new thread
I found an article about a long time problem of forced hair cuts and other abuse and torture in schools not in Iraq but here in the USA. They allege that it's been going on for a long time. I thought things like this were getting better, but it isn't. I strongly recommend that every parent do homeschool or put their kids in private school, vote for tax cuts and try to get the US government completely out of the business of "educating" children.
This is an article that I think was from an AP news source. Other articles may be found by searching newspapers in the San Francisco bay area of California, especially the Fremont area.
Article Last Updated: Sunday, August 15, 2004 - 3:51:17 AM PST
Swim coach fired after team hazings
Athletic director also gone following misconduct on high school squad
By Grace Rauh, STAFF WRITER
FREMONT -- Mission San Jose High School's athletic director and the swim team coach were fired Thursday following reports of hazing on the boys varsity team.
Athletic Director Tom Thomsen, who has taught and coached at Mission San Jose for 20 years, will continue in that capacity until Oct. 1. Thomsen also serves as the North Coast wrestling representative to the California Interscholastic Federation, a statewide body that oversees school athletics.
Mark Lawrence, who coached the varsity boys swim team and the boys and girls water polo team, also was fired, effective immediately.
"I'm disappointed and upset that it came to this," Thomsen said Friday. "Obviously it had to do with the (hazing) incident that took place this year. But as far as reasons why (I was fired), I'm not sure."
In May, a swim team member had his head shaved against his will, an act that Principal Stuart Kew labeled hazing.
The incident led to an ANG Newspapers article that chronicled swim team hazing traditions spanning at least a decade. Various hazing tactics have been used, including urinating on teammates, stuffing their heads into toilets, restraining them with duct tape, handcuffing them and shaving their heads by force, former swim team members and parents said.
Concerned parents contacted school officials following the May incident to say the hazing needed to be stopped. Parents also said the hazing has persisted for so long because of a "boys-will-be-boys" attitude at the school.
Lucy Suryoutomo, whose three children swam for Mission San Jose teams, pressed the school board to take action. In July, board members called for an investigation.
Suryoutomo said the firing of Thomsen and Lawrence sends a strong message.
"To really stop (hazing), the attitude has to be changed. This is representing a change of attitude (from the district) that this is unacceptable behavior and there are consequences that go along with it," she said.
Thomsen said he never was contacted by the district superintendent or board members.
Superintendent John Rieckewald would not comment on Thomsen's termination.
"I can't talk about personnel issues," he said. "We certainly don't communicate about personnel issues in the newspaper."
Lawrence swam for Mission San Jose in the 1990s and has coached the team for two years. In June, he acknowledged that hazing had taken place on the team since the early 90s. Lawrence previously said he had not witnessed any hazing during his tenure as coach.
Lawrence did not return a phone call for comment Friday.
One former team member was upset both were fired.
"We shaved some kid's head, and now coaches got fired for it," said Davin Fan, the 2003-2004 varsity swim team captain. "I think it's really unfortunate."
Fan said the head-shaving incident was blown out of proportion. In the past there was more violent and aggressive hazing, but that had stopped, Fan said.
"Before, (team members) would beat up kids and throw them against the walls and stuff like that. And really, that hasn't happened when I was captain," he said.
Water polo practice is scheduled to begin Aug. 23. A new coach has not been hired, and it is unclear if practices will begin as planned, Thomsen said.
The head-shaving incident, which took place at a private home, was the first time hazing had been brought to Thomsen's attention since he was named athletic director in 1999, he said.
While he was a wrestling coach and physical education teacher, Thomsen said he heard about swim team members urinating on each other, he said.
"Everyone had heard about the Austin Wu thing," he said, referring to the first-year swimmer who fought back when a senior tried to urinate on him in 1997. Wu said the altercation left him with three fractured front teeth and cuts on his lips.
"I think that I'm being the scapegoat for things in the past that I'm not in control over," Thomsen said.
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If my children would be subject to that kind of treatment I would file assault charges against the perpetrators and a civil lawsuit against the school for allowing it to happen. And I would refuse to settle the assault charges in any way.
A few years ago an idiot tried to cut off my hair (which was tied in a ponytail) with a pair of scissors, and that landed him 30 days in the slammer. The judge agreed to my claim that pointing a cutting instrument to my back fits the definition of assault.
A Linux Longhair
Why do short-haired nazis do this? How does someone having long hair affect them?
While what happened is unfortunate, even criminal, I disagree with this statement you've made.
