Let's stop the bullying

[Manda_concerned alumni]

CLHS Alumni wrote:

First of all I would like to commend Chance on your letter. It takes a lot of courage to stand up to what you believe in. Although I commend you I completely disagree with you. I am a graduate of CLHS, my husband is a graduate from CLHS, I have a parent who is a teacher there and my children will go to CLHS at some point. I was part of the “yelling at freshman” I will not call it hazing because I don’t believe that is hazing at all. On the first day of school my friends and I walked in the gym confident and with a smile on our face. We mad it through the day unharmed and unscarred. If you want the respect of the upperclassmen don’t go in looking for trouble. Sitting in the quad “to make a point” is the wrong way to get respect. Respect is earned and you are asking for the target on your back. My daughter will be at CLHS in two years and I promise to you she will not be writing letters like this because she is a happy and confident child. Chance and Mom.. Put your big boy pants on.. You aren’t in a fairytale this is the real world. Don’t criticize others for the life you have made for yourself…

sophomore parent wrote:

<quoted text>
Your an adult and you were a part of the “yelling at freshman”? And you also have a parent that's a teacher there? Wow, are you serious? Just because you will not call it hazing, does not mean it isn't. If just one kid see's it that way then it has become that. And is that a threat to a kid to not go "Looking for Trouble" from the upper classman by an adult parent? Are you kidding? Your an adult? And how dare he sit in the quad, no respect for him. Come on! So that just proves what he's been saying about the quad. Are you saying the only way for the freshmen to get the same respect that the the rest of the school gets is to keep your mouth shut, buck up and take it, and fear the retribution of the "painting a target on your back"? You and your adult school cronies have made this life for these kids and you need to step up and fix it. A lot of people here have been saying Chance has no evidence. I now can see what he was trying to say, you just proved them wrong. I think you need to earn his respect back. Wow I hope your kid doesn't ever have an issue with hazing or bulling and come to you for help. Yikes!

TO: "Sophomore Parent"
Maybe you should re-read the original post that you are now bullying or maybe it needs to be spelled out...pretty sure the blogger made the point that she too, was once a freshman that was booed/yelled at. Be open minded and don't take things so personally for Chance!

If everyone (on both sides of this debate) would just take this approach maybe the current students at CLHS would be able to continue to do exactly what their one and only job is....to learn! All this back and forth posting is just making this situation more extreme than it should have ever been and it is now taking away the education of ALL students at CLHS. If there truly is a problem,(it is hard to say, because there is no real concrete evidence) everyone, especially parents, should be as adults as possible and work together to make this whole mess better. This situation has turned into a massive issue that none of the this young mans fellow freshman students asked for! Enough is enough!!

I will say it again! As my parents always taught me, "we cannot control the actions of others but we can choose how we react" ... Let's all be adults and show these students appropriate reactions!! Making a policy that requires respect from upper classmen is not realistic, but what is getting involved and fund raising so events such as "Challenge Day" and other events to bring ALL the classes closer together is!!!

[Stop the bullying]

Know the facts wrote:

<quoted text>
I live in the same world as you. This all relates back to his orginal comments. Do Ihave a right to have my own thoughts? Or is that just Chance and yourself that have that? I know he was not insulted. The Admin there are good people who do care. If he felt insulted it may be of his own perception. No low blows from me to a 14 year old child. He does need help, obviously. It can be help from his parents, teachers, friends, whoever but he needs help. He can makes all the waves he wants. They are not going to change any "hazing" as what he claims is not so. If anything he may bring attention to "bullying" but from what most kids have said that did not actually occur until yesterday. And NO I do not think it is right!!!! But I think Chance knew in his stand he would experience some negative. Really none of it is "funny" as you put it. Sadly a outcast (by choice) child is not more of an outcast and a school and community are having to deal with nonsense.

The ONLY "help" that Chance needs is SUPPORT from the Administration and this community. There are many kids that are being bullied as we speak, they are just too afraid to come forward, like Chance has. Highschool should be a wonderful experience, preparing for you future, thinking about further education, and enjoying the social aspects also. Highshool SHOULD NOT be about fear. YOU are closed minded and ignorant, you will never "get it". BTW: this issue is not "nonsense", it is extremely important!!!

