the people in this country.

I do not live under a rock. Considering how hot is is, that actually would be nice. I have to pay for the AC

Bob: Perhaps you need to calm down a bit. However, if you feel that $35-70K a year plus benefits is enough for someone who puts in more than the requisite 8 hours a day that you probably put in on your job, then you can get your teaching degree and teach the little "darlings" yourself. I know what it's like to teach 180-220 students a day (high school). It's no picnic. And don't go there with the summer vacations either because I worked ALL summer taking classes, preparing lesson plans, and attending meetings. I put in at least 16 hours a day during the school year between meeting with students during my lunch time, before school, after school, helping them with their homework, explaining concepts that they didn't understand because their parents didn't take the time to work with them at home. Most days, I felt like a babysitter, and when junior didn't pass my class, I had parents up my a$$ complaining. But hey, Bob, feel free to take on this job. I'm sure you'll be great at it.

jjosie: No, the money was donated to her! She made 15000.00 a year what better charity is that?

WOW, for once the punishment fit the crime! 50 hours of community service to be served towards the elderly, suspension and an alternate school, which I can guarantee the parents HAVE to be involved in. Good going!

I do think the donations are a little excessive, however, this woman does deserve a vacation after putting up with "brat" behavior, and I think the parents of these children should have been the donators. She should pay off her house, have a small nest egg to cover her for awhile and give the rest to charity. She did not ASK for anything, in fact she just didn't want to have to deal with them again, and for them to be banned from the bus and extra-curricular activities. She was humble and right in her request. Good for her.

I wish her all the best, and I sincerely hope these parents step up, intervene with their children and teach them a lesson, and hopefully themselves a lesson.

Bob, I too am from Western NY (I'm guessing about 30 minutes from where you are since you reference Greece on a map.) A magnet school IS a public school in NY. They were founded by a judicial ruling in an attempt to end geographically created segregation in schools. The thought was that the specialized curriculum would draw students from the surrounding area (like a magnet) and create a diverse student population. In NY these schools are publically funded, they receive state and local aid. The only difference is that there are a couple of grants (publically funded) that magnet schools can apply for, if they receive private funding it is because someone has generously given them a donation. If you really are from Greece (or that area) I'm sure you've heard of Wilson MAGNET High School, SOTA could qualify, any school with a specialized curriculum qualifies as a magnet school. They are not separate from the public school system. You do typically have to apply because the nature of the curriculum often mandates that students are able to keep up with the work or have the requisite knowledge or skill. One more time, magnet schools in NYS ARE public schools, funded in the same way as other public schools.

@Marchant, all "gifts" of a monetary nature are concidered "unearned income".....I mean, you DID take Economics 101, didn't you?

I love the fact that the kids will be about a year behind their classmates for this reprehensible stunt...and that the bus driver now gets to retire rather than having to further endure the ills of poor parenting..

Peggy, they are referring to the money that has been contributed since the video went viral. IMHO those boys should be booted from reform school if they cause one bit of trouble during the next school year. I'm not a teacher, but have a sister and a brother who are both semi-retired from the teaching field. They could both tell you stories, and most of it goes right back to parents as others have said.

My brothers, and sister and I all had parents very involved with our education and if we were disrespectful to a teacher, or even our bus driver they (our parents) heard about it many times before we got home. I agree when the Supreme Court pretty much ruled out capital punishment in schools, as well as eliminating public prayer in schools the school situation started on the downhill slide. Yes, I know there are some of you who will say public prayer had nothing to do with it but I'll disagree with you to my death.

WesternPatriot, these boys will be in a school for trouble-makers during the year they're suspended from their normal school so they will be getting schooled; and my guess it teachers there won't take any guff/trouble from the boys.

Dear Bob, Let's play a game of did you know! 1) Did you know that they're called "magnet" schools, not "magnate" schools? 2) Did you know that the public school system FUNDS magnet schools. They are public education. 3) Did you know that it has been shown that magnet schools actually do no better at preparing a child for college and life.

As someone who has been in both the private and public school systems, and at least where I have grow up, I have experienced a much better education in the public system where the teachers are more qualified and prepared me much better for college.

Western, Gifts are not considered unearned income when completing taxes. It sounds like this site will be registering the money as a gift and as such it is not taxable for the person receiving the gift but is taxable for the person giving the gift (though that only applies if the gift is above a certain threshold, $13k for an individual or $26k for a couple.) Check IRS publication 950, it explains in detail that gifts are only taxable to the giver. NYS tax law also exempts gifts from state taxes. By legal definitions this fund-raiser qualifies as a gift.

Let's all be honest here. Parents are generally more of a problem than teachers. Some parents are awesome, but just as many are terrible at teaching their kids manners. As well, many parents no longer support teachers and their methods of disciplining the students. Once upon a time there were certain accepted ways to deal with rotten kids. Nowadays there are hundreds of different techniques and theories on which way is best to deal with bad kids and half of them don't work. Far be it from a teacher to EVER try to discipline certain parents' students. Before the teacher knows it the parents are talking to the principal, superintendent, school board and so on, trying to get the teacher fired.

As for the awful decision to suspend these kids for a year: This is not a solution. This is a great way to ensure they fall behind in life and become even worse behaving delinquents. Make them work - do chores - community service...but keep them in school. Terrible decision.

Next - why is this bus monitor such a celebrity? She was on the radio in Boston, and Paparazzi was treating her like a super star. Not to mention the loads of money she's receiving. Really? How does that actually help the situation? Good job throwing your money away on someone. It's your money, so obviously you can do what you want, but there are better causes than this. Had everyone who donated to her put their money towards a deserving charity it could have made a difference. We're so good at failing to treat the root cause of things and instead focus on dulling the pain, it's ridiculous. In this instance a few kids were bullying a passive older lady on a bus who clearly can't do her job, so the solution was to give the lady a bunch of money she didn't earn and the make sure kids are going to end up as uneducated social pariah's. Brilliant!

They couldn't pay me enough money to be a teacher today. The kids are too out of control. I feel sorry for teachers today, I'm sure they deal with kids who don't listen, kids who backtalk, kids who want to be the class joker, todays teachers can't say anything to these darling little kids, because they'll lose their job and have a lawsuit slapped on them and their school district. The parents don't discipline the kids, the parents probably get mad and threaten the teachers if their little darlings fail the class.

Parents, start acting like parents, you're not in a popularity contest to impress your kids.

The way those kids behaved on that bus, I wouldn't be surprised if they graduate to going to jail in a few years.

jjosie

while i m happy for her and agree the punishment should have been worse, doesn t anybody think that money is exsessive. she should keep 25.000. give the rest to charity

If I had wanted my $5 donation to go to a charity, I would have sent it to one. She'll get the entire amount minus whatever fees and taxes go with it, and that's how it should be. You don't have the right to tell her what the f*ck she should do with it, and I'm tired of people like you whining about the money. You act like since you ain't getting a share of the cash, she shouldn't either. Pretty damn pathetic. Let her enjoy her unasked for donations in whatever way she chooses.

Mitt Romney is the "Presidential Hopeful" Haven't you hear? Seems that you have been out of the country, or somewhere else. He is promising to cut jobs for teachers, police officers jobs, and other similar jobs.

Watch the news before you vote. -if you can vote- May be helpful to know who the candidates are. Their names are: Mitt Romney for the Republicans and Barack Obama for the Democrats.

You are welcome!

First of all Mitt Romney is not officially the republican candidate. He has yet to receive the nomination, although it is just a formality at this point. Secondly, the President does not control the hiring and firing of teachers. Teacher salaries come from taxes paid to each state by property owners. Third, Mitt Romney has never stated he will cut jobs in education. Those myths are perpetrated by the far left leaning media. Fourth, I can and will vote. I am legally registered to do so. Fifth, this page has spell check. Please use it.

I went to Catholic School and the nuns Never held back in hitting the bad students. One nun was tired of her wooden ruler breaking so she went out and purchased a steel paddle with grooves in it and believe me, hit on the hand with that thing a couple of times, I never passed notes or gossip in class again. LOL

In response to her reporting this as unearned income, I'm not so sure about that. Isn't this considered a gift. I didn't think gifts were taxable to the person who received them. Gift tax is imposed on the giver, not the receiver. However, any gifts that the donor makes that is less than a certain amount that is determined each year based on an index year (1998) starting at $10,000 and adjusted yearly for the cost of living in increments of $1000 and rounded down to the nearest $1,000 incrment. This is found in 26 USC 2501 - 2503. Unless there is another section dealing with gift tax of which I am unaware, she shouldn't owe any tax. The gift tax is designed to keep the wealthy from giving their estates to their children before their deaths to avoid inheritance tax on their estates.

gped..I would think that, after a year's suspension, they would be held back a year.

Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me. My question is "Why can't a 60+ year old person handle this?" Kids will be kids. She is just another leach on society looking to make a fast buck. Suck it up and grow a pair people; life is not a cake walk.

wow, you must be one of the Moms who's kid was suspended.

Well now these four smart mouth kids..will be a year older then every classmate until they finish high school..like they will not bully again..think about this! Its a year VACATION to these kids out of school for a year! Like the parents who raised these spoiled brats will make them do home school studies!!!

PEOPLE....those of you with your undies in a knot fretting that these poor boys will have a year "off" and be nehind in their studies, etc. Relax. They aren't going to be sitting home playing their game consoles and eating Cheetos for 9 months. They get sent to another school, and their life goes on. This is how it works in the public school arena.

Sad statement for parenting. Never should have been in the hands of the school. When I rode the bus to and from school at that age, what the bus driver told us stuck. He/She wanted no talking while driving or the bus would be pulled over and stopped until the talkers stopped. Never had a "Bus Monitor" to maintain behavior. Nontheless, these kids have never been taught to be tolerant of differences or reverance for those who are older than they because that is compassion which must be taught in the home. They obviously feel that vulnerabilities in people exist to exploit. Wonder what their family discussions consist of. Teens and pre-teens always push boundaries but never that far. That is not acceptable behavior in public or private environments and it is not the responsibility of the teachers to discipline unless the behavior occurs in their classroom, their time, their recreation territory and then the parents are called in for "Parent-Teacher" conferences. Sounds like there is no education of boundaries or structure in either the school or at home. What happened to parents and families teaching their children that they need to treat other people as they want to be treated? Inflicting pain upon others, especially those who are our elders is not a means of obtaining joy and happiness in your self or for popularity. I am embarrassed for any parent who unleashes their childrens' misbehavior onto the world...they are a direct reflection of you.

