News-Record.com

When it comes to the negro population it seems to always be someone else's fault. It is time to start taking responsibility for you own actions. It is not the school board,police but the parents that are to blame.
Remember this same poor child begging to get back in school is the same one on Dec. saying "come on M-F and get you some" These kids made a decision to fight now live with it. If you can't do the time don't do the crime.

My question as a parent is why does my child, who does not break school rules and is not a discipline problem, have to go to school with other students who are dangerous and a constant disruption to a healthy learning environment. Concerned parents of Guilford County need to come together and demand that the school board establish a no tolerance discipline policy. GCS also needs to take a serious look at creating an alternative school where students who are continual discipline problems can attend, away from students who value their education.

If the "Rev." Johnson wants to help these families, then he should have them home-schooled in his facility, the Beloved Community Center. That way the rest of the students at Grimsley are not put at risk from dangerous thugs.

As a public school teacher, I highly applaud the above comments. We do not need neighborhood quarrels within a school environment. What these parents should be doing is having these kids in a good church environment, parental support, taking responsibility for their child, instead of complaining that they were treated unfairly. It seems that they think WRITTEN school board rules, do not apply to their child. As the old saying goes: If you do the crime, accept the time.

In no way should should these kids be allowed to return! Good Riddance!

As a Whirlie Alum, I find it to be a sad day when i think that i would put my kid in Page instead of Grimsley. But just like Paul said, these are the same kids that were "reppin' dey hood" and "holdin' it down in da streetz" in Dec. Cheer up everyone. These kids will grow up to be stars one day. Just look at the plethora of shows that they would be perfect for: Cops, America's Most Wanted, Maury Povich, Dallas SWAT, Most Outrageous Police Chases, Gangland, Prison Nation, Lockdown:(insert prison name here), Inside Jail, every "thuggin'" video on BET and a reoccurring role on the nightly news.

It ALWAYS seems to me that the parents get involved AFTER something happens. Where is the mother and father before hand? I taught my child, an alumni of Grimsley, that 15% of the the students are going to learn, no matter what is going on, 15% is not willing to learn no matter what you do, and 70% will fall somewhere in the middle depending on how they were raised. He should decide which group hey wants to be in and act accordingly.

Why is it that children's misbehavior never gets blamed on the PARENTS who RAISE THEM?? That's what I don't understand. My parents would have never let get away with that kind of disrespectful behavior. I think the whole problem starts in the home. And as a friend and relative to public school teachers, I worry about their safety at work each day.

"No" is not strong enough of an answer. I'm so tired of thugs ruining the educational system for those kids who really want to learn. Hell no, they should not be let back in school!

As a parent of child in elementary school, I agree with kids being severly punished for starting fights in school. Schools need to be a safe environment.
Still, I must say that some of the ignorant and hatefule comments made by a few of the posters show that they could use a little more schooling themselves. I don't know every White, Hispanic, asian, or Native American, so I wouldn't make a fool of myself by claiming that the entire population of any group doesn't take responsibility for themselves. Some parents need a reality check about their kids, but you can't hold those parents as an example for every parent.

Well, let's see here. It depends on the individual persons that were involved. Was a self defense situation or were they fighting because of personal revenge. There needs to be a meeting with the persons involved to find out the story. If you are just arriving at school and someone comes up to you and starts hitting you, are you going to just stand there and take it or are you going to defend yourself?

But if you are one of those people who has a history of staying in trouble and not following the rules and you where involved in starting this mess then, you should not be allowed to come back and disrupt the school. That would be selfish. I think individual students records should be looked at on a one on one basis and not as a whole, because some of them maybe good kids and others not so.

But where are the parents and ministers of these kids when things are going well, do you see them at the school talking to the teachers and principals?

