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Home > Blogs > Lakota Schools News and Issues > Archives > 2008 > April > 09 > Entry
Fight at East
I am curious to get your reaction about the fight at East between the 17-year-old student and Cheryl Sims. This incident fueled another event that night between that girl and her mother Antina Howard. Here is the most recent story: http://www.pulsejournal.com/hp/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/04/09/pjw041008fightfolo.html
I have had readers ask why I don’t name the juveniles. As a general rule, we don’t name anyone younger than 18. Also, I can’t say for sure who threw the first punch while it is under investigation. I had readers contact me to say they saw the teen attack Sims. Sims and I also had a conversation about it, and she said the girl attacked her, and Sims was just trying to restrain the teen. But, with the incident under investigation, all parties are innocent until proven guilty.
I have been fascinated by how this incident unfolded before and after the fight. Before the fight, Sims told me she met with administrators to talk about the bullying issue between her daughter and this 17-year-old girl. Apparently, there were some serious issues there. Sims said it was getting out of hand, and she needed help. Moments after the meeting, the fight broke out near the lunch room.
Later, Sims said the teen and her mother, Antina Howard, allegedly retaliated by attacking the home of a family connected to the Sims. I don’t know what the motivation was for this family attack, but it does raise some questions in my mind.
Why would someone try to continue that fight after police had issued charges?
What motivates people to fight?
I personally have the flight and cry response built into my genes. Would you fight back? Would you fight back in a school?
What motivates both a child and her mother to (allegedly) assault someone? I ask this, because I have always been taught to talk things out. I have never encountered a violent situation. However, many people have told me they would have fought back if a teenager attacked them in a school. Does fighting come more naturally to some people? Does environment matter? l
Feel free to comment and tell me what you think. I know there are so many layers here. It is such a sad situation when lines of communication break down this much and lead to violence.
What solutions do you have?
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Comments
By nicole
April 9, 2008 6:03 PM | Link to this
Any child who has the unmitigated gall to attack a parent in school or anywhere else on this planet, clearly deserved the beatdown and trip to the hospital she got. Where are her manners? I can only hope she thinks again before trying that on another adult. I for one am tired of hearing about the crazed actions of out of control children, and their parents. Enough already.