School social workers and psychologists often work with the most trying of teens without resorting tp violence. Maybe the teacher should be calling one of them when there is an issue?
COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Department of Justice announced Tuesday it had launched an investigation into possible civil rights violations during a violent arrest in a South Carolina classroom that was caught on video and his since gone viral.
In a statement, the FBI field office in South Carolina said they "will collect all available facts and evidence in order to determine whether a federal law was violated."
The school resource officer involved in the incident, Ben Fields, was placed on leave after his boss asked the feds to investigate the incident in which he flipped a black female high school student from her desk to the floor and either dragged or tossed her across a classroom.
Play VIDEO Officer banned from S.C. school after violent arrest of student Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said by telephone Tuesday: "It's very disturbing what happened today. It's something I have to deal with and that's what we're going to be doing."
No one was hurt in Monday's confrontation, which authorities and some witnesses said happened after the disruptive student refused the officer's order to leave the classroom. The incident was captured on cellphones by several students, one of whom, Tony Robinson Jr., told CBS affiliate WLTX in Columbia it all started when the girl pulled out her cellphone and refused her math teacher's attempt to take it away during class.
CBS News' Omar Villafranca reports the confrontation started just after 10:30 a.m. when the female student repeatedly refused requests by her teacher and assistant principal to put away her cellphone during class.
That's when the administrator called in Deputy Fields.
Aaron Johnson, 15, was sitting a few desks away. "It seemed really violent. It was really, really hard to watch."
During the moments captured on video and posted online, Fields can be seen standing over the girl, asking her to stand up. The girl remains seated and the officer wraps a forearm around her neck. The desk then flips and the girl is slammed backward onto the floor, where the officer tosses her toward the front of the classroom and handcuffs her. A second student who verbally objected to the girl's treatment also was arrested.
deputyfields-2.jpg Deputy Ben Fields has been put on administrative duty pending an investigation. Both girls were charged with disturbing schools and released to their parents. Their names were not released, but the second student, Niya Kenny, told WLTX that Deputy Fields' use of force shocked her.
School officials are using terms like "outrageous," ''reprehensible" and "disturbing" to describe the deputy's takedown of the female high school student. The Richland District District Two has asked for an independent state police review.
Richland School District Two Superintendent Dr. Debbie Hamm said during a press conference on Tuesday, that in her 40 years with the district, this was one of the most upsetting incidents she had ever seen.
"This event should not define Richland School District Two," she said.
Jeff Temoney is the principal at Spring Valley High School where the incident occurred. He said when he watched the video it hit him in the gut.
"Our district and our school have zero tolerance for what occurred," he said.
Temoney said he met with the students in that classroom on Tuesday morning. The district said it will be implementing new training as a result of this incident.
Niya Kenny, 18, told CBS affiliate WLTX in Columbia, "I was screaming, 'What the f, what the f is this really happening?' I was praying out loud for the girl. I just couldn't believe this was happening I was just crying and he said, 'Since you have so much to say, you are coming, too.' I just put my hands behind my back."
Kenny was charged with disturbing schools, the station reports.
Her mother, Doris Kenny, asked, "Who was really disturbing schools? Was it my daughter or the officer who came in to the classroom and did that to the young girl?"
Her mother, Doris Kenny, said she's proud her daughter was "brave enough to speak out against what was going on."
Robinson Jr. said the incident made him afraid for his life.
"I've never seen anything so nasty looking, so sick to the point that you know, other students are turning away, don't know what to do, and are just scared for their lives," he said. "That's supposed to be somebody that's going to protect us. Not somebody that we need to be scare off, or afraid."
"That was wrong. There was no justifiable reason for why he did that to that girl," Robinson added.
Robinson claimed Officer Fields escalated the incident unnecessarily. At first, Robinson said he told the girl, "you will move, you will move."
"She said, 'No, I have not done anything wrong," according to Robinson. "Then he said, 'I'm going to treat you fairly.' And she said, 'I don't even know who you are.' And that is where it started right there."
Moments later, things turned physical.
