In addition, the principal notified all Stone parents of the incident that day through both a letter home and an email. Stark contrast to how LaPlata seems to handle things.

I wanted to state that I am very proud of my son for what he did (standing up for someone). When I arrived at school the day of the incident, I first saw the victim and my stomach turned, not only in sorrow for him but in fear of what injuries my child may have. When I saw my child (with fortunately only a swollen lip), he turned to me an said, "am I am trouble" (because I had always warned him about fighting)? I told him no, and that I was very proud of him.

I have to let anyone who reads this article know that there is no exaggeration when I say that the boy that was beaten came very close to being beaten and kicked to death. I feel that if this were to have happened off school grounds that these boys would have beaten him to death.

We need to stop this terrible violence in our schools. If kids are going to be violent then they do not need to be in the public school system at all. Teachers and administration need to take control and stop letting the kids run the schools.

From what I understand there were 3 fights that day at La Plata High, one in which a boy got his teeth knocked out. I also want to know why these assaults are being pushed under the rug and us parents are not informed?

I asked my son, about 8 of his friends and several of my friends if they had heard about the incident about the girl in La Plata High being stabbed, and no one had. I think that there are a lot of other incidents that we have not heard about.

Maybe its time for us to speak up for our children's sake!

The only way to get anything done if your child is assaulted at school, or whatever, is to go directly to the Sheriff's Office and file an assault charge.

And when you do, include the principal's name, vice-principal, etcetera.

The schools SAY that they'll take care of it, but I know of a substitute that is nearly blind and was beaten by a bunch of thugs in a local middle school. Or how about a pregnant teacher that was kicked and hit by a student?

If you care about the cruddy situation that are schools are in, keep posting stories. You know that the officials at the school board monitor these blog sites.

I think it's selfish and just plain awful that violent fights, hitting and kicking teachers, and other crimes are not reported to the public IN the newspapers.

I don't think that the school administration wants parents in the classrooms to observe their children and their teachers.

I also don't think that they want parents walking the hallways to see exactly what goes on in our public schools.

Holly

The Board of Education is the actual Board - speaking specifically. The elected officals, plus Mr. Richmond.

Ms. Thomas, just for clarification could you be more specific as to whether you contacted an actual board member or if you phoned the main administration offices?

Thank you!

I hope the kids are doing well!

A confidence of being safe in Charles County schools was shattered for both parents and students. I was disillusioned by the lack of compassion and concern demonstrated by the principal. I felt my son was re-victimized by his school because it was more important to move past the incident, than to address the consequences of the student(s) in question. It was more important to keep the child's anonymity and punishment from us. I believe the perpetrator's have more rights than the victims. In society we have come along way with victim's rights. Unfortunately, it hasn't hit our school system.

Ms. Thomas and I did go to the school board. We did bring it to their attention. Ms. Thomas and I wanted this in the forefront. I would be glad to go to any meeting, hearing or forum to discuss school violence and ways to address the issues. Ms. Thomas and I welcome the opportunity to get as many parents involved as possible to try to regain the security of sending our children to a safe environment. We as parents have the right to know what is going on in our schools and we don't truly know. With the convenience of modern technology it would not be difficult to keep those channels of communications open. All it takes is a commitment to putting the safety and security of our students first. The school has given us the ability to check our children's grades online, be advised of school closings and delays, why can't we be kept abreast of incidents occurring in the schools?

I believe students who disregard authority figures, the law, the judicial system and their community and are not held accountable for their actions pose an imminent danger to our schools and community. Continuously giving students a slap on the wrist for gross misconduct in school affords them the opportunity to continue in this criminal cycle. As a mother, I am committed to do what it takes to bring justice and security back to our schools. Are the administrators?

Remember, this is assault, and since the CCBOE has deemed it reprehensible to defend yourself, file assault charges.

It worked for a mom I know.

