Our Schools In Crisis

Jolita Berry, a teacher at a Baltimore high school, was attacked by a female student last month. This story reminds me of the numerous incidents of violence in our schools from the recent third graders plot to kill their teacher, up to the unforgettable tragedy in Columbine. I think back to my high school years (only) about two decades ago, and realize just how much things have changed. Sure I remember my share of fights between the students, but there were no assaults on teachers and certainly no guns in school. The details of the Baltimore teacher attack are appalling. While in class, Berry asked a student to sit back down at her desk. Not only did the student refuse, she approached Berry and got in her face. Jolita Berry warned her student "Back up, you're in my space. If you hit me, I'm gonna defend myself." She never got the chance to defend herself as the student rushed her amidst a flurry of punches and took her down to the floor. If that is not bad enough, the rest of the students in the classroom were cheering the beating on, and one of them even recorded the vicious attack on a camera phone. The video was later posted on Myspace by a student. Berry suffered a bruised shoulder and a broken blood vessel in her eye during the attack. The worst part of this whole incident by far was the disgusting response from the school administration. Berry said the principal told her she'd provoked the attack by telling the student she would defend herself. The Principals words were yet another slap to the face of poor Jolita Berry and tell another story as well. Progressive thinkers apparently feel that people do not have the right to defend their own persons. I say there is no more fundamental right regardless of whom is attacking you. To add insult to all of the injuries, when Berry was leaving school after the attack to receive medical treatment, she was mocked by the student who had beaten her. This because the Principal failed to remove the student immediately after the attack. The disintegration of the American family along with diminished parental rights are as much to blame for this incident as the student herself. The actions of the Principal were beyond reproach for sure. That Principal should be expelled permanently.

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