Reported hazing incident involving Damascus High School JV Football team

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
State's Attorney John McCarthy answers question on the case:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=62&v=vnJHglum1vI

Thank you for posting this.

I find it interesting how the State's Attorney is passing the torch for the issue of a lack of supervision by the coaches.

Child neglect would be the crime, but the State's Attorney says there is not enough evidence to prove a crime (negligence) was committed by the coaches.

He does offer up that there is probably good grounds for the victims to sue MCPS in the civil system for their lack of supervision.

[Anonymous]

^ crime (neglect)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
State's Attorney John McCarthy answers question on the case:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=62&v=vnJHglum1vI

Thank you for posting this.

I find it interesting how the State's Attorney is passing the torch for the issue of a lack of supervision by the coaches.

Child neglect would be the crime, but the State's Attorney says there is not enough evidence to prove a crime (negligence) was committed by the coaches.

He does offer up that there is probably good grounds for the victims to sue MCPS in the civil system for their lack of supervision.

I think that most reasonable people could safely assume that most normal teenagers could safely navigate a locker room in a group setting with their teammates without deciding to gang rape a few of them with a broom.

Coaches are not supposed to hang out in locker rooms while kids change, for the safety of the kids.

This deviant and violent behavior is so beyond the realm of normal team hijinks or even hazing.

[Anonymous]

I have read this whole thread and unlike most people in this county, I did actually research the BOE candidates. I purposely didn't vote for incumbents because I have found that they are not competent enough to use a potato gun let alone sit on the BOE. MCPS has done a downward spiral. Yes they just sweep everything under the rug. They are too political and inept. If they would put as much effort into making education, schools and our kids a priority as they do complaining about a flipping school calendar or screwing up the school start times, we may actually have a functioning school.

I am sorry but if you have been to Damascus or played sports at Damascus. If you have played football on the Cougars or if you have had a child who has, you know the mentality. It is all about the football. I am not saying that is a bad thing, but it puts an awful lot of pressure on these kids. Why don't you think the Damascus coaches have been dismissed? The coaches are all about winning. Damascus has a historical record. Well, they have a winning team, folks. Winning teams bring good publicity. People want to be apart of a winning team and that brings money. They made it a point to state varsity wasn't involved despite they didn't cover their tracks because some of those alleged rapists played on varsity for games.

Case and point, Seneca Valley had a team who was "hazing." The coaches were dismissed for lack of supervision. To me, it seemed to happen pretty quickly after the media got wind of it.

Unfortunately, I really don't think that this is the first occurrence of what MCPS, who seems to be in denial that rape occurred, refers to as hazing. Maybe it has not gone to the extent of rape at Damascus in the past, but there were parents who admitted that they knew that some "mild hazing" was tradition on that particular day. Hazing is not a tradition ever. It is a crime. Anyone who turned a blind cheek is responsible and should be ashamed of themselves.

Kudos to those kids who were brave enough to come forward and kudos to whomever leaked it to the media because I guarantee if someone didn't leak it, nothing would be done. I read on social media, so don't quote me, that one of the victims was an officer's child. You think MCPD is not going to investigate this with a fine tooth comb when it comes to an officer's kid being harmed? It doesn't even have to be an MCPD officer. This is not going away and I guarantee that there will be more dirty laundry aired about MCPS when this is all over.

These kids were charged as adults because they found it to be first degree rape. First degree!!!! That means it was premeditated. It was planned. They planned to rape or attempt to rape. That is not group psychology or peer pressure. This was not a caught up in the moment event. There is enough evidence to show it was planned. I understand a 15 year old does not have a fully developed brain until after 21, but they do know right from wrong. Unfortunately, they made a choice to follow through with one of the worst crimes you can possibly commit. I feel for their parents. I feel for the victims and to be honest, I feel for those alleged rapists. They had so much potential and their whole lives ahead of them. In one minute, they made a choice which has basically ruined their lives and the lives of others.

