[Lady Raider]

I just seen a clip on the news were the parents of a senior has hired a lawyer and fighting the school for the possible loss of his scholarship... coming up on channel 2 the parents do not think it is fair for their son to loose his status and be kicked out of school for a school prank.

just seen the rest of the news clip, it is the valedictorian of EPHS

[Lady Raider]

The parents of the EPHS valedictorian has hired a lawyer and they are fighting the school system over their son's suspension and the fact he lost his status as valedictorian going to court to stay in school.

Jacob Zimmerman lost his battle to get back in school, from the school board, and tribunal he was guilty of painting the road, he said that is all he did the school got swept up by the PR of the county, said the lawyer

Mrs. Zimmerman said no one knows her son, and his name has been slandered, and hopefully he has not lost his scholarship to GT

[myrlin]

he should get the same punishment as the rest, if that causes him to loose his scholarship then thats his problem.

[Rookie]

"Waa! Waa! Waa! I'm special!" - NOPE. You deserve the same punishment as the rest. If you are the valedictorian and smarter than everyone else, you have no excuse but to know better. I don't feel sorry for him.

[Riograce]

I saw that story, too.

He claims that when he saw that the 'prank' was getting out of hand, he left. If he was the fine young man his mother claims he is, he would have called 911 and *reported* the vandalism. I'm sure there are those here who would call him a snitch, but if you witness CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, you should feel a moral obligation to report it.

Unless his scholarship has a morality clause, I doubt he'll lose it.

[Lady Raider]

Riograce, on 29 March 2012 - 06:01 PM, said:

I saw that story, too.

He claims that when he saw that the 'prank' was getting out of hand, he left. If he was the fine young man his mother claims he is, he would have called 911 and *reported* the vandalism. I'm sure there are those here who would call him a snitch, but if you witness CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, you should feel a moral obligation to report it.

Unless his scholarship has a morality clause, I doubt he'll lose it.

my husband said the same thing... for him to be so smart to be valedictorian, he was not to smart for not reporting it once it got out of hand.

[BooRadley]

Rookie, on 29 March 2012 - 05:59 PM, said:

"Waa! Waa! Waa! I'm special!" - NOPE. You deserve the same punishment as the rest. If you are the valedictorian and smarter than everyone else, you have no excuse but to know better. I don't feel sorry for him.

Might I serve you some WHINE? beautifully stated!

[Jet_man1969]

Lady Raider, on 29 March 2012 - 06:11 PM, said:

my husband said the same thing... for him to be so smart to be valedictorian, he was not to smart for not reporting it once it got out of hand.

Common Sense and Book smarts are two different animals, Very few people are blessed with both!

[Jetasmom]

Lady Raider, on 29 March 2012 - 05:49 PM, said:

The parents of the EPHS valedictorian has hired a lawyer and they are fighting the school system over their son's suspension and the fact he lost his status as valedictorian going to court to stay in school.

Jacob Zimmerman lost his battle to get back in school, from the school board, and tribunal he was guilty of painting the road, he said that is all he did the school got swept up by the PR of the county, said the lawyer

Mrs. Zimmerman said no one knows her son, and his name has been slandered, and hopefully he has not lost his scholarship to GT

georgia tech does not accept anyone with felony convictions, whether they have a scholarship or not

[kittycat]

Jet_man1969, on 29 March 2012 - 06:15 PM, said:

Common Sense and Book smarts are two different animals, Very few people are blessed with both!

That's so true.........

[SOLO]

Mom and Dad should be real proud of what they are teaching that yound man...NOT

[Myprayers77]

Rookie, on 29 March 2012 - 05:59 PM, said:

"Waa! Waa! Waa! I'm special!" - NOPE. You deserve the same punishment as the rest. If you are the valedictorian and smarter than everyone else, you have no excuse but to know better. I don't feel sorry for him.

IF they are somehow able to bail him out, this will not be the last time they bail him out.

[Lady Raider]

Jet_man1969, on 29 March 2012 - 06:15 PM, said:

Common Sense and Book smarts are two different animals, Very few people are blessed with both!

I wonder why that is? I agree with you... but it does make you wonder how that works that way..

[jenilyn]

I think the kid has a valid argument. And what teenager is going to rat out his friends? let's be real.

[STRAWMAN]

A good teenager wouldn't be vandalizing the street. It's still illegal to spray paint the street.

[Captain Rhett Butler]

Riograce, on 29 March 2012 - 06:01 PM, said:

I'm sure there are those here who would call him a snitch, but if you witness CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, you should feel a moral obligation to report it.

I disagree 100%. I feel great whenever a snitch gets an old fashioned beat-down. Snitches get stitches! I've told mine to NEVER talk to the po-po under any circumstances!

[Lady Raider]

Was this the student who turned himself in? if not then how did the school know he was apart of the prank? do they have cameras pointing in the road? or could it be someone told on him?