Marchant, You are incorrect it has been repeatedly stated that she does not have to pay taxes on this money. The only tax involved with donations is if the person making the donation donates over 13,000 dollars and then they would pay the tax. Even though she will receive one lump sum from this donation she will not be responsible for any taxes.

@jac, Hope this answers your question.

Bandit, I am not the mom of one of these kids. My son is 41 yrs. old and I have 4 grandsons. None of them bully anyone as they have been raised better than that. People today are too thinned skinned. Every body is just oh so special - what a load of manure! To heck with policical correctness. The education system has dumbed down the past two generations of kids with liberal social crap.

Mike, our country is full of bullies, just look at the POTUS, the AG and the Senate. I rest my case.

I am a teacher and currently in graduate school in PA. I work year round and my annual salary is gulp...41k a year. I have about $40K in student loans to pay back. Thank goodness, I love teaching but who knows how I'll feel after be grinded down to a nub from people with these wonderful comments. In addition to 32 students in a cramped classroom, half come in without ANY English which means my district is looking for me to get an additional endorsemnet in ELL. What a racket I have going on against all you taxpayers. pfffffffft!

*being*

To IRESPOND, As for your comment about Romney teaching a class of 28 seventh graders. If he becomes President, he WILL be teaching a much larger class of seventh graders. Two classes actually. It's called Congress and the Senate. lol

Items given from one individual to another are covered by gift tax laws. In most circumstances, the receiver of the gift isn't liable for taxes on the value of the gift, while donors may gift up to $13,000 per year per person without invoking the gift tax. Amounts more than $13,000 are subject to taxation, but it's the donor who is assessed taxes on the value of the gift....not the receiver!

My Father sat me down at the age of 6, and told me he didn't care if I was as dumb as a post; I was taught manners and if he EVER heard I was disrespectful to a teacher (or bus monitor) I KNEW I WAS GONNA GET IT WHEN I GOT HOME! He reminded my brother and me often all the way thru high school.

Shanny B.

I hear you, but imagine how you would feel if you had 40K in student loans along with a special ed. credential and all you could get was substitute work with no benefits for a total of 20K a year? On top of that how would you feel if principals and academic advisors and your local big name university told you that there is no doubt that you would get a job with a special ed. credential yet by the time you finished your credential your state (in my case california) was laying experienced teachers off far faster than they were hiring new teachers. Your situation is bad enough, but what I just described is my situation. To all of the union bashers out there, are you sure it's right to pick on people who went into debt to become public servants and can't afford to even pay back their debt?

Deb-Colorado. Your comment to Bob A. from Western NY was perfectly appropriate. His response was not, for he revealed himself to be an internet troll, part of a large sub-spieces of humans (Porkus ignoramous intollerabillis) who pride themselves on being ignorant, ill-bred, cantankerous, and parrot-like in their shrill and tuneless squawking. They find their importance in "trolling" for a response from decent folks in order that they might lob insults at those who wish to further legitimate conversation. The best rule is not to "feed the troll." They move on to other boards if they evoke no response.

raleigh dolly

Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me. My question is "Why can't a 60+ year old person handle this?" Kids will be kids. She is just another leach on society looking to make a fast buck. Suck it up and grow a pair people; life is not a cake walk.

Just when I think the comments can't get any more retarded, someone proves me wrong.

its pretty obvious many people here just don't know how to have a intelligent conversation without being childish and immature ...... yes I did get angry at this know it all woman from Colorado, who attempted to tell everyone about what was happening here with this situation was exactly like it is where she lives ... she was being difficult and demeaning to others and I fired back, I did get my back up having someone with no local knowledge on this being so mouthy and opinionated ...... for my outburst, I apologize.

The bigger problem here is many of you do not even try to read the comments of the others and try to debate the finer points ..... its very uncivil in here generally and many of you will dismiss someones point all together, as you did mine, all because in my haste to get my comment posted I made a typo and said magnate vs magnet ... hell I even used the spell check ..... I guess none of you have never ever mis-spoke or mis-spelled.

The next problem, is since many people do not read the entire set of posts, they miss out on prior comments that are carried over from a earlier page with the same people ..... when I said Magnet schools are not public schools per 'se is becaus magnet schools all over the country do not do things the same way. Some of these schools get their children from within a district ..... others get children from several different districts ..... so that they do not act in the same fashion as normal public schools. If you dont send your children to a military or a religious based school, you must send your child to "A" school ...... we all know that most of us went to a public school that was nearby .... but then being 54 yrs old that was the way it went, today you might be bussed to a different district

It is law you must send your children to school and a child cannot be turned away from a regular public school in their district. It is not run this way with the magnet schools .... only specific children are allowed to attend these schools .... this was the only thing I was trying to state, but we have so many other know it all's that will butt in from all over the country and with limited info try to talk like a expert.

Again, my aplogies to those who didnt see the arguement building up and my anger getting the best out of me by that woman from Colorado.

And here we have it folks. These Children were not at school they were on a bus. This lady is a Bus Monitor. They acted out and she did nothing Kind of like 99.999% of parents do. I am glad they are suspended for 1 year harsh as it may be. Problem is this is a be kind and gentel world don't punish for misdoings lets send them to alternative school. No i say they are suspended they are suspended you don't get an alternative job position by your company that puts you on suspension that's real world. No wonder we are falling farther and farther behind. If a child isn't learning in other countries they are released from school and the ones that are learning are kept that's why thy are so far ahead of us. Teacher who are scared and cower to children and their parents shouldn't be teacher anyway the are teaching our children to be cowards. Time for the insanity to stop. As for the political part of it all just write NO CONFIDENCE on the candidates names if all people did this we would get different candidates not the idiots we have.

My faith in the public school system was ruined when the school nurse threatened to report me to CYS if my son's dandruff wasn't addressed!

Some of you might think it's a joke....but I am completely serious.....I was told what kind of dandruff shampoo to buy.....and if he didn't have any improvement....stronger measures would be taken!

Message to Bob A from Western NY:

Your rant was so off topic, but since you decided to trash teachers, I'm going to provide you with information that you either don't understand or may choose to ignore.

Let me tell you first that your poorly written message is not a teacher's fault. Contractions like "can't, wouldn't and don't" all have apostrophes. Sentences all begin with capital letters. When you criticize teachers and public schools, and do so with poor grammar and spelling, it reflects on your credibility and the authenticity of what you have to say. That said....

Let me clarify a few things for you. Teachers' contracts are usually up for renewal every two years. Quite frequently, teachers will not negotiate for higher salaries, but will instead negotiate for better benefits like health care. Salaries, health care and retirement benefits are a part of a total package in most school districts.

Those teachers that you indicate are making $70,000 have probably been teaching for 25-30 years. They have a bachelor's degree and usually a master's degree, too. Some even have doctorate degrees, but instead of looking for a higher paying job, they prefer to be in the classroom because they love teaching. Teachers do not teach to get rich. They teach because they love what they do. Teachers DO NOT want to be administrators, even though administrators make more money.

Teachers are also required to take continuing education. The world is ever-changing and teachers have to change with it. Technology is changing at an enormous speed, and teachers have to continue learning so they can keep pace with the every-changing world. World history teachers have to be able to teach about history from thousands of years ago up until yesterday because the world is always making history of one kind or another.

Your anger with teachers does not surprise me, but is very closed-minded. It would be wonderful if teachers could just teach, but unfortunately, so many parents are either failing or are not a part of the teacher-parent-child partnership. Because of this, teachers are forced to wear other hats. Sometimes they wear the parent hat because they are the closest person that a child has to a parent. Sometimes they have to wear the disciplinarian hat because there is no discipline at home. And can you guess which parents don't go to parent/teacher conferences? It's the parents who really NEED to be there that usually don't show up!

Bob, every time a teacher takes off that teacher hat and puts on another, every child in the classroom pays the price. Classroom teaching stops and even once it re-starts it takes extra time for the teacher and students to get back into the mindset required to teach and learn.

You criticized public education and referred to magnet schools. Most magnet schools are in inner cities because that's where they are needed most. Not all kids who want to get into magnet schools are accepted. Those who do are lucky because their name was 'pulled out of the hat.'

Even in my community, we have three public charter schools. Students get into these the same way they get into magnet schools. The problem with these schools is that very few of the parents who are failing their kids care where their child/children attend school. That means that most, if not all, disadvantaged kids end up in the traditional public schools. We do require that our charter schools administer the same state and federal tests that the traditional public schools do. And guess what, there is no difference in test scores between the different public schools.

When my husband retired from the military, we looked at all of the public school options in our community, and we decided on the traditional public school for one reason - they had diversity and the other schools did not. We wanted our son to be educated in a school that reflected the world where he will grow up, live, attend college, get a job, marry, and maybe have kids of his own.

Finally, let me clue you in to the major differences between private and public schools. Private schools - especially parochial schools - usually do not have teachers with as much education as public schools because private and parochial schools don't require this kind of continuing education. In addition, private and parochial schools are not required to give state and federal testing, thus there is no one 'minding the store', so to speak. Finally, in private and parochial schools, when they have kids who get in trouble or don't make the grade, they can give them the boot. They return the unused tuition to mom and dad, and suggest they put their child in a traditional public school. In short, private and parochial schools can pick and choose who they want and who they don't want. Public schools don't have this luxury.

Bob, I hope you will read what I've written and realize that you probably don't know as much about teachers and public education as you think you do. I am not a teacher, but my mother was a teacher, and one of my sisters taught 3rd grade for 32 years. She has a bachelor's degree, master's degree and 40 credits in addition to and over her master's. My other sister is a college professor.

I myself have degrees in music, business administration, and international studies with an emphasis in international business, along with a German language certification. I've worked and volunteered at many schools, most of which were during my husband's 20+ year military career. Never once have I come across an absolutely horrible teacher. Not all teachers and students "click", but that doesn't make for a bad teacher. This is life - you don't always like your neighbors, your co-workers, or all of your children's teachers. But there is a lesson to learn here - "Welcome to the world because this is life."

