Wednesday, April 2, 2014

New Bedford Guide published a very disturbing video of an incident that took place on March 24, 2014.

Click here to view the video.

57 comments:

Anonymous said...

Where is the school committee? Why don't we here from them?

Anonymous said...

Didn't the education mayor say he would be tough on discipline. I guess he meant that he would be tough on teachers but the kids can get away with anything.

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad Dr. Durkin has reduced suspensions at the high school by 40%. We can now witness the fruits of her labor,

Anonymous said...

Hey Dr. Durkin! How many more high school teachers are you going to fire?

Anonymous said...

Looks like Pia needs to get the Unger times propaganda machine rolling.

Anonymous said...

That kid should be removed/ kicked out. This I what happens when parents cannot discipline there children.

Anonymous said...

I hope the mayor and Pia are happy.

Anonymous said...

WOW! Couldn't pay me enough to put up with that. The principal should have been called right away and that boy should be sent home with a few days suspension. Cannot believe the lack of respect. Wake up NBHS. Until you support your teachers this will continue.

Anonymous said...

This is criminal behavior.

Anonymous said...

How many more administrative positions is Pia going to create while these poor teachers are getting physically abused by students and emotionally abused by her wrecking crew?

Anonymous said...

This is absolutely DISGUSTING. No class. No respect. It's a classroom. You are there to learn. You don't need a phone. We were never allowed to have one, and they were confiscated if we did, just as they should be. Those are the rules. If you don't want to sit down, shutup and learn then you shouldn't be there. This child should be expelled PERIOD. Someone could have been seriously hurt. Allowing him to get away with this is setting a precedent for all the other students. They will think they can get away with whatever they want. They want to act like a bunch of riff raff then send them out into the real world where someone will really show them who's boss!

Anonymous said...

First off, the use of cell phones should be prohibited by students and teachers in school! Students are supposed to be there to learn, not to be using their cell phones! Before school and after school ok, not during school hours! Second, that student should be expelled for puting all those people in that room in extream danger by picking up a chair and throwing it across the classroom! If it would have hit someone it could have severely hurt or even killed someone! Third, seeing the teacher outnumbered with no way of calling out for help makes me sick! Their should be some sort of panic button in those classrooms in case of an emergency! Fourth, if that was my son I would beat his ass all the way to the police station and back, but hey that's just me! This needs to stop! Maybe this is why NB is struggling because these kids care more about their cell phones then they do their grades!

Anonymous said...

Good going to the parents for teaching respect. Yea kid you are a real man to intimidate an elder woman teacher.

Anonymous said...

We can thank Pia Durkin and the useless school committee for this. Not one of them is any good.

Anonymous said...

Repeat after me! The kids and parents are not the problem. It's the teachers. Fire them all and let Jon "the Harvard man" Mitchell, Pia "I know it all" Durkin, and the school committee teach them all.

NBPS Parent said...

What happened to the days of zero tolerance? There is no question this kid should be expelled/moved to an alternative school. Most small electronic devices (cell phones; ipods; video games) should not be permitted during school hours, with MAYBE the exception of lunch period. Every single one of these devices should be confiscated if seen within the classroom, and only returned to a parent who has to go into the school to reclaim them. If my kid is where he is supposed to be, I should be able to get in touch with him within minutes by simply calling the office. He doesn't need his cell phone.

Anonymous said...

First rule/no phones at school for all students/rules stated/posted in class/no out of school suspension/in house cleaning/work at police department for severe behaviors.

Anonymous said...

I just wonder what PIA would have done in that situation...

Anonymous said...

To the parents of this lunatic , Nice job bringing up your kid, good morals, and wow, what a man! Throwing a tantrum and a chair at a woman! This person should be expelled and the teacher should be commended for having to teach in such dangerous conditions! Hey Mayor Durkin-nice going and I am a PARENT! Leave New Bedford so we can get an administrator who actually knows what they are doing. While your at it, take you lap dog with you-I didn't vote for him!

Anonymous said...

My name is Christopher A. Cotter
This has nothing to do with the NBEA pointing out what is wrong in NBHS. This has to do with a NBHS student, who NEEDS to be charged criminally with Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. END OF STORY!!! There is no room in ANY New Bedford Public School, or any school, for this animalistic behavior. The other students who were encouraging this behavior should also be suspended for the filming, cheering, and just flat out doing nothing in this very dangerous situation. This is an indication of what parents don't see in their children. Maybe they do, but this student needs to be held accountable for endangering the teacher and students in this class

Anonymous said...

I fear for my life daily. I happen to teach at one of the Middle Schools. We have so many mentally ill, and violent students. Their removed for a few minutes, and come back.

Anonymous said...

The Elephant found this video to be no more confusing or disturbing than the well documented events that occurred in Oklahoma City, Columbine, and Newtown. People who spend their adolescent years living in fear of violent classmates often turn into very interesting and media worthy young adults.

You won't find the following job description written anywhere, no politician would dare utter these words, and it certainly isn't written into law.