Play VIDEO Violent arrest of S.C. student in classroom raises questions Lt. Curtis Wilson confirmed that Fields is white and the students are black, but told The Associated Press in an email to "keep in mind this is not a race issue."
South Carolina's NAACP president, Lonnie Randolph Jr., denied that, saying "race is indeed a factor."
"To be thrown out of her seat as she was thrown, and dumped on the floor ... I don't ever recall a female student who is not of color (being treated this way). It doesn't affect white students," Randolph said.
After watching the video, Sheriff Lott said, he was left asking, "Why?"
"I shake my head and just say ... I ask why, and that's what I want to know. I want to know why something like that happened," he said.
Officer Ben Fields has been accused of excessive force and racial bias before, but has prevailed in court so far. Trial is set for January in the case of an expelled student who claims Fields targeted black students and falsely accused him of being a gang member in 2013. In another case, a federal jury sided with Fields after a black couple accused him of excessive force and battery during a noise complaint arrest in 2005. A third lawsuit, dismissed in 2009, involved a woman who accused him of battery and violating her rights during a 2006 arrest.
Executive Director of the ACLU of South Carolina Victoria Middleton told CBS News that oversight of police in schools is a question, and called it anything but a "one-off" incident in the state.
"We need to ask questions about how discipline is being enforced in all our schools statewide," Middleton said. "We're really criminalizing childhood behavior."
Districts across the county began placing officers in schools after two teenagers massacred their fellow students at Columbine High School in Colorado in 1999.
Experts say lines have blurred since then, as administrators summon in-house police officers to implement routine discipline.
Police are "trained to fight criminals," said John Whitehead, founder of the Rutherford Institute, a nonprofit civil liberties and human rights organization. "Kids are not criminals, by the way. When they won't get up, when they won't put up the phone, they're silly, disobedient kids - not criminals."
Police officers should be posted at entrances to "stop the crazies from getting in these schools," Whitehead added. "When you have police in the schools, you're going to run into this - having police do what teachers and parents should do."
Play VIDEO Texas cop grabs 14-year-old's throat, slams him The incident in South Carolina calls to mind a similar one earlier this month, when a school resource officer in Texas was caught on tape grabbing a 14-year-old boy's throat and slamming him to the ground after the student and another boy were involved in a scuffle in a high school cafeteria.
A cellphone video taken by a third student showed the officer placing his hands around sophomore Gyasi Hughes' neck at Round Rock High School and taking Hughes to the ground.
Hughes, who was suspended for fighting but not charged, told KEYE-TV that the officer also pushed him.
Hughes' friend, Sebastian Vazquez, said the two boys were never actually fighting, and things got more tense when the two school officers showed up. "Both cops got him in the corner, so I pulled my phone out to start recording because that seemed odd," said Vazquez.
School social workers and psychologists often work with the most trying of teens without resorting tp violence. Maybe the teacher should be calling one of them when there is an issue?
I find that this is much less likely to happen in high school, which is problematic on so many levels.
School social workers and psychologists often work with the most trying of teens without resorting tp violence. Maybe the teacher should be calling one of them when there is an issue?
I find that this is much less likely to happen in high school, which is problematic on so many levels.
I know it is, which is discouraging. But when i was in a HS our mandate was to intervene in instances just like this.
No one knows how things will go down or the absolute right thing to do, but clearly we can all agree, this wasn't it. I don't know the history between this teacher and this student, this classroom and this student, what she was doing on her phone exactly. I like to at least check in with students one-on-one to see if there isn't some problem at home that they are checking on their phone because that was not unheard of.
I wonder what happened after this. Did the teacher talk about it? Did they just carry on with classes? What message does it send to the students when they arrest a girl who speaks on her behalf?
School social workers and psychologists often work with the most trying of teens without resorting tp violence. Maybe the teacher should be calling one of them when there is an issue?
This would be great except many, many schools do not have full time or even part time school social workers or psychologists.
So, the sheriff said THIS earlier today--that the officer has been dating a Black woman. *sigh* I'm sure the "He has Black friends" comment is coming up next.
I can't believe this, and I also can't believe people are defending this (facebook comments ugh). WTF. It's inexcusable that this was the only option this "officer" felt would be effective.
