Two male sophomores at C. Milton Wright High School were charged with assault Thursday after getting into a fist fight at the school which police said attracted over 100 student onlookers.
One of the sophomores had a cut over his right eye and was taken to the hospital by his mother, according to a report from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office. He was later charged with second degree assault and disruption of school activity.
The second student, also a sophomore, was treated by a school nurse and was transported to the Northern Precinct where he was also charged with second degree assault and disruption of school activity. He was later released to the custody of his father.
The fight between the two 15-year-olds was broken up by a police officer who was nearby, monitoring the school hallway. Sheriff’s office spokeswoman Monica Worrell said that after the arrests rumors of potential fights among other students prompted an increased police presence at the school Friday.
The following phone message regarding the fight was sent to C. Milton Wright parents by Assistant Principal Bryan Pawlicki at 7 p.m. Thursday night:
Good evening. This is C. Milton Wright Assistant Principal Bryan Pawlicki calling with some information regarding an incident that took place at our school. Today, two students were involved in a physical altercation. Our School Resource Officer was immediately on-hand to take control of the situation. Fighting on school property is a serious offense and one that is not taken lightly. Appropriate disciplinary action has been taken against the students involved. We are aware of the issue and we are doing everything in our power to mitigate the situation. We need you to partner with us in this effort. We ask that you reiterate with your student that fighting on school property, texting and using cell phones during the course of the school day is prohibited. Administrators and teachers will continue to strictly enforce this policy for the safety of our students and staff. As always, if you have questions, you may call me at school. Thank you for your time and attention.
Now hopefully the courts will do their job and treat this assualt with seriousness and not give them a slap on the wrist. If I go out there and get in a fight, I am going to jail. BUT we have the people that think…oh they are just kids. When ya have to be transported to the hospital and the police are there….they are not just kids! It’s bad enough that we have other problems in school. My reasoning is: you fight, you pay the price.
They were 15. They were minors. If you wish them to be tried as an adult for a fist fight then you have gone severely around the bend. Altercations of this type have gone on between CHILDREN for as long as there have been public schools and longer. What has changed? Have the kids become more violent? No. Your reaction to them has become more extreme. And your willingness to let an institution intervene when responsible adults should have stepped up to resolve the issue is a sign of growing timidity when confronted with things that could be handled without police and court intervention.
Sadly, this is the age of the institution, not the individual.
That’s what ‘the people’ seem to want, and now that’s what we’ve got.
David, I am not criticizing but who are the responsible adults who should have stepped up?
Take your pick: Principals, teachers, Parents… I suspect they may have some impact. We can argue about responsibilities, but those are adults that are immediately present. What were the police except surrogates for other adults that felt they couldn’t handle it, or didn’t want to?
Actually it is not the requirement of teachers to break up fights. All they have to do is stand there and tell them to stop. Are you really going to expect a 60 year old 130 lbs lady to jump in between two 15 year old boys? Perhaps their parents should raise them better!
Beyond that, at least in Balto County, teachers and most other staff are PROHIBITED from intervening in fights. That’s reserved for admin staff and school resources officers (cops).
I can’t remember if HCPS has the same policy.
Gee David……is that what they are saying about someone who assaults and sends one to the hospital. THEY ARE ONLY CHILDREN. Yeah…wait till they bring a gun to a fist fight and someone gets hurt worse. Give me a break…..
Unfortunately, what has really changed is that parental and/or school discipline is no longer effective at curbing such behavior.
2 kids get into a school yard fight. BFD! NO guns. NO knives. NO sticks and stones. 2 kids and fisti-cuffs. THAT’S the way to settle a disagreement like a gentleman. But you Liberals have to lay blame, want restitution, want jail time, a fine, and suspensions. Get a life! In my day we would have shook hands afterwards and gone back to class. Now, these kids are some dumbed down by the “System” that they have no Ambition. You make me sick. WTH happened to this Country?