[MOOSE]

Yeah say what you want Chance, but don't forget to hit me with that lunch money monday morning.WiNk wInK

[Stop the bullying]

Manda_concerned alumni wrote:

<quoted text>
<quoted text>
TO: "Sophomore Parent"
Maybe you should re-read the original post that you are now bullying or maybe it needs to be spelled out...pretty sure the blogger made the point that she too, was once a freshman that was booed/yelled at. Be open minded and don't take things so personally for Chance!
If everyone (on both sides of this debate) would just take this approach maybe the current students at CLHS would be able to continue to do exactly what their one and only job is....to learn! All this back and forth posting is just making this situation more extreme than it should have ever been and it is now taking away the education of ALL students at CLHS. If there truly is a problem,(it is hard to say, because there is no real concrete evidence) everyone, especially parents, should be as adults as possible and work together to make this whole mess better. This situation has turned into a massive issue that none of the this young mans fellow freshman students asked for! Enough is enough!!
I will say it again! As my parents always taught me, "we cannot control the actions of others but we can choose how we react" ... Let's all be adults and show these students appropriate reactions!! Making a policy that requires respect from upper classmen is not realistic, but what is getting involved and fund raising so events such as "Challenge Day" and other events to bring ALL the classes closer together is!!!

So, if I understand you correctly are you saying because this extremely important "issue" has been brought to the attention of the community, "it is taking away the education of all students"? You also state that "there is no concrete evidence"......WRONG AGAIN! How would you feel if you were afraid to walk through the Quad for FEAR of being beaten up, how would you feel if you had rocks thrown at you? You don't have a clue, only because the BULLYING is not being done to you! Get it? There is a huge problem and it needs to be dealt with ASAP, this is not something to blow off or sweep under the carpet, as it has been till now.

[Stop the bullying]

Jennifer wrote:

<quoted text>
That is so paranoid. There is flu every single year and kids get sick all the time. Make sure you feed your child healthy food, that he gets some exercise and TURN OFF THE TV. It is the media that has given you the gift of flu-fear. Kids get sick. The flu is there every single year. Healthy kids survive the flu and develop life long immunities. Why do you think the elderly are immune from this strain of flu? Because of another that was similar when they were young.
You must be quite young to fall into the swine flu fear so badly that you actually took your child out of school. I feel sorry for your child and for you. Are you going to take him out of school every year for the flu? Are you going to take him out of school anytime anyone says a word to him or looks at him sideways?

Ahhhh, another bully apparently. Live and let live. It is her RIGHT to do whatever she feels she must do to protect her children. This is NOT like any other flu season, you should be understanding of that.

[Stop the bullying]

Know the facts wrote:

Please someone from the school put a response in the paper. Just to clarify things. Stories are NEVER 1 sided people. Rights are rights and who cares who is expressing them. All of you "Pro" Chance are bashing anyone else's comments, BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! And I could care less who thinks that is immature.

If you were mature and open minded enough you would realize that there really is a huge problem at CLHS. Bullying is not to be taken lightly! Apparently, you are not being bullied, or you would not have posted such an ignorant comment.

[Manda_concerned alumni]

Stop the bullying wrote:

<quoted text>So, if I understand you correctly are you saying because this extremely important "issue" has been brought to the attention of the community, "it is taking away the education of all students"? You also state that "there is no concrete evidence"......WRONG AGAIN! How would you feel if you were afraid to walk through the Quad for FEAR of being beaten up, how would you feel if you had rocks thrown at you? You don't have a clue, only because the BULLYING is not being done to you! Get it? There is a huge problem and it needs to be dealt with ASAP, this is not something to blow off or sweep under the carpet, as it has been till now.

