Did Randolph Academy Unnecessary Force?

[NextHowardStern]

I have a 15 year old step son who is attending Randolph Academy. Yesterday, I recieve a call saying they had to restrain him, because of his refusal to comply with instructions. The assistant principal of the school called later on in the day to "apologize" and make me aware that he suffered some "some brushburns and lacerations" on his face.

That was an understatment. The whole right side of his face, when he came home yesterday was covered in brushburns, and blood. Took him to the doctor for a follow up, and doctor said they were superficial and not that bad. However, I do believe by looking at his face, a significant amount of force would have been used to hold him down. They also claim, he "did that to himself."

I went out to the school today, while sitting there, the school changed thier story 5 or 6 times, and never came out with "what happened." When asked, they always responded, "In previous incidents..." For some unknown reason they refused to let me talk to the two individuals that were responsible for the restraining.

The whole idea is, that my step son comes home, bleeding, from severe brushburn, and they won't tell me what happened.

Now, correct me if I am wrong...restraint is used to keep someone from causing harm to themself or someone else? I have since contacted the Board of Education, to get a follow up investigation as I am still not pleased with the way Randolph handled the situation.

Also, do you think I may have potential for lawsuit?

You can see pictures, of my step sons face, at my website...www.myspace.com/gene rl_lee_01

[Bob]

I to have problems with the acadamy. My son is suppose to come home every weekend and they told me yesterday that there was problems and this visit was canceled when asked what problems they said hitting someone with a cruch, fighting in school, calling people bitch and so on and so on. The list was unbelieveable when asked why i wasn't informed of the problems sooner veronica mack became outraged and started yelling im sorry u must forgive me maybe we sould just let him do what evr he wants. All i asked was a question they had my phone number. When i talked to my son about it he said it was a lie and he doesn't lie to me hardle not something like this he did admite he called her a bitch like a week and a half before this even came up. I wish you luck and if there is a protenal lawsuit you have it act fast to stop them from doing this to a nother child.

[Ryan]

im sorry but im sure they all deserve to be there and they probably deserve what they get. im sure at times they may use a little bit of excessive force on the delequents that ask for it. Let it be. It is not worth the cause. If you were doing your job as a parent these things wouldnt be happening. you should be whoopin that *** so others dont have to. welcome to the real world when some people have to be trained to be in society.

[Bob]

Your children should be removed its people like you that think spanking kids teaches them thats wrong. Getting children to understand your rules dont come from whipping that *** it comes from understand them and who they are god gave me children to love and hold not whip or us excessive force to restain them and thats the bottom line love them or leave them take my advice if you have kids ryan give them up they deserve better if you believe whipping there *** is teaching them anything.

[Bob]

Ryan wrote:

im sorry but im sure they all deserve to be there and they probably deserve what they get. im sure at times they may use a little bit of excessive force on the delequents that ask for it. Let it be. It is not worth the cause. If you were doing your job as a parent these things wouldnt be happening. you should be whoopin that *** so others dont have to. welcome to the real world when some people have to be trained to be in society.

You suck if you think spanking your kids teaches them you should have your kids removed.

[Get it straight]

To Bob:
Handling situations the proper way is necessary and maybe your son learned how to handle situations from his parents. Hitting people and calling people names are not the right way to handle situations and neither is placing people's names on blogs. By sending your child home when he has violated a safety regulation does not send a message that he needs to comply and do what he needs to do to be successful. Maybe you should attempt to support veronica instead of putting your views on a blog. Your son is in placement and not in your home. Your son needs to do what is right and just to be successful in his future in the community. Maybe you should keep this in mind. Putting a worker's name on a blog is tacky and backhanded. You may believe your son hasn't lied to you, but why then blame his workers? If he believes he can tell you that it is a lie and get what he wants why would he own up to his actions.

[Bob]

I guess looking at it that way your right I maybe acting alittle childish myself and I am hoping to work on that but as for the argueing we had it was uncalled for. I didn't start it and it seams the way it's been being told it's like there saying i did and I simpley called to what the problems were so i could address them acordanlly. Before I knew it an agruement was acuing and thats why I toke my sons side. As for him lieing to me the story had been the same sence it happened and no one on the floor where he was at has any idea of what i'm taking about with the fight or the cruch insadent so I'm still sceptacale as for veronica I'm sorry the persons right I sould not post a persons name on a blog and for that I hope the people reading this blog won't hold anything against you. Also you have to understand 2 years ago my 3 sons was taken from my care for standing them for 20 minutes my 4 daughters have been home ever sence and no investagation for them or anything put yourself in my shoes maybe you just might have some simfathy. 2 of my sons have been adopted and will never be back home again I did not comply for 14 months because I just couldn't believe this could happen to my family.