You are part of the system that has created this dysfunction.
Congratulations for recommending violence as a way for immature adolescents to settle disagreements. Your ticket to the 19th century will be arriving in the mail shortly.
There were a several fights at cmw in the last week or so from what I have heard none were related, but the administration told the students that if anymore occured the police would be called. This fight happened after the kids were warned.
I also heard from a teacher at the school that the kids were spreading rumors that if a certain number of fights occured school would be closed. If you haven’t been in a school lately kids have changed. They have a sense of entitlement, lack of respect, and some can barely talk without every other word being a curse word.
In the police blotter last week, deputies had to break up a few kids trying to build a fort in the woods.
Now I’m not dismissing the importance of property rights, but I couldnt’ help but be a little sad over it. Kids just can’t be kids anymore.
Some things are just not worth getting worked up over.
Why not bring back boxing in gym class? Kids have a problem, lace’em up and go 3 rounds.
I agree w/ Clancy. Make the kids go to detention after school until they shake hands, apologize to each other & the school for the disruption then let them go. If it happens again well that’s a different story. I guess the school is just covering their *** because they know the lawsuits from the parents are forthcoming.How times change.
So when kids are told at the begining of the year if you fight you are being suspended people did should not mean it?
If you didn’t start the fight, and didn’t want the fight, should you submissivly take a beating to avoid suspension? Some bullies are put in their place by a very unsuspected and effective retaliation from an otherwise passive victim. What if it’s a girl that’s being punched by a boy? If she kicks him in the crotch and makes him curl up on the floor like a baby should she be suspended? I believe strict interpretation of the rule says yes.
I have tried to have this dialogue before with HCPS. They suspend both students for the infraction. I have even pointed out on multiple occasions that even the UN recognizes the right to self defense for a sovereign country. It’s nice that our school system essentially tells the kids that no violence can be tolerated, even in self defense, or at least until you become a member of the United States Armed Forces where it is sanctioned and patriotic.
The usual offense results in a three day suspension for both parties. Although I did have one enlightened school assistant principal listen to me when I told him my son gets three days off from a place he hates to go to. Why not make it just one so he doesn’t miss as much class and doesn’t have to do all that makeup work when he gets back? He approved the single day suspension. Some days you can have an adult dialogue with other functional adults.
No it is called run away to avoid the fight.
David the school is not the UN. The same question you asked gets asked every year when this policy is covered and you get the same answer.
It’s not as simple as run away, unfortunately.
Look I’m not a fighter, and I’m not all about proving what a big man you are, but the reality of being in school is, and always has been, that when you run away from a fight and other people know about it, there’s a good chance all the malicious kids are going to start taking advantage of you.
I don’t fault a kid for standing up for himself/herself.
The problem in the school is they can’t really ever know “who started it”. Even if there’s video of it, you don’t know what was said or done prior to that.
The current policy is not perfect, but I don’t see what else we can reasonably expect them to do.
For how long and how far should you run?
Until courned or you find an adult. If the kid was corned by all means hit back until you get out of it. But to set an appoinment up to fight, which by all accounts these two did, is not self defense!!!!
Just checked… Student population at CMW is 1591… even if ‘several’ fights happened, let’s say 5; we’re talking about 10 kids (if confined to 2 kids per). This hardly rates up there with being a serious problem.
In other words, save yourselves some blood pressure spikes and calm down. It does not signal the apocolypse and I doubt seriously it is anecdotal evidence of the undoing of the American Dream, whatever that is these days. Sounds to me like a slow news day.
HIGH SCHOOL — 1957 vs. 2010 (Part 1 of 2)
Scenario 1:
Jack goes quail hunting before school and then pulls into the school parking lot with his shotgun in his truck’s gun rack..
1957 – Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack’s shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2010 – School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario 2:
Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.
1957 – Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2010 – Police called and SWAT team arrives — they arrest both Johnny and Mark. They are both charged with assault and both expelled even though Johnny started it.