Who are you to say that I've never been bullied?!?!? You have no clue who I am and what my experience was like at CLHS! Was I the most popular? NO!! Was I bullied? YES!! Did I walk in to the quad to get to my books out of my locker or take something to the office and sometimes cringe because of certain upperclassmen when I was a freshman? YES!!! It even went, as far as someone to have made up a hoax letter from my boyfriend to me discussing "how we were going to to find time to have sex for the first time" all only over pure jealously!!! And then it was given to my parents by another parent!! I was even bullied by a TEACHER!! So don't talk to me about being bullied!! I have plenty of experience of being bullied!! But did I let it define me? NO!! Because I was raised stronger than that and to not let others effect me!! I consider my HS years to be some of the best!! Were my feelings ever hurt? YES, multiple times!!! But I rose above it and allowed myself to be better than those who hurt me!! I made friends who were in multiple classes, even the senior class men and when I was an upperclassmen some of my closest friends were younger than me!! I even was know to befriend younger class men and "take them under my wing" to a certain extent.

Did I ever once say in my previous post that having rocks throw at you was right?!?!?!??? NO!! If that happened, then the "thrower" should be punished!! And I have faith that Mr. Mayer and Mr. Gentry have done so if that really happened!! Maybe, the next time you want to argue a point you will not be so quick to jump to assumptions! We all know what is said about assuming!! And you assumed and just continued the bullying. For my post was only sticking up for one of my fellow alumni and making that point that everyone should stop slinging mud back and forth and find a solution!! That way, the students at CLHS can continue to learn and experience what will be for the ones who make it, one of the best times of their lives!!!

Maybe you should listen to your own advice and stop being a bully yourself! Read my other posts and you will see where I stand on this point! For I have no more precious breath to waste on someone who claims to be so "open minded" Now, you go and have yourself a good day!

Sincerely,
Proud Alumni of the class of '04!

[MOOSE]

Manda_concerned alumni wrote:

<quoted text>
Who are you to say that I've never been bullied?!?!? You have no clue who I am and what my experience was like at CLHS! Was I the most popular? NO!! Was I bullied? YES!! Did I walk in to the quad to get to my books out of my locker or take something to the office and sometimes cringe because of certain upperclassmen when I was a freshman? YES!!! It even went, as far as someone to have made up a hoax letter from my boyfriend to me discussing "how we were going to to find time to have sex for the first time" all only over pure jealously!!! And then it was given to my parents by another parent!! I was even bullied by a TEACHER!! So don't talk to me about being bullied!! I have plenty of experience of being bullied!! But did I let it define me? NO!! Because I was raised stronger than that and to not let others effect me!! I consider my HS years to be some of the best!! Were my feelings ever hurt? YES, multiple times!!! But I rose above it and allowed myself to be better than those who hurt me!! I made friends who were in multiple classes, even the senior class men and when I was an upperclassmen some of my closest friends were younger than me!! I even was know to befriend younger class men and "take them under my wing" to a certain extent.
Did I ever once say in my previous post that having rocks throw at you was right?!?!?!??? NO!! If that happened, then the "thrower" should be punished!! And I have faith that Mr. Mayer and Mr. Gentry have done so if that really happened!! Maybe, the next time you want to argue a point you will not be so quick to jump to assumptions! We all know what is said about assuming!! And you assumed and just continued the bullying. For my post was only sticking up for one of my fellow alumni and making that point that everyone should stop slinging mud back and forth and find a solution!! That way, the students at CLHS can continue to learn and experience what will be for the ones who make it, one of the best times of their lives!!!
Maybe you should listen to your own advice and stop being a bully yourself! Read my other posts and you will see where I stand on this point! For I have no more precious breath to waste on someone who claims to be so "open minded" Now, you go and have yourself a good day!
Sincerely,
Proud Alumni of the class of '04!

Anybody that has to write a post as long as yours really has too much time on their hands.lol

[Manda_concerned alumni]

MOOSE wrote:

<quoted text>
Anybody that has to write a post as long as yours really has too much time on their hands.lol

Lol! Yes, maybe...you are the one who took time to read it :)

[Oatmeal]

ruchildbashing wrote:

<quoted text>
Are you thick? You have a right to your opinion without someone saying you need "HELP"
And so does he! Yet you just stated it AGAIN, why can't you leave the boy alone, what are your qualifications to make such an assumptions? You don't want to go there because you've been called on your accusations and behavior. OMG, Is anyone else out there annoyed with these adults attacking a child? If so please step up! WWJD

Now, Now. Let's not be too high & mighty here. We may be just attacking a "child" too. We just never know. So maybe we should be "adult" and kind to others who don't have the same views as yourself. WWJD? Not sure but he would not be on this computer attacking children!