[Dont blame others]

Bob, while I am sorry to hear that your children have been taken away, I have to say that defending the actions of your son isn't going to help him. Children learn their sense of responsibility from those they most look up to, usually parents, and it seems your boy may not have gotten that principle. I must also assume that your are speaking of the Randolph Children's Home not the Academy, as they do not hold children on their grounds all weekend. In that case I am sure your child must be dealing with all sorts of emotions revolving around being away from home. It is not so far fetched to believe that he may be telling you whatever you may want to hear instead of taking the responsibility he needs to. Many children in that situation look to what has best served them to that point in their lives, and blaming others for their shortcomings is usually the first place they start. Instead of blaming SW's you should remain open, your first priority should be the child, not whether or not you like his workers. I know people in the Human Services field certainly don't do the job for the "fat" paycheck, they are truly there to help these kids find their way back to homes like yours. I hope that what you say about caring for your son is true and you can find a way to put hard feelings aside and remember what is truly important. It seems that the 14 months you have lost with your children has had an enormous impact on you, hopefully you and your son do what is right so he doesn't end up going the way of the two boys you have already lost.

[Rene]

As an actual youth who has had dealings with the Randolph Children's Home, I want to say that none of you have any clue about what goes on there. What comes out of the mouths of your children is rarely true. In most cases, the youth who are living at the Children's Home and/or attending the Randolph Academy are there for a reason, and that reason is quite often that you, as parents, are unable to properly handle your children. The members of the staff at RCH and the Academy are some of the most patient, hard-working and dedicated people I have ever met, and you, as parents, should feel lucky to have them involved in your children's lives. I won't deny that occasional unnecessary force is used, but your "precious children" use unnecessary language, unnecessary force, and unnecessary manners while dealing with the RCH staff, so staff becoming frustrated is understandable. Perhaps if you weren't so concerned with bringing lawsuits against the RCH and were more concerned with taking parenting classes, securing steady jobs, and even learning proper grammatical skills (it's pretty bad when an 18-year-old has better writing skills than so-called "adults," but I suppose that based on my dealings with your children, I shouldn't be surprised at your poor grammar and spelling), you would be able to bring your children home, where you feel they belong. I've dealt with the Home, and I think that you all need to learn exactly what it is that you're dealing with before you start thinking of bringing lawsuits against the people who truly want, perhaps more so than you, to positively change your childrens live's. Learn the Four Norms: Respect, Responsibility, Safety & Goal-Oriented Behavior. How many of you actually knew those before I listed them off? Because those are the only people in this conversation entitled to bad-mouth the Randolph Children's Home.

[noname1976]

my sisters daughter was there and she sued them for unessesary force!!! and quietly won, they settled out of court real quick and her daughter was returned. sue them!!!! violence isnt the right way to teach any child, i dont care how bad they are.

[unk]

Bob wrote:

I to have problems with the acadamy. My son is suppose to come home every weekend and they told me yesterday that there was problems and this visit was canceled when asked what problems they said hitting someone with a cruch, fighting in school, calling people bitch and so on and so on. The list was unbelieveable when asked why i wasn't informed of the problems sooner veronica mack became outraged and started yelling im sorry u must forgive me maybe we sould just let him do what evr he wants. All i asked was a question they had my phone number. When i talked to my son about it he said it was a lie and he doesn't lie to me hardle not something like this he did admite he called her a bitch like a week and a half before this even came up. I wish you luck and if there is a protenal lawsuit you have it act fast to stop them from doing this to a nother child.

Oh the "not my kid" excuse.

[anonymous]

parents need to teach their kids discipline and sometimes that involves a spanking. you ask anyone from the oldschool and they got ass whoopings and they have so much more respect. these kids today have no respect, because their parents aren't teaching them. i'm not saying to beat your kid, theirs a big difference. i'm sure these kids are their because they are bad to begin with. i'm sure these kids are violent, i guess you could send them to jail with adults where they can get real ass beatings if you don't like it.

[Bob]

You know whats messed up. It seams alot of people have bad comments to say about the parents and I would like to know out of all you that say its the Parents how many of you have kids there problem none and thats the bottom line you don't know me or my son and you don't know my faminly so to put it to you strait. If they didn't start nothing then we wouldn't be where this is at now and if you think for a minute I'm a bad parent cause my son got placed at the acadamy or rch then your wrong if i'm such a bad parent then what is it i know how to raise my 4 daughters but not my son. Come on, Oh by the way my 1 daughter is adhd and i do a hell lot better job then rch period

[Bob]

Get it straight wrote:

To Bob:
Handling situations the proper way is necessary and maybe your son learned how to handle situations from his parents. Hitting people and calling people names are not the right way to handle situations and neither is placing people's names on blogs. By sending your child home when he has violated a safety regulation does not send a message that he needs to comply and do what he needs to do to be successful. Maybe you should attempt to support veronica instead of putting your views on a blog. Your son is in placement and not in your home. Your son needs to do what is right and just to be successful in his future in the community. Maybe you should keep this in mind. Putting a worker's name on a blog is tacky and backhanded. You may believe your son hasn't lied to you, but why then blame his workers? If he believes he can tell you that it is a lie and get what he wants why would he own up to his actions.

Because he hasn't lied to me yet and as parents you seam to know when your child lies to you furthermore all i'm stating is if the adacamy or rch uses force to restrain a child does that really teach the child not to use force.

[Bob]

just a update on things my son is coming home on a trial basis today there is a god above sometimes you just have to really believe and you may recieve. I never meant no hard feelings torard any of you and thank you for letting me use a place to release some of my anger and fears. GOD bless each of you and I wish you all well in your jurny.

[El Diablo]

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