Also I want to punch all the people saying "MY precious child would never act like that" in response the "How would you feel if this was your child?" Bitch please. Teens act like brats sometimes. Still not an excuse to throw them and drag them across the floor.
I can't believe this, and I also can't believe people are defending this (facebook comments ugh). WTF. It's inexcusable that this was the only option this "officer" felt would be effective.
Also I want to punch all the people saying "MY precious child would never act like that" in response the "How would you feel if this was your child?" Bitch please. Teens act like brats sometimes. Still not an excuse to throw them and drag them across the floor.
Their child would never use a cell in class??? I can almost guarantee this isn't a black people problem lol.
I can't believe this, and I also can't believe people are defending this (facebook comments ugh). WTF. It's inexcusable that this was the only option this "officer" felt would be effective.
Also I want to punch all the people saying "MY precious child would never act like that" in response the "How would you feel if this was your child?" Bitch please. Teens act like brats sometimes. Still not an excuse to throw them and drag them across the floor.
Their child would never use a cell in class??? I can almost guarantee this isn't a black people problem lol.
Of course not. They raised their child to respect authority so they would never look at a cell phone or chew gum in class! ^o)
Press conference going on now. Despite much victim blaming, the sheriff says throwing the student across the room wasn't necessary or consistent with the officer's training.
I think context is important here. This particular school is one of the higher resourced schools in the area. It is the school for one of the the higher SES neighborhoods (mainly White) in that area. However, it has a large Black and low SES population, also. They had their first Black principal in 2012 and some parents were concerned that he "didn't understand the culture of the school". One parent even talked about him coming from a school with a "different ses makeup (code for poor, brown children) as a limitation. He has since left and they have another principal, who is also African American. But, this school likes to maintain a particular image and parents are invested in this image. Firing him helps. But, the institutional practices and policies really need an overhaul. Here's one of the articles: www.thestate.com/incoming/article14404505.html
I think context is important here. This particular school is one of the higher resourced schools in the area. It is the school for one of the the higher SES neighborhoods (mainly White) in that area. However, it has a large Black and low SES population, also. They had their first Black principal in 2012 and some parents were concerned that he "didn't understand the culture of the school". One parent even talked about him coming from a school with a "different ses makeup (code for poor, brown children) as a limitation. He has since left and they have another principal, who is also African American. But, this school likes to maintain a particular image and parents are invested in this image. Firing him helps. But, the institutional practices and policies really need an overhaul. Here's one of the articles: www.thestate.com/incoming/article14404505.html
Then knowing all of this, they should have had a better SRO than this clown. Someone with more experience, someone who could build a rapport with the students and faculty.
And "not understanding the school culture", what culture is that?
Chiming in here - it's an understanding and rapport with the students and parents. It takes some time to build solid relationships with students and parents. I've heard this a lot when we have new charter schools in areas. Often, the teachers and administrators know very little about the community and may not reflect the diversity of a school. So, the parents and students view the new administrators as outsiders.
It would be pretty easy for me to roll up in a North Memphis school and talk to kids. "Where do you live - yeah, I stay off of Shasta." ""Oh yea?! I used to live over on Dexter! Is the candy lady still over there?" That kind of exchange gives you legitimacy, They know that you understand the neighborhood, you grew up there or are familiar with it.
Parents don't like a lot of change when it comes to teaching staff. I've seen parents fight to keep principals at a school despite the academic success because they feel that the principal cares or is invested in their kids.
The principals that I know that have had a good deal of success learn the community. They hold parent meetings - not just when the kids act up - but through out the year. It's really just a lot of little things that go on that build this up. If you come in a school heavy handed and dismissive toward parents and students, they'll feel it and won't embrace you.
pennypenny - Here's a good piece on creating positive school culture. I want to highlight this piece because it's one of the reasons I love my daughter's principal:
Each principal made a point of keeping parents well informed of what and how children were doing in school. Each school had developed a daily communication log with parents (e.g., data folders and homework folders). For example, data folders contained goals the students were working on and each individual student’s progress record. Parents viewed the data folder and responded within it every day. The principals and teachers also used methods such as phone calls, conferences, and complimentary notes to stay in constant contact with parents.
