Oakland: When school bullies get out of hand

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 4/23/08 | Nanette Asimov

[GSWarrior]

Anthony Cataldo of Oakland first raised concerns about aggressive bullying at his son's elementary school last year after Zachary lost four teeth on the playground - but he said he received only a verbal assurance that things would change.

Cataldo said he complained again when some boys at school kicked 7-year-old Zachary in the stomach three months ago but got no response.

Now - two days after an older student slammed Zachary against a tree, fracturing his skull and sending the first-grader to intensive care - Cataldo is hiring a lawyer, and school officials are paying attention.

[GSWarrior]

From the linked article:

State records show that Piedmont Avenue Elementary is Oakland's second-most-violent elementary school, recording 97 suspensions last year for violence - including nine involving a weapon.

[Slapshot68]

Charge the parents.

[Eurale]

Sickening.

[Puppage]

recording 97 suspensions last year for violence - including nine involving a weapon

Perhaps they can define weapon? That's a pretty broad brush.

In any event, that school sounds like a nightmare.

[SF Republican]

that school sounds like a nightmare - That city

[Sopater]

Cataldo is hiring a lawyer, and school officials are paying attention.

That's why they pay attention to the ACLU, too.

[LongElegantLegs]

His father said that in kindergarten last year, Zachary was on the playground when some fifth-graders who had been sent out of class for disciplinary reasons approached him and lifted him up.

"One was spinning Zachary around," Cataldo said. Then he let go.

Zachary lost four teeth. I can't believe he left his child at that school after this; He's lucky he didn't get his neck broken.

[Tax-chick]

Saddler confirmed that elementary students across the district are often unsupervised unless they are enrolled in before- or after-school programs.

"We don't have the finances to cover parents before the hours that school starts," Saddler said. "And after school, we do not have supervision for students who are not enrolled in after-school programs. We are very, very clear with parents that they need to make arrangements for their children."

This sounds like an entrepreneurial opportunity for homeschooled boys with martial arts training or football experience: Before- and after- school bodyguard to kindergarteners.

[Puppage]

that school sounds like a nightmare - That city

I stand corrected. That city, indeed!

[Sopater]

Piedmont Avenue Elementary is Oakland's second-most-violent elementary school, recording 97 suspensions last year for violence

Does that mean that roughly 97 other students had to wind up in an ICU first?

[Dante3]

After the second incident, Cataldo might have considered home schooling or moving to another neighborhood. In my area, only illegal aliens had - or still do? - a choice of schools. For the rest of us, we had to follow strict residence rules.

[Post Toasties]

I hope Anthony Cataldo gets a really BIG settlement. That’s the only way to wake up a lot of these PC type bureaucrats and make them do their jobs. Hit them in their finances.

[PeterFinn]

It is typical of the schools to protect the bullies and persecute the victims. Thus it is no surprise to me when kids who’ve been victimized by their peers and then victimized again by the school bring a gun to school and kill their tormentors.

[knuthom]

Under the circumstances, Saddler (administrator) said, moving Zachary out of Piedmont Avenue is a conversation she's ready to have.

How about removing the perpetrators?

[Lx]

This from an Elementary school??? My how things have changed in 35 some odd years.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

What in the HELL was going through the mind of that parent, to leave their child in such an obvious melee?

This is California, where children can put each other in the hospital, but heaven forbid they keep score in a softball game.

[heartwood]

http://www.schooldigger.com/go/CA/schools/2805004308/school.aspx

[forkinsocket]

I feel for the kid. My boyfriend went to a similar or maybe more violent school (not in America). There were fierce brawls literally every day & after school, the weaker kids ran home to avoid being beaten &/or raped. My boyfriend was in knife fights & chain-swinging fights at that damn school just about every week. Thank G-d he came out of it safe & sound. I hope American schools don't end up like this.

[gate2wire]

I’d hire a lawyer also...
to get me out of jail for beating the $hit out of some fifth graders and their parents...