First, incidents like this are VERY, VERY rare. In addition, they aren't limited to public schools. Heck, private schools often require short hair cuts for males and have strict uniform policies. In fact, I don't know of a single private school that allows males to have long hair.
As a teacher, I am obviously biased. However, I think education is a right that everyone has, regardless of your socio-economic background. Government has the responsibility to make sure the citizenship is provided with equal access to education. Without tax funded public education, most people would not be able to attend school, regardless of any tax incentives that would be available.
The problem with many Americans is that too many don't want to pay their fair share of taxes. Why? Everyone wants good schools, good roads to drive on, police protection, fire protection, etc. All of those things cost money, and the source of that money is taxes. If you cut taxes, you have to cut services. It's no different than your home budget. If your income decreases, you have to cut costs somewhere.
Public high schools are already underfunded as it is. We have to do so much with so little. Do you have any idea how much teachers have to spend (of their own money) for various school supplies and stuff? It's unbelievable! In this day and age of tax cut fever, even basic items like paper are hard to get. How would you like to be in a building of 1,000 students, many teachers and staff, and have only two copy machines because the school can't afford any more? Getting a ream of paper is like asking for its weight in gold! How about not being able to get the heat and air conditioner to work properly because the school doesn't have the budget to get it fixed? How about closing schools and consolidating students to fewer schools? All of these things and more are happening because of tax cuts.
Fortunately, in this country, we all - despite where we live or how rich or poor we are - have access to a free education at least through high school. I shudder to think what kind of society we'd have if we didn't have the government providing us with access to education. We already have enough disparity between the haves and have nots.
You must be in a very good neighborhood, where public schools are so good that private schools are not needed in your area, and perhaps the Latter Day Saints is the only private school in town. If there were more private schools in your area, then there would be more choices.
Tax incentives can provide vouters and maybe positive income tax to provide children of poor parents better access to schools and educational materials.
The problem with public schools is that the spending per student is more than in private schools. This may be $10,000 per student in public school and $5,000 per student in private school; the parent with kids in private school paying the $10,000 in taxes on top of the $5,000 private school fees. Also private schools have been known to provide better education than public schools. With privatization, money is saved and kids get a better education, and there is more money for materials, buildings or to pay off the government debts.
Unfortunately, some parents and teachers don't care about the children's future, and when the neglect happens on a large school, the public schools and the neighborhood fail and complaints are ignored. If parents were provided more choices and schools compete for funding and students, this incentive encourages schools to improve. Too often I've seen good teachers and administrators punished/fired/transferred and unqualified teachers and administrators continue to get the same pay raises as everyone else. I disagree with Marxist-Lenonist equality. Sometimes good teachers/administrators need to be paid more than others that should be fired.
With good schools we get a better educated people for less money, and everyone benefits including those who don't have children.
I taught at an inner city, urban school that was about 99% African American. The school was located in "the hood". So no, it wasn't some wonderful paradise.
There are plenty of private schools around the area. When you say "needed", I wonder what you mean. Is a private school ever really "needed"?
There are many private schools. I've been at teacher development seminars with educators from private schools. I've seen everything from various Christian schools to Muslim schools to whatever. People who desire a private school for their kids have plenty of options.
I assume you mean vouchers. The fact is that public money via vouchers should not be allowed. If a person chooses to send their child to a private school, that's fine. However, you and I as taxpayers should not subsidize that choice. This is especially true if the private school is a religious school, as most are.
And please, don't give me the access to poor parents. Poor people cannot send their kids to a private school under any circumstances.
First, teachers at private schools are paid FAR LESS than those who teach in public schools. That is a big cost saving. In addition, private schools don't have the various levels of management and oversight that public schools are required to have. There are a number of factors that lead to a higher cost per student. In addition to teacher salaries, you can add a superintendent, a school board, truancy officers, etc, etc. All of this costs money, and it's money the private schools aren't required to spend. Public schools do, however.
Many schools (most in fact), my former school included, will contact the homes of students who miss three consecutive days. If no contact is made with a parent or guardian, a school community representative will personally visit the home. There are also truancy officers who make visits as well as apprehend anyone who looks like they may 16 years old or younger and are not in school during school hours.
The only thing that encourages students to improve or succeed is the student himself/ herself. Period! Teachers can help motivate, but ultimately it's up to the student to improve or do well in school.
I've seen many initiatives and programs designed to help students improve, thereby improving the school. Ultimately though, it's up to the student. Some are happy getting by with a C in all classes. Others simply don't care. Some want only an A and nothing else.