Job Description: A parent's job is to transform an infant member of a violent, predatory species into a civilized, young adult, preferably by consistent role modeling.

The job of parents is often difficult, but the Job Description itself could hardly be conceptually simpler. Unfortunately, parents are not trained to do their job. There's no screening process to prevent bullies, bigots, batterers, and other obvious incompetents from becoming parents. And there are few, if any remedies written into our laws.

The results are obvious to anyone living outside a cave and nothing will change as long as the subject of criminally incompetent parents are a taboo subject.

Start talking about bad parents...a lot.

Anonymous said...

This is also happening at the middle school level and elementary,but administration turns a blind eye..

Anonymous said...

I teach at the high school. There is so much disrespect and foul language towards the teachers it's criminal. Students have no meaningful consequences for their bad behavior in school or when they get home. Pity the poor kid who comes to school and wants to learn! What you didn't see on the recording was at the end the "student" knocked everything off the teacher's desk!!! The superintendent wants to lower suspension rates; thereby, keeping these violent and mentally ill students in the building while she insists upon classroom management training for teachers! Once again, it's the teacher's fault if there is a problem. True, cellphones and ipods aren't allowed but all the students use them in class. . . . .. . . . try telling that to the parents! Parents told the school committee that they wanted their kids to have their phones and the school committee backed down and didn't support the teachers request to ban cellphones and electronics in class! They are a spineless, useless bunch! Is it any wonder our scores are low?

Anonymous said...

If I were sitting in a restaurant, at a museum or the library and someone confronted me in this manner and then threw a chair at me, I would active at the 911 system we have in place in our fair city. I would do this because I would be in fear for my personal welfare and the welfare of those around me. It is my understanding that when the police arrive they would ask what happened, speak with witnesses to verify my story and ultimately arrest the perpetrator who committed the crime. As far as I know, this is what happens in the real world. However, for some strange reason, NBHS and all the NBPS (including the elementary schools) are exempt from criminal behavior. When aggressive incidents like this occur inside a school they are downplayed or simply ignored by our administration, mayor and school committee. Are we waiting until someone gets killed to look into this behavior for criminal intent??? Perhaps we should take a more proactive approach in order to avoid the inevitable...

Anonymous said...

1st: Files should obviously be charged and this maniac should be expelled.
2nd: This same crazy behavior is displayed in the middle schools daily.
3rd: Thank you Chris Cotter for attaching your name to your post, I hope you run for school committee again and I believe you would win this time
4th: New Bedford teachers are applying to other districts by the hundreds, not by the dozens in a normal year, by the hundreds
5th: Working in this city has become one of the most undesirable jobs possible
6th: Teachers should begin filing lawsuits against the city, school committee, and superintendent personally
7th: A judge and jury will view New Bedford lawsuits very favorably as it is obvious we are working in a very dangerous environment run by individuals that are criminally neglecting their responsibility of providing a safe work environment

Honesty, start suing, sue early and sue often

Anonymous said...

I am a teacher at the high school who has tried on several occasions to schedule a meeting with the superintendent. I told her secretaries what this was regarding. Durkin was always unavailable unless it had to do with data. I left my number for her to call me back at her convenience, but she never did. Please, help us as we struggle to make it to June.

Anonymous said...

Durkin and Mitchell will lie their way out of this.

Anonymous said...

Please give us some names of lawyers we can call...

Those b.....s need to be held accountable for letting this kind of behavior go on in schools.

These students cannot hide behind their violent behavior..

Maybe we should send him to pia and he can do his time in her office,then she can read him a book.

Anonymous said...

A few months back at a staff meeting the headmaster was annoyed that a few of "incidents" happening at the high school were being leaked to the media. . . . . . .Facebook, news channels, etc. He told us that we need to "encourage" students to come to high school instead of Voc! Teachers sat there stunned. . . . . Really? the High School? We have no resources, enough current textbooks, working computers, etc. Unfortunately, we have already lost many talented teachers with this Administration. How blind the SC, Mayor, and Superintendent are!

Anonymous said...

The phone in the classroom probably doesn't work or they don't answer when called. Your on your own, might as well give him the phone because the students are in charge.

Anonymous said...

If it is true that any of these students involved in any way are student athletes, they should not be allowed to participate in their chosen sport/sports for at a minimum of one entire season if not for the reminder of their HS years.

Anonymous said...

You might be a reformer....if you are less disturbed by the conduct of the student and more disturbed by the skin color of the teacher.

Anonymous said...

Has anyone heard anything from Josh Amaral ?? ANYBODY?? ANYTHING??
His silence is deafening!!

Anonymous said...

and this my friends is why I will never take a phone from a student. No one backs you no one comes when you call.

Anonymous said...

Under the "Great and Proven Leadership" of Pia and the "Education Mayor" Mitchell, the school system is on a nose dive to destruction.