I agree with many of the above comments. As a parent of 2 children I feel that I am responsible for teaching them right from wrong. I do not feel like the students who were arrested and suspended for participating in this fight in December should be allowed back into the public school system, instead perhaps an alternative type school for students who have been arrested or suspended for such things as fighting etc.
I want to know that my children are safe at school, and not worry about children from some neighborhood that I am not even involved with or live in is bringing problems to the school. Instead these children should be learning and working on bettering themselves and trying to get out of that type of neighborhood and situation.
Should we hold the parents accountable? Indeed, aren't they the ones who are accountable for their childrens morals and being taught right from wrong? I say keep them out of the public schools, teach them once and for all that if you do the crime you must suffer the consequence!

Paul wrote: "When it comes to the negro population it seems to always be someone else's fault."

Are you kidding me? - with phrases like "the negro population" as well as the comments that followed referring to "reppin' dey hood" and "holdin' it down in da streetz" it seems these individuals are revealing just as much about their own biases as they are about their concern for student safety at Grimsley.

If you want your comments to be taken seriously, at least have the decency to try and disguise your prejudice. The need for parents to take responsibility for raising their children extends far beyond the students in question and certainly extends beyond the African American community.

One thing i learned in guilford county schools is that defending yourself will still get you suspended. I remember one fight in elementary school where a bigger kid kept telling a smaller one he was going to beat him up. one day during an activity, he did. he jumped him right there in class with everyone including the teacher right there. Both were suspended and even with a class full of kids telling the teacher and the principal that the bigger kid had been threatening him all day, it didn't work. repeat same process in middle school and this time it happened to me. If i knew then what i know now, the GCS would've paid my for my college education after that lawsuit. So here is my advice for kids how are about to be or are getting beat up. cover your head and run. Call the police and then your parents. File charges against your attacker and file a restraining order against your attacker. Do not talk to a vice principal without a parent or guardian present. I'm not sure if I'd even trust the School Resource Officer at that point. If you want to go so far as to get a lawyer to be in there with you, do it. Just like those lawyer commercials on tv say, "They are not on your side."

It's high time parents started taking responsibility for their childrens actions. If a child is not 18 years of age I feel the parent should be held responsible for the childs actions. If this was the case a lot of parents would do a much better job raising their children then is being done today. A lot of children today have no respect for themselves and if don't respect yourself you can't respect others. Each child needs to be reviewed on this matter and if they have been a problem child that has been in trouble in the past, then no they should not be able to return to school, let the parents deal with them. We have good kids in school who are trying to learn and they don't need the kids who are they to make trouble.

I basically agree with the others. Rules are set in place for a reason and consequinces should match the offense for the ones that break them. My understanding is that most of these kids are habitual offenders and have a history of offenses prior to this incident. As a parent of a Grimsley student, it concerns me that parents of these students aren't holding their children more responsible and aren't using this as a means to show the kids that u will face consequinces for your actions. Allowing them to return now would only show that you can do and act as you please and society must accept it. Race should not play a factor in this at all. Any child who involves themselves in actions such as this should be punished without hesitation regardless of color. I think most parents do the best that they can and sometimes it is not the parents fault. Some children are destined to turn out this way and those parents should use alternative means of education in order to protect innocent and willing students. I also think that the school system needs an overhaul and use the frivolous money they blow to add more security to the schools and pay teaches what they are worth.

Yeah, i agree with Rose Griffin, but weren't they "reppin' dey hoods?" If I'm not mistaken, one of the reasons for the fight was graffiti and trash talk about each others neighborhoods. Everyone has their own circumstances, but I don't understand the resounding love for the projects.

As a parent of a rising freshman at Grimsley I do not believe these students should be allowed back at Grimsley. Mediation over neighborhood turf battles is not the priority of public schools. Why can't these kids attend SCALES? Isn't it designed for students in long term suspensions?

More importantly, parents must be held responsible for their children's actions. It is not the responsibility of the school. I almost cried when I read the article in last week's second opinion that quoted the mother of a middle school child as saying "my child doesn't have to do anything he don't want to." Hello! What are we teaching, or not teaching, our children in this case. How can we ever expect children to be civilized human beings if they believe that disagreements are handled via fists or that kids don't have to follow rules and expectations. How will these kids handle themselves as adults if they can't handle themselves as kids? It's time parents be held responsible if their kids cause harm to others. I don't care what ethnicity or what the economic circumstances are - we have to stop tolerating this type of behavior in our schools.