Nobody should be thrilled that they are most likely going to be serving time. Nobody wins here and if you think about it, it is sad all around. However, if they had raped a 4 year old little girl or boy, would we claim they shouldn't be charged as adults? Their victims will suffer a lifetime. Their victims will forever be traumatized and scarred. Unless there is some serious brain damage that prevents them from being able to distinguish right from wrong, they should suffer the consequences.

As for MCPS and Damascus, they should have called it what it was and it wasn't hazing. It is an absolute disgrace that they referred to it as hazing. It was rape. Sending out a video was a piss poor way to deal with any of this. Use peer pressure to make a change. Suspend the whole team for a game, two or a season for anyone caught hazing or bullying. These kids know what is going on. There is talk about what is going to happen. However, parents don't want their poor little Randy to suffer for someone else's actions. Well, maybe if Randy knew that the actions of his teammates affects him as well, he would step up and prevent nonsense like this or tell someone so it can be prevented.

Sexual assaults, bullying, verbal abuse, etc. is not anything new at MCPS. Look at how many child molesters and rapes have occurred throughout the years by staff. The teacher was correct. They don't do constant background checks. They don't concern themselves with the safety of schools and kids. They sweep things under the rug. Have you ever been to a meeting where they bring the school in that your child is going to go to because they want to have a "positive" conversation about how great that school is? That is usually an indication that the school has a tremendous amount of issues. However, instead of addressing it, they are concerned about diversity, jamming more kids into already overcrowded and failing schools and giving the Superintendent as Athletic Director huge salary increases.

The Superintendent is completely ineffective and non-responsive. I have emailed him several times. I have received zero response. Zero. To be honest, I think the taxpayers should be able to vote whether these higher ups get a raise or not. That would increase efficiency.

Our teachers do not have the support they need. Someone was correct. Most of the time, they do not have principals who are leaders. Parents should have the choice to send their kid to a different school when the school in their boundary is overcrowded and not up to par.

You want to know why when one kid is expelled from one school they can just go to another? They shut down the remedial schools because they didn't want to make the kids "feel bad" and God forbid choosing to be PC is so much better than address the actual issue. My child has several kids in his class who have what he calls "anger issues." Yes, there is maybe one that has a true anger issue. The others? Basically, their parents let them do whatever they want and so they have a temper tantrum when someone tells them no. They are violent, disruptive, rude, they bully and it effects my child's ability to learn. Teachers should not have to deal with kids inability to behave or who continuously disrupt learning. They do nothing about bullying. When I was in school, kids who could not behave themselves went to Mark Twain. It wasn't for some 45 day stint either. Yes, this is the BOE who you continue to elect who continue to make decisions that place your child in jeopardy.

The curriculum is ridiculous. Teachers have complained about it, but MCPS still does nothing. In the schools that have more minorities, are more poverty stricken and/or have a high level of non-English speaking kids, teachers don't send home homework. Why? Because the parents can't help them, not involved and therefore the homework is not returned. Instead of creating programs to help these kids excel. reducing the number of students in that school and setting expectations so they can better assist kids, they continue to overcrowd the school, reduce the work to make it easier and that makes their scores look a little better. In the event that your child is on a higher level, he or she suffers the setback too.

MCPS hasn't done a boundary study in centuries...yes centuries. They say they know they need a school here and there, but they haven't done a boundary study? Did you realize that MCPS puts kids on a bus ride that is an hour or more one way to certain schools when there is a school that is maybe a 20-30 minute ride? When you bring it to their attention, they tell you to have your child take a phone to pass the time. We need a complete overhaul of boundaries.

Someone mentioned that they have all of this money but have not built a new school? Why build a new school? It is cheaper to shove your kids in portables right? Have you seen the number of portables at some of these schools? It is completely asinine.