Dissing public schools and public school teachers is something that teachers are (unfortunately) used to. They have thick skins, and they're used to the kinds of remarks that you made. Your comments won't stop them from teaching because they love what they do. They would, however, be very disappointed that at your age, you still know very little about grammar and proper English. This isn't their fault....it's yours!

Rick, On June 8, did say in response to Obama calling for an investment in public sector jobs (citing teachers, police officers and fire fighters specifically), that it was "time to cut back on government". He did recant that statement saying that it was not the federal government's place to hire or fire those individuals. However, the federal government does indirectly pay for many teachers with a variety of programs (Title 1 and IDEA are the biggies.) As governor of MA he stated, contrary to what many psychologists argue and research has demonstrated, that students don't require small class sizes as class size does not influence student achievement. Thus removing class size limits would allow for a removal of teachers. He didn't state it directly in his position as govenor but he did argue to allow schools to have bigger classes, thereby having fewer teachers.

I went to Catholic school and you bet the nuns and priests knocked the misbehaving kids around!

Not saying that's right, but when I read about parents nowdays complaining that their poor kid is being punished by having to stand in the corner or something, , I say "You wimps don't know what punishment IS".

Yes it is reported as "unearned income" ... and BHO wants to tax people like her even more when they get such windfall income (unless it is punitive, of course). The kids get a year penalty and BHO shares in the compensation. I want to start my own country!

To the posters who said parochial schools (i.e., Catholic schools) are better - one of my friends used to teach in a parochial school. She said the teachers and the nuns are no longer allowed to discipline students with a ruler or any other "instrument" or by spanking. She said some of the teachers try to get the studentts to behave by saying they will be sent back to public school. Oh, by the way, in NYS, all students have to pass state exams (Regents) once they get to high school, even in parochial schools, if they want a diploma to go to college. By the way, in both public and private schools, you never see the parents of the kids like these boys. The only parents that come in are the ones whose children behave and are usually good students.

Gene, you seem upset that this bus monitor did nothing when these little future hooligans picked on her. Actually, most bus monitors are there to make sure that each student has a seat, but generally, they cannot discipline a student's misbehavior. Ms. Klein did exactly what her job required her to do.

As for the punishment, these boys are suspended for the year, but have to go to an alternative school, as well as do community service with senior citizens and a formal bullying prevention program. One of my daughter's friends went to one of these alternative schools, but continued to misbehave. She was kicked out of it and was sent to a live-in program in another state.

stupid just stupid make them take care of the school grounds as a form of community service for the summer but do not interfere with their education, have them clean every buss, make them apologize in public, make them buss monitors assistants. our kids are growing up stupid because they are being taught by STUPID. uh.

@dissappointed and ashamed....these children did not just call this woman horrible names. You must have not watched the video. They talked about going to her house and raping her and what it would be like to put a knife in her stomach. That is part of being a kid? I don't think so. I would hate to see what little monsters you've spawned if you think that is normal kid behavior. And, fyi, since you must not have read the actual article, Karen did NOT want them suspended from school. She wanted them suspended from the bus and from afterschool activities like sports. Personally, I think they made terroristic threats and should have faced some punishment from that. If it was an adult who threatened to go to a senior's house (or anyone's house) and rape them/stab them, they would have been arrested. But, Karen did NOT sit there and whine or do any other bs you claimed. It is not about growing a pair. And, again, if you think that is normal behavior for children, your own children must be wonderful little rays of sunshine.

I didn't say anything about what she wanted. I don't care what you think. I personally don't care about yours or anyone else's kids. I would prefer animals. I think you are cruel if you bring a kid into this f'd up world. Our whole society and community is run by and sustained by lies and thievery. Can't trust any of our leaders. Our military is fighting all over the world while we suffer. It's a joke. You are a joke. So thanks but no thanks. keep living in your dreamworld. I will be here in reality.

Kids exhibiting this type of behavior absolutely deserve the year suspension. IF they continue this behavior at the alternative school they just might find themselves continuing their education in a juvenile dettention program. should be 100 hours of community service at least!!! Considering how serious bullying has become I am damn glad to see a school district actually have policies and programs to deal with the issue. Anti-bulling programs should be implemented in every school across the nation!!!!!! The type of things that were said to this woman make me believe these kids need some serious counseling as well and should be part of the discipline for their actions!!! TO the people tht are saying that bullied victims just need to get over it etc.. I doubt you've every really been bullied or were and maybe still are the bullies!!!!!!!

Some commentors on this story really need to get over their rude nasty attitudes. In particular Bob A from western NY. Dude, NO excuse for out of line behavior especially towards a lady. You know that is kind of bullying!!! Do you speak to your own momma this way????Maybe you need a suspension from commenting????

Everyone is a bully now, lol. This is the funniest time to be alive I swear, lol. So debating in a comment forum is bullying now? Shut up dude, take a nap!! Oh, and watch girl fights on youtube and tell us again about your reference to someone you don't know as a "lady". That "lady" could be the biggest dbag ever for all you know. Thanks forum police, good night, lol.

@irespond...What you FAIL to recognize is that be it Mitt Romney, Barack Obama or Snooky, police, firefighters and teachers are hired or fired and paid by either the city, county or state. The Feds. and the President have NOTHING to do with deciding who or how many to hire or fire. Mitt Romney COULDN'T cut their jobs even if he wanted to. If you want to make this political and bash Romney, at LEAST get your facts straight.

disappointed and ashamed, are you named after your parents? Because you are an idiot and I guarantee they are both disappointed and ashamed. Apparently you like to see the bar set way, way, waaaaayyyyyy low so that you at least have a chance to get over it. Guess what: you still fail.

All four students have since sent written apologies to Klein through the Greece Police Department. Klein has also met with some of their parents, but not the boys themselves.

Did anyone catch that last paragraph? In this current society where the parents do the kids homework, fill out their resume for jobs and college, and do everything for them....... how is it that I have a strong feeling that the written apologies was written by the parents and the kids have little input in it. I would not be surprise if the appology was not even genuine by the kids. More like forced to.

If those bullies really serious.... they would have done it in person, not sent a written appolgy by the parents and sent it via police department.

IRESPOND, maybe but you sure do not comprehend. You just got my vote for moron of the year.

No politician of any party has ever run on a platform of cutting teachers pay or jobs.

I surely hope that this was just a troll job because I would hate to think that there are actually people out wandering around in the general public unsupervised with this kind of mentality.

To All Those Who Corrected Marchant on Tax Laws, and Monetary Gifts:

I stand corrected on the Tax Laws.

My mind was telling me that anyone who gives a gift of money over to a person in the amount $12,000.00 are taxed. Those contributors will pay. Was this a gift, donation, a Fundraiser, or Charity?

The donations that came in at lower amounts will not. Rechecked IRS laws.

Thank you for the correction. I am sorry if I misled anyone.

.

tyler, you have a very thankless job to do and we posters do not always appreciate it or recognize our boundaries. I know you can't admit it here, but dont tell me that sometimes even you have to know that , they had it coming or that at least you found it funny.

Keep up the good work.

I'm willing to bet at least one of the four will kill another human later in their life. It could be all four will murder someone eventually. Let us track them, shall we?

What about the parents that raised these things, They must be so proud to know this is what they made..

No Marchant, if you read the full article you would see that they WILL be going to school just not that one.

I agree that these kids should be heavily punished, and they were, but calling them names is extremely immature and childish. That's why these kids today are so hard to deal with, because adults teach them by their actions. I'm sure they will be dealt with. ( I hope ) If those parents truly care about these kids, then they seriously need to get them professional help. It's too late for the parents to start disciplining They should have done that when they were 2. They are still God's children and I am pretty sure He doen't appreciate people calling them names like that. Grow up parents!

Why do we keep going in circles about parents raising kids. If our country and you let them raise their kids we will not have these problems.

There should be zero tolerance students' bad behaviour, but the punishment here was extreme. I would agree with the punishment if the punishment was clearly spelled out in advance by the schools published code of conduct. I would also agree with it if the students were repeat offenders.

As a teacher my best guess is that the students were not repeat offenders, and that the school does not have a well established code of conduct. If this were the case then a simple 1-week in school suspension would suffice followed by the warning that the next offense will carry a heavier penalty and a third offenses will result in a 1-year suspension (three strikes and you're out).

Tz..if you read the article correct..its not school they will be attending..its special programs for little brats like them! They will be left behind a grade when they start school again in a year from now.

They won't be behind. There's a good wrrite-up on the middle school site here:

Here's an excerpt:

"The Greece Central School District is legally required to provide all students ages 5 to 16 with an education, therefore, during the 2012-13 school year, the students who have been suspended will be transferred to the district Reengagement Center, located in a non-school facility. This alternative education program keeps middle school students on track academically while providing a structured opportunity for students to take responsibility for their actions by completing community service hours and receiving formal instruction related to conduct and behavior that prepares them for a productive future. The program includes a strong parent involvement component."

Yep! Just a slap on the wrist. If they from they hood and wore a hoodie they would be expelled, moved to an alternative (jail) school, and their lives ruined forever. The poor little scoundrel-buggers!!!

Little bastards spawned from big bastards.

Kick the little punks A$$es. Teach them a life's lesson on bullying. You know an eye for an eye.

Right on Fred. I say either a good limber switch or a several lashes with a Singapore cane should learn them. it's what they need and deserve anyway.

Have the 4 students suspended for 2 years and the parents ride the bus with them for a year.That way the parents will know what starlings they have raised.

I agree discipline is what is lacking, one out of thirty may receive a hack at school when I was young, the rest behaved. things have changed now they think its OK to be a jerk! suspension is a problem waiting to happen. go back to hacking but make it public in front of the class, not in private. if I got a hack at school and my father found out I would get another when I got home. it worked. it was humiliating but it worked. and nobody really suffered.

A good ass whipping is what these little punks should have gotten. Actually their liberal mommies and daddies should have done it along time ago and they might have raised some respectable youngsters instead of these mental midgets.