Remember when you used to get spanked for acting like this at school?
Yes i know it was barbaric but hey i was never afraid to go to school and my parents were never afraid for me.
I guess what i'm saying is we've tried the passive "humane" aproach and it's just not working. Lets bring back the paddles with the holes drilled in them used by the stern "respected if not slightly feared"principal.

I remember those days, j. The problem is the principals rarely ever issue punishments, that is left to the assistant or vice principals acting on behalf of the principal.

The African-American community is always blaming everyone else for their problems. They complain about crime in their communities, but yet when African-American kids are caught commiting crimes, they want no consequences for their actions. The African-American community is quick to blame White people for everything, but want no blame for any of the problems they have broought on themselves. The Rev. J. Jackson and Rev Al Sharpton was very quick to blame the Duke Laccross players. But has anyone apologized to those guys or has Jackson or Sharpton critizied the African-American girl who lied and started the whole mess? The answer is NO. If the African-American community really wants a better life, then start living one.

Without castigating any one student, group of students or parents, we all must remember that at the beginning of each year every student is issued a copy of the GCS Student Handbook for that school year. Each student must sign for the book and each parent must sign a form stating that they have read and understand all the rules and regulations contained in that handbook. The essential rules and the punishments for breaking them hasn't changed much in the past 15 years or so. My first point is that by the time students are in high school, both they and their parents should be aware of the rules and the consequences if certain rules are broken; apparently these students and their parents missed these inconvenient facts and are now upset that they exist.

Second, schools cannot fix the many social and political wrongs. Schools can educate the young people who can then go out and fix those wrongs. While experiments may and should take place in school, public school itself should never have become an experiment. A few experimental schools should exist to try out new theories, new ideas in education, but the regular schools should just be applying what is known to work. After all, who would truly want their child to simply be part of a social experiment that seems to be failing miserably at the moment?

Here is a newsflash for the students and parents. Their rent, (or the majority of it), gets paid by us, the taxpayers. Therefore, their "hoods" are equal.
No do not let them back in school. Let some of these concerned citizens utilize the unutilized community center at Willow Oaks, put up a chalkboard and good luck.

there we go again with the african american community as one individual unit that apparently walks, talks and shares the same mind. if you want to start pointing at groups, be more definitive. its the parents of these kids and the local ministers who've seen Jessie and Al on tv too many times and said "I can do that.." and as far as the duke lacrosse players go, funny, i didn't hear any women's rights groups apologize either. The only reason duke apologized was to hopefully lessen the monetary losses from the lawsuit. Has any of these kids said they are sorry to the school? the officers? the teachers? EACH OTHER?

on a side note... I'm not sure if anyone believes someone who does say they are sorry anymore.

I think the parade of speakers at last week's school board meeting was orchestrated by Deena Hayes. I don't think she believes in any student of color EVER being disciplined.

As a teacher at GHS I am appalled at the article on today's front page. Let these kids back in? For what reason? They weren't doing anything in class to begin with except causing disruptions so why should we let them come back? If they cared about their education then let them back in - the problem is that they didn't care, and don't care. Check thier grades! Parents are up in arms now because it is THEIR problem. They must now provide transportation for their unruly teens. They must deal with them for several hours a day instead of teachers and administrators. They must try to be....PARENTS.

The parents only want them back in school so they don't have to take responsibility for them in the school hours. If they had spent more time with their children maybe they could have prevented this fight. Quit complaining get to work be a parent and a role model.

