Talk of Lufkin

By Ruffled

September 27, 2009 3:52 PM | Link to this

There is nothing like a tragedy for the self-righteous to puff himself or herself up. Administrators’ comments show a superficial understanding of the climate and ongoing social problems in Tyler, which includes racial strife and gang issues that have been ongoing for decades. No mention either of the text being passed around among students the day before the murder “Tomorrow it is going to go down at John Tyler High School…” I especially take issue with your statements that teachers have control over the relationship that does or does not develop with some students. Get real. Apparently, you have been out of the classroom for too long. Many students today enroll as fresh releases from TYC - fresh out of “residential treatment centers” - both which fail to address the issues that took them there in the first place. Gangster-wannabes do whatever they want - and many times what they are required to do as part of gang initiation. Think you are immune in your community? Then you place your teachers’ and students’ safety at risk. You become the biggest risk factor in the equation.

By the way, your “capturing kids’ hearts” training is showing. Every teacher and his or her dog knows that this junk is junk. Administrators have to realize that this is serious business. If you are just pulling in a paycheck - resign and let someone else do what needs to be done and who can take on today’s criminals.

By Jackie

September 27, 2009 8:18 PM | Link to this

Yes, no district is immune from violence. As a student in a private high school once, I witnessed erasers thrown at certain “townie” teachers who taught at this academy; for no reason at all it seems. The throwers? Kids from New Jersey and the New York City and Chicago area. But at that time I attended this school, back about 1959 through 1963, gang violence existed, but not too much on the level of this Tyler incident.

I agree with the comment by ‘Ruffled’…in that something needs to be done in school districts…and done fast! Seems the districts are scared and intimidated by these bums.

Whether these criminals are emulating some other’s or vying for gang-related acceptance is still of no value here; immediately get rid of these criminals and use the resources such as local forensic and legal and police psychologists to determine who these people are and see if they are stable enough to attend school or not. I dont care where they go if they are dis-considered for school…I just do not want my child affected by this cancer in the classroom!

By Special Ed Teacher

September 28, 2009 5:41 PM | Link to this

So what is going to happen to the student? Death penalty? I work with the same type of students and I think much of the behaviors come from instability in the family. If families don’t get their acts together, their mental case kids are going to end up facing real life consequnces such as prison or death. Not every student can be helped but we can certainly pray for God to deal with these types of people!

By Special Ed Teacher

September 28, 2009 5:41 PM | Link to this

So what is going to happen to the student? Death penalty? I work with the same type of students and I think much of the behaviors come from instability in the family. If families don’t get their acts together, their mental case kids are going to end up facing real life consequences such as prison or death. Not every student can be helped but we can certainly pray for God to deal with these types of people!

By Ed U. Cator

September 29, 2009 10:53 AM | Link to this

All you progressives and bleeding hearts can now see the results of your educational reforms. This is what can happen when you “mainstream” violent youth or hardcore thugs. While it may make clueless adults feel better about themselves, it diminishes education for the majority. Both teachers and students interested in learning are intimidated, and the learning experience is diminished. Any questions now as to why this nation continues to fall farther behind the rest of the developed world in test scores for secondary education?

By Jackie

September 29, 2009 8:02 PM | Link to this

Ed U Cator…and furthermore, take a look-see into the cultures of these other countries you alluded to. Most of the world’s countries (I know, because I travel the world on business and have personal knowledge of their line of thinking) are structured quite differently from the US.

Asian countries do not put up one nanosecond in their school systems with thugs of any kind, and what they do at any level. They are evicted from school and never to return there. Then, the police and justice system takes over. This is minority in numbers, but things get out of hand sometimes. Then, complying what Special Ed Teacher said, the families of these kids are involved in the issue - directly.

Could be quite a disconnected family life to begin with; alcoholism, prostitution of family members, pimping, hard-core drug dealers/users, thieves, dysfunctional marital partners, daily arguments, wife-beating, beating the children, lack of educational abilities to assist the kids with homework problems - uncaring attitudes, and the list can go on and on.

Makes no difference what part of town, either…richness or poorness, exclusive subdivisions or shacks in the woods, problems always exist, and the fallout runs rampant in social venues such as on the street, at work, at school, etc.

Too bad…really too bad that the federal government wants to control the very lives of people in so many ways with this Obama character flying around and talking his head off, saying nothing, understanding little, and uncaring about the emphasis on what is happening right here in the USA which can cause future discordance in every stream of live for everyone. The out-of-control act this article prompted is an example of social and familial dysfunction.

By loyalone2

September 30, 2009 6:45 PM | Link to this

Too bad so many people think all students placed in Sp Ed classes are thugs and trouble makers. Many children are served by certified Sp Ed teachers in all of our schools. Are you going to say now that those children do not deserve an education. I hope not…jmo

By Jackie

September 30, 2009 7:47 PM | Link to this

I do not know if you alluded to my post, or others, ‘loyalone2’, but no, the answer is not to rid the classroom because of a handicapped child is disrupting classes, is uncontrollable, an cannot seem to comprehend the books and the teacher’s statements. That drags the class curriculum speed down, in my opinion, and I have first-hand experience in this. This episode is cause for other concerns and discussions.

We are speaking of the thugs, criminally-mental cases that are permeating society and are allowed to do so in environments they should not be allowed into, for “rehabilitation” or any other durned excuse!