Nothing is going to change until we start demanding changes. We need to start attending the BOE meetings to let the BOE know that we are watching and put pressure on them to actually do what they were elected to do. In addition, we need to start voting the people who continue to put politics before our childrens' education, safety and well being out of office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have read this whole thread and unlike most people in this county, I did actually research the BOE candidates. I purposely didn't vote for incumbents because I have found that they are not competent enough to use a potato gun let alone sit on the BOE. MCPS has done a downward spiral. Yes they just sweep everything under the rug. They are too political and inept. If they would put as much effort into making education, schools and our kids a priority as they do complaining about a flipping school calendar or screwing up the school start times, we may actually have a functioning school.

I am sorry but if you have been to Damascus or played sports at Damascus. If you have played football on the Cougars or if you have had a child who has, you know the mentality. It is all about the football. I am not saying that is a bad thing, but it puts an awful lot of pressure on these kids. Why don't you think the Damascus coaches have been dismissed? The coaches are all about winning. Damascus has a historical record. Well, they have a winning team, folks. Winning teams bring good publicity. People want to be apart of a winning team and that brings money. They made it a point to state varsity wasn't involved despite they didn't cover their tracks because some of those alleged rapists played on varsity for games.

Case and point, Seneca Valley had a team who was "hazing." The coaches were dismissed for lack of supervision. To me, it seemed to happen pretty quickly after the media got wind of it.

Unfortunately, I really don't think that this is the first occurrence of what MCPS, who seems to be in denial that rape occurred, refers to as hazing. Maybe it has not gone to the extent of rape at Damascus in the past, but there were parents who admitted that they knew that some "mild hazing" was tradition on that particular day. Hazing is not a tradition ever. It is a crime. Anyone who turned a blind cheek is responsible and should be ashamed of themselves.

Kudos to those kids who were brave enough to come forward and kudos to whomever leaked it to the media because I guarantee if someone didn't leak it, nothing would be done. I read on social media, so don't quote me, that one of the victims was an officer's child. You think MCPD is not going to investigate this with a fine tooth comb when it comes to an officer's kid being harmed? It doesn't even have to be an MCPD officer. This is not going away and I guarantee that there will be more dirty laundry aired about MCPS when this is all over.

These kids were charged as adults because they found it to be first degree rape. First degree!!!! That means it was premeditated. It was planned. They planned to rape or attempt to rape. That is not group psychology or peer pressure. This was not a caught up in the moment event. There is enough evidence to show it was planned. I understand a 15 year old does not have a fully developed brain until after 21, but they do know right from wrong. Unfortunately, they made a choice to follow through with one of the worst crimes you can possibly commit. I feel for their parents. I feel for the victims and to be honest, I feel for those alleged rapists. They had so much potential and their whole lives ahead of them. In one minute, they made a choice which has basically ruined their lives and the lives of others.

Nobody should be thrilled that they are most likely going to be serving time. Nobody wins here and if you think about it, it is sad all around. However, if they had raped a 4 year old little girl or boy, would we claim they shouldn't be charged as adults? Their victims will suffer a lifetime. Their victims will forever be traumatized and scarred. Unless there is some serious brain damage that prevents them from being able to distinguish right from wrong, they should suffer the consequences.

As for MCPS and Damascus, they should have called it what it was and it wasn't hazing. It is an absolute disgrace that they referred to it as hazing. It was rape. Sending out a video was a piss poor way to deal with any of this. Use peer pressure to make a change. Suspend the whole team for a game, two or a season for anyone caught hazing or bullying. These kids know what is going on. There is talk about what is going to happen. However, parents don't want their poor little Randy to suffer for someone else's actions. Well, maybe if Randy knew that the actions of his teammates affects him as well, he would step up and prevent nonsense like this or tell someone so it can be prevented.

Sexual assaults, bullying, verbal abuse, etc. is not anything new at MCPS. Look at how many child molesters and rapes have occurred throughout the years by staff. The teacher was correct. They don't do constant background checks. They don't concern themselves with the safety of schools and kids. They sweep things under the rug. Have you ever been to a meeting where they bring the school in that your child is going to go to because they want to have a "positive" conversation about how great that school is? That is usually an indication that the school has a tremendous amount of issues. However, instead of addressing it, they are concerned about diversity, jamming more kids into already overcrowded and failing schools and giving the Superintendent as Athletic Director huge salary increases.

