Student's Suspension For Defending Classmate Against Bully Rescinded After Outcry

No policy change though

via NBC2

An update on Mark Betterson, the student athlete in Florida who received a 10-day suspension for intervening in a fight whose instigator was charged criminally, via the local NBC affiliate:

An East Lee County High School student, who was facing suspension and possible expulsion for hitting a fellow student, attended a punishment hearing Monday morning. Now, Mark Betterson says he will be allowed to return to school Tuesday. His punishment?

… Despite claims of good intentions on Betterson's part for jumping to the student's defense, the principal reminded students rules were broken.

The kind of zero tolerance policies that don't distinguish between aggression and self-defense protect school administrators from having to make decisions and judgment calls which could be second-guessed or even pilloried. Even where such policies reflect the kinds of laws that exist outside of school, they don't respect the right to self-defense that precedes and trumps them.

Comments

[AlmightyJB]

10 days for fighting? That's excessive. I would have been suspended most of middle school.

[Copernicus]

Someone should just beat up the principal. After a minute, pause and ask the principal if he wants anyone to step in and help him. When the principal replies, "no that would be just as wrong", continue the beating.

[sarcasmic]

Leftists do not see a distinction between self defense and vigilante justice.

[John C. Randolph]

The principal is still a brain-dead apparatchik. He owes this boy an apology.

-jcr

[Killaz]

He owes the public a job switch with the school janitor. Would likely be a huge qualitative improvement

[Notorious G.K.C.]

At least the janitor has a challenging job, considering the cleanliness (or lack thereof) of the students. It seems all a principal has to do is be an imbecile, which in his case obviously isn't a challenge at all.

[General Butt Naked]

Would likely be a huge qualitative improvement

Not in the cleanliness of the school.

[John C. Randolph]

Good point.

-jcr

[Fist of Etiquette]

The kind of zero tolerance policies that don't distinguish between aggression and self-defense protect school administrators from having to make decisions and judgment calls which could be second-guessed or even pilloried.

Bingo. Just prop the rule book up in the administrator's chair and save your district a salary.

[Eitan]

Umm, this quote from the article is completely contradicted by the headline...

[GILMORE]

"The kind of zero tolerance policies that don't distinguish between aggression and self-defense protect school administrators from having to make decisions and judgment calls which could be second-guessed or even pilloried.

Even where such policies reflect the kinds of laws that exist outside of school, they don't respect the right to self-defense that precedes and trumps them."

"Law without people!" The purist ideal. Because somehow they can perfect the *rules* to where logic and wisdom are embedded in their language, and no flawed-people will be needed for justice to be made manifest.

Even a child instantly recognizes "Because the Rules are the Rules" as a tautology.

[sarcasmic]

Yet it never occurs to them that it's the same flawed people who can't be trusted with judgement who are trusted with making the rules that must be obeyed without judgement.

[GILMORE]

This aside,

File Under: Questions With Obvious Answers =

What is the greatest advantage of Radical Islamic Sex Dolls?

[AlmightyJB]

Nice:)

[RishJoMo]

Sometimes man you jsut have to roll with the punches thats all man.

http://www.RealAnon.tk

[Notorious G.K.C.]

I know RishJoMo has posted his end-of-thread comment, but I'd like to say: They were able to ascertain the aggressor and have him arrested. But they don't trust themselves to ascertain who's using their right of self-defense. "Oh, that would be too much of a hassle, plus the victim should just wait for some non-student to show up and help him."

What better way to teach kids, "never mind our rhetoric about us being a community looking out for each other - just don't get involved. Keep your head down and don't help anyone."

[Sidd Finch]

Student's Suspension For Defending Classmate Against Bully Rescinded After Outcry

The kind of zero tolerance policies that don't distinguish between aggression and self-defense protect school administrators from having to make decisions and judgment calls which could be second-guessed or even pilloried.

huh?

[Rich]

Yeah, that took me too parses, two.

[Rich]

Despite claims of good intentions on Betterson's part for jumping to the student's defense, the principal reminded students rules were broken.

Despite claims of good intentions on Clinton's part for not jumping to the ambassador's defense, the president reminded Americans rules were broken.

Despite claims of good intentions on Holder's part for jumping to the gun-running scheme's defense, the president reminded Americans rules were broken.

Despite claims of good intentions on Sebelius's part for jumping to the ACA rollout's defense, the president reminded Americans rules were broken.

[nuffcedmcgreevey]

"Zero tolerance" for compassion and common sense.

[Copernicus]

I had a nephew who had almost this exact experience in his high school (He was not the gay or the bully). He's a strong, wiry kid with a good wrestling background and the bully was just a real big kid. He subdued the bully and held him until the arrival of the Principal.

The next day, the Principal had a meeting with my nephew and his mother (my sister). To paraphrase the Principal: "Well done".

Rural Idaho.