After the incidences in the fall of the year, the superintendent, mayor, and school committee should have set zero tolerance for unruly behavior and fully supported the teachers, paras, and support staff for any unacceptable behavior.

Respect, accountability, and no excuses.

Ellen Shaw said...

I had a student throw a chair in a fit of rage similar to this one but he was only a middle schooler--6th grade. He missed hitting another student by an inch. He also tore everything off my bulletin board as he proceeded to run out of the room. The administration sent in the VP who told other students to straighten up the room! The student who threw the chair was back in school in my classroom the very next day! Needless to say, after 9 years teaching there , I had to get out and retired early. The New Bedford public school system is a joke. Believe me when I tell you that. I still have kept all my notes as well as conduct cards with their written administrative consequences to prove it. FUN 107 you can call if you want to!

Ellen Shaw said...

I had a student throw a chair in a fit of rage similar to this one but he was only a middle schooler--6th grade. He missed hitting another student by an inch. He also tore everything off my bulletin board as he proceeded to run out of the room. The administration sent in the VP who told other students to straighten up the room! The student who threw the chair was back in school in my classroom the very next day! Needless to say, after 9 years teaching there , I had to get out and retired early. The New Bedford public school system is a joke. Believe me when I tell you that. I still have kept all my notes as well as conduct cards with their written administrative consequences to prove it. FUN 107 you can call if you want to!

Anonymous said...

Wonder what would have happened if this incident happened in the classroom of one of the School Committee's relative!!!!

Anonymous said...

I think all of the students in New Bedford must have watched this video last night and decided that treating teachers like dirt looked like a great idea because that's all they've been doing all day.

Anonymous said...

The student in the video that encouraged that young man to throw the chair just lost his "full ride soccer scholarship" to Providence College. Those were some expensive words: "Throw the chair!" He can reflect upon this while he's sitting somewhere at a community college satellite campus!

Anonymous said...

This isn't just a problem at NBHS it goes on in elementary schools too. Kids hit teachers and swear at them all the time. The problem is no one wants to discipline these kids for fear of Pia and if not her than its the parents, everyone has rights except the teachers. What is going on in our society when it's okay to disrespect anyone ????

Anonymous said...

A few of my second graders knew about this video and told me that it was awful that a student would treat a teacher like that. They are 8 year olds and know right from wrong so what happens to these children when they get to the High School ???

Anonymous said...

I would like to see the mayor and Pia teach at NBHS and what would they do when someone threw a chair at them!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

The problem here is that society has gone to hell. Since when it is acceptable to treat anyone like this ??There is no respect anywhere . You see it at the supermarket, doctors offices. It is so sad that this world has gotten so bad, and for us teachers who are expected to do our jobs and have to deal with these behaviors , I would like to know how do they expect us to do it ???

Anonymous said...

I resigned at the end of last year because of the violence, students roaming the halls, and such slow or no response on the part of administration in times of need in the classroom. I understand that it has gotten much worse and my heart goes out to NBHS teachers. Watching the video brought me back to that feeling of so many unstable confrontations with students over nonsense. I'm grateful I was able to get a job in a safe school, and it took me a while to stop being overly alert to every situation in the classroom. No one should have to work in an unsafe environment. Whatever you can do to help each other, I hope you can get to June without too many incidents.

Anonymous said...

Administrators and students are abusing teachers. We have so many stories to share about the hell we've been put through. At one point, life was not worth living.

Anonymous said...

Dear Dr. Durkin,
Great job! Keep up the good work! How many more lives can you destroy???
Signed,
Tired and frustrated teacher

Anonymous said...

I am an educator at one of the middle schools and it is no better than the high school. Kids do whatever they want with no consequence. They are running our schools. I have been in the system for 15 years and this is by far the worst I have ever seen. It saddens me, but its time to get out of NB! Thanks Pia.

Anonymous said...

The student in the chair was featured in a story by the Standard Times about his full scholarship for sports. He looks like a student that should be featured. Wonder what PC thinks of him now!

Anonymous said...

The elementary school that I work at is becoming just as dangerous. Our principal has a policy of no discipline. Turns a blind eye to everything and sits in the office all day. Never comes to set the tone of the school. I guess the thought is that it will run by itself. It is not.

Anonymous said...

Is that Pacheco,,,heard it was terrible there...

Anonymous said...

I am a parent. I am pulling my children out of this district. The teachers are not at fault, it is this weak mayor and a lunatic as a superintendent. Something has to be done soon! Why does New Bedford always get the trashy leftovers?

Anonymous said...

The mayor can't even be tough on crime in the city. These thugs are probably these punks parents! I now believe in sterilization since I have worked in this district!

Anonymous said...

If PC really did pull that young man's scholarship, congratulations to them. Perhaps some educational institutions have not lost their moral code!

Anonymous said...

No, it is not Pacheco. It is another elementary school. It is an accident waiting to happen. Escalating more each day. Pacheco is another problem. Principal looks the other way while we put our lives in danger.

Anonymous said...

Good for PC!!