The Superintendent is completely ineffective and non-responsive. I have emailed him several times. I have received zero response. Zero. To be honest, I think the taxpayers should be able to vote whether these higher ups get a raise or not. That would increase efficiency.

Our teachers do not have the support they need. Someone was correct. Most of the time, they do not have principals who are leaders. Parents should have the choice to send their kid to a different school when the school in their boundary is overcrowded and not up to par.

You want to know why when one kid is expelled from one school they can just go to another? They shut down the remedial schools because they didn't want to make the kids "feel bad" and God forbid choosing to be PC is so much better than address the actual issue. My child has several kids in his class who have what he calls "anger issues." Yes, there is maybe one that has a true anger issue. The others? Basically, their parents let them do whatever they want and so they have a temper tantrum when someone tells them no. They are violent, disruptive, rude, they bully and it effects my child's ability to learn. Teachers should not have to deal with kids inability to behave or who continuously disrupt learning. They do nothing about bullying. When I was in school, kids who could not behave themselves went to Mark Twain. It wasn't for some 45 day stint either. Yes, this is the BOE who you continue to elect who continue to make decisions that place your child in jeopardy.

The curriculum is ridiculous. Teachers have complained about it, but MCPS still does nothing. In the schools that have more minorities, are more poverty stricken and/or have a high level of non-English speaking kids, teachers don't send home homework. Why? Because the parents can't help them, not involved and therefore the homework is not returned. Instead of creating programs to help these kids excel. reducing the number of students in that school and setting expectations so they can better assist kids, they continue to overcrowd the school, reduce the work to make it easier and that makes their scores look a little better. In the event that your child is on a higher level, he or she suffers the setback too.

MCPS hasn't done a boundary study in centuries...yes centuries. They say they know they need a school here and there, but they haven't done a boundary study? Did you realize that MCPS puts kids on a bus ride that is an hour or more one way to certain schools when there is a school that is maybe a 20-30 minute ride? When you bring it to their attention, they tell you to have your child take a phone to pass the time. We need a complete overhaul of boundaries.

Someone mentioned that they have all of this money but have not built a new school? Why build a new school? It is cheaper to shove your kids in portables right? Have you seen the number of portables at some of these schools? It is completely asinine.

Nothing is going to change until we start demanding changes. We need to start attending the BOE meetings to let the BOE know that we are watching and put pressure on them to actually do what they were elected to do. In addition, we need to start voting the people who continue to put politics before our childrens' education, safety and well being out of office.

wow

As a vet teacher of 20+ years who left the system b/c of its many challenges, I applaud you. Unfortunately, even if others think as you do, many do not step up. I spoke up for many quiet people who refused to publicly support my efforts. So . . . after years of trying, I gave up. I was tired of the teacher-bashing, the emphasis on sports over academics, the lack of discipline, and the low rigor (passing kids along, 50% rule, reteaching/reassessing). etc.).

If we could clone you, we wouldn't have these issues.

[Anonymous]

If we cloned them, we'd have other issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If we cloned them, we'd have other issues.

[Anonymous]

In MD, a rape is first-degree rape if committed by multiple assailants. It does not require premeditation like first degree murder. However, premeditation has gotten to the point now where it doesn’t mean advanced planning and can be formed in an instant. Anyway, the first-degree charge does not mean the state alleges it was premeditated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have read this whole thread and unlike most people in this county, I did actually research the BOE candidates. I purposely didn't vote for incumbents because I have found that they are not competent enough to use a potato gun let alone sit on the BOE. MCPS has done a downward spiral. Yes they just sweep everything under the rug. They are too political and inept. If they would put as much effort into making education, schools and our kids a priority as they do complaining about a flipping school calendar or screwing up the school start times, we may actually have a functioning school.