Better idea send them to Parris Island and let the Marine Drill Instructors teach them some manners I doubt if mommie and daddie are capable.

Semper Fi

If you don't raise a kid with a conscience, you don't have the right to be a parent.

Kids now days are overly protected what they need is a kick in the ass, if their parents don't like it kick their ass. you cant learn to be nice if you don't learn the opposite. it takes one to learn the other. this world is full of a$$ holes because we let them be. a little swat on the behind never hurt anyone, but bad behavior does.

Kick the little punks A$$es. Teach them a life's lesson on bullying. You know an eye for an eye.

That is child abuse and tends to do the very opposite of what you expect it would.... Making them do nice things have a higher chance of making them feel better about being nicer to people. Yes some tiger stripes will never change, but you can't whip a tiger into not being one.

Actually their liberal mommies and daddies should have done it along time ago and they might have raised some respectable youngsters instead of these mental midgets.

A mirror might help you reflect on the hypocrisy you have just committed.

You have some serious issues!! And yes I am a gun toting Republican Christian. If it's okay for you to not be its even more okay for me to be!

I don't know that Mr. Gunner is a republican but I do know that you are a fool. I also know that I am grateful for the rights and freedoms that his service and the service of other "trained killers" has provided me. You appear to be taking them for granted. These kids don't make me fear the future but adults like you do.

What's the issue? You are the one that has an issue with me obviously. What do you shoot? Do you kill? Are you pro-life? Can you be both? Wow, you're special! I'm sorry you are republican. You must be broken, grew up around other repubs, or just don't like reality and common sense. Good luck because your life is going to suck anyway.

Ok PDX, name one freedom you've earned from his service. Or, the service of any other soldier after WWII. What's that? Oh yeah, zero! Thanks, come again.

You should be thanking them for spreading freedom to people who don't want it and rebuilding the infrastructure of other nations that want us dead. Don't give me that shtt again. My father was drafted to Vietnam and came back to have trash thrown at him and you expect me to kiss this or any other modern soldiers azz? You can go with the flow and act how you think you need to so you can sleep at night but I am real. I speak the truth. I know, you are the product of our society of lies, just don't expect everyone else to care what you think.

disappointed and ashamed....maybe you should stop whining, you over-sensitive, intolerant, godless crybaby...people can say and do whatever they want. Nobody gives a flying leap about your hate for god and guns...I bet living with you just sucks!...lol

Hahahahahahaha......................SHUT UP!!!!!!!! I'm great actually. Thank God I am godless, lol. I'm sensitive? I think it's you godboy. I tolerate. I don't hate guns. They have done wonders for the human race. Hold on.....I'm trying to think of one example for you. Oh right, there isn't one. Death and destruction, wooohooo, sounds like you are an inspiration for all of us. Pfff!!! I couldn't think of a better duo for causing the most death in all of recorded history. God and guns. You enjoy that bowl of soup. You can clay mold religion or gun safety blah blah blah any way you want but it is what it has always been. You are just getting better at selling it to stupid mindless people. People are getting it. Isn't it funny, before the proof of science there was all of this "magic" in biblical times but now, none of it? Talking snakes, burning bush that talks, flying people, healing, and walking on water? Ok. I can see why you are drawn to that, lol. Oh, don't worry, god will cast me into eternal fire right?

@ disappointing and shameful-You babble incessantly like a teenager. What the hell are you even going off at the mouth about? Don't post on websites if you're going to respond like an overly-sensitive pantywaist.

Disappointed and Ashamed ........your name fits the personality .....you should be ashamed for not be able to digest other people's believe .You are a danger to society according to your words ......HUH .In regards to those kids I believe the punishment it's a littlehursh ,BUT sometimes in schools you have to set an exemple

too bad they choose to be the once : "ONE FOR ALL and ALL FOR ONE".Hopefully lesson will be learn ,today bully ,tomorrow killing .

Now how about some punishment for the parents for raising such little monsters. Start with sterilizing them so they don't produce any more sociopaths like that. Sterilize those kids too, we don't need them reproducing.

Indiegogo.com, a site devoted to raising money for various causes, had raised $667,000.

Its $671,441 now.

http://www.indiegogo.com/loveforkarenhklein

@disapointed and ashamed. Just because you don't believe in God doesn't mean other people have that same opinion, and they have the right to talk about God if they want too so deal with it.

Well, after giving this some thought, if one boy was mine he would have a not so great summer. After he got done paying the schools pennance than it would be my turn. MY view there are two crimes here. 1. what he did on the bus. 2. The embarressment caused the family. There are many chores to be done around the house, like a fresh coat of paint and shrubs trimmed, etc. He wouldn't have to worry about not having to go to school in the Fall as there are some fine Military Schools to attend.

Why all the fuss. Just kick those kiddies off the bus and make them walk to school. Nothing like a good few miles walk to school in all inclimate weather to adjust a childs attitude.

First of all a comment to the ungrateful democrate the military has contributed in multiple ways from hurricane katrina to flood support in the midwest. Also, why are you so angry with the soldiers of today alot of them are just following orders and joined to support there familes/go to college so get off your high horse.

As for the true subject in these posts, the children that made fun of Karen Kline they deserve what came there way. Karen shouldnt of had to put up with that. I understand alot of people are mad fun of but that was excessive. I believe that the court should put the families through possible counciling to find were the break down is. I.E. lack of time spent with the kids, undisciplined, or just that the kids are tainted individuals.

@Dachs

Finally, let me clue you in to the major differences between private and public schools. Private schools - especially parochial schools - usually do not have teachers with as much education as public schools because private and parochial schools don't require this kind of continuing education. In addition, private and parochial schools are not required to give state and federal testing, thus there is no one 'minding the store', so to speak.

Maybe some states are different, but I have worked in a parochial schools for over 25 years, and absolutely YES, our teachrs are required to have as much education as the teachers in public schools. They also are required to have continuing education. Not only must they meet all state and federal criteria, they are also required to meet even stricter criteria from the parochial boards. And they are paid far less and have far less benefits than the public school teachers. I don't recall ever having seen a child "booted", although I'm sure it has happened, just not in my years of working in parochial schools. There is far more expected of students in the parochial school insofar as demanding respect and responsibility. Also academically. We've had many instances of children coming into parochial schools from public schools, and they are nowheres up to par academically with the others in their same grade level as the parochial students. It takes tutoring and remedial classes to get them up to speed. Probably one of the most important factors in parochial education is parental involvement. The parents usually are middle class, if that, not wealthy and have to make sacrifices to send their children to parochial schools, so they expect the child to get a good education, and they don't leave it to teachers to raise the kids, teach them respect, responsibility and value learning. Also, every parochial school I have ever even known of offers scholarships and maintain funding programs to help families with cost of tuition.

I think that it is a great idea to have them work with the elderly in community service.

Like I said that this generation of kids has no morals or values or even respect for their elders. I find the kids today a bunch of spoiled rotten bratts and I blame the parents for not teaching them those guidelines. Even the college kids today I dont enven respect them, I find them also spoiled rotten bratts who all they do is drink and party and do drugs. The Japanese are more better people then the people in this country.

The parents should be required to go to a parenting class and mandated therapy with these kids. What kind of parenting techniques produce this kind of child?? I imagine the grandparents must be very proud!

disappointed and ashamed, I'll bet your handle is something you adopted from your parents, who you thought were introducing themselves when they looked at you and said on numerous occasions "I'm disappointed" and "I'm ashamed." You are an idiot. Decent people set the bar way, way, waaaayyyyyyy higher than you do, because they can get over it. People like us don't stoop to the standard you set for yourself.

@at Mark 1751582....Are you insane, that the punishment was over the top! That is the problem in today's society that we are WAY too lenient on children when they do something wrong. When the schoo finally does something about it rather than the parents teaching them respect and being kind to others the people in this society are like "oh, that was just way to harsh, we shouldn't be too hard on them" It's not like they threw the book at them and sent them off to jail. This gives them an opportunity to take a good look at what they did and whether if they want to change their behavior or continue on doing what they do. Yes, the parents also need to take a look at themselves, and say "we need to change something here and do something about it." Too lenient my butt, how ridiculous is that!!

"Disapponted and Ashamed", your comments and liberal attitude toward the issue of bullying is why we have this issue today.

I agree with most of the other people on this message board that the parents are at fault as well as the"little Bastards" that did the bullying. And, yes both parents and little bastards should be punished in some way and also accept the ridicule that goes along with the anger people have toward those kids and the parents.

Disapponted and Ashamed, you can now go drink your bottled spring water. eat your fiber, kiss your cat and or dog

How did this become an argument between republicans and liberals?

LOL - Girls Girls... you're BOTH pretty!!!

Oh - and I just feel like adding one more little comment too...

I'm a gun-toting pagan, ex-military, and waiting for somebody to visit me and preach...

Wonder who I should vote for...

To me, the main problem with today's young people is a lack of punishment for the things they do. If a child know that no matter what he or she does the only thing that's going to happen is they will be lectured, that knucklehead is now free to do anything they choose.

My mother had 5 sons, you can imagine the hell my parents would have went through if all my father did when we screwed-up was talk to us. We risked a butt-kicking just to see if they meant what they said. We found out the hard way that they meant every word and was prepared to back it up.

Talk without punishment does nothing but create unruly kids

Bullies don't respond to lenient measures. They must be publicly humiliated and bullied themselves in order for the concept of what they did to take hold.

I think suspending them from the BUS, (and any extra curricular activities) which would force the parents to drive them or pay for someone else to. That would have inconvenienced the parents and reminded them DAILY of what their precious brats had done. The school could have also assigned them to lunchroom clean up and/or bus cleaning everyday after school, this would remind the spoiled students of their actions for the ENTIRE school year.

Now the boys are attending an alternative school, where is the punishment in that?

I'm pretty certain these little darlings will grow up to be productive members of the collective, or perhaps their future will be one of living in their parents basements and blaming others for their miserable existences.
Future 99 percenters for sure.

I have to agree with blondeness032. Suspending them from the bus and any extra curricular activities would be worse than an alternative school. I am sure it will get to be a huge inconveinence to the parents, driving them all year. Also let them go to the same school but I like the idea of having them clean the lunchroom or buses. How humiliating in front of their friends!! Bet they would think twice of EVER doing something like that again. The community service that they got was great but having to do it in front of your peers is even worse!!