Like you, I've seen good teachers get frustrated and quit. I've seen good teachers treated poorly and give up not only on the school but on teaching altogether. However, your suggestions would do nothing to solve this problem.
In addition, it is neither Marxist, Lenninist, or communist to expect our society to provide an equal opportunity to everyone despite their socio-economic status. Rich kids do NOT deserve a better education than poor kids.
Yes. In cases where a local school fails to provide good education, and parents are not allowed to send their kids to another teacher, public school or charter school, it seems the best option is for them to send their kids to a private school or do home school programs with many other parents.
Than it seems private schools and charter schools are the best solution to save money, provide opportunities for good teachers who get rejected from public schools and for parents looking for a better education for their children.
The Marxist problem is in the administration, where an outstanding teacher all parents and children like gets layed off while an incompetent teacher keeps their job and gets a raise. Also many incompetent administraters are promoted and good administraters get rejected. From the children and parents point of view, this doesn't look like equal opportunity to a quality education.
Although we disagree on some things, it's good to hear your views. I want all children to have access to good education to.
We would have a lot less disparity if the wealthy were put back in the 70% tax bracket like things used to be instead of the current 35% like it is now. Proper taxation of the wealthy would provide more than enough money for schools and social programs. While the wealthy have had their taxes cut in half the poor and middle class pay more tax than before when you consider the tax writeoffs no longer permitted. Absalom
Here's a classic example of this. As a former (and soon to be again) teacher, I can relate to this story. It's a bit long, but informative.
Teachers Lose Tax Breaks for Class Supplies
With spending slashed at schools, educators say it's a bad time to cut state and federal reimbursements.
By Erika Hayasaki, Times Staff Writer
Ka-ching. A packet of sparkling sea life stickers for $1.99. Ka-ching. A stack of happy birthday certificates for $2.99. Ka-ching. Ka-ching. Forty metallic pencils for $10.40, and a spelling workbook for $16.99.
By the time Jennifer Gile, a teacher in the Redondo Beach Unified School District, checked out of the Teacher Supplies of Long Beach store, she had charged $78.67. This was on top of nearly $200 she spent in the last few days buying other supplies.
"I'm trying not to go overboard," she told the cashier.
With the loss of state and federal tax breaks designed to repay the many teachers who buy their own classroom supplies, Gile and other educators across California say they have good reason to be more frugal.
Gile, who earns a little more than $48,000 a year, spends at least $2,000 of that on school supplies each year. She was counting on the state Teacher Retention Tax Credit, which repays teachers up to $1,500 in taxes, to cover some of those out-of-pocket expenses. But it was suspended last month under the state budget plan, for a savings of $400 million over two years.
Making money matters worse, a federal tax deduction for up to $250 for teachers' extra expenses expired this year.
Educators say it's a bad time to halt such tax breaks because school districts across the country have chopped spending for basic supplies like copier paper and tissues.
"It is a miracle what our teachers are doing every day," said California Teachers Assn. President Barbara Kerr. "They spend thousands of dollars in their classrooms." The tax benefits' end, she said, represents "a tax increase for teachers, people who don't deserve a tax increase."
Some teachers are rationing their money as the start of the school year approaches.
Science teacher Martine Korach, of Robert A. Millikan High School in the Long Beach Unified School District, started shopping in increments. So far, she has bought a mop, a bucket, Lysol, ink remover and gum cleaner. Since the district cut down on janitors with budget cuts, she said, she does most of her classroom cleaning.
For projects that make class fun for students, she will need to pick up: Ziploc bags, baking soda, vinegar, ammonia, a variety of soaps, and cheese to test for chemicals. Although the school provides some of these materials, Korach said, they run out fast, with 20 science teachers on campus.
In years past, Korach spent hundreds of dollars buying rock, mica, sulfur and quartz mineral samples. Once, she purchased 10 stopwatches at $14 each because the ones the school provided broke. She also spends about $40 a month to feed and take care of the classroom pets: a leopard gecko, a corn snake, a rabbit and some slimy mice.
It all adds up to about $3,000 a year, she estimates.
Korach, a teacher for more than 10 years, earns about $55,000 a year. She got state and federal tax breaks in the past, and will feel the pinch this year.
"The general public doesn't really understand how much we spend out of our own pockets just to be able to do our jobs," she said. "But we all do it because it's the best for the kids, and that's why we are here."
Long Beach Unified spokesman Chris Eftychiou said some items had been scaled back because "budgets are tight, and many of our teachers reach into their own pockets."