We have a phone message system that our principal uses weekly. Last week, I got a funny computerized version of his message and I didn't like the message for one reason - it wasn't the principal's voice. I feel more connected when I hear from him. It's not a neighborhood school, but I'm all Go Bobcats! when he calls or there is something at the school. He also knows the vast majority of the parents and is complimentary about my kid when he sees me. That's fostering a positive school culture and taking time to get to know your parents.
Chiming in here - it's an understanding and rapport with the students and parents. It takes some time to build solid relationships with students and parents. I've heard this a lot when we have new charter schools in areas. Often, the teachers and administrators know very little about the community and may not reflect the diversity of a school. So, the parents and students view the new administrators as outsiders.
It would be pretty easy for me to roll up in a North Memphis school and talk to kids. "Where do you live - yeah, I stay off of Shasta." ""Oh yea?! I used to live over on Dexter! Is the candy lady still over there?" That kind of exchange gives you legitimacy, They know that you understand the neighborhood, you grew up there or are familiar with it.
Parents don't like a lot of change when it comes to teaching staff. I've seen parents fight to keep principals at a school despite the academic success because they feel that the principal cares or is invested in their kids.
The principals that I know that have had a good deal of success learn the community. They hold parent meetings - not just when the kids act up - but through out the year. It's really just a lot of little things that go on that build this up. If you come in a school heavy handed and dismissive toward parents and students, they'll feel it and won't embrace you.
But I thought the article said he was the assistant principal or something at this school for several years before going somewhere else to be principal and now he was coming back. (I will have to go back and re-read). But I thought the new principal made a comment about coming home or something similar. So it would seem he is familiar with the school/students/etc. I didn't think he was an outsider, but I understand what you are saying.
I can't really tell the order of events, but this school culture has a teacher who resorts to a heavy handed SRO when he can't control his class. So is that the culture the parents want. Or are they saying this principal was going to come in and change it to this type of environment?
Looking at the article - he was there from 1996-2006. It's nine years later and there could have been some neighborhood shifts. We have schools that were once packed nine years ago, but have gone through different demographic changes. There are probably some added layers there.
Chiming in here - it's an understanding and rapport with the students and parents. It takes some time to build solid relationships with students and parents. I've heard this a lot when we have new charter schools in areas. Often, the teachers and administrators know very little about the community and may not reflect the diversity of a school. So, the parents and students view the new administrators as outsiders.
It would be pretty easy for me to roll up in a North Memphis school and talk to kids. "Where do you live - yeah, I stay off of Shasta." ""Oh yea?! I used to live over on Dexter! Is the candy lady still over there?" That kind of exchange gives you legitimacy, They know that you understand the neighborhood, you grew up there or are familiar with it.
Parents don't like a lot of change when it comes to teaching staff. I've seen parents fight to keep principals at a school despite the academic success because they feel that the principal cares or is invested in their kids.
The principals that I know that have had a good deal of success learn the community. They hold parent meetings - not just when the kids act up - but through out the year. It's really just a lot of little things that go on that build this up. If you come in a school heavy handed and dismissive toward parents and students, they'll feel it and won't embrace you.
But I thought the article said he was the assistant principal or something at this school for several years before going somewhere else to be principal and now he was coming back. (I will have to go back and re-read). But I thought the new principal made a comment about coming home or something similar. So it would seem he is familiar with the school/students/etc. I didn't think he was an outsider, but I understand what you are saying.
I can't really tell the order of events, but this school culture has a teacher who resorts to a heavy handed SRO when he can't control his class. So is that the culture the parents want. Or are they saying this principal was going to come in and change it to this type of environment?
Yes, he was an Assistant Principal at that school for years and also worked at other nearby schools for YEARS. He works for that district now as an admin. He and his family also live in that community. Honestly, since moving here, I have seen some of the most unqualified folks (good ol' boys and girls) who may be learned about the school culture. But, know very little about education and promoting positive learning experiences for ALL children. SC isn't 44th in education for nothing.
