Tony Duckett says his son was punished at North Murray High School for defending himself from a bully.
Duckett wants the school system to change its policies so that victims can’t be punished for self-defense.
Duckett said his son was assaulted twice in the past month on the campus of the school — once when a boy kicked him in the chest while he was waiting for a ride home and again when a student who habitually cut the lunch line began pummeling him after being told to wait his turn.
For the second incident, he said his son got two days of in-school suspension because he “put his hand out” to prevent the line-cutter from getting in front of him again. Duckett said his son sustained a busted lip, busted nose, severely bent glasses, a knot on the back of his head and an injured ear.
“In the school system, these kids don’t have the right to defend themselves,” he said.
State law requires school systems to have policies that provide for punishing bullies and mandate that they are placed in an alternative school after the third offense. Whitfield County Schools, Dalton Public Schools and Murray County Schools each have policies to that effect. All three systems provide for escalated punishments, ranging from in-school suspension authorized by an administrator to expulsion at the direction of a tribunal.
The handbooks in each of the three systems provide for separate punishments for fighting and verbal offenses, some of which could also be considered bullying. The Whitfield system’s policy does not specifically protect students acting in self-defense from punishment, but administrators in many cases have discretion in determining how to handle violent incidents. The Dalton system’s policy specifically provides that students acting in self-defense aren’t to be punished. There is no such provision in the policies of the Murray school system.
Murray County Schools administrative services director Dean Donehoo said students are often punished for fights they didn’t start at the discretion of a school administrator. Some students might, for example, respond in an overly violent way to someone throwing a punch even though they didn’t start the fight.
“The thought is that often it’s hard to figure out what happened,” Donehoo said. “It’s on a case by case basis.”
By law, school officials can’t comment on a student’s situation, Donehoo said. Duckett said he believes school administrators should have done a better job investigating the incident in which his son was punished. He said the administrator who notified him about the lunchroom incident indicated his son had sustained nothing more than a single punch in the nose.
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Policies on bullying, other infractions
Dalton Public Schools, http://daltonpublicschools.com/Portals/0/PDF/Code%20of%20Conduct_English_2009-10.pdf
Murray County Schools, http://www.murray.k12.ga.us/handbooks/Handbook.htm
Whitfield County Schools, www.whitfield.k12.ga.us, under “Important documents”
Education
Part III: Bullying in schools
- Education
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Mr. Science visits Eton
Blake Mendez participates in a science activity with “Mr. Science” at Eton Elementary School recently. “Mr. Science” performed magic tricks for students and then explained how science makes them possible.
Blake Mendez participates in a science activity with “Mr. Science” at Eton Elementary School recently. “Mr. Science” performed magic tricks for students and then explained how science makes them possible.
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Class acts: school news
News and notes about students from the Dalton area.
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North Murray freshmen get a dose of 'Reality'
North Murray High School’s ninth-grade students got a little dose of reality on Nov. 14, when they spent their morning shopping at the Reality Store.
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Mountain Creek Academy staff sponsor families for Christmas
Mountain Creek Academy faculty and staff sponsor families in the community for Christmas. Pitching in are, from left, Joan Davis, Robbie Weaver, Jennifer Lents, Wade Jones and Shawn Pritchett
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Bagley Middle teacher of the month for December
Science teacher Matthew Odell is the Teacher of the Month for December at Bagley Middle School. He is a member of the white team and teaches seventh and eighth grade science. School officials say he does a great job of teaching the standards and incorporating numerous hands-on activities with his students. In addition to teaching science, he coaches Bagley’s seventh grade girls basketball team.
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Valley Point hosts Reading with Santa Night
More than 600 students, staff, family and community members attended Reading with Santa Night at Valley Point Elementary.
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Coker recognizes November staff of the month
Each month, Coker Elementary School recognizes employees who demonstrate good attendance, team effort and overall professionalism. The Teacher of the Month for the month of November is media specialist Jill Hensley. Carmon Hipp, physical education paraprofessional, is the staff member of the month. From left are Assistant Principal Kay Holcomb, Hensley, Hipp and Principal Donna Standridge.
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Murray students target drunk driving
Members of Murray County High School’s SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) Club came together to do their second seatbelt check of the 2011-2012 school year. Caitlyn Sims, left, and Nisei Dill, right, stand with Principal Gina Linder. Students who were buckled up leaving the school parking lot received a candy cane, SADD pencil, a SADD pen or a Teens Drive Smart pen along with a safety message. The safety messages said things like, “Don’t txt and drive!” “Drive the speed limit!” and ”Be safe! Buckle up!”
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Coker rewards Week 13 cubs
As part of Coker Elementary School’s PBIS, or Positive Behavioral and Interventions Support system, students who follow school expectations are recognized each week for their great behavior. One student from each class that models positive behavior is chosen by his or her teacher to be recognized as one of the Coker Cubs of the Week. Students’ pictures and names are posted outside their classroom door throughout the week in recognition.
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Coker rewards Week 12 cubs
As part of Coker Elementary School’s PBIS, or Positive Behavioral and Interventions Support system, students who follow school expectations are recognized each week for their great behavior. One student from each class that models positive behavior is chosen by his or her teacher to be recognized as one of the Coker Cubs of the Week. Students’ pictures and names are posted outside their classroom door throughout the week in recognition.
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Coker rewards Week 11 cubs
As part of Coker Elementary School’s PBIS, or Positive Behavioral and Interventions Support system, students who follow school expectations are recognized each week for their great behavior. One student from each class who models positive behavior is chosen by his or her teacher to be recognized as one of the Coker Cubs of the Week. Students’ pictures and names are posted outside their classroom door throughout the week in recognition.
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Coker rewards Week 10 cubs
As part of Coker Elementary School’s PBIS. or Positive Behavioral and Interventions Support system, students who follow school expectations are recognized each week for their great behavior. One student from each class who models positive behavior is chosen by his or her teacher to be recognized as one of the Coker Cubs of the Week. Students’ pictures and names are posted outside their classroom door throughout the week in recognition.
Continued ... - Jan 5, 2012
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North Murray’s seniors apply to college during Georgia Apply to College event
North Murray High School’s seniors received hands-on assistance applying to college during the school’s Georgia Apply to College event.
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Eton, Woodlawn students sing in statewide chorus
Eton Elementary School and Woodlawn Elementary School chorus students attended the Georgia Music Educators Association State-wide Elementary Honor Chorus in Jonesboro.
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NWHS applies to college
Northwest Whitfield High School was chosen to participate in the Georgia Apply to College event this November.
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