[Riograce]

Jetasmom, on 29 March 2012 - 06:18 PM, said:

georgia tech does not accept anyone with felony convictions, whether they have a scholarship or not

Oh well then.

But you know, I'm going to be surprised if any of these kids ends up with a felony conviction. I suspect that when it comes down to the nitty-gritty, the county will charge them with something different then work out deals.

[STRAWMAN]

Riograce, on 29 March 2012 - 07:05 PM, said:

Oh well then.

But you know, I'm going to be surprised if any of these kids ends up with a felony conviction. I suspect that when it comes down to the nitty-gritty, the county will charge them with something different then work out deals.

I would bet anything none of then get hit with a felony in the end. A lot of places offer diversion programs for first time offenders which keep things off your record all together

[Riograce]

Captain Rhett Butler, on 29 March 2012 - 07:01 PM, said:

I disagree 100%. I feel great whenever a snitch gets an old fashioned beat-down. Snitches get stitches! I've told mine to NEVER talk to the po-po under any circumstances!

-100

I hope they never see *you* robbed or shot, then. Think of the moral dilemma ....

[Captain Rhett Butler]

jenilyn, on 29 March 2012 - 06:43 PM, said:

I think the kid has a valid argument. And what teenager is going to rat out his friends? let's be real.

The kid's main concern should be getting the charges reduced to a misdemeanor and trying to work a deal BEFORE it goes to the grand jury. A good lawyer will try to work something out, maybe a fine and community service, pre-trial, etc. Also, the attorney should make the deal beforehand to be able to get the record expunged.

If you wait till after the indictment, you may not be able to get it expunged. (Been there, done that!)

[STRAWMAN]

I'm not saying I've killed a snitch....

[The General]

It's like this.......... These students ARE old enough to know right from wrong!!!! They know that the consequences will be tough. So, WHY do they think they should not get the punishment that they are getting????? You played, you got caught, toughen up and get over it!!!!!


Mrs G

[Mariposa]

Captain Rhett Butler, on 29 March 2012 - 07:01 PM, said:

I disagree 100%. I feel great whenever a snitch gets an old fashioned beat-down. Snitches get stitches! I've told mine to NEVER talk to the po-po under any circumstances!

And setting that example for your kids is exactly why they have had problems with discipline in school and run-ins with the law

[momof 3]

Lady Raider, on 29 March 2012 - 05:33 PM, said:

I just seen a clip on the news were the parents of a senior has hired a lawyer and fighting the school for the possible loss of his scholarship... coming up on channel 2 the parents do not think it is fair for their son to loose his status and be kicked out of school for a school prank.

just seen the rest of the news clip, it is the valedictorian of EPHS

A school prank my a$$. Once again, parents are bringing home the fact that there are no consequences for bad behavior. 'Poor little Johnny shouldn't be in trouble for a little ole prank'. What if that 'prank' had been acted out at their home, on their brick, concrete and vehicles? If little Johnny had done it I guess it would be OK, just not any other juvenile delinquent.

[feelip]

Bad week for the Zimmermans.

If this kid was painting the road (a practice that has been acceptable all these years), then he may have a valid point.

If he left when it turned into what he knew was not acceptable, he shouldn't receive the same punishment as the kids that went onto school property and vandalized the place.

When there is a murder, the accomplice doesn't get the same punishment as the trigger guy.

The only lesson that has been taught in this ordeal is NEVER ADMIT TO ANYTHING.

This post has been edited by feelip: 29 March 2012 - 07:59 PM

[mrnn]

jenilyn, on 29 March 2012 - 06:43 PM, said:

I think the kid has a valid argument. And what teenager is going to rat out his friends? let's be real.

+100

Perhaps it's been too long since some of these folks were in school but you just don't call the cops on your own friends. You lose good friends forever that way. You likely face an ass whooping or six that way. You likely will have your home/car vandalized that way. Calling the cops on your friends or classmates is the absolute, ultimate faux pas in high school. It's akin to being the guy at work who watches the front door of the office and goes squealing to the boss every time anyone is even 1 minute late....got news for y'all, not even the boss respects people like that.


mrnn

[STRAWMAN]

mrnn, on 29 March 2012 - 07:56 PM, said:

+100

Perhaps it's been too long since some of these folks were in school but you just don't call the cops on your own friends. You lose good friends forever that way. You likely face an ass whooping or six that way. You likely will have your home/car vandalized that way. Calling the cops on your friends or classmates is the absolute, ultimate faux pas in high school. It's akin to being the guy at work who watches the front door of the office and goes squealing to the boss every time anyone is even 1 minute late....got news for y'all, not even the boss respects people like that.


mrnn

They aren't "good friends" if I have to hide illegal acts for them. Have people lost all sense of right and wrong?