I am sorry but if you have been to Damascus or played sports at Damascus. If you have played football on the Cougars or if you have had a child who has, you know the mentality. It is all about the football. I am not saying that is a bad thing, but it puts an awful lot of pressure on these kids. Why don't you think the Damascus coaches have been dismissed? The coaches are all about winning. Damascus has a historical record. Well, they have a winning team, folks. Winning teams bring good publicity. People want to be apart of a winning team and that brings money. They made it a point to state varsity wasn't involved despite they didn't cover their tracks because some of those alleged rapists played on varsity for games.

Case and point, Seneca Valley had a team who was "hazing." The coaches were dismissed for lack of supervision. To me, it seemed to happen pretty quickly after the media got wind of it.

Unfortunately, I really don't think that this is the first occurrence of what MCPS, who seems to be in denial that rape occurred, refers to as hazing. Maybe it has not gone to the extent of rape at Damascus in the past, but there were parents who admitted that they knew that some "mild hazing" was tradition on that particular day. Hazing is not a tradition ever. It is a crime. Anyone who turned a blind cheek is responsible and should be ashamed of themselves.

Kudos to those kids who were brave enough to come forward and kudos to whomever leaked it to the media because I guarantee if someone didn't leak it, nothing would be done. I read on social media, so don't quote me, that one of the victims was an officer's child. You think MCPD is not going to investigate this with a fine tooth comb when it comes to an officer's kid being harmed? It doesn't even have to be an MCPD officer. This is not going away and I guarantee that there will be more dirty laundry aired about MCPS when this is all over.

These kids were charged as adults because they found it to be first degree rape. First degree!!!! That means it was premeditated. It was planned. They planned to rape or attempt to rape. That is not group psychology or peer pressure. This was not a caught up in the moment event. There is enough evidence to show it was planned. I understand a 15 year old does not have a fully developed brain until after 21, but they do know right from wrong. Unfortunately, they made a choice to follow through with one of the worst crimes you can possibly commit. I feel for their parents. I feel for the victims and to be honest, I feel for those alleged rapists. They had so much potential and their whole lives ahead of them. In one minute, they made a choice which has basically ruined their lives and the lives of others.

Nobody should be thrilled that they are most likely going to be serving time. Nobody wins here and if you think about it, it is sad all around. However, if they had raped a 4 year old little girl or boy, would we claim they shouldn't be charged as adults? Their victims will suffer a lifetime. Their victims will forever be traumatized and scarred. Unless there is some serious brain damage that prevents them from being able to distinguish right from wrong, they should suffer the consequences.

As for MCPS and Damascus, they should have called it what it was and it wasn't hazing. It is an absolute disgrace that they referred to it as hazing. It was rape. Sending out a video was a piss poor way to deal with any of this. Use peer pressure to make a change. Suspend the whole team for a game, two or a season for anyone caught hazing or bullying. These kids know what is going on. There is talk about what is going to happen. However, parents don't want their poor little Randy to suffer for someone else's actions. Well, maybe if Randy knew that the actions of his teammates affects him as well, he would step up and prevent nonsense like this or tell someone so it can be prevented.

Sexual assaults, bullying, verbal abuse, etc. is not anything new at MCPS. Look at how many child molesters and rapes have occurred throughout the years by staff. The teacher was correct. They don't do constant background checks. They don't concern themselves with the safety of schools and kids. They sweep things under the rug. Have you ever been to a meeting where they bring the school in that your child is going to go to because they want to have a "positive" conversation about how great that school is? That is usually an indication that the school has a tremendous amount of issues. However, instead of addressing it, they are concerned about diversity, jamming more kids into already overcrowded and failing schools and giving the Superintendent as Athletic Director huge salary increases.

The Superintendent is completely ineffective and non-responsive. I have emailed him several times. I have received zero response. Zero. To be honest, I think the taxpayers should be able to vote whether these higher ups get a raise or not. That would increase efficiency.

Our teachers do not have the support they need. Someone was correct. Most of the time, they do not have principals who are leaders. Parents should have the choice to send their kid to a different school when the school in their boundary is overcrowded and not up to par.