The California Teacher Retention Tax Credit was first offered in 2000. It was aimed at encouraging teachers to remain in the classrooms by repaying them a portion of personal money spent on supplies. Teachers with four to 11 years of experience could receive $250 to $500. Those with 11 to 20 or more years could receive $1,000 and $1,500.
It was suspended in 2002, when state lawmakers were grappling with a budget gap, and then revived the next year. During the 2003-04 tax year, the state spent $180 million on it. Last month, the legislators agreed to suspend it once again, until 2007.
H.D. Palmer, a spokesman for the state Department of Finance, said that it was a difficult decision for the governor and the Legislature to suspend the tax credit, but they agreed it was necessary.
The National Education Assn. and some lawmakers are trying to resurrect the federal teacher tax deduction for supplies, which was first offered in 2002 but expired last year. The NEA is asking teachers to save their receipts in hopes that Congress will approve the proposed Teacher Tax Relief Act, which would make the expense deduction permanent and increase the maximum deduction to $400 or $500.
The Los Angeles teachers union has teamed up with a local Latino radio station, KSCA-FM, to raise money for teachers' supply wish lists this school year. It's frustrating to read teachers' letters, said Angelica Urquijo, a spokeswoman for the union, because many of their requests are so basic.
For example, a Canoga Park Elementary teacher asked for paper, pencils, crayons, construction paper and paper towels.
A Micheltorena Street School teacher asked for scissors, highlighters, glue sticks and white-board erasers.
Mark Shrager, deputy budget director for L.A. Unified, said the district reduced funding by $50 per student during the 2003-04 school year, which may have caused some schools to cut back on supplies.
A survey conducted by the local union, United Teachers Los Angeles, showed that its members spent an average of $1,047 of their own money on school supplies last year. Across the country, the National School Supply and Equipment Assn. found that teachers spent an average of $458.
On a recent day, Gile of Redondo Beach Unified sat cross-legged on the floor of the Long Beach store, sifting through workbooks.
She said she buys pencil pouches each year for her students from poor families so they have the same little treasures as students from wealthier families. She also gives her students name tags and stickers that read "Hooray!" or "Wow!" for good behavior. She buys activities and learning guides for special education students who lag her regular students academically.
Gile is afraid students will suffer from the cuts to education and suspension of the state tax credit because teachers like her may not be able to afford as many supplies.
This is the time of year when Teacher Supplies of Long Beach is filled with shoppers stuffing baskets with glittery stickers, fake dollar bills and fraction games shaped like pepperoni pizzas. But Dorothy Cohen, the owner for 32 years, said business is down this summer.
She blamed the tax changes and cutbacks in the decrease of schools' purchase orders.
At her shop, Steve Israel, a special education teacher at Huntington Park High School, browsed workbooks with themes such as chocolate and sports. Israel, a sixth-year teacher, spends at least $1,500 a year on materials and was hoping to get a tax break this year. Even an extra $250, he said, "would go a long way."
It's hardest for young teachers, said Michael Day, a veteran teacher in Long Beach. Most of them are still paying college loans and are at the bottom of the pay scale, he said, yet they are expected to beautify their classrooms mostly on their own. He added that many new teachers are placed in schools with many students from low-income families. "Some kids have a tough time bringing a pencil to school," he said.
Day, a teacher at Eugene Tincher K-8 School, received $1,000 in state tax credit last year.
"Over the past few years, pay raises have been virtually nonexistent. We've been fighting to keep health benefits," he said. "This is just another thing that cuts into their salaries."
One thing to remember, is that the rich must not be allowed to take their money, pentions and jobs with them if they leave the USA. For example, if Bill Gates leaves the USA to avoid taxes, he would have to give all his stock to the US government, give his houses to the US government, give his job to someone who's living in the USA, and when Bill Gates retires in the other country he won't be able to collect social security retirement benefits from the USA.
I agree with keeping the FEDERAL government out of education, but your other statement seems ignorant.
You don't think that type of thing happens in private schools? (I went through 12 years of private schooling). It probably happens even more in private schools.
Keep your kids at home so they don't learn how to interact with various types of people.....that's a great way to prepare them for the world.
I have 15 years of teaching experience in a public school. This type of thing is rare, and it can happen anywhere.
Districst should be held responsible for spending. But if you continue to consistently vote down school levies, then your property value will eventually go down also.
Sorry...there are no easy answers in life. And you'll never be able to prevent people (especially kids) from doing stupid things. (Quiz tomorrow ;-)
I sure wish I went to private school--children in private school usually do much better than in public school.