I'm also with 6Dogs, if this was may boy, he would not be having any fun this summer!! I have friends who are more interested in being their child's friend instead of parent and they wonder why their kids are Brats!! You can be both, but be a parent first and then their friend not the other way around!!

Blondeness;

And that is the problem with the lefts grand social experiment in the public schools. This began in the late 60's and has culminated in the little monsters of today. You see the result of it everyday with parents "bargaining" with children. It's 3 AM, does three year old Ashley wish to go to bed now? With kids under ten running the streets well into the night. With kids talking back and disrespecting their parents in every public venue. Running through stores screaming knocking merchandise off shelves.

Children, when I was growing up would not dare do such things as the reaction from parents would be immediate and very unpleasant. And no one would call the social correctness squad to punish a parent for disciplining a child.

Today, if you DARE swat a child's behind in a public place, either the indoctrinated or the police will descend on you in seconds, and the child abuse charges would be expensive to defend yourself from. With the likes of T. Berry Brazilton and other such "experts" in the mix, most of which don't have children, and the attitude that "children know best" is it any wonder kids are running crazy? We are now several generations into this misguided philosophy, I find myself wondering if common sense is dead and the grand experiment is nearing it's design goal. The complete destruction of the family structure in favor of the "State knows best" and will raise our children. Easy to say they know best when their is no legal or moral responsibility on the states part, they hold the ham stringed parents responsible. Just another state run catch 22.

We need to start building the new prisons now,they will be needed real soon.

I think that it is a horrible idea to have them work with the elderly in community service. They will take out their wrath on these poor folk.

Send them to "The Second Mile" in Pennsylvania. They'll get what's coming to them...pun intended.

Michael Johnson-2683868,

That is EVIL.

i like how you think michael

if that doesn't straighten them up than i know where an island is off the coast of San Francisco that isn't being used for anything right now?

KRAM-1533533, you like the way Michael Johnson-2683868 thinks about grown men sexually assaulting children? Did you think very hard before posting that? I'm guessing you guys think you're funny. It probably won't interest you much to know that the most of us (by "us" I'm referring to the human people who have to share air with you) think you're a bit, you know... revolting. But I;m telling you anyway. I so sincerely hope that neither one of you has access to children. Skeevy, dudes. Reeeeaaaal skeevy.

Villum1- I like your thinking! As horrifying that is, that will have bullies everywhere scared out of their minds.

Send them to "The Second Mile" in Pennsylvania. They'll get what's coming to them...pun intended.

True that! Instead of taunts, they'd be chanting 'Je-RRY! Je-RRY! JeRRY!"

Rads a ornery little snit isn't he, he takes it all to personal but I have to agree with one point, paddle their a$$es but leave out the Sanduskie thing. good night all.

I think the parents need a good spanking for raising (I use the term loosely) such animals.

Michel Johnson ....Let's be real you did not intend to say that ,if you did , you might not be a parent ......

No child should go through what those children went through at " The Second Mile " we as a society do not intend to destroy our generation we are here to restore and correct our new generation.

"IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD " Hillary Clinton once said , lets all admit .

My god my father-in-law who flew planes in WW1 and became a physchics teacher told me in 1957 - "I 'm not a discipiliarian I'm a teacher and took a sabbatical when he was 65 prior to retiring -also he worked summers selling appliances at a store to get enough #SS benefits

One of my friends was teaching first graders in the inner schools in Chicago in the 60's and told me 1st graders where showing knives - while circling her window

My brother-in-law was principle of a high school in the 50's, 60's, and 70's and changed his telephone 6 to 7 times a year

I thinks it's wonderful that you have no clue what these underpaid - and not respected people go through

When If I push your kid you'll sue the school and I get discharged - yet you want these monsters - yes monsters that you have no time do give them and rely on someone else to teach them

Did you ever try to teach a child without discipline - don't mean abuse sometimes a tap on the head like wake up Johnny?

Any parent out there that never gave a smack raise your hand! Or better yet take away a privilege - which teachers cannot do -

I went through 12 years of Catholic Education - knelt on yard sticks - had chewing gum on my nose - sent to the Principal's office and the Chapel to pray but by god I learned

And my mother always said you deserved it and she was right!

I went through 13 years of public school, I was not made to put excessive pressure on my knee caps, I was not humiliated with gum, I was not sent to the principles office or to a Chapel to pray...and by God I also learned!

Excellent post, congratulations!!

Absolutely agree, Anon-2702134! I said much the same thing in my posting before I saw yours.

It's not just kids, but adults. I see men walking into doors I opened for myself (so much for opening doors for ladies or ladies going first, especially when THEY opened the door for THEMSELVES!), and I remember when I was pregnant, no one offered their seat at a doctor's office, nor was I ever assisted with carrying heavy groceries. It's society in general that has lost its manners, so how do you expect kids to have them when their own parents don't?!

Amen!

I read you loud and clear on the public trans thing. I ride the bus to and from work every day, too. One day, I stood up to give up my seat to a woman and when an able-bodied GUY came from nowhere to snatch it up, I actually had to inform him that the seat wasn't for him. When he looked up and gave me a blank look as if to say, "What's your point?", another person started in on him but good in front of everyone ("Didn't your parents teach you anything, you uncivilized so-and-so?!?" or something like that) before I could say a word. You're absolutely right about "the overall general deterioration of manners in society in general." To too many people in this country, anymore, things like civility, common courtesy, etiquette, and mutual respect are little, if anything, more than quaint, outdated concepts.

Great post Anon-2702134. I couldn't have said it better!!

The overall general deterioration of manners in society is nowhere seen more clearly than in the House and Senate in Washington. The disrespect and downright nastiness our elected representatives show one another and to the office of the president is both appalling and depressing to me. And their horrendous words and actions are played and replayed over and over again in the media, ad nauseum. Great role models for our kids, right?!

Is this how the "Great Roman Empire" fell from power? Perhaps.

I can't agree more!

In addition...when the middle school bullies return to school after serving their one-year suspension, they will then be prohibited from riding their school buses for one year. Let the mommies and daddies worry how and what kinds of transportation will get them to school each day. Intolerance is paramount here...and the punishment must be severe and swift.

You have my vote, Anon 2702134, ALMOST EVERONE seems to be completely lacking in consideration and respect, and where did this worship-children syndrome come from? One cannot reason with these little bastards. They certainly deserved more in the way of punishment than they got.

They are kids. What they did was stupid, mean and devoid of feeling. Whether or not they are evil incarnate or lacking in compassion is debatable. My guess is that one or two of them started the abusive language and the others joined in. This is not an excuse, but they are kids. Their parents may or not have influenced them prior to this episode, but hopefully they have a more active role now.

There is no excuse for their actions, but let's be a little optimistic that some good wiil come of this. There's a lesson to be learned on many levels, bullying not the least of it. But please don't condemn these kids and their parents to a sub-human level.

I thought I heard a girl talking to her in that video too..or was that a prepubescent boy?

Lack of Parenting!! I agree....Anon-2702134 re it comes down to parenting! The lost Art Of Parenting. Although I love the US I have issues with the 'consumerism' many have here. ...keeping up with the Jones's thing...and sometimes just surviving....both parents MUST work. Mother's aren't staying home..or Fathers...children are being parented by TV, Computers..and what they can see or do on them...neighbors and who knows who and what else!.....no one who is teaching them manners.

Yes, Anon.

To YOU, everything that's wrong in this world is either the fault of lawyers, or Israel..or Bush.

How, on EARTH did you make the jump blaming these kids' conduct on a "litigious" society ?

How about that article THIS week about 2 teachers stripping an 8 year old naked to bath him against his will ? How about yesterday's viral video of that fat male teacher beating up a young boy ? NO..no litigation against schools, right ? ONLY the parents are to blame. The fact is that the threat of litigation DOES do ALL of us a service.

This "litigious" society is why your bad drugs are off the market. Why your car is safer. Why that airplane doesnt fall out o the sky. AND, yes - why that teacher cant beat the stuffing out of your kid.

Yeah - if I thought like you, I would post as "anonymous", too.

I was going to the post office yesterday evening. I started to reach for the door and a young man (much younger than I) opened the door for me. He said that his mother would have come down here and slapped him silly if he hadn't been a gentleman as she taught her sons. I have had a number of men open a door for me. I guess it pays to be a little old lady in white tennis shoes!

I was in a restaurant one evening. A van pulled up and a man got out. He went around to the door and opened it. Lowered a ramp and brought an elderly woman out in a wheelchair. I jumped up and opened the door for him. He got her settled and went back-- this time came out with a baby stroller. I had held the door open. Then he went back and helped another younger disabled woman. He closed the door to the van, so I knew he was through. When he came in with her, he thanked me. That is what volunteers do-- help people out. I was a volunteer at a V A hospital for over 20 years-- I would not have done my duty if I hadn't opened the door for him.

Why can't kids these days be taught some manners? Maybe it is because PIGS begat PIGS.

Anon, I'm with you on this.

But don't give up hope! We always hear about this kind of incident; what we don't hear is the story of the young teenager mowing his neighbors lawn, parents who volunteer in their kids classrooms, being there for every karate event/competition or their daughters competition for state for future business leaders of America. Most don't see or dismiss the teenage kid who holds his own bible study in his house, or the friend groups who stand up for each other and cheer each other on.

The media sensationalize the bad incidents because no one seems to be interested in the good incidents. There IS another side to this, we just don't see it in the media, and when we do, nobody steps up to donate, they just want to look like a hero for the bad instances.

Take heart!

Hear, hear! i'm only 19, but i am lucky enough to contain some manners. my generation, and others, really disgust me. i give you a thumbs up, Anon-2702134

I completely agree with your additions, Anon-2702134. An addition from me, they should also have the parents file restraining orders against the other kids, to ensure these punks don't get to see each other for the rest of their enslaved childhoods. Because part of it came from the bunch, I doubt these kids had the guts to do it solo.

my hat's off to you, dear lady. you proved a point. the child that my parents raised, (me) would never have raised a child (my son) such as who did this to you, and i didn't. where did respect for humanty get lost in translation?