NO WAY should these thugs be allowed back. These parents need to discipline their children, I am so sick of the unfair race card. Give me a break. Rule breakers come in all colors and sizes. Get these kids OUT of our school so good kids can learn and good teachers can teach. GCS need to get tough on this before something really horrible happens. Why are we always working for the lowest common denominator? What about the 90% of us who want a safe place to send our children? Let’s allow students and teachers to vote on it. Do they want these kids back in their school? I guarantee not.

i think if you do the crime ya have to do the time.
i think that the young people of today think they can get away with anything they want to these days and nothing will happen to them i think it is great that the school systems are stepping up and punishing these problem people in the schools my son is 9 years old and i am already worring about him attending middle school and high school in guilford county. i take my hat off to the school and think they made the right desicion to keep these kids out of school and let the one that are there to learn and be respective people to others stay and get taught. and i hope the mother and fathers of these kids really came down hard on them so this does not happen again in the future.
signed
a worried parent of a 9 year old

"i didn't hear any women's rights groups apologize either."
You seem to have missed my point. As I stated "The African-American community is quick to blame White people for everything, but want no blame for any of the problems they have broought on themselves." I'm not so much concerned with the apology (I have come NOT to expect it for the African-American community) but have you heard anyone in the African-American communtiy put blame where it belongs in ref. to the Duke Laccross mess. It all started with a LIE from an African-American woman. I will say it again, The African-America community is quick to blame the White community, but will not take responsibility for their own problems that they themselves have created.

This question is an easy one: absolutely not! The kids involved in this fight have been involved in many before and for sure many to come. When I attended GHS, it was a school of dignity with an outstanding academic record and now it is known as a school seen on the news because of riots and threats. My sister currently attends this school and I have recieved more than a few phone calls with her crying because of these threats or the violence she has to witness. It's ridiculous and these kids need to either go ahead to Juvi or just stay home and cause chaos! They know they can continue to get away with the things they do and that's why these problems persist - let's STOP them! It's about time!

As a former substitute teacher and spouse of a teacher working in one of the county's toughest middle schools, I don't think the students should be allowed back in school. Not this year anyway. Guilford County Schools have many students of all races who are bright, willing to learn, and most of all, kind at heart. They have good parents who care about what they'll become as adults. These good students do not need to be terrorized by the violent, anti-social behavior of their peers who obviously have zero plans of going anywhere in life. These violent kids need to be enrolled in a rehabilitation program where they will learn the kind of life and social lessons their pitiful home lives have lacked. Until then, they are incapable of doing anything else in our schools besides making other students feel threatened for persuing a better life. No student has the right to turn our schools into a violent sewer.

I feel bad for all of the kids mentioned in this article, because it looks like their parents are teaching them the psychologically damaging lesson that 'it's always someone else's fault.' Until these kids are made to understand that they are the only ones who can be accountable for their consequences, they will soon find themselves in prison, or worse, dead at an early age.

I think what we're all failing to see is that it is not the students' fault. It's all the institutionalized racism and poverty and multiculturalism that caused them to behave the way they did.

(I've heard this from Deena Hayes)

When did we as a society stop "raising" our children and let them raise themselves, it seems that is what is happening. My children are grown and we were discussing this thing just last week. There seems to be no respect, not for themselves, or for anyone else whether it be the police, teachers, elders. So many young people now are used to , just as that mother said, "not having to do anything they dont want to". There is no concern for others, no compassion, and unfortunately, it does start with the parents, I know you cant be with them all the time, but if you instill good manners and morals in your child they wioll take them with them where ever they go. Society has so much of an influence on them starting with the content of rap music, everything is ok, do whatever you want, killing are no longer a shock in greensboro, High point, etc. it is an everyday occurance, WE NEED TO TAKE A STAND NOW, don't allow your children to listen and watch these things, (they do start young enough that parents should have control of it) Know where your children are and who they are with and What they are doing.. there is no excuse for these children running wild on their own. If you did not want the responsibility you should not have had them. Its time to get back to being responsible parents and giving these children a fair chance in life.

There are people in the african american community that say its the stripper's fault in the duke lacrosse case and she should've been arrested and convicted for filing a false police report and slander. The are people in the african american community that say the parents of these kids have failed the kids, themselves and tax payers. There are people in the african american community who chose to get an education and then move onto a career and not just a "job." There are people in the african american community with sense. I'm one of them. And each time i see idiots do something stupid on tv and then get family members to beg for/demand a reprieve, I want the judge to throw the book at them. I don't want these kids back in Grimsley and i think it sucks that great school has to deal with hood thugs to this extent. Now that Greir is gone, lets change a couple things...how about sending the hampton homes folks to western...or the cumberland court folks to northern or eastern guilford? spread the love, or hate, around a bit.