[Just thinkin' hard]

Let me set some of this record straight -- I know this family quite well and known them for years (and yes, I know some of the other kids too).

1. I believe this young man when he says that he only did the road and one letter on the neighborhood sign. I believe him when he says he did tell the school what he saw on his way home that night. I don't think at the time he really thought that what they were doing was illegal and should call the cops. Realisitically folks, who is always at their best judgement at 2am?

2. I do not and will not believe that this kid (or any of these kids) lives should be altered FOREVER because of this incident. That punishment doesn't fit the crime. That's one thing that I've been contemplating lately - not just with regards to this - but our sense of what the punishment should be for various crimes is really out of whack. You all are asking that this young man forever pay the price for a STUPID and, quite frankly, accepted senior prank. Painting the road in front of the school is an ACCEPTED prank. We've had this discussion on this board. As for the neighborhood sign, they fixed the damage and, as I understand, the HOA is not pursuing anything further.

3. Without going into details, the reasons that the tribunal gave this young man for not allowing him back in school were ridiculous. But, at the end of the day, in my humble opinion, the school system has boxed themselves into a corner and now they're trying to save their a$$es in all directions - they can't let these kids back into the school - or the mob will hunt them down and never reelect them. But, they can't kick these kids out because they need them for EPHS graduation rate, test scores, etc. The average GPA of this group is a 4.25.

4. I'm really glad that they are pushing this issue. This kid has 4 AP classes and 2 advanced classes. The theory is that putting them in ombudsman is giving them their education. Well, it's not. You can't replace an AP teacher and class with 3 hours of computer time. The school wants their cake and eat it too.

The fact is that the school system has WAY overreacted to this whole situation (remember - they did $40,000 worth of damage - in the end - $1000 worth of chemicals and the maintenance staff's time, which would have been paid no matter what, for a total of $7500). They can't back down - but they can't screw the school either. In the end, it's young men like this that's going to get screwed for a senior prank that is ACCEPTABLE.

[momof 3]

Mariposa, on 29 March 2012 - 07:47 PM, said:

And setting that example for your kids is exactly why they have had problems with discipline in school and run-ins with the law

Or NOT setting the example, whichever the case may be. They are in fact setting an example, a very bad one.........do something bad and illegal and we'll hire a lawyer to get you out of it.

[Just thinkin' hard]

feelip, on 29 March 2012 - 07:51 PM, said:

Bad week for the Zimmermans.

If this kid was painting the road (a practice that has been acceptable all these years), then he may have a valid point.

If he left when it turned into what he knew was not acceptable, he shouldn't receive the same punishment as the kids that went onto school property and vandalized the place.

When there is a murder, the accomplice doesn't get the same punishment as the trigger guy.

The only lesson that has been taught in this ordeal is NEVER ADMIT TO ANYTHING.

And, that's the exact lesson that he's learned. The truth will not do. Don't trust anything that authorities tell you. It will only be used against you. Some of these kids are getting SCREWED by association. The fact is that I understand from other sources (not this family) that this whole thing is going to be difficult to prosecute because there's no evidence. It's a whole lot of he said/she said and there's not way to sort it out.

[winston1972]

All I can think is that I tell my 4 yo old that actions have consequences. Guess some parents are different. What got out of hand? Is it ever acceptable to spray paint something that doesn't belong to you? I guess I missed that memo..

I really would like to hear what this kid thought was acceptable and what wag getting out of hand...

This post has been edited by winston1972: 29 March 2012 - 08:06 PM

[Happy Wife And Mom]

feelip, on 29 March 2012 - 07:51 PM, said:

Bad week for the Zimmermans.

Yeah you beat me to it.

[mrnn]

momof 3, on 29 March 2012 - 08:01 PM, said:

Or NOT setting the example, whichever the case may be. They are in fact setting an example, a very bad one.........do something bad and illegal and we'll hire a lawyer to get you out of it.

Yes, because nothing says "bad example being set" like the parents of a freaking valedictorian hiring a lawyer to prevent a harmless school prank from ruining his future.

Some of y'all just consistently put some misplaced definition of pride in front common sense. Don't hate the player, hate the game.


mrnn

[Riograce]

jenilyn, on 29 March 2012 - 06:43 PM, said:

I think the kid has a valid argument. And what teenager is going to rat out his friends? let's be real.

Captain Rhett Butler, on 29 March 2012 - 07:01 PM, said:

I disagree 100%. I feel great whenever a snitch gets an old fashioned beat-down. Snitches get stitches! I've told mine to NEVER talk to the po-po under any circumstances!

mrnn, on 29 March 2012 - 07:56 PM, said:

+100

Perhaps it's been too long since some of these folks were in school but you just don't call the cops on your own friends. You lose good friends forever that way. You likely face an ass whooping or six that way. You likely will have your home/car vandalized that way. Calling the cops on your friends or classmates is the absolute, ultimate faux pas in high school. It's akin to being the guy at work who watches the front door of the office and goes squealing to the boss every time anyone is even 1 minute late....got news for y'all, not even the boss respects people like that.