You want to know why when one kid is expelled from one school they can just go to another? They shut down the remedial schools because they didn't want to make the kids "feel bad" and God forbid choosing to be PC is so much better than address the actual issue. My child has several kids in his class who have what he calls "anger issues." Yes, there is maybe one that has a true anger issue. The others? Basically, their parents let them do whatever they want and so they have a temper tantrum when someone tells them no. They are violent, disruptive, rude, they bully and it effects my child's ability to learn. Teachers should not have to deal with kids inability to behave or who continuously disrupt learning. They do nothing about bullying. When I was in school, kids who could not behave themselves went to Mark Twain. It wasn't for some 45 day stint either. Yes, this is the BOE who you continue to elect who continue to make decisions that place your child in jeopardy.

The curriculum is ridiculous. Teachers have complained about it, but MCPS still does nothing. In the schools that have more minorities, are more poverty stricken and/or have a high level of non-English speaking kids, teachers don't send home homework. Why? Because the parents can't help them, not involved and therefore the homework is not returned. Instead of creating programs to help these kids excel. reducing the number of students in that school and setting expectations so they can better assist kids, they continue to overcrowd the school, reduce the work to make it easier and that makes their scores look a little better. In the event that your child is on a higher level, he or she suffers the setback too.

MCPS hasn't done a boundary study in centuries...yes centuries. They say they know they need a school here and there, but they haven't done a boundary study? Did you realize that MCPS puts kids on a bus ride that is an hour or more one way to certain schools when there is a school that is maybe a 20-30 minute ride? When you bring it to their attention, they tell you to have your child take a phone to pass the time. We need a complete overhaul of boundaries.

Someone mentioned that they have all of this money but have not built a new school? Why build a new school? It is cheaper to shove your kids in portables right? Have you seen the number of portables at some of these schools? It is completely asinine.

Nothing is going to change until we start demanding changes. We need to start attending the BOE meetings to let the BOE know that we are watching and put pressure on them to actually do what they were elected to do. In addition, we need to start voting the people who continue to put politics before our childrens' education, safety and well being out of office.

I agree 100% with every single thing you have written. I am a parent with kids in MCPS and am very involved, both as a school volunteer and in the PTA. I hear this from many teachers and it has definitely been what I have experienced in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have read this whole thread and unlike most people in this county, I did actually research the BOE candidates. I purposely didn't vote for incumbents because I have found that they are not competent enough to use a potato gun let alone sit on the BOE. MCPS has done a downward spiral. Yes they just sweep everything under the rug. They are too political and inept. If they would put as much effort into making education, schools and our kids a priority as they do complaining about a flipping school calendar or screwing up the school start times, we may actually have a functioning school.

I am sorry but if you have been to Damascus or played sports at Damascus. If you have played football on the Cougars or if you have had a child who has, you know the mentality. It is all about the football. I am not saying that is a bad thing, but it puts an awful lot of pressure on these kids. Why don't you think the Damascus coaches have been dismissed? The coaches are all about winning. Damascus has a historical record. Well, they have a winning team, folks. Winning teams bring good publicity. People want to be apart of a winning team and that brings money. They made it a point to state varsity wasn't involved despite they didn't cover their tracks because some of those alleged rapists played on varsity for games.

Case and point, Seneca Valley had a team who was "hazing." The coaches were dismissed for lack of supervision. To me, it seemed to happen pretty quickly after the media got wind of it.

Unfortunately, I really don't think that this is the first occurrence of what MCPS, who seems to be in denial that rape occurred, refers to as hazing. Maybe it has not gone to the extent of rape at Damascus in the past, but there were parents who admitted that they knew that some "mild hazing" was tradition on that particular day. Hazing is not a tradition ever. It is a crime. Anyone who turned a blind cheek is responsible and should be ashamed of themselves.

