Fights at Deal this week

[Anonymous]

There have been so many fights at Deal lately. What’s going on?

[Anonymous]

My kid, who usually is quick to mention any fight, has not mentioned any.

[Anonymous]

What happened this afternoon at Deal? 4 police cars. I hear the rumor some kids attacked a security guard this morning?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What happened this afternoon at Deal? 4 police cars. I hear the rumor some kids attacked a security guard this morning?

It took the police some time to get there?

[Anonymous]

How about some details, OP?

[Anonymous]

Wow!

[Anonymous]

I have no details, that’s why I am asking

[Anonymous]

These are middle school kids we're talking about. Obviously going through something if there's been an uptick in fighting. I know we are all concerned for our own kids and the neighborhood if there's fighting that spills into it, but let's remember that they're trying to figure things out and shouldn't be the subject of gossip. If it were your kid, you'd feel bad about that and want people to leave it alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no details, that’s why I am asking

What have you heard and from whom?

[Anonymous]

It would make sense considering everything the community has been through recently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These are middle school kids we're talking about. Obviously going through something if there's been an uptick in fighting. I know we are all concerned for our own kids and the neighborhood if there's fighting that spills into it, but let's remember that they're trying to figure things out and shouldn't be the subject of gossip. If it were your kid, you'd feel bad about that and want people to leave it alone.

As a middle school teacher and parent myself, this is not gossip. The details of what happened should not remain private. A fight in a school is a concern for the community, and more importantly, the student body as a whole. You are too concerned with protector the fighters that fight at a school. I am more concerned with protecting the students that go to school to learn. You can not save them all. When you can not, find them a different placement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These are middle school kids we're talking about. Obviously going through something if there's been an uptick in fighting. I know we are all concerned for our own kids and the neighborhood if there's fighting that spills into it, but let's remember that they're trying to figure things out and shouldn't be the subject of gossip. If it were your kid, you'd feel bad about that and want people to leave it alone.

As a middle school teacher and parent myself, this is not gossip. The details of what happened should not remain private. A fight in a school is a concern for the community, and more importantly, the student body as a whole. You are too concerned with protector the fighters that fight at a school. I am more concerned with protecting the students that go to school to learn. You can not save them all. When you can not, find them a different placement.

The last two sentences of this post have a lot of baggage to unpack, but to respond to the first part, I agree that the community should be updated when there are serious incidents. If it escalates to the point of police being called, or if it is in the middle of a large communal space (lunch, PE, etc) where lots of kids were involved or nearby, then I think a follow up is warranted - to be honest not necessarily because the parents need to know, but because kids may come home talking about it, or talking about versions of it and it can help people know that it is being addressed. If it is a small scuffle/pushing or verbal altercation, I think school can/should handle it based on their internal protocols and not need to notify the whole community. Our kids' DCPS middle school sends a form email (with some relevant information specific to the incident) only on rare occasions when there has been a more serious altercation and outside intervention (ex. MPD) was necessary.

[Anonymous]

I heard from my child who heard from other kids that a child was beaten up by several kids. This is very different than a fight or "physical altercation" and I am not satisfied by the form letter just emailed. I do not want to gossip about kids, but the kids themselves are gossiping and parents are in the dark.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I heard from my child who heard from other kids that a child was beaten up by several kids. This is very different than a fight or "physical altercation" and I am not satisfied by the form letter just emailed. I do not want to gossip about kids, but the kids themselves are gossiping and parents are in the dark.

I had assumed you had not gotten any information from the school - if you already got that letter, why do you need more details? The specifics and personal details are not necessary for the whole school. There are protocols and confidentiality that the school needs to follow, and if it doesn't directly impact your kid/family, then you have to let it go, IMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard from my child who heard from other kids that a child was beaten up by several kids. This is very different than a fight or "physical altercation" and I am not satisfied by the form letter just emailed. I do not want to gossip about kids, but the kids themselves are gossiping and parents are in the dark.

I had assumed you had not gotten any information from the school - if you already got that letter, why do you need more details? The specifics and personal details are not necessary for the whole school. There are protocols and confidentiality that the school needs to follow, and if it doesn't directly impact your kid/family, then you have to let it go, IMO.

There's no details in the letter.