But I thought the article said he was the assistant principal or something at this school for several years before going somewhere else to be principal and now he was coming back. (I will have to go back and re-read). But I thought the new principal made a comment about coming home or something similar. So it would seem he is familiar with the school/students/etc. I didn't think he was an outsider, but I understand what you are saying.
I can't really tell the order of events, but this school culture has a teacher who resorts to a heavy handed SRO when he can't control his class. So is that the culture the parents want. Or are they saying this principal was going to come in and change it to this type of environment?
Looking at the article - he was there from 1996-2006. It's nine years later and there could have been some neighborhood shifts. We have schools that were once packed nine years ago, but have gone through different demographic changes. There are probably some added layers there.
If anything, it has more black students and perhaps more transplants.
I actually distinctly remember a similar standoff between Vice Principal and a kid when I was in middle school. You know what didn't happen? that kid getting thrown on the ground.
VP had the kids in the rest of the row move and proceeded to drag the entire desk out into the hallway with the kid still in it so class could continue and the kid lost his audience.
KING: S.C. teen assaulted by deputy is a recent orphan SHAUN KING NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Today, 2:41 PM ET facebook email Todd Rutherford, the Columbia, S.C., attorney representing the assault victim, revealed his client is a recent orphan living in foster care.RAINIER EHRHARDT/AP Todd Rutherford, the Columbia, S.C., attorney representing the assault victim, revealed his client is a recent orphan living in foster care. Well, son, I'll tell you: Life for me ain't been no crystal stair. It's had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor — Bare. — Langston Hughes excerpt from "Mother to Son"
Life, for many of us, is hard.
Life for a 16-year-old black girl in the New South who lost her mother and is living in a foster home is no crystal stair.
SHERIFF'S DEPUTY WHO BODY-SLAMMED BLACK STUDENT FIRED
In an interview with the Daily News, Todd Rutherford, the respected Columbia, S.C., attorney representing the assault victim of the recently terminated Deputy Ben Fields, revealed that his client, in addition to suffering injuries on her face, neck, and arm, is a recent orphan living in foster care.
EDS NOTE: STUDENT WHO SHOT THE VIDEO WISHES TO REMAIN UNIDENTIFIED. BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE, IMAGES MADE FROM VIDEO, AP PROVIDES ACCESS TO THIS HANDOUT PHOTO TO BE USED SOLELY TO ILLUSTRATE NEWS REPORTING OR COMMENTARY ON THE FACTS OR EVENTS DEPICTED IN THIAP Fields was fired after video surfaced showing him flipping the student backward in her desk and tossing her across the floor. EDS NOTE: STUDENT WHO SHOT THE VIDEO WISHES TO REMAIN UNIDENTIFIED. BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE, IMAGES MADE FROM VIDEO, AP PROVIDES ACCESS TO THIS HANDOUT PHOTO TO BE USED SOLELY TO ILLUSTRATE NEWS REPORTING OR COMMENTARY ON THE FACTS OR EVENTS DEPICTED IN THIAP Ben Fields tried to forcibly remove a yet-to-be-identified student who refused to leave her high school math class, in Columbia S.C. While her identity, no doubt, will eventually be leaked to the media, it's the goal of her foster mother to protect and care for her as well as she can considering the circumstances. She communicated to us that the young victim is devastated and emotionally traumatized by all that has happened to her.
COP IN ROUGH ARREST NOT RACIST, DATING BLACK WOMAN: SHERIFF
School, as you can imagine, could be particularly tough for a young girl who has experienced so much pain and loss in her young life. To think that she has now suffered police brutality and is facing trumped up criminal charges for age-appropriate classroom behavior is just despicable.
SHAUN KING: BEN FIELDS SHOULD BE ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT
South Carolina sheriff’s deputy Ben Fields has been fired NY Daily News
Some trauma cannot be undone. The early loss of a parent and the experience of police brutality are both examples of such trauma.
Our kids, who already face enormous pressure in life, should never be subjected to state-sponsored violence while in school. For this young girl, Spring Valley High School should've been a refuge.
This is what I was saying with the social worker. Someone with a different lens should sometimes come in to diffuse. Sometimes misbehavior comes from hurting.