Kudos to those kids who were brave enough to come forward and kudos to whomever leaked it to the media because I guarantee if someone didn't leak it, nothing would be done. I read on social media, so don't quote me, that one of the victims was an officer's child. You think MCPD is not going to investigate this with a fine tooth comb when it comes to an officer's kid being harmed? It doesn't even have to be an MCPD officer. This is not going away and I guarantee that there will be more dirty laundry aired about MCPS when this is all over.

These kids were charged as adults because they found it to be first degree rape. First degree!!!! That means it was premeditated. It was planned. They planned to rape or attempt to rape. That is not group psychology or peer pressure. This was not a caught up in the moment event. There is enough evidence to show it was planned. I understand a 15 year old does not have a fully developed brain until after 21, but they do know right from wrong. Unfortunately, they made a choice to follow through with one of the worst crimes you can possibly commit. I feel for their parents. I feel for the victims and to be honest, I feel for those alleged rapists. They had so much potential and their whole lives ahead of them. In one minute, they made a choice which has basically ruined their lives and the lives of others.

Nobody should be thrilled that they are most likely going to be serving time. Nobody wins here and if you think about it, it is sad all around. However, if they had raped a 4 year old little girl or boy, would we claim they shouldn't be charged as adults? Their victims will suffer a lifetime. Their victims will forever be traumatized and scarred. Unless there is some serious brain damage that prevents them from being able to distinguish right from wrong, they should suffer the consequences.

As for MCPS and Damascus, they should have called it what it was and it wasn't hazing. It is an absolute disgrace that they referred to it as hazing. It was rape. Sending out a video was a piss poor way to deal with any of this. Use peer pressure to make a change. Suspend the whole team for a game, two or a season for anyone caught hazing or bullying. These kids know what is going on. There is talk about what is going to happen. However, parents don't want their poor little Randy to suffer for someone else's actions. Well, maybe if Randy knew that the actions of his teammates affects him as well, he would step up and prevent nonsense like this or tell someone so it can be prevented.

Sexual assaults, bullying, verbal abuse, etc. is not anything new at MCPS. Look at how many child molesters and rapes have occurred throughout the years by staff. The teacher was correct. They don't do constant background checks. They don't concern themselves with the safety of schools and kids. They sweep things under the rug. Have you ever been to a meeting where they bring the school in that your child is going to go to because they want to have a "positive" conversation about how great that school is? That is usually an indication that the school has a tremendous amount of issues. However, instead of addressing it, they are concerned about diversity, jamming more kids into already overcrowded and failing schools and giving the Superintendent as Athletic Director huge salary increases.

The Superintendent is completely ineffective and non-responsive. I have emailed him several times. I have received zero response. Zero. To be honest, I think the taxpayers should be able to vote whether these higher ups get a raise or not. That would increase efficiency.

Our teachers do not have the support they need. Someone was correct. Most of the time, they do not have principals who are leaders. Parents should have the choice to send their kid to a different school when the school in their boundary is overcrowded and not up to par.

You want to know why when one kid is expelled from one school they can just go to another? They shut down the remedial schools because they didn't want to make the kids "feel bad" and God forbid choosing to be PC is so much better than address the actual issue. My child has several kids in his class who have what he calls "anger issues." Yes, there is maybe one that has a true anger issue. The others? Basically, their parents let them do whatever they want and so they have a temper tantrum when someone tells them no. They are violent, disruptive, rude, they bully and it effects my child's ability to learn. Teachers should not have to deal with kids inability to behave or who continuously disrupt learning. They do nothing about bullying. When I was in school, kids who could not behave themselves went to Mark Twain. It wasn't for some 45 day stint either. Yes, this is the BOE who you continue to elect who continue to make decisions that place your child in jeopardy.

The curriculum is ridiculous. Teachers have complained about it, but MCPS still does nothing. In the schools that have more minorities, are more poverty stricken and/or have a high level of non-English speaking kids, teachers don't send home homework. Why? Because the parents can't help them, not involved and therefore the homework is not returned. Instead of creating programs to help these kids excel. reducing the number of students in that school and setting expectations so they can better assist kids, they continue to overcrowd the school, reduce the work to make it easier and that makes their scores look a little better. In the event that your child is on a higher level, he or she suffers the setback too.