Scenario 3:
Jeffrey will not be still in class, he disrupts other students.
1957 – Jeffrey sent to the Principal’s office and given a good paddling by the Principal. He then returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2010 – Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. He becomes a zombie. He is then tested for ADD. The family gets extra money (SSI) from the government because Jeffrey has a disability.
Scenario 4:
Billy breaks a window in his neighbor’s car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1957 – Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college and becomes a successful businessman.
2010 – Billy’s dad is arrested for child abuse; Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. The state psychologist is told by Billy’s sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy’s mom has an affair with the psychologist.
(Part 2 tomorrow.)
That is simply art. It reminds me of “Gee, Officer Krupke” from West Side Story.
I can wait for part two. Times have changed and your reasoning is wrong. Haven’t you heard of Columbine and 9/11. Society is different and people need to get a life and realize that kids are not kids anymore. I am sure people want to blame police and parents, but it is amazing that people don’t want to blame the people that DID THE FIGHTING.
WE ARE PAST THE 1950’S. THIS IS THE AGE OF TWITTER AND FACEBOOK AND MORE SERIOUS CRIMES. FIGHTING IS 2ND DEGREE ASSUALT AND IF THERE IS A WEAPON IS INVOLVED IT CAN BE MADE 1ST DEGREE. WHY ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE SAYING IT WAS KIDS FIGHTING. AN ASSUALT IS AN ASSUALT. IT AMAZES ME HOW MANY WANT TO DOWNPLAY THIS.
You wonder why the kids think they can fight in the halls–this thread is a clear demonstration. Some of the adults are just as bad (and are clearly giving the notion that it’s “no big deal.”)
Look beyond just the two kids involved in the fight itself. What about the kid who gets slammed into as the two brawlers lose control? What about the expense of taking care of blood born pathogens (something people weren’t particularly aware of in the 1950s)? What about the custodians who have to clean up the aftermath (clearly NOT part of their job)? What about the teachers/administrators who get hurt trying to break it up (I got kicked in the side of the knee getting between a fight once–two other teachers I know picked up a back injury and a neck injury, with the latter requiring surgery)?
Kids brawling in school has a far wider impact than many of you seem to realize. If you don’t want the schools to do anything about it, try doing something about it at home so it doesn’t HAPPEN at school. Or, you know, you can just keep going on about how the rules are no big deal and reminiscing about a make-believe nostalgic version of your own past. Don’t expect your kids to respect the rules when your own behavior models a disrespect for school authority (which is why, more and more, the cops are called in–the kids don’t care about school punishment. They can get detention, suspension, etc, and they know their parents won’t care).
Unfortunately, this is what happens in a litigious society. If Teachers tried to break up a fight in school, at least one parent would sue and possibly be successful in winning lots of $. On the other hand, if the Music Teacher who tries to stop the fight is seriously injured in the process, the Teacher could sue the school for millions. You guys get the point.
Message to Mom’s and Dad’s. Step up to the plate and control your children better. It is impractical to expect school officials to break up fights. If parents can’t control their kids, the School Resources Police Officers will and criminal charges may be filed. Its all about choices for parents and their kids.
I am giving the principal credit for at least acknowledging the fight at school and informing parents about it. There was a serious fight at another high school wherein the parent of the perpetrator even called the school ahead of time to warn him that it was going to happen. A violent attack ensued and many students were witness to it and my daughter was really scared of the kid. No notification, no nothing.
That particular student is allowed to participate in sports at another school after this very violent premediated attack in the school. School system has lost a lot of credibility in many people’s opinion after this happened. Guess violent fighting in school isn’t as serious as an offense as maybe getting a failing grade in Calculus…
most of the time teachers cant get to the kids to break up the fight becausr at least a coupke hundred kids run to watch it. they refuse to go to class and egg the situation more. they text about a fight going to happen and 300 kids show up where 2 teachers are in the hall. its mob rule.