Southern States

Bullying is, sadly, not an uncommon occurrence in middle schools across the country. However, the decision by a judge in Florida, in response to an extreme incident of bullying, is anything but ordinary. While some are applauding the judge’s decision to take tough action against a bullying student, others are wondering whether the judge went too far in his ruling. Was the judge fair in this case?

Bullying to the Extreme

The incident in question took place in Duval County, one of the largest school districts in Florida and in the U.S. A student at Oceanway Middle School, Aria Jewett, was lured away from school grounds by a group of classmates. One of the students, Paris Cannon, allegedly dragged Jewett by the hair and slammed her head into a stone wall. She also slapped and kicked Jewett while Jewett was curled up on the ground in a fetal position.

According to First Coast News, Jewett was taken to the hospital by ambulance after the attack, where she was treated for life-threatening injuries, including a skull fracture and a severe concussion. Jewett also suffered contusions and abrasions to the scalp from the attack. She spent the night in the hospital, before she was released to go home and recover.

Friends of Cannon were with the girls at the time of the attack, and one actually filmed the incident. The video showed the beating by Cannon, as well as two other girls in the background, laughing

School bus safety has been a concern for Alabama educators since the incident in Dale County left a bus driver dead and a young child held hostage for several days. Montgomery County, one of the largest school districts in the country, is taking steps to make school buses safer by installing special security equipment in their vehicles. A new pilot program allows the county to test the equipment in a few of its buses for free before investing in the security equipment for more of its fleet.

Four Buses Serve as Test Models

AL.com reports that four Montgomery County school buses have been equipped with advanced security equipment as a part of a new pilot program. Bus Guard, a company based in Texas, has installed video equipment into the vehicles that allow it to track events inside the bus and outside traffic. The primary purpose of the surveillance equipment is to identify motorists who illegally pass the bus so that citations may be issued.

Michael Cox, director of transportation for Montgomery Public Schools says loading and unloading pose the greatest danger to students riding the school bus. Cox explained, “We can’t predict what the drivers of cars stopped near buses will do. Students have lost their lives around the state and the nation because a driver of another vehicle was in a hurry and disobeyed the law, passed a bus, and hit and killed a student.”

This video from bus manufacturer Bluebird

The dress code has become a major source of contention at one Mobile County school, as a widespread suspension has resulted in strong feelings on both sides of the issue. While some applaud the suspensions as a way to teach students responsibility, others claim the suspension sends the wrong message to students about priorities. Who is right and who is wrong in this debate? The answer may depend on who you talk to.

Suspensions Come after Numerous Warnings

Al.com reports that the principal of LeFlore Magnet High School in Mobile County recently suspended 100 students on a single day for dress code violations. The principal, Alvin Dailey, said the suspensions were issued after numerous warnings to the students that they needed to abide by the dress codes that had been in place at the school for 16 years.

“I’ve repeatedly told kids before today to pull your pants up, take that jacket off, tuck your shirt in,” Dailey stated at Fox 10. “After a while, it’s time to stop talking and take some action.”

The two-day suspensions created a gamut of responses from parents, students, and even members of the community. Some supported Dailey’s decision, saying the students need to learn “soft” skills – like a professional appearance - in high school that will help them succeed in jobs after graduation. Others complained that Dailey’s extreme measure does little more than take students out of a safe learning environment and put them on their

The cheating scandal that has rocked the Atlanta Public School system for the better part of five years is now coming to a close with nearly three dozen indictments against educators in the city. Now, those found guilty of myriad charges, from racketeering to making false charges, have been given a deadline to report for jail. Among those indicted is Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Beverly Hall, who received hundreds of thousands of dollars in bonuses directly tied to the “improvements” in standardized test scores.

A Long, Sordid Saga Comes to a Close

Suspicions of cheating throughout the Atlanta Public School system were first raised in 2008 by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. According to the Daily Beast, the publication ran a story questioning the “statistically improbable” test score improvements at one of the city’s elementary schools. The Journal Constitution followed up with other levels of suspicious test results at ten more schools throughout the city.

What evolved after those reports was a long and complex investigation launched by former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue. Perdue put numerous state resources behind the study, assigning two state prosecutors and dozens of investigators to the task. The study took several years to complete and eventually told a sordid tale of teachers forced into test cheating by intense pressure coming from top officials in the district.

This video reports on the Atlanta Schools cheating scandal.

Dozens of Counts

Brevard County Schools, one of the largest school districts in the country, is facing a financial crisis. That crisis has led them to consider the closure of three schools, which has also led to threats of civil rights lawsuits if the school closures come to fruition. Now, hope has come to Brevard County Schools in the ninth hour from an unlikely source - the Canaveral Port Authority.

Port Commissioner Offers $5 Million to Save Schools

The three Brevard schools on the chopping block are Gardendale and South Lake Elementary and Clearlake Middle School. Florida Today reports that Port Commissioner Bruce Deardoff has proposed a $5 million donation to keep the three Brevard County schools open. The money would come directly from the port authority, which is currently sitting on a surplus of $52 million with another $20 million expected from profits this year.

The money proposed by Deardoff would be enough to keep all three schools open for two more years. That would be sufficient time to see if voters approve a sales or property tax levy in 2014 that would provide ongoing financial support for the schools. Deardoff calls the move a “no-brainer,” that would help Brevard schools at a time when they need it the most.

“In my three years at Port Canaveral, I have never voted on an issue which would do so much good for in the port district for so little money,” Deardoff stated at Florida Today.

Deardoff