Jeff573598----"How about that article THIS week about 2 teachers stripping an 8 year old naked to bath him against his will ?" Bath?

And, then we have the adult followers of those politicians that espouse the same stuff. Have zero respect for the President. Guess what???? I hear your children say the same things you say about our President. Follow a bad child home and see if a bad parent don't meet him/her at the door?

I agree with you wholeheartedly, but I would as that they have to do all of that with the media in their face. Publicly humiliate and shame them.

Really? You'd waste a week's worth of a deputy sheriff's time to supervise these kids? That's amazing. What's more amazing is how many people agree with you about it.

Half of the people here seem to blindly overreact. Kids bully kids (and weak adults) - adults bully...everyone they can - babies bully other babies. It's human nature. It needs to be reeled in, sure, and these kids need to be taught a lesson, but don't you all think you're going a bit overboard? I'd make them clean the buses and a number of other duties as a lesson.

I'd love to have a video of you saying or doing the worst thing you've ever said or done to/about someone else - like the worst fight with your spouse(s), or talking behind someone's back. If you reflect on that I think you'll find that if you have any integrity you'll be volunteering to do the same community services you recommend for these kids. Remember this next time you make a derogatory comment about someone's appearance.

I would first like to agree that these kids need punished but I would also like to say that a year is quite long and I dont think taking them away for a year is a good idea and to all you people blaming parents about the childs problem you want to know who influence them alot teachers and I am not saying oh it is not all the teachers fault but you have to first look at the people who influence these kids and none of you know these parents maybe they do try and these kids are just out of control or maybe they have a bad teacher who only shows unfairness and calls students names I mean I am 14 years old and I have seen teachers alienate and critize students unfairly and meanly and I am not saying like this kid did anything I mean teachers would not give this person a chance.

So in conclusion I would like to say that these kids deserve to be punished not all the blame should be put on to the parents unless proven and the mass majority of kids today are not jerk faces u only hear about the bad incidents but if u look at it u can see teachers and parents and adults in general doing more henaus acts to inflict emotional and physical damage on people so if u are to blame anyone blame the people who are cruel and exhbit bad qualities

Lack of parenting? is that what you get when you have babies raising babies and living on entitlement's, funded by the tax payer, protected by the legal system encouraged by some elements of society and doing this all without a clue and alone? like a life thrown to the dogs, Id rather have a spanking as a child then suffer that crap. a little discipline goes a long way.

John1414, please don't have kids.

John, let's see if you're capable of performing a little basic Math.

Q: There are 24 hrs in a day. There are 7 days in a wk. How many hrs are in a wk?

A: 168 hrs.

Now, let's extrapolate from that.

Q: You attend school 5 days per wk. How many hrs are you in school per wk?

A: 35 hrs per wk.

To carry it further:

Q: If you subtract the hrs per wk that you are in school (35) from the total hrs in a wk (168), how many hrs per wk are your parents supposed to be supervising you?

A: 133 hrs per wk.

133 for parents v 35 hrs for teachers=no contest as to who spends the greatest amt of time w/ you & who has the greatest influence upon your behavior.

And I'm not even taking into acct summer vacations, schl breaks, holidays, tchr conference days when the tchrs attend workshops to enhance their skills while the students stay home & play video games.

I think you need to ponder this little Math lesson & figure out why I administered it.

You're 14....what, are you maybe in the 8th gr here?

And do your parents know you have created an acct on Newsvine & are commenting in an adult forum?

I bet they don't know.

I think you should discuss that w/ them b/c honestly, John, a 14 yo kid does not belong here. There are plenty of forums for kids that are more age-appropriate for you.

Perhaps your parents can help you find some & supervise your computer time?

You are too young to be verbally mixing it up w/ adults.

And quite frankly, John, your language arts skills need some improvement. I'm not saying that to be *mean* to you, but b/c unless you announce that you are 14 in every single comment, you are going to be eaten alive by adults for poor grammar, spelling, & punctuation alone, & no one is going to actually read what you've posted for content. Commenting in a adult forum is an exercise in futility for someone your age. Adults will not take you seriously either b/c of your age or b/c of your communication skills.

I suggest you delete your acct here & find a forum better suited to kids. Best of luck elsewhere.

• DR J - Says "THEY ARE KIDS" yes they are and it's up to the parents to make them into respectable adults

Sorry DR J - if you really are one when my children were young and we went into a restaurant which was really a treat they were expected to be polite, have table manners and most of all quite not to disturb other patrons or they were banished to wait in the car

I remember being in Italy a few years ago where a father from Georgia brought his two children ten and twelve to learn European manners - these two young children where a vision to behold

Could order off a menu - knew the right utensils to use - and were charming and respectful to the staff

We are raising barbarians - who could never go into a civilized society

Even our so-called educated MBA's standing at my lunch counter someone remarked our meal "looked like road kill" Ah Ah - what an idiot anything to get a laugh - back to smack upside the head!

I say put these self-important snots on a grist mill for six months until they can enter into polite society

John - Hang it up I was 18 when I had my first child yes married and two more followed I called them my Irish triplets

It is hard and was hard and it's harder today - look at the cost -my husband had Blue Cross and Blue Shield

First birth $150.00 - hospital another $150.00

Today First birth - $5,000

My daughter had her daughter in England matched 30 years later cost $150.00

Why blame the parents and a litigious society? Simple, first, if this poor woman would have defended herself either verbally or physically at least one set of parents would have sued. Just imagine, the kids are taunting her with comments like "you're old, fat, and wrinkly." and she answers with, "why yes I am, but I earned this old, fat, wrinkly body by giving birth and raising beautiful, well behaved children, whereas you're young, ugly and have a nasty attitude. How you going to fix that?" I promise you one of the parents would have sued her for verbal assault against their little darlings and causing that little darling psychological angst. Welcome to the litigious society, where no one is held accountable for their actions without a court telling them they need be, and everyone is taking up valuable court time instead of parenting their own children.

Second there is a difference between abuse and a swat on the backside people. A hand on the bottom can go a long way in communicating the idea that an action will not be tolerated. Life is not easy, and like it or not corporal punishment is part of it. Don't think so, think about this. If you don't follow the rules and decide that you can cross any road when ever you like, there is a chance you will get hit by a vehicle, that's some serious corporal punishment. Simplified yes, still, it's an action that's not being tolerated because you chose to break a rule. Better to swat a bottom while it's young enough to get the message that certain rules need to be followed than to have them end up with that kind of punishment for their actions.

Third, we are raising a society full of self satisfied, self indulgent, gratification junkies without any sort of societal filter. Parents aren't teaching their kids manners, etiquette, or even basic self control anymore. I don't know if it is fear that the government will send in CPS if they try to discipline the kids or just plain laziness, but the fact is if you want to see the next generation at its finest just go to any family restaurant or any mall and listen to how these kids talk to their parents, friends and strangers, it'll make your heart shrivel.

Those kids are lucky she didn't press charges of any kind. They actually touched her arm with a hand and a notebook, and it looked like the one behind her flicked her ear or hair. Not only did they think it's o.k. to verbally harass her, it was bordering on physical assault. They got off easy with a year's suspension. What do these little thugs do when no one else is watching?

I agree with a lot of what many of you are saying about the values of consideration and respect for others. I was about to get on my own soap box and then I decided to take a good look at myself - I tell my students all the time that even though you might be just one person, you can make a difference. Today, I will thank someone for what they mean to me, I will hold open a door even if I am in a hurry, and I will give someone a compliment. It is the little things that brighten people's days, and in turn drive them to pass it on.

By the way, I am also a parochial school teacher. We are definitely required to take continuing ed. classes - and to have state certification. Many of the teachers in my building (including myself) have Master's Degrees. Teaching in parochial school is a personal choice - certainly not doing it to get rich.:)

God bless that bus driver!!

They should have been sent to jail for 2 weeks with Bubba as their cell mate.

Your kids can't walk?

From the words you use, you don't sound that much better than the kids. If adults would quit using cuss words and watch their own actions and how they behave,, the kids won't have examples to follow.

Well...pardon me if I offended you

you offended me too! Try being civil in the way you talk and see if that comes across better than your potty-mouth comment. Or is speaking like that an accepted way of life for you? Shame on you!

POOP - people offended by offended people. I am offended that you are offended and think you tell people how to talk. I agree a person's point comes through better with out cuss words, but Dave can speak however he wishes.

Belle2be, "Dave can speak however he wishes..."

That's PRECISELY how these kids thought....didn't work out so well for them, did it? Doing nothing as a parent is just as distructive to a child as beating them....

There is a big difference in beating and spanking, and that is just the problem if these kids would have been spanked from the time they were old enough, and up to now they sure would have turned out a lot different. The whole problem with kids nowdays is there is absolutely no discipline. Just walk into a Wal Mart and see the little dieties and how they talk to their parents, its sickening! I would have backhanded my children if they talked to me that way, and btw they never talked to me that way, and I never beat them, I spanked them tho. Look at the prisons, I can guaranee you that the majority of those people were never disciplined when they were children, oh sure they were probably abused, and thats a big problem, but when I say discipline, I am not necessarily talking a spanking, I am talking about saying no and sticking to it, not pacify them, or bribe them to be good because you are afraid of cps, or just plain too lazy to make them mind. When we are consistent in raising our children then they will turn out different. Sometimes its just easier to give them what they want instead of making them behave, but parents will be sorry later for how they raised their kids, and it will be too late because they will probably be in prison. It is plain disgusting to see children sitting in a seat in a waiting room while elderly people, or adults are standing, I can tell you my parents would have never allowed that, we called adults by either Mr. or Mrs. (oops sorry womens libbers, Ms.!) didnt mean to leave you out, and we gave up our seats when an adult needed one, and never spoked until we were spoken to, and certainly didnt interrupt an adult conversation! But this is the year 2012, what do you expect with the state of mind of people nowdays, this is not the 60's.

Yeah! Instead of bullying her they probably would have cut her head off, all that violent stuff????