Some of the students suspended came to the School Board meeting last week. Among other things they camplained about the level of instruction they were getting at SCALES. The work given to them were way below their level. This is a legitimate complaint and should be corrected by the staff at SCALES giving them more challenging work. Just because they are suspended, our duties to provide a meaningful opportunity to get back on track are not suspended. They should be given more work not less work. When you are hungary for education they you should be fed.

Idiot Savant has the right idea..!

"Board member Amos Quick expressed concern last week about adults becoming like "rabid dogs" when it comes to children who make mistakes."

A mistake? You mean a gang fight is like dialing a wrong number? or is it a mistake like Michael Vick accidentally fighting his pit bulls?

Clearly, people like Amos Quick are not taking this matter seriously. These kids should not be allowed back into school until we are ready to deal with this matter in a serious manner.

A mistake. Sheesh...

Typical parental response. When kids misbehave, it's not their fault. Always someone else to blame. No wonder so many wind up in jail. When parents condone and enable bad behavior, what do you get, criminals. This bad behavior escalates until they rob, kill, or get killed, then we as a society have to pay for lack of good parental roll modeling.

Hank, the mistake may have been when Amos Quick decided he could do more than tell jokes on 102 jamz's morning show. I have one thing to say to Amos that annoys comic-turned actvists all over america..."Say something funny."

Joe R. Stafford
"When you are hungary for education they you should be fed."
If they were hungary for education they wouldn't be where they are now.

And to Idiot Savant
I'm glad you do not consider yourself with the majority of you African-American race. And I'm sure there are others like you. But when the majority of the African-American community continues to follow & elect people like Rev. J Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton, and the PAC committee here in Greensboro and Diane Bellamy Small ( who lied and wouldn't take a lie detector test), Skip Alston, etc. who do nothing but cry racism, is it not easy to understand how all African-Americans can get lumped together.

Discipline in schools (or lack of it) has been a concern for a long time. As elections draw near, please take the time to find out from those who want to or have been representing you on the school board what they believe or what their record/past comments have shown.
Many have complained that Dr. Grier and his administration wanted suspension rates lowered and in turn, students who are discipline problems remain in the classrooms disturbing the learning process. Remember, if you are tired of this....our Superintendent (whomever it is) works at the pleasure of the board. Find out what board members have not supported your view on discipline and do not support them. Educate yourself and vote for someone who will insist on discipline and our school environments being safe ones where students can learn and teachers can teach.

What have these "thugs" done since the fight to earn a place back into thier schools . . . answer the masses this question if you please.

See the results of off-campus problem carried over to campus in Memphis on page A7 in today's News and Record.
If the principal and other administrators don't step up to enforce discipline, we'll have chaos and eventually death(s) will result.

I personally,,think it's bad,, that the world today,, has came to stuff like this,,, these same thugs that want back in to school now,, are ones that 2 months ago,, didn't care who they hurt,, didn't think at all,,about maybe hurting someone for life,, didn't care about anything that normal American family's teach there children,,, i believe years ago,, these thugs mom's and dad's,, should have whipped butt's,, and taught them to repect others more.. America is a free country,, a neighborhood,,,is only where people live,, not owned by anyone,, and surely not owned by abunch of kids,, that are thinking they have the rights,,to go around,,painting stuff on walls,, and picking fights,, These kids,,,if they wanted to be at school,,to learn,, and make somethings out of there lifes,, #1,, i would think different,, But #2, This wouldn't have happened, cause those kids wouldn't have been fighting, they would have been in school learning,,and not having the police dept,, having to deal with stuff like this.. they got enough to do,,,in this day and time, without having to worry about raising kids,, that they parents should have did something about years ago,,, So No,,, i don't see why the school should take them back,,, straighten there life out yourself,, put them to work,,, or Home School them,,, Senting your child to school,, is not daycare,,,,,,, there teachers payed to teach,,, not babysit abunch of gang wanta be's,, sent them to the Army,,, til they growup.

the army doesn't want hoodlums either. and that wont fix too much if they are already in a gang. They will come out of the military knowing how to kill more efficiently.