What is messing with me is that my friend once worked a school with zero tolerance. And sometimes, after a short conversation, she would find out that the kid skipped class because they were crying in the bathroom because a family member got shot, or there was abuse in the home, or she was looking at old texts from her cousin who just died. I know that's not always the case and we can't spend the school day coddling children. This girl maybe was being belligerent just to be belligerent, I don't know. But so many kids come to school broken. I know I'm putting too much into this.
What is messing with me is that my friend once worked a school with zero tolerance. And sometimes, after a short conversation, she would find out that the kid skipped class because they were crying in the bathroom because a family member got shot, or there was abuse in the home, or she was looking at old texts from her cousin who just died. I know that's not always the case and we can't spend the school day coddling children. This girl maybe was being belligerent just to be belligerent, I don't know. But so many kids come to school broken. I know I'm putting too much into this.
Yup. She's had a lot of trauma recently. Lost both her mother and grandmother and now in foster care. It doesn't excuse not listening, but sometimes there's a reason.
Also with this whole thing, people keep saying she shouldn't have been on the phone and just listened. While true, the real issue, aside from the obvious abuse from the police officer, is that the teacher NEVER should have called for the SRO.
Calling the SRO for nonviolent administrative infractions just doesn't have the makings for ending peacefully. So not only are they called, but then real actual charges of disrupting school are filed. That's crazy. Stop criminalizing disrespect and belligerence or charging kids with attempted robbery for snatching headphones off of another students ears. I mean, really.
I feel like people have no clue how kids act within a school setting. Yes, she shouldn't have been on the phone. But, that is pretty common these days. This is a low level infraction.
Also, this is another painful example of how some people do not view Black children as children. They criminalize behavior without caring about a possible explanation. Her traumas do not excuse her behavior. However, it does provide a context. People talked extensively about how Dylan Roof became who he became. Family issues being a big part of the discussion.
The officer seemed more concerned about ruining the laptop than this girl. That part of the video says it all.
A FB argument I got in about this last night really drove home the message I've seen in various posts here about how Black children aren't allowed to be slip up and make any childish mistakes. Or just BE children. I was told "you're saying 'child' like she's Pollyanna." No, I'm saying child BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT SHE IS. She is a child who deserves the protection of those placed in positions of authority above her.
And then someone else said "Why are you talking about race, *I* didn't bring up race." THIS ISN'T HAPPENING TO WHITE KIDS. It was just really disheartening.
I had a fb friend post this crap "She was told by the teacher, asst principal, and the officer to leave the class, she doesn't. Makes a bigger scene. Then she punched the officer while he is trying to escort her out. So now the officer is the wrong and the student is a poor victim?! Wtf!! Sorry people!!! Its starts at home, this wouldn't have happened if this girl was taught some manners...stop teaching kids that they are above the law or that they don't have to listen or show respect. Pretty much all we have to do is stop raising brats."
We got massively into it, a few people told her she was way wrong, and still she was like no, kids have no respect now a days. Thats the problem. I had to unfriend. I just can't with this shit.
Post by orriskitten on Oct 29, 2015 10:47:56 GMT -5
Learning that she is in foster care is breaking my heart. Those kids in the system have everything stacked against them. This is only going to make it that much harder for her. People are defending her now, but I just keep thinking about that Mom Hero article that was up the other day. Once the video runs its 15 mins of fame, she will be forgotten and with a fucking record for bullshit.
I'm glad the SRO got fired, but damn. That poor girl.
Did the girl hit the SRO repeatedly? I have a friend telling me that she did and that's why the officer is justified in his behavior. I watched a couple of the videos and didn't see her hit him.
This was in response to me saying have some compassion for the girl and there was no reason for the SRO to resort to physical violence.
Did the girl hit the SRO repeatedly? I have a friend telling me that she did and that's why the officer is justified in his behavior. I watched a couple of the videos and didn't see her hit him.
This was in response to me saying have some compassion for the girl and there was no reason for the SRO to resort to physical violence.
I've seen people saying that too, but nobody has shown me a video of it and I can't find anything on the Googles that shows it.
According to the sheriff, there is a third video. To my knowledge it has not been released to the public.