Why don't you guys act like adults and not get offended every time you hear a swear word. Who cares? Maybe you should grow up. Never heard them before? When do us adults get to act like adults and stop child proofing everything around us. You think swears are the problem? You are a moron. Kids swear. Oooooh. Big deal. Do you think it's a new thing? Maybe if we stop acting like ultra sensitive wusses, then maybe the kids will start respecting adults again. If you are offended by the word shtt, then you are a total puzzy. As an adult, you know that dung, poop, caca, and feces mean the same thing but you are too sensitive to hear shtt. Go get a bubble, then fill your IPod with sweet whispers of nothings, and live in your own little swear free world. But, if you are going to hang out here with the other grown ups, then you might hear a swear word or two. Sorry you fragile little tulips.

Actually, I'm pretty sure that bullies are not coddled by their parents, but rather ignored and neglected til they get in the parents' way, and then SMACK! Bullies learn to be brutal by example. They take it out on weaker souls because they themselves are treated this way by parents. Taking them to the woodshed would only encourage this cruelty. I do agree that many kids are disrespectful, but just listen to how many adults today remember being bullied in school. Children have an amazing capacity for both touching innocence and shocking cruelty. This is not new. What they need to be taught is empathy, not "screw up and I will beat you silly."

I am very disappointed in the vicious attacks of so-called adults on this board. YOU are the reason society is in decline (if indeed it is....).

Me? I am the reason society is in decline? Wow, I didn't realize I was responsible for everyone.

I agree with comments like PARENTS FAULT,I have visited a family for two weeks ,I was shocked to hear conversations from parents ,in front of children about so and so, calling names and using all kind of epithets toward those people (in conversation ) .I was in the state of shock the whole time, just because their believe was that they are better than anyone in the circle and the children join in . "So children do not let your self be a slot fat ass " the father added at the end of conversation .Now this parents consider themselves highly educated . Just one example folks.

its honestly the kids fault. In no way I think is it the parents who created those kids. I have seen honest parents, adults who taught their kids the good in life and steered them away from drugs and alcohol just for them to screw up again. Blame the kids only.

dissapointed and ashamed,

Better way to put it is people like you are the reason for our society's decline.

I wouldn't cross the street to whiz on you if you were on fire.

Believe me it wasn't hard to find their fb profiles. I didn't email or post anything mean, but you can tell from their profile pics they are little smart asses who need to be taken around the back of the shed and taught a lesson in manners.

won't be long and they will all have mugshots

What is a bus monitor? We never had those when I rode the bus 2001-2003.

A bus monitor is use for Special Needs children. In this case the bus seemed to be a B.D. bus. The monitor was there to keep the kids in line (fighting, yelling,etc.) NOT all buses have a monitor on them. One year off the bus is good. Let the parents deal with their angels. I have been driving a school bus for 28 years. I wish I had a monitor on some of my runs. A run like this we do. Never know when they might try to attach you when driving. IT DOES HAPPEN

when I rode the school bus and the kids were fighting, the bus driver kicked them off of the bus--(this was on a dead end road that was a 1/2 mile long,) he dropped off the kids that lived on the road and came back for the two that were fighting, they never did it again.....but of course now-days the driver would of been fired and charged with child endangerment. These kids were bullies and need to be taught a lesson....hopefully they will learn one, but I really doubt it.

Yeah, sure hitting kids really helps stop bullying! Insanity...

This would be your kids then whoknew36? If disciplining your children is now bullying, we have much more problems to worry about.

Belle2be, hitting and disciplining are two different things.

Mike, First, Jeepgal said "spank" which to me is different than hitting (I personally believe these boys are too old for spanking, but that is far from bullying).

Second when Jeep states "hit em' where it hurts" (I assume, since I cannot speak for Jeepgal) she is referring to "take away their cell phones and computers", which is again not bullying, especially when it is your own children.

God made women's hands like he did for one reason. A hand held in the right position just matches the shape of a kid's butt. So spank, but not beat the kid's butt.

You've achieved something far more better than fear if you find away to get them to understand why it's wrong. "I don't do it because I get hit if I do." is a lot different than "I don't do it because it's wrong."

Susie>>it's also in the shape of a jaw on your cheek. So people should smack you right..God intended that..the crap people on here try to turn into a rational thought is funny..

parents give there kids too much now days, really do kids need a huge tv in their room? Do they need laptops? Do the need smart phones? No they don't.

My children did not have tv's in their rooms, they used the family computer, and when they got cell phones (which is when they got there first job) they got a basic phone.

They learned that if they want more they paid for it. My kids learned early on that I own the air they breathed until they turn 18 because they have NO RIGHTS until then. Parents wimp out and let the kids control them---and the parents want to be friends with the kids---parents you are not there friend you are there parent be there parent!!

Oh and in case you say that I was too hard on them---my daughter is a freshmen studying chemical engineering has made the Deans list for the year, she has raised money to send goodies boxes to our troops overseas from our town, and put in more then 500 hours of volunteerism at the nursing home while in high school. My son, has graduated from trade school and is now working full time at a job with great benefits.

So being the parent not the friend works---and my kids still come to me, with all of the problems, so I can listen and help them figure out what to do.

As a 16 year old, I would NEVER treat anyone this way. I was raised with strict discipline. Speak when spoken to, don't interrupt, give your seat to the elderly or handicapped, and hold open doors. My mothers' backhand raised me. I earn what I get and don't ask for much either. I have a personal laptop, smart phone and TV in my room, but I'm also an A and B student, never skipped class and have RESPECT that society lacks, especially many kids my age. I believe in DISCIPLINE, that fits the offense. Society, mind you not everyone, has become too sensitive and is worried that spanking your kid will turn em' into killers. What a joke! I've had my ass whipped (not literally) and man did I deserve it! But I haven't killed anyone yet. Society has lost its: justice, judgement, tact, integrity, honor, and most of all- RESPECT.

celialady -It worked for you but I didn't really relish my children until they were able to carry on conversations and frankly I was a friend and a confidante and most of all a mother - hard to strike that balance

I guess because I was so young we learned together

Sometimes I say they taught me more than I taught them other times I say I taught them more than they taught me - a hard balance - but hopefully I achieved it

plus it goes on today - they are my equals and yet I'm still their MOM!

I bet these kids were not spanked and this is what you get. I got my share my kids too (actually my daughter just needs a certain look of dissapointment to keep her in line) but bottom line is ,a tap is necessary now and then it won't kill them, after all isn't a light punishment called "a slap on the wrist"? Right? Because is not the worst that could happen, so I rather spank or ground my kids rather than to have them be rude in society and have the police beat and lock them up, so it's not a bad deal to take. As far as bullying and being a bully victim there's a balance to take as a parent you should teach them to be courteous and respectable but don't allow them to take crap from anybody either, that's the best way to function out here in this cruel world. It cracks me up how all of a sudden there's this oversensitiveness about bullying when it's been around for ages, I personally had to go to private school and come home to public housing (on my more affluent relatives money) so I dealt with bullying on both sides ,one group felt inferior to me while the other group felt superior to me, so I had to toughen up because guess what? It didn't stop them from coming at me so I had to make "examples" and other kids took notice and eventually we got along and even if I lost that bully respected me more for standing up for myself. Those lessons helped me teach my kids compassion combined with a backbone which is the goal for parents to achieve to help kids make it out there when you're gone.

Don't count on these boys never bullying anyone again. In all probability they don't like going to school anyway so a 1 year suspension; even with 50 hours service, and bullying classes sounds more like a vacation to me. All they're learning is that bad behaviour is the path to easy street.

A one year suspension is nothing more than an extended vacation for kids like this.

Save the state some time and resources and introduce them to the penal system now. I say let them stay in county for the year they are suspended.

If you go onto the link in the article it gives a little more information about the suspension. The link said that they can re-enroll at Greece Athena after 30 weeks of the suspension if they meet and do well in the alternative program. They will be goining to school. They will be going to an Alternative School. This will also be on their permanent school records; therefore, if they get into additional problems in the future they will be looked at as a repeat offenders. This can't be the first time these boys got into trouble. The one father said something like, his son did say some things, but not as much as the other kids. The father did admit to hearing his child's voice on the video. Does this mean he wasn't as responsible as the other boys because he only participated a little? Maybe, according to the father.

And of course you NYMike never said anything mean to anyone when you were a kid right? Man it amazes me all you people who think you're so perfect and everyone else who makes any mistakes should be castrated, put in prison, beaten up..... people in glass houses folks...we ALL have done bad and wrong things in our lifetimes... it's all all about learning from them... not being told we're worthless and will never amount to anything. Thank God none of you had any say in the punishments for these kids. The punishment they have gotten fits the crime because it will help them learn from their mistake and become better people. Now grow up and stop being bullies yourselves!

TZ - you are right in some ways. This is definately a lesson these kids need to learn, just like all of us had to learn as we grew up. I'm thinking the parents are also getting a wake up call.

What they did was WRONG, they are paying for it, but for some here, they wan't to castrate them. Blood thirsty? Drama, anyone?

The punishment is just. Until you step in their shoes, quit judging them. Sounds like the parents all stepped up, are willing to take the punishment and make their kids take the punishment. The kids all wrote letters to her apologizing (if that isn't humiliating for a teenager, I don't know what else is). She herself (the monitor) didn't blow this up. WE DID, the american public. You guys keep persecuting these kids, they will ALL end up not learning anything, because they will think "what the heck? I'm judged all ready! Why should I learn anything because I've already been judged".

And of course you NYMike never said anything mean to anyone when you were a kid right?

I can say with complete and full honesty that I never disrespected a single person or animal as a child. Back when I grew up, we had something called respect. If you talked like that to an adult when I was growing up, you were picking your mouth up off the ground.

But go ahead and draw wrong conclusions about me all you want if it helps you feel better. No sweat off my brow.

you people who think you're so perfect and everyone else who makes any mistakes should be castrated

Seriously? Are you OK? Who said anything about cutting off anything? You're the one bringing up mutilations.

Like it or not, one or more of these kids will end up incarcerated as an adult.

My daughter defended herself after she got tired of being bullied, and she got a harsher punishment than these brats got. Why isn't the parents being fined? They should double the community hours. Why haven't they written a 300/600/900 word essay on why they need to respect their elders? The parents need to go to parenting classes because this is their fault their kids are like this. The punishment isn't enough, bulling destroys lives and we need to put a stop to it.

