How Safe are Our Schools?

School bus assault poorly handled by schools

Dear Editor, I would like to express my anger towards a situation that has taken place at my son's school and on the school bus.On Oct. 18, my son was hit with a water bottle and colored pencils before his head was slammed into the window pane of the school bus by another student who is a fourth grade girl. This action taken by the fourth grade girl was not an action that was done in self defense, because six other students on the bus gave statements to the assistant principal and the resource officer at David L. Rainer Elementary School.
My son came home with a bloody head and hands. He was taken to the emergency room where he waited for four hours to make sure that he didn't have a concussion or fracture.I was told by the assistant principal that she would take care of the situation. Well, I don't know what disciplinary action was taken, but that same afternoon of the incident, the student that caused my son's injury was allowed to ride the bus home.My son has been singled out since this incident to be a trouble maker. He was told to sit behind the bus driver on Oct. 20, and the bus driver's response to me when I questioned why was that he has had problems in the past hitting other children when there is no record of any incidents with my child on the school bus or in school.I feel as though my child is being punished for something that he did not do. Why wasn't the child who caused bodily harm to my child not suspended or expelled from the bus or school? Is it OK to cause harm to my child because he is a boy and she is a girl? Why do I feel as though the school is covering for this child? And don't you think the situation would have been different if the roles were changed?
I know things would be different. It's not OK to cause harm to my child and get a slap on the wrist because he is an African-American boy and she is a caucasian girl. My son would have been expelled and they would have probably have arrested him if she had gone home to her parents the way he came home to me.It's not fair the way the school has handled the situation and I am not pleased. I am very angry with the nonchalant attitude of the school and staff.

Monique Jamison
Kingsland

From the Tribune and Georgian

Happy Birthday

Yesterday was Dr. Proctor's birthday. Happy Birhday to Her.

I can't tell you her age because that would have to be discussed in executive session. Maybe we can do that at the next board meeting.

October Surprise

Usually we don't have many surprises during the campaign season for the school board, but this year nothing should be taken for granted. I can't say anymore at this time, but I can tell you this will change the way the school board operates.

Stayed tuned will let you know shortly.

Students Show Your Support for Mr Waters

An open letter to Mr. Waters.

Dear Sir,
At the last school board meeting we asked the women( the mother of the student) be able to speak as that is granted to us in the Constitution. If the board would have allowed this to come out in public this whole issue would have been solved a long time ago. The board after the meeting ran to the press and really made you look bad. I understand that you did tell the mother that you were sorry that the incident happened. We can't ask for anything more.Their was no violent push, I for one sir am asking you to stay. Sure this incident made you look bad to some people who don't know you and I am one who don't know you, but I have gathered all the facts, and I find that you acted properly. I am glad that this all came out because as a parent I now know that this child is a trouble maker and SHOULD NOT BE THE FFA PRESIDENT, And to I for one would not let my child near this child.

Mr. Waters, I am sure that this has been hard on you, but we needed to get to the bottom of this and the school board could have settled this weeks ago. I went to the meeting tonight and there were more people than I have ever seen. There was at least 30 more people than that was there when the board lied about the superintendents job.

Sir you have a lot of students that love you and they will really miss you.

Students please post your letters to Mr. Waters in the comments section.

Mr. Water what ever you decide is your choice. I for one now think we need more teachers like you.

Thank You and may God Bless You.

School Board Meeting

Oct. 10, 2006 is the next scheduled meeting for the Camden County Board of Education. Please join me and members of the Jacksonville media as I discuss why the cops were called to the last meeting. If you remember a citizen of Camden wanted to speak at the public session of the meeting she was not allowed to talk. In turn a heated discussion arose and Jimmy Coffel said NO ONE COULD SPEAK. Then it got heated up some more before Mr. Coffel decide to limit time to 3 mins. All of this is illegal. Mr. Coffel everything you said was out of line. You can't change anything without a vote from the rest of the board. So Mr. Coffel you called the police, Why? Because you were scared or because you wanted to intimidate us? Choose your answer carefully.

As I read the laws that this board must follow, I find a lot that they do not.

Camden County were an educated voter is an elected official worst nightmare.

You Write The Story

Since the Sheriff refuses to tell us what happened with the jet ski's, I think the public should write the story for the paper as you think it happened. That's right when the public does not hear the whole story, we are left to ASSUME. So go ahead and assume. The winning story will be published in the Tribune and Georgian, and that story will be the official story until the Sheriff tells us what really happened. Just click on comments, sign in and tell us how you think it played out. I will start.