Why is it that white people always drag out Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton every time someone mentions anything about race?

I think these mommas are simply tired of having their kids hanging around, getting into trouble. It's better for them to terrorize a school than be bored at home. Face it, we all know there will be another riot when they get back to Grimsley. Maybe the school board could volunteer to patrol the halls.

Education. What a joke.

Parents have to responsible for their children. It is very obvious that these children do not have responsible parents. Our society cannot afford to sustain people who cannot and will not take responsibility for themselves. I'm afraid this is a lesson that has to be learned the hard way.

I've heard enough - it's past time to hold a lottery. I think there should be a lottery for Grimsley, Page, and Dudley next year.

Remember the one they used in High Point? How about Greensboro now?

a lottery!? lol you know a bunch of those kids "bounced" when Dudley got School Uniforms. and in the lottery, they will put IB, languages and arts at dudley just to see how many kids would go there. Page would be stuck with socio-economics and history and Grimsley would have math and science. That would be the day I would pack up the house and move north by northwest. hopefully with APR and forclosures, i should be able to get a great deal on a mcmansion or something close to it around summerfield or oakridge.

I say no

Parents: spare the rod, spoil the child. take the discipline out of the home, ultimately it ends up in the judicial system.

Kids: start paying property taxes, then you can claim some turf.

@ Not racist, just telling it straight: Usually when you have to tell people you're Not racist, the next thing that comes out of your mouth is usually a racist statement.

You speak of the reactions of The African-American community as if we're all of the same mind, requiring a spokesperson to speak on our behalf, sitting around blaming The White Man...to make that kind of assumption - isn't that...racist?

I'm more from the school of thought to not give the White Man something to say "Aha!" over.

This post is becoming a racial war and seems to be getting off of the main issue, our kids! As I agree with the statements concerning responsibility lying on these parents shoulders, it's obvious that that will never happen with certain families. We as upstanding, law abiding citizens must come together to protect our children and ourselves, just as they do with there gangs. We must make our voice heard and demand better protection for our children and ourselves by not having to associate/be around people such as this. States should keep a database of children with a known history of violence and educate parents on alternative resources to keep these children away from ours, the ones that have an interest in learning and bettering themselves. Not all of these parents are bad parents and you cant necessarily blame economic situations on their kid's behavior. Too many good kid's have come from poverty. Leaders such as JJ, AS, Skip Alston and Earl Jones only add to the hostility and racial separation. School needs to be like it was in the 70's, Respect and be Respected!

As I agree with the statements concerning responsibility lying on these parents shoulders, it's obvious that that will never happen with certain families. We as upstanding, law abiding citizens must come together to protect our children and ourselves, just as they do with there gangs. We must make our voice heard and demand better protection for our children and ourselves by not having to associate/be around people such as this. States should keep a database of children with a known history of violence and educate parents and require that they use alternative resources to keep these children away from ours, the ones that have an interest in learning and bettering themselves. Not all of these parents are bad parents and you cant necessarily blame economic situations on their kid's behavior. Too many good kid's have come from poverty. Leaders such as JJ, AS, Skip Alston and Earl Jones only add to the hostility and racial separation. How many white leaders do you hear preaching what is best for the white people, none! Success in life take hard work, determination and preserverence. Just ask the leaders above. Without it, most will fail. Why aren't they teaching that?

Every parent with a child at a pubic school in Guilford County should take a day off and observe the daily "goings-on" at that respective school. Maybe then parents will begin to take action by attending more GCS and County Commissioner meetings, hopefully later coming to advocate real and effective policies that serve to foster secure learning environments. Time to take action GCS parents...how much do you want your schools to be safe? I promise that really wishing for it won't make it so!

As a public school teacher I want to take the time to express how things actually happen in the school.