And we wonder why modern society is going to hell in a handbasket.

There was a time when kids were taught that doing the RIGHT thing was more important than doing the COMFORTABLE or SAFE thing. I sure hope there are still parents out there who are doing that.

[feelip]

mrnn, on 29 March 2012 - 07:56 PM, said:

+100

Perhaps it's been too long since some of these folks were in school but you just don't call the cops on your own friends. You lose good friends forever that way. You likely face an ass whooping or six that way. You likely will have your home/car vandalized that way. Calling the cops on your friends or classmates is the absolute, ultimate faux pas in high school. It's akin to being the guy at work who watches the front door of the office and goes squealing to the boss every time anyone is even 1 minute late....got news for y'all, not even the boss respects people like that.


mrnn

We had a set of twins at my high school that were parking lot monitors. The only name I know them by to this day is Prick and Dick.

At this point, I think the good scare that the kids got is probably sufficient punishment for them all.

If it were not for second chances I would be in sad shape.

[STRAWMAN]

Just thinkin, on 29 March 2012 - 08:00 PM, said:

Let me set some of this record straight -- I know this family quite well and known them for years (and yes, I know some of the other kids too).

1. I believe this young man when he says that he only did the road and one letter on the neighborhood sign. I believe him when he says he did tell the school what he saw on his way home that night. I don't think at the time he really thought that what they were doing was illegal and should call the cops. Realisitically folks, who is always at their best judgement at 2am?

2. I do not and will not believe that this kid (or any of these kids) lives should be altered FOREVER because of this incident. That punishment doesn't fit the crime. That's one thing that I've been contemplating lately - not just with regards to this - but our sense of what the punishment should be for various crimes is really out of whack. You all are asking that this young man forever pay the price for a STUPID and, quite frankly, accepted senior prank. Painting the road in front of the school is an ACCEPTED prank. We've had this discussion on this board. As for the neighborhood sign, they fixed the damage and, as I understand, the HOA is not pursuing anything further.

3. Without going into details, the reasons that the tribunal gave this young man for not allowing him back in school were ridiculous. But, at the end of the day, in my humble opinion, the school system has boxed themselves into a corner and now they're trying to save their a$$es in all directions - they can't let these kids back into the school - or the mob will hunt them down and never reelect them. But, they can't kick these kids out because they need them for EPHS graduation rate, test scores, etc. The average GPA of this group is a 4.25.

4. I'm really glad that they are pushing this issue. This kid has 4 AP classes and 2 advanced classes. The theory is that putting them in ombudsman is giving them their education. Well, it's not. You can't replace an AP teacher and class with 3 hours of computer time. The school wants their cake and eat it too.

The fact is that the school system has WAY overreacted to this whole situation (remember - they did $40,000 worth of damage - in the end - $1000 worth of chemicals and the maintenance staff's time, which would have been paid no matter what, for a total of $7500). They can't back down - but they can't screw the school either. In the end, it's young men like this that's going to get screwed for a senior prank that is ACCEPTABLE.

It is never acceptable to damage property. These kids ultimately will not face harsh criminal consequenses. So if the school doesn't follow through on their punishment then where are the consequenses? Wrong is wrong,too bad this will hurt his academic career, if he truely is a good kid in 10 years he can have the same life he would have had had he not done it. He can learn from it. By letting them out of it we are saying the rules apply to some, but not the ones that get God grades or are involved in the school.

[mrnn]

kwood, on 29 March 2012 - 08:12 PM, said:

It is never acceptable to damage property.

Except for that decade or so before this year when spray painting the road was completely acceptable.


mrnn

[STRAWMAN]

mrnn, on 29 March 2012 - 08:14 PM, said:

Except for that decade or so before this year when spray painting the road was completely acceptable.


mrnn

It was never acceptable to me. Just because all the other kids do something wrong does that make it ok to do it again? No, it means you need to be a better person than those before you.

[mrnn]

kwood, on 29 March 2012 - 08:17 PM, said:

It was never acceptable to me. Just because all the other kids do something wrong does that make it ok to do it again? No, it means you need to be a better person than those before you.

No offense, but I really couldn't care less whether it was ever acceptable or unacceptable to you. Law is about precedent. LEO, nor school administration, has ever punished students for spraypainting the roadway. Therefore, it is, and has been, perfectly acceptable behavior in the eyes of those who, you know, actually matter in this conversation.

Unless you're implying that each and every law on the books should be punished until the law is revoked? Surely you don't want me to pull up a list of retarded GA laws from the 19th and 20th centuries.


mrnn