MCPS hasn't done a boundary study in centuries...yes centuries. They say they know they need a school here and there, but they haven't done a boundary study? Did you realize that MCPS puts kids on a bus ride that is an hour or more one way to certain schools when there is a school that is maybe a 20-30 minute ride? When you bring it to their attention, they tell you to have your child take a phone to pass the time. We need a complete overhaul of boundaries.

Someone mentioned that they have all of this money but have not built a new school? Why build a new school? It is cheaper to shove your kids in portables right? Have you seen the number of portables at some of these schools? It is completely asinine.

Nothing is going to change until we start demanding changes. We need to start attending the BOE meetings to let the BOE know that we are watching and put pressure on them to actually do what they were elected to do. In addition, we need to start voting the people who continue to put politics before our childrens' education, safety and well being out of office.

wow

As a vet teacher of 20+ years who left the system b/c of its many challenges, I applaud you. Unfortunately, even if others think as you do, many do not step up. I spoke up for many quiet people who refused to publicly support my efforts. So . . . after years of trying, I gave up. I was tired of the teacher-bashing, the emphasis on sports over academics, the lack of discipline, and the low rigor (passing kids along, 50% rule, reteaching/reassessing). etc.).

If we could clone you, we wouldn't have these issues.

There are many other cases out there that have not made the media. The athletics program in MCPS is a child predator's dream. My child spoke up and reported abuse by a coach. Instead of firing the coach, MCPS intimidated witnesses by interviewing them before the police. Then they retaliated against my child to the point we withdrew my child from MCPS. The coach is still in a school where he has access to hundreds of children in the course of a school year. The MCPS System-Wide Athletics Director knows the details of this case. The Superintendent knows the details of this case. The Board of Education knows the details of this case. Yet they continue to do nothing to protect children.

Damascus parents should demand that the principal be removed for interviewing the team after the rapes were reported. Her job was to immediately call the police and back off so the police could do their jobs. The principal would be facing potential jail time for neglecting to immediately report a rape in most states. Maryland is only one of 2 states in the US that doesn't have such laws on their books. The only penalty in Maryland is the revocation of her professional certification but how often does the Maryland Department of Education actually revoke certification for failure to report abuse?

The Superintendent and the MCPS System-Wide Athletics Director care more about spinning their imaginary image than actually rolling up their sleeves and fixing what is severely broken in their programs. I am sad for the victims at Damascus HS. They still have a hard road ahead of them with the trial. I too applaud them for their bravery. Hopefully the media attention will be a wake up call for safety improvements in all MCPS schools including putting children who are expelled from a high school in remedial schools instead of passing them to another school where they can hurt more students. Change needs to happen now to stop child abuse in MCPS schools. Covering up problems, transferring predators, and interfering with police investigations are not solutions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

omg - enough with this bs!

NORMAL children do not RAPE other children. Again, too few of you dingdongs aren't placing yourself in the role of the victims' parents. How often must I ask this question? HOW forgiving would you be if your son had been sodomized with brooms by these vile young men?

Being 15 doesn't mean you're necessarily naive.

Correct. Being 15 does, however, mean that you're 15. And 15-year-olds are not adults.

[Anonymous]

What’s the reasoning for trying them as adults instead of as juveniles?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

omg - enough with this bs!

NORMAL children do not RAPE other children. Again, too few of you dingdongs aren't placing yourself in the role of the victims' parents. How often must I ask this question? HOW forgiving would you be if your son had been sodomized with brooms by these vile young men?

Being 15 doesn't mean you're necessarily naive.

Correct. Being 15 does, however, mean that you're 15. And 15-year-olds are not adults.

I'm not sure if you have your head in the sand or up your ass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s the reasoning for trying them as adults instead of as juveniles?

Felony rape?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s the reasoning for trying them as adults instead of as juveniles?

First-degree rape is one of the crimes that results in charging juveniles as adults in MD.