Reading High Students Works To Take Back His School

I am not surprised by the fact that a bullet was found in the hallways. I have four children that attend Reading High School. It is very hard for me to send them to school on a daily basis wondering if they're going to get hurt or not. Everyday they come home with a story about some type if incident that has taken place. This school sounds more like a zoo than a learning institution. The administration has basically given up on the youth of the school. They have allowed the thugs and misfits to take over the school. They need a new principal perhaps "Joe Clark" that can take the reigns and also accept responsibility for the deplorable condition the school is in. However, I do applaud the young man's efforts in trying to take back the school. Let us just all pray that the administration has his back. I am a graduate of the mighty "Castle On the Hill". Let our children be proud to say I am a Red Knight!

Dee Rivera wrote:

I am not surprised by the fact that a bullet was found in the hallways. I have four children that attend Reading High School. It is very hard for me to send them to school on a daily basis wondering if they're going to get hurt or not. Everyday they come home with a story about some type if incident that has taken place. This school sounds more like a zoo than a learning institution. The administration has basically given up on the youth of the school. They have allowed the thugs and misfits to take over the school. They need a new principal perhaps "Joe Clark" that can take the reigns and also accept responsibility for the deplorable condition the school is in. However, I do applaud the young man's efforts in trying to take back the school. Let us just all pray that the administration has his back. I am a graduate of the mighty "Castle On the Hill". Let our children be proud to say I am a Red Knight!

I really feel for you and mostly the good kids in RHS. I have a teen and can't imagine sending her to school and worrying if a bullet is going to hit a kid one day. I do admire this student for wanting to take back his school, but it sound slike the current principal isn't interested in this at all. He wouldn't interview for this story and is willing to "sit down with this young man next week to talk about it." Maybe the next school board meeting all the kids and parents who want their school back should all go and tell the superintendent that their current principal is not doing his job. That they want a new principal who has the guts to take this school back for the kids who want to learn. BULLETS IN STAIRWELLS is not a school. Like the young man said,"It's a prison!"
Good luck to you all and may this young man make a difference in the future of Reading High!

My heart goes out to those parents and students who have to live in fear. Many are good students who are trying to get an education in this environment. I'm for zero tolerance in behavior. If the student is 16 and above, who is caught doing harm to tothers and teachers as well, selling drugs, bring a weapon to school, fist fighting, etc. should be immediately expelled from school. This will solve the problem. If the admistration would take a look at their policy dealing with these children. things would change for the better. But as usual politics is involved. Less students attending Reading High would mean less money coming to school. Every student knows, someone who doesn't value an education ought to drop out of school and stop occupying space. This would improve the atmosphere of the school. If a child doesn't want to be there then the trouble begins, they seem to be doing everything possible to get kicked out of school. Well, let them be kicked out.

I graduated from RHS 17 years ago and when I was at RHS their were arguments among kids but not the violence the school has now. What happened to the school. this generation of children is so wicked. Where are their parents in all of this violence.It seems like the children aren't the only problems but the parents are to blame as well. the parents must know what their kids do at all times of the afternoon as well. i hope RHS will go back to the way it was 17 years ago. A nice educational school where children went to learn and get an Education not to fight, be in gangs, or be disrespectful to the Teachers, Or The Staff .... It's time something be done.... Good Luck :"JOHN" with taking ur school back.

Maybe the next school board meeting all the kids and parents who want their school back should all go..........

if you want to take back the school (and the city) go to ALL school board meetings. On an average about, perhaps, less that TEN taxpayers, parents, students, attend a school board meeting. With so few attending is it any wonder RSD does as they please.

It's way over due for the taxpayer to take over, take back ALL public schools.

If the principal at RHS does not care than why is he employed .He shoud give up his job to someone who will try to make a difference to the children. He is the one suppose to set a Good example to the school but he must put his part into it. I really think that if Someone else takes over the school someone who really cares about the education of the children and is their for the children the school will be much different but if all the principal sees is just a pay check than he could go work at Bk or somewhere he can do nothing and get a check. Pass the responsibility on to someone who really does want to make a Difference in the lives of our children. My daughter attends RHS and I fear the one phone call that i may receive from the school stating that something drastic has happened to my daughter.This is for the Principal at RHS If you can not commit and do ur job at the school than give it up to someone who can make a Difference.

I graduated from RHS 13 years ago. It has drastically changed since then. I now have a daughter who attends RHS. This past week there has been fire alarms that were pulled just about every day. On Thursday during this fire alarm evacuation my daughter was jumped in front of the school along with about 6 or 7 other fights at the time. When I received the phone call I was upset and mad as hell. The school is suppose to protect our children and it seems like they can't do that right. I think we as parents of the children who want to learn to take action and help the school and the other children "Take Back there school". My daughter since then refuses to return to school because she does feel safe. I don't want to force her to go because as a parent I vowed to protect my children from harm. I want my children to get an education but not at the expense of there safety.

Wasn't it Dominican Independence Day 2008 (NOT this year) when people were arrested? That said, yes, RHS has gotten out of control but what are the alternatives? Last night the first 4 stories on Ch 69 news were (1) bullet at RHS,(2) loaded gun and knife in student's car at Tulpehocken,(3) bomb threats by a student at Muhlenberg, and (4) bomb threats by two students at Gov. Mifflin. School is regressing across Berks County.

How do you expect the schools to handle these kids when they cannot enforce any meaningful discipline.

