PG-Politics: What is wrong with school bus passengers? Do schools or parents teach them anything about civilized behavior?

(Updated December 17, 2005)

"School official says principal on leave after fights; Two parents could file suits against school system"
Gazette, December 8, 2005 (by Jennifer Donatelli, Staff Writer). . . Walker Mill Middle School Principal Douglass F. Jones recently went on leave, spokeswoman Kelly Alexander said.

She said she couldn’t say when the leave began, how long it would last or if it was related to reports of a gang of students assaulting at least four classmates since the school year began.
[More]

"School bus driver takes students to police station"
Gazette, December 5, 2005 (by Kathryn J. Hudson, Staff Writer)
Longer story with more details.

"School Bus Driver Takes Kids To Police, Then Home; School System Is Investigating Incident"
nbc4.com, December 2, 2005

A school bus driver fed up with out-of-control kids took them on a side trip to a police station.
[. . .]
Thursday he was taking students home from the Phillips school in Laurel, but he said he reached his limit when students began shouting obscenities and even broke a window.
[More]

"Student switches schools following alleged thrashing; Second student beaten on bus"
Examiner, November 30, 2005 by Karl B. Hille, Examiner Staff Writer)

A star student's father pulled her out of Walker Mill Middle School after she was attacked on a school bus - the second such attack to take place on a Walker Mill bus in recent weeks.
[. . .]
Shaon Berry, Karley's father, said Principal Douglass Jones did nothing to discipline his daughter's attackers.
[Full story]

"Middle School Student Beaten Up On Bus; Beating Victim's Parents Plan Legal Action"
nbc4.com, November 24, 2005

Another student was beaten on a school bus in Prince George's County, and her parents are pledging legal action.

The seventh-grader said she was assaulted by a group of girls on her ride home Tuesday. This is the second alleged school bus assault of a Walker Mill Middle School student in less than a month, and some parents said they fear for their children every time they get on a bus.
[More]

"Fight spurs concerns about safety at Walker Mill Middle"
Gazette, November 10, 2005 (by Jennifer Donatelli, Staff Writer)
Walker Mill Middle School officials expelled the victim, but not the attackers.

"Investigation Continues After School Bus Brawl"
wjz.com, November 4, 2005

"Bus Back On Road After Brawl"
wjla.com, November 4, 2005

"Police, Parents, Schools Review Prince George's Bus Brawl"
nbc4.com, November 3, 2005 (no longer online)

"Girl Attacked On Prince George's County School Bus; Victim's Mother Writes Letter To Maryland Governor"
nbc4.com, November 3, 2005

School authorities in Prince George's County, Md. told News4 they are investigating another school bus incident that involves an alleged attack on a 12-year-old girl.

Lashella Strother said 10 students allegedly attacked her 12-year-old daughter as the bus rode down Cumberland Avenue in Capitol Heights, Md., on its way to the Walker Mill Middle School.

[More]

"Students Criticize Police Response to Bus Incident"
wjla.com, November 3, 2005

Officials are still trying to sort out exactly what happened on Prince George's County School Bus 263 this week.
The driver called police after students started fighting on the way to DuVal High School. Police and school officials say a melee erupted after police tried to arrest a girl that was taken off the bus for fighting.

[More]

"Md. School Tries to Sort Out Bus Fight; Six Students Arrested; Some Parents Question Police Actions"
Post, November 3, 2005 (by Nick Anderson, Washington Post Staff Writer

"Students Arrested After Bus Brawl"
wjz.com, November 2, 2005 (AP)
thewbalchannel.com, November 2, 2005 (AP; no longer online)

"Six Students Arrested After Bus Brawl"
wjz.com, November 1, 2005 (AP)
wtopnews.com, November 1, 2005 (AP)

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