1. Students today know what they are doing and why they are doing it.

2. Kids LIE to their parents!

3. People who "know" a kid outside of school do not really "know" a kid.

4. GCS has become a glorified babsitter's club today.

As I was saying a an employee in the school system, I feel as though I am getting paid to make sure that these kids do not kill each other rather than trying to give them the tools they need to succeed in life. Don't get me wrong I love my job and the students that I teach every day (black, white, asian, etc.) But what I don't love is when students come up to me telling me that they do not feel safe and that is where someone needs to step in and do something about this rising problem in the schools today. In short I do not think that the students involved in the fight at Grimsley High should be allowed back in our schools.

I agree with the Rev. Nelson.
Young people do belong in school and they do make mistakes.
But we as parents must take responsibility on how well we prepare our children for school so when our children make mistakes, they must take responsibility for those actions and their painful consequences.
I also agree with Rev. Nelson-The community should look for ways to address these challenges without making things worse, a way of helping parents educate their children before dumping them in the GC Schools without proper preparation. The school district is not a child's first teacher-a parent is the most important teacher a child will ever have. The community is not responsible for the education of a child, a parent must do their part, and we must advocate for helping parents ready a child for school by:
1. Preparing their children for school by working with them on right & wrong, courtesy & respect for their classmates and especially teachers and all adults, in addition to reading to them daily, working on their alphabet, numbers and colors.
2. Working with our kids and letting them learn to achieve, showing them the value of an education in their lives and their futures.

I believe the Rev. Nelson and his Beloved Community Center should step forward, volunteering their Center, staff and its resources to both parents and young students, to home school them through their suspensions. Students from both neighborhoods should sit side by side, along with their parents, and work together, for as long as it takes, to keep up their grades and progress. Perhaps then, they would be exposed to the reality of how very much alike they are, indeed how we all are. They would also hopefully realize how much they miss and need the high school community, because for all its imperfections, it is their community, and they have the power to make it the best or worst place possible. The choice is theirs.

I agree with the Rev. Nelson.
Young people do belong in school and they do make mistakes.
But we as parents must take responsibility on how well we prepare our children for school so when our children make mistakes, they must take responsibility for those actions and their painful consequences.
I also agree with Rev. Nelson-The community should look for ways to address these challenges without making things worse, a way of helping parents educate their children before dumping them in the GC Schools without proper preparation. The school district is not a child's first teacher-a parent is the most important teacher a child will ever have. The community is not responsible for the education of a child, a parent must do their part, and we must advocate for helping parents ready a child for school by:
1. Preparing their children for school by working with them on right & wrong, courtesy & respect for their classmates and especially teachers and all adults, in addition to reading to them daily, working on their alphabet, numbers and colors.
2. Working with our kids and letting them learn to achieve, showing them the value of an education in their lives and their futures.

I believe the Rev. Nelson and his Beloved Community Center should step forward, volunteering their Center, staff and its resources to both parents and young students, to home school them through their suspensions. Students from both neighborhoods should sit side by side, along with their parents, and work together, for as long as it takes, to keep up their grades and progress. Perhaps then, they would be exposed to the reality of how very much alike they are, indeed how we all are. They would also hopefully realize how much they miss and need the high school community, because for all its imperfections, it is their community, and they have the power to make it the best or worst place possible. The choice is theirs.

I am sad to read the Rhino times today and see statements made by parents of the Grimsley parents, Amos Quick and Deena Hayes. First Deena Hayes is the biggest racist in the county. She nearly started a race riot at a local high school in the late nineties by and I qoute calling "white men rapist" and many other things. She does nothing but make excuses for and give the black community a bad name. If you want things done for your race Deena don't play the race trump card every time a hand is dealt. Amos Quick you go to the schools and watch then come back and see if you say the same idiotic things.
Parents quit being children and make your child take responsibility for their actions and when they don't take responsibility know that it is on you and your time to fix the situation via your own time and means.
The real world doesn't give hand outs and doesn't give a crap about punks. So why should we teach them that they are going to be given chance after chance. Get them out and let the students who will make the country a better place one day learn or we won't have any children with an education to do that.
In closing, the trouble makers need to be sent to a school that teaches nothing but skilled trades like carpentry, brick masonry, cooking skills, agriculture, auto mechanics etc. then get them apprenticeships and get paid until they get a real job if you want to help these hard to reach students.
Get us an OLD SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT WHO WILL LAY DOWN THE LAW AND HELP OUT SCHOOL SYSTEM!!!!!!!!