To clarify this, I do not mean to pinpoint any one individual or group as I do not know how the school board/administration works. It was just an assumption on my part considering how this has all played out. I do want to say however that we were told by an individual at the Board of Education that if the 2 boys were suspended for more than 10 days (which they were) that they should have been "referred to the superintendent", Which to my understanding was they were to have a small hearing at the board concerning the assault and then decide 1. Should the student/students be allowed to go back to school with no punishment or 2. Should the student/students be referred to a remedial type of school, counseling/and/or home schooling or 3. Should they be kicked out of the Charles County School System for good?

It looks like if there was even a hearing that it was door #1.

I also don't understand if someone is suspended for assault why they are not only allowed on school property but allowed to sit in the same room with the victim just 1 week later.

I can say I had no prior knowledge of this incident. I am deeply sorry for the suffering of the victims and impressed with the courage of the young man who assisted. I will be refraining from commenting further on this specific incident at this time pending possible further legal action.

Please know as a Board of Education member and an elected official, I am listening, I do hear your concerns, and I will try to better Charles County Public Schools.

Please contact me with any issues or concerns. jabell@ccboe.com or abell4edu@verizon.net

I have a step-daughter attending La Plata. I taught for a year after retiring from the Navy at Westlake (Mike Brown from Lackey talked me into it!). I was absolutely appalled at the administrators. Teachers are called into the office more than the students. We had phones in the classroom but the principal would call me into the office over the loudspeaker. I had cadets (I taught NJROTC) ask me "Warrant, you in trouble again?" I'd just laugh it off to them, but in all reality, the administrators just CYA.

Trial lawyers and the ACLU have gotten to the point where the rights of the one outweigh the rights of the many. Sad. But sometimes good people have to stand up to the system and make them accountable.

I know Superintendent Richmond is a good man, but for heavens sake, don't sweep these events under the rug or transfer thugs to another school when they should be in jail.

Where did this thug come from before he was at LaPlata?

They have a thug transfer program in this county like none other.

It would be nice if we could hear from more teachers to share their concerns and situations at schools. This is the ONLY way that people that work in the school system can share exactly what happens in this system where thugs are allowed to cuss, fight, degrade teachers, on, on on.

Where did this thug come from before he was at LaPlata?

They have a thug transfer program in this county like none other.

It would be nice if we could hear from more teachers to share their concerns and situations at schools. This is the ONLY way that people that work in the school system can share exactly what happens in this system where thugs are allowed to cuss, fight, degrade teachers, on, on on.

There are two sides to every story.

I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE TWO SIDES OF THE STORY AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE THEY ADD UP AND THE SUBJECT ADMITTED IT. IT WASN'T A FIGHT IT WAS AN ATTACK FROM BEHIND--TWO AGAINST ONE.

SORRY TO HEAR YOU FEEL VICTIMS SHOULD BE RE-VICTIMIZED BECAUSE IN SOME WAY THEY DESERVED IT. I HOPE AND PRAY YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE NEVER IN THIS SITUATION.

I UNDERSTAND ZERO TOLERANCE FOR FIGHTING--THIS WAS AN ATTACK AND IF HE DIDN'T TRY TO DEFEND HIMSELF, HE COULD HAVE ENDED UP DEAD.

BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY WERE HEARD AND THE PRINCIPAL BASED MOST OF IT ON THE SUBJECTS SIDE OF THE STORY. I GUESS IT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THE ATTACKER'S DEFENSE AND NOT WORRY ABOUT THE RAMIFICATIONS OF BEING A VICTIM AT SCHOOL.

What, Are you a friend of the ones that assaulted this boy? How dare you! You did not see this boy's injuries. You did not read statements stating that these two boys jumped this 14-year-old from behind and not only repeatedly punched him in the head but also kicked him (pictures to prove) with their timberland boots in his chest and rib area, and if you had read the article you would see that this was not his first offense on school grounds.

As a matter of fact, just six days after this incident the 18-year-old hit his 14-year-old girlfriend in the face (public record) and now has PBJ.

I sure hope you don't have children that you are raising and telling them that if someone says something that you don't like then you have the right to attack them. I cannot believe that you would post such an idiotic remark like this on such a forum in which people are trying to figure out how to solve a problem, to protect our children, not blame the victim.