I just watched the video after hearing much about it and how bad it was. I am honestly dissapointed. Sure, these boys need to be punished. It was all recorded and posted online. She sat through from what I saw 10 minutes of emotional abuse and insults from these kids. And now she has a half a million dollar fund and a free vacation??? How about all the young kids who endure this kind of abuse every single day of their school life? Some of these mentally and physically abused results they commit suicide or go to school with a loaded gun and harm themselves and others because they can't take it anymore. This GROWN WOMAN sat through 10 minutes of torture and earned all this? Im sorry but I dont understand. Thousands upon thousands of boys and girls are treated this way on a daily basis. Why should ONE woman get this treatment? Punishment and appologies should have been enough. It honestly angers me a little that this one time in her life gained her SO much. Thats just my opinion though. Unfortunaly this is the way the world is today. Kids can be cruel. I feel for this woman, I really do... but come on....

Tiffany Gordon...Of ALL the comments Ive read yours really "hit the nail on the head". I guess it was just her "lucky day" and she's cashing in on the lottery. I just hope with all the media this event is getting that someone learns something....like be careful, video cameras are everywhere! Everyone needs to think about how their words..or actions may be construed when viewed by the world.....

Yeah, a couple of weeks in the cotton fields would do a lot of these kids (and parents good). And done the old fashioned way---no porta potties, no ice, no coolers for your lunch or drink. Those things weren't even known. Start when you can see and work 'til you can't in the heat, dirt, snakes, etc. We lived through it and have some values.

How can there be an intelligent discussion re: Bullies and Mrs. Klein when the Moderator just rips the persons opinion from the board.

There is nothing political about this Article, obeying the NCOH Rules. How about Freedom of Speech withing the borderlines of Newsvine.

Wow!

HAROLD GATES ...I agree with you 100% but I suggest send the parents along too Like a nice family vacation,

while all can figure it out "WHAT DID WE DO WRONG ".

Catawba Grad. The link in the article indicates that they will be going to an alternative program. I am assuming, if it is like Colorado, that means an Alternative School for problem kids.

I like the military school idea.

Last I checked, which was a few days ago, it was almost at 700K in donations.

Even if they take half, it is still several hundred thousand worth of income she didn't expect to have in the first place.

I highly doubt that having to pay taxes on free money will upset her too much.

It will go to fund Obamacare.

Don't you mean it will go to fund the sky rocketing cost of health care because didn't have to have health insurance and could simply walk out on the bill, leaving the responsible to pick up their tab through increased health costs and insurance premiums?

Now back on topic. She already stated she would help out by donating to charities. Must chap your ass that she will spend it how she sees fit and not how you want her too.

Missed the timer to edit.

Too should be to and should also read "...because deadbeats didn't have to..."

.... and your point ?

.... its a gift and gifts are treated differently than other types of cash .... also, if she pays the taxes out of the money she receives, she will still have a very nice tidy sum to spend .... she and 9 others also gets a free trip to Disney to enjoy 3 days all costs ( airfare, car, food, lodging and meals including entry to Disney World ) paid for by a airline company that hears of this situation .... she will have a very nice tome and some cash left over to bank away that she didn't have before this all started .....

She will pay zero taxes on the money she receives. The recipient of a cash gift is not responsible for the tax liability, the person giving the money is. And it has to be in excess of 13k per individual before it becomes taxable. She is a lucky lady

John, that is why your children are bullies; you are the example. They follow easily!!!

How would you have handled the situation Amy? You must realize you can neither talk harshly to them nor lay a hand on them.

It's a tough one Wally? I think she handled it very well! I would have been jailed and sued.

but that's not fixing this problem with our youth.

Proper parenting is required for that, not hard ass bus monitors.

All she could have done is to tell them to stop. Doesn't mean they will. She felt intimidated, and if you were in her shoes, what would have done? Wagged your finger at them? Her hands are tied to what she can do.

but it's one that is performed by many people across the country with similar circumstances.

And with often the same outcome. The kids get to walk all over them because the monitors hands are tied.

If schools could get rid of kids like this, think of how much more all the kids that really want to learn will learn. Kids behave like this is school all time. Parents don't feel that their kids are doing anything wrong. Teachers are constantly dealing with bad behavior from kids instead of teaching. Lets get respect back into the schools by getting the bullies out. PS. that is why other countries do better with the kids they have left. If 10 year olds are cutting it in China they would be working in factories, not wasting space in a classroom.

Did you forget about the no child left behind

John, when your 14 yo self can intelligently discuss the legislative history of NCLB, its provisions, its funding, its effects on education, its relationships to other ed acts, explain to me what Title I entails & tell me how many states have applied for & received NCLB waivers.....then you may participate in an adult discussion.

NCLB had absolutely nothing to do w/ this.

You don't understand that. B/c you're 14 & not an educator. When you're older & you can grasp the subject matter might be a better time for you to have an active Newsvine acct. Now is not the time. Do yourself a favor & go join an age-appropriate forum.

I agree!!!

The link indicated they will be attending an Alternate Program. I assume that means they will go to an Alternate school.

Exactly, Deb, and that's in addition to the 50 hours community service with senior citizens and the formal program in bullying prevention. They're not going to be sitting at home playing video games for that year (thankfully).

If one of those little innocents was mine, the one year suspension would be the easiest part of his punishment. If he thought he had trouble from the system, actually he wouldn't know trouble until he got home. Don't panic, I'm not talking abuse, but life as he knew it would be forever changed...beginning with his nit-wit 'friends'.

#1 Train Guy - you've made me laugh - it's a good laugh. You and I are on the same wave-length!

I've always made sure our son knows that if he gets in trouble at school, whatever their "punishment" is, it will be 10 times worse at home. And like you, there would be no abuse involved. His teachers also knew this because I made sure they knew we had their backs when it came to our son and his behavior.

And guess what every teacher has said about our son? Comments like: I'd rather have 50 kids like yours in my class than 20 with several who are disruptive." Teachers know we are their partners and that they are always welcome to contact us if there is any problem or concern....or if they need help in the classroom, a parent volunteer, or field trip chaperon.

I agree with you - if one of those bullies was my son, the one year suspension would be the least of his worries. Mark my word, there would be no TV, no "screens", very few extra-curricular activities. He would not only be doing community service, he would be doing weekly service to help the bus moniter. I would never austrocize him from his friends, because in a year, he would be back at his old school, but I would make it very clear that it only takes 5 minutes to tarnish your reputation, but it may take years to regain it! That's a lesson we should all understand!

Totally with train guy and dachs. Man, rest assured America, my kids know what true, non-physical punishment is. From the time they started understanding they have known that I will not have a$$hole bullying kids. Even more so, they know to treat adults and especially elders with respect.

I don't thinnk she wants them to do any chores for her. She wants to be as far away from them as possible. If they are forced to do chores for her likely they will retaliate sooner or later and destroy her property. These kids have no conscience or parenting.

No, it started with Dr. Spock (who did not have kids) and his never say "No" to them or you'll scar their little id or something and then just went downhill. I started my family in mid-50's and didn't follow him, but saw many kids being raised that way. Guess who was the most welcome to come visit because the kids were well behaved and pleasant and not screeching whiners.

Too bad other people that have been bullied don't get that kind of attention/financial recourse. I am happy for her, though. That is a happy ending. And, I disagree that all kids today are rude, etc. There are many wonderful, beautiful kids, and people in general, out there!!!! I am so tired of hearing people say that - it's the grown ups who are too lazy to raise their children that are the disgrace! There are good people everywhere, and then, of course, you will have some not so nice people, too. Unfortunately, the nice guys always finish last; But, to all the nice people, you will some day be rewarded. I pray for all those that have been bullied, and that they know things DO get better, just be patient, and have a lot of faith. Keep your chin up, and seek help, or find a way to get away from the meanies!!!! Fighting back is not always the answer either, trust me on that one; It can make matters worse. God bless you all!

There are plenty of good kids today. Your generation has plenty of rude and insensitive people too.

That lame alibi type of crap doesn't excuse anything.

The tea party are a bunch of old citizens???? Look at how they act up, and many are congressional people!!

so true...the last couple generations have been useless crybabies that are riding the coat-tails of the real men and women before them. Men used to be honorable, prideful, dignified MEN. Women used to be polite, compassionate, intelligent WOMEN...now there are very few truly prideful people being added to our population. Yes, there are still some good and decent people, but it seems they are being drowned out by the pathetic little scumbags that cry, protest, kick and scream, every time they dont get exactly what they want. I glad i probably wont be alive in 50 years to see the doom that the smartazz little punks are bringing onto America....This generation cant even be compared to the men and women that built this beautiful country...they are the spoiled little babies that just want to consume everything that pride and honor built, while they walk around with an undeserved sense of accomplishment...The mothers and fathers from way back were almost all decent family people. Now too many mothers are just dimwit skanks and the fathers are simple minded punks...that equates to the lowlife, insensitive, scumbag, maggots that were on that bus...Sad thing is, the nasty mothers that are offended by this cant even comprehend what true pride and dignity is. I couldnt even imagine seeing my mother drunk, high, coming home late from clubs, or getting laid by a bunch of punks....thats the pathetic and nasty example that so many children are being raised with now....nice job. Usually, it's the low IQ sporting, cussing, stoned, club ho' that will crank her neck around and declare herself to be a good "momma"...This is what gives us gang bangers and punk bullies...they should all be locked up with the scum they spit out and turn loose on society....whew, thanks, i feel better about everything.

James, I could not have articulated this any better.

Although I agree that most youth today are completely lacking in respect with regards to authority, a year suspension seems extreme. Community service would have been a better punishment. It is unfortunate that these kids were cruel enough to pick on an elderly women. The women was being paid to monitor the students on the bus. How many students were bullied under her watch? It appears to me that she was unable to handle the job that she was being paid to do.

James, you can thank of scourge of progressive liberalism and civil rights for the moral decline in this country. Progressives have putrefied every institution that made this country great. I don't believe this woman should get all this money. If she is as good as everybody thinks she is, she'll donate it to the school for equipment or learning materials. I bet her stomach is bigger than her heart.