Everyone�s comments above are right on target.
YES, the students should be suspended and not allowed back in school. This was not the 1st offense for most of these students.
YES, the students do need to continue their education. I think an alternative school is the best for these children. The school system is not helping these students but sending them back home with nothing to do. An alternative school that does more than just babysit the students is needed. One that teachers the student life skills so he/she can be respected citizens of the community.
Yes, it does start at the home. Where are the parents? They knew there were problems the night before. They should have told their children to go to school and work hard, respect your teachers and friends. Last night is over. Forgive those who trespassed against you. The PARENTS need to teach these things, not the teachers. I think the parent who came to school the other day with her daughter and a friend and helped her daughter beat up a girl attending school because of something that happened over the weekend is HORRIBLE. That parent should be punished as well as her daughter. When is it going to stop!!!
Yes, the schools job is to educate ALL STUDENTS in the most efficient and safe way possible. The teachers can not teach when they have students who are constantly disrupting the class and being disrespectful to the teachers. EVERYONE of ALL races deserve an education. But, EVERYONE also needs to show respect and follow the rules � if they don�t then they have to suffer the consequences. This is the only way to learn.
NO, the students should not return to Grimsley.

To those that have said that the school board needs to step up and make some big changes, you're spot on! The problem; however, is that even if the school board enacted such policies it would be up to the individual school's administrations to enforce them.

My wife is a high school teacher in GCS and recently was told that a student was caught in another class with a knife and was not suspended. Let me repeat - the child brought a knife (a switchblade, if I'm not mistaken) onto school premises, was caught red-handed by his teacher, promptly written-up, and returned to class shortly thereafter.

That is pathetic and is a slap in the face to every teacher at that school, as well as a safety risk to every person who sets foot on that property on a daily basis. It turns my stomach to think of my wife enduring such an environment and even moreso to think that my children will one day attend a GCS institution.

GCS needs to stop this bussing bullcrap and recreate the neighborhood schools where the kids who want to learn can do so safely, and the animals can kill one another and allow Darwinism to take its intended effect. The good kids caught in the bad schools can apply for transfers to be reviewed on an individual basis and sign an agreement that if they do not meet certain academic standards or are reprimanded for breaking the rules, then they are sent back where they came from. The current situation does nothing other than ruin the learning environment for students who care EVERYWHERE instead of in fewer locations.

Is it unfair? You bet - but if anyone can explain to me how the current situation is "fair," I would be more than happy to listen.

ok no! me going 2 grimsley next year as a freshman! dont see the fight as a bad thing cuz i mean if somebody touch me or threatin me its on!.....and they love their hoods because its where they live and they aint bout 2let NO ONE disrespect where they live at! cuz i mean i be in hampton homes all the time and it is not a dangerous place so i rep it 2 the fullest!

We are considering moving to Greensboro from Cambridge, MA to attend graduate school. I have a son who will be in 11th grade. I did some research about Grimsley and was impressed with their AP and IB programs. I am just reading about the incident with the subsequent suspension of the approx. 14 students. It has been enlightening to read all the comments. I had no idea about how bad the situation appears to be in terms of accessibility to drugs, violence, threats, race issues at Grimsley...If you were us, would you move to Greensboro and send your son to Grimsley? Any comments? My husband attended Harvard Business School and we live in a community with people from around the world without problems. The students who come to Cambridge, MA to attend schools like Harvard, MIT, Tufts, Northeastern etc; their common denominator is education!
Are there any violence issues at UNC Greensboro as well? Based on the reports, the students should NOT be allowed to return. It appears that a small group of students/their parents seem to have hijacked the agenda!