Still More Cape School Violence
January 23rd, 2007 by Dan GaffneyThe fighting I wrote about back in December here, continues at Cape Henlopen High School. The Cape Gazette reports:
Ten Cape Henlopen students are expected to be arrested for disorderly conduct following an early morning brawl in the cafeteria of the school.
Three teachers received minor injuries during the fight on Wednesday, Jan. 17, which spilled over from a Tuesday night basketball game, said state police spokesman Cpl. Jeff Oldham.
This is not the first time fighting has spilled over from a basketball game. Some of my listeners may remember the post game brawl that closed the Rt. 1 McDonald’s a while back.
The police were called to school and the nine male students and one female student involved in the fight were immediately sent home, said Oldham. Cape Henlopen Principal John Yore said some ice packs were handed out, but no one was seriously injured. According to the police report, one teacher complained of a strained muscle, another of a pinched arm and the third complained of a fat lip. For six of the students, the fight was their first offense, but four of the 10 students were also involved in a fight in December. That fight was unrelated to the one that broke out on Wednesday morning at the school, Oldham said.
Why were these kids still in school after the last fight?
He said the fight seemed to be a stand-off between students from Burton Village and students from East Atlantic Apartments in Rehoboth Beach. “Fighting will not be tolerated,†said Yore. “Strict disciplinary action has been taken.†It was not clear what specific disciplinary action would be taken, but expulsion is one possibility, he said. “The staff was very responsive,†said Yore. “We have staff monitors and everyone was mobilized very quickly to resolve this.â€
The school’s discipline dean, Bobby Maull, was not on the premises at the time, but he was rapidly and actively involved, said Yore. “The vast majority of our students conduct themselves appropriately,†said Yore, who along with teachers and staff members is planning a summit to talk to parents and students about violence and safety in the school.
Of course the vast majority are good, but let us not cloud the issue here. A serious lack of discipline at Cape! The post from yesterday seems to indicate we are training a new group of high school fighters at the middle school level.
The school sent a letter home to parents to let them know about the fight and assure them that swift action will be taken. “I, along with other members of the school team, will be meeting with parents and students throughout the next week,†said Yore in the letter. “As a school, we want to work in partnership with the community to resolve conflicts and issues.â€
Good luck to the staff at the school; I wouldn’t want your job for any amount of money. I also wonder why we don’t hear of these fights at other schools?
January 23rd, 2007 at 7:47 am
Once again, the anti-education folks at WGMD are blasting our local school district. Gaffney and the rest jumped on this story, believing it is one more example rotten conditions at Cape.
There is one problem, however — the fight really had nothing to do with the school. The fight ocurred at the school, but that is where the school connection begins and ends. This was a rumble between kids form two housing developments. The only reason they fought at school was because that is where the kids can get together to brawl.
To the contrary of Gaffney’s comments, the school should be commended in this case.
First, a group of teachers jumped into the middle of a fight, despite the very real possibliity of injury. They did this selfless act to protect the students.
Secondly, before the day was over, the principal sent a letter home to every parent telling them exacly what ocurred and actions would be taken. This fast action stopped harmful rumors from starting.
The fact is, fights will happen in large public schools. How the school handles it is the real measure of an administration.
Kudos to the teachers and principal of Cape.
January 23rd, 2007 at 8:15 am
Kudos to you Dan for updating your reporting of information regarding this serious problem we have in our schools, and for encouraging serious discussion of these school violence issues.
Hopefully your publicity on this situation combined with the responses of the public as evidenced by the callers will work to facilitate school officials and teachers to introduce policies and procedures which will put an end to a continuation of this behavior.
I think Jud Bennett’s call pointing out that teacher whistle blowers are protected by law is a significant statement. We cannot have these problems kept secret.
….
January 23rd, 2007 at 8:31 am
I could not be paid enough to be a junior or senior high school teacher these days. It’s a shame that this type of problem is happening at Cape.
Hopefully, those at the school and those involved can bury the hatchet and realize they’re in school not necessarily because they have to, but to help them in the future.
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:15 am
Maybe if the victims of violence at the schools got good lawyers and sued the district the would take it serious. You wouldn’t put up with it in your workplace- why should children put up with it in school?
I think it’s pathetic that McDonald’s has to close after Basketball games- what’s that tell you about our school? Sheriff Reed we need your help!
January 23rd, 2007 at 5:52 pm
Is it just me, or is it that brawls, fights, riots always seem to morph from sporting events at schools? I never heard a fight break out after a School Play, Chess Club Match or similar activity. You know what? Let’s cut sports out of school programs, and focus more time, talent and energy on educating kids, teaching them respect and culture, so they can have a prayer at leading productive lives. If they want to bounce, toss, hit or whatever else you do with a ball…do it at home on their own time. I love sports but it’s becoming too predominant in all phases of our lives. I love competition but I don’t need sports to teach me how to compete.
January 24th, 2007 at 6:27 am
Let me qualify my experience (albeit it 20 years ago)…
I went to Hoover High, which had about 1400 students. When we played sports, we competed against comparable - or even more populated - schools.
When we went to a sporting event, we were to stay on our side of the field (or court, or gym, etc.). Also, these games were considered school functions, so the Code of Conduct was in place. You didn’t dare even smoke at the games if you were a student because the place was swarming not only with cops, but also with teachers and administrators. In other words, you WERE going to get caught.
What kind of presence is there at Cape games of school officials, police officers, and teachers ? Would that possibly curb the fighting at the games ?
January 24th, 2007 at 9:59 am
At the games, there are teachers, principals, and police. At most Delaware schools, the code of conduct is in effect at games. But even with all those controls, kids sometimes do stupid things.
January 24th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Thanks for the clarification.
January 24th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Maybe if President Bush doesn’t deploy the 30,000 additional troops to Iraq, he can place them in school gyms and on athletic fields, where ,during sports events, kids get their first taste of unnecessary violence. Maybe learning patience and tolerance at home is the “curb”, Pat Patterson talks about, not Gestapo surrounding the gym perimeter. I blame the parents, not teachers or the police who should have their hands full already without babysitting deliquents.
January 26th, 2007 at 11:58 am
Good thing there aren’t any gangs in Sussex County, otherwise this would be a lot worse!