In addition to this, the parants of most of these troubled kids are undisciplined thenselves, so these kids are just a reflection of their parents.

Maybe the editor and author of this article should take themselves back to school.

"Reading High Students Works To Take Back His School"

How about: "Reading High Student(no S) Works To Take Back His School"

or

"Reading High Students Works To Take Back THEIR School"

TERRIBLE!

And... Did anyone read this???

WFMZ's Dwayne Parker has the exclusive story behind a students' fight to "Take Back His School"

Another grammatical error here too!

(the apostrophe goes before the S in this case, unless you take the the singular form of "a student" out. It's either the students' fight or a student's fight.

Again, WOW.

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

Bluecollrman wrote this:

In addition to this, the parants of most of these troubled kids are undisciplined thenselves, so these kids are just a reflection of their parents.

So what is the answer to this??? Also what is the answer to this situation that exists in other school districts across the Commonwealth? We tried suspension, both in-school and out of school, we have alternative education that costs a fortune to operate. We have tried to work with parents and students through school psycholgists and counselors. We tried the Instructional Support Team in the elementary school to focus on learning and behaviors so the problem is addressed at an early age. We are pushing for early education to make sure that those children who are not getting a "head start" will get one. Sounds familiar!! You can come up with 10 more programs but it will not take the place of kids coming to school with thoughts of anything but to learn and work hard. In Allentown, there are fights that police must be aware of everyday after school. In Chicago, a teen was murdered during a fight.

The law says that students must attend school and it is incumbent on the parents to make sure they attend and follow the rules and gain enough points in their classes to pass the courses and earn a high school diploma. If students do not complete school and dropout, the cost to society is great. They become a burden and we have to carry them through life. If and when they have offspring, guess what they are highly likely to produce and nurture.

How does one solve this problem? I have a few suggestions but I know there are many out there who also answers for everything in the field of education.

As a former teacher I can say that too many parents see school as a form of glorified babysitting. The solution to this problem is to make people pass a test before they are allowed to reproduce. If they can't pass the test, they should be sterilized. I know no one wants to hear this and somehow the race card will be pulled, but it will eliminate the problem.
Also, I taught in RHS as a long term sub for two months about 10 years ago. There was some fighting but nothing like this. This is one of the reasons I refuse to teach. It is just a matter of time before more teachers come to this conclusion as well and leave the profession. Parents need to take responsibility and if they can't then the kids need to be taken away and they need to be fixed. It's as simple as that.

Helma wrote:

Wasn't it Dominican Independence Day 2008 (NOT this year) when people were arrested? That said, yes, RHS has gotten out of control but what are the alternatives? Last night the first 4 stories on Ch 69 news were (1) bullet at RHS,(2) loaded gun and knife in student's car at Tulpehocken,(3) bomb threats by a student at Muhlenberg, and (4) bomb threats by two students at Gov. Mifflin. School is regressing across Berks County.

every year that they march someone is getting arrested. 3 years in a row by my count. but i could be missing a year or two.

Dee Rivera wrote:

I am not surprised by the fact that a bullet was found in the hallways. I have four children that attend Reading High School. It is very hard for me to send them to school on a daily basis wondering if they're going to get hurt or not. Everyday they come home with a story about some type if incident that has taken place. This school sounds more like a zoo than a learning institution. The administration has basically given up on the youth of the school. They have allowed the thugs and misfits to take over the school. They need a new principal perhaps "Joe Clark" that can take the reigns and also accept responsibility for the deplorable condition the school is in. However, I do applaud the young man's efforts in trying to take back the school. Let us just all pray that the administration has his back. I am a graduate of the mighty "Castle On the Hill". Let our children be proud to say I am a Red Knight!

I was thinking the same thing. They need "Joe Clark". It's a shame how bad Reading High got.

no matter what you do it will not help everbody needs to come together not just one kid .

It is great this young man has taken the first step to stop the terror in this school. I hope others will join him and that he will remain safe from retaliation. This young man deserves a medal of honor for standing up and doing what no one else has.You rock dude.

Larry Mooney wrote:

It is great this young man has taken the first step to stop the terror in this school. I hope others will join him and that he will remain safe from retaliation. This young man deserves a medal of honor for standing up and doing what no one else has.You rock dude.

This young man can't do it alone. Every official,teacher,student and parent has to join the effort or it will never work. The power lies with the majority,but if only one young man steps forward the effort is doomed before it begins. Come on Reading School District,take back what is rightfully yours.

mother of RHS student wrote:

I graduated from RHS 13 years ago. It has drastically changed since then. I now have a daughter who attends RHS. This past week there has been fire alarms that were pulled just about every day. On Thursday during this fire alarm evacuation my daughter was jumped in front of the school along with about 6 or 7 other fights at the time. When I received the phone call I was upset and mad as hell. The school is suppose to protect our children and it seems like they can't do that right. I think we as parents of the children who want to learn to take action and help the school and the other children "Take Back there school". My daughter since then refuses to return to school because she does feel safe. I don't want to force her to go because as a parent I vowed to protect my children from harm. I want my children to get an education but not at the expense of there safety.

i agree with u 100% my sister-in-law had to take my neice to the hospial that same day because she got pushed down the steps just so they could get out to see the fight she was down on the ground and got her ancle stumped on 2 times thank god it was just sprained and not broken but when my sister in law called the school all they said was ok i will let the administrater know about it no concerns at all like is she ok is she going to be alright exc. nothing that is how much them people up there care im sorry but this really ticked me off