[Rocky]

MOOSE wrote:

Yeah say what you want Chance, but don't forget to hit me with that lunch money monday morning.WiNk wInK

That is NOT NICE. But pretty fun kid!

[CLHS Alum in Texas]

Another Radical wrote:

Chance,
I applaud you for your stand. It is not easy to challenge the status quo. Hazing or intimidation is always wrong. As an involved parent I do know what goes on at CL High. Those that deny any real emotional pain to some students are just stubbornly in denial.
Those that tell you to "man up" need to take a serious look at the message they send their children and friends. Taken to an extreme it leads to violence and gang mentality. I'm sure that a beating laid on their child by a "gang" of any kind would not set well.
I was hazed as a freshman jock, and lived to tell the stories. Our AD believed that hazing toughened us up and improved team unity. This is also a man that believed no one should have a drop of liquid during the two hours of Football practice also to toughen us up. My love of sports allowed me continued freshman sports but I have never felt that hazing in anyway improved team unity. The sport of Football in it's self was enough to "toughen" us up.
Just as we now know that risking dehydration during sports is wrong, elightened coachs now know that hazing is equally wrong and adds nothing to the experience.
I have known your Father for 35 some odd years and your mother for maybe 10. The standards and hard work they have expected of you shows in your academics and your ability to think outside the box.
You will find as you go through life that you are not always right in your views. Sometimes the true path falls somewhere between two views. Keep questioning the status quo but keep an open mind to other's views. Very few things in life are black or white, most are some shade of gray. I see in you a life spent leading by example, and a few hard knocks learning the ins and out the politics of change. Best of luck to you.

Being a friend to the family gives you a different perspective but don't you think that people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. If they are that "breakable" then they should not cast stones in the directions of others...it makes them no better than anyone else and they should be held to the same standards that they are asking others to be held up to.

[MOOSE]

Manda_concerned alumni wrote:

<quoted text>
Lol! Yes, maybe...you are the one who took time to read it :)

Who said I read it? Perhaps if you would of used paragraphs and correct punctuation it would of been more readable,but doubtful lol.

[clhstroll]

Listen up all you jocks and cheerleaders...Go watch "revenge of the nerds." Your time is coming!!! Tri lam and omega mu will defeat the Alpha Betas and Pi delta pis.

[Colleen]

Its Not Hard wrote:

If you really knew Chance you would realize that Chance's article was not written as a cry for help. Chance is a very intelligent, and emotionally stable young man who feels deeply for his fellow students. He has decided to confront a outdated ritual that does nothing to improve the learning experience of CLHS. To paint him as anything other than an advocate for much needed change, is an act of denying there is a problem. As the Parent of a Freshman at CLHS I have heard the incoming Freshmen's worry of hazing. The worry is real and only hinders the Freshman's ability to enjoy and be educated at this public School.
It does not have to be this way. Children of all ages learn better in a friendly, unthreatening environment. Why is this so hard for so many to see and agree upon this fact????

I too have a freshman attending CLHS, he has enjoyed the rallys and has not had any complaints about the booing. He laughs when they boo and then boos the upperclassmen back. He believes its all in good fun. He has however complained about the trouble Chance has brought to the freshman class. My son is also one of the class reps. Chance is very bright and was well liked. Unfortunately he may have gone about things the wrong way. Telling students on the first day of school that you will hire a lawyer and sue if anyone bullys you is not a great way to start any friendships!
Chance has great intentions and the schools do need to do something about bullys. But as far as walking out of a rally because you are being booed, well there are worst things to be trying to battle in high school. Chance, put your energy were it is needed, the battle against drugs, chewing tabacco, alohol, smoking, and sexual activities, these are all thing that your age group is starting to deal with! I would have no problem supporting you on any of these issues. These are the really dangers in our schools. As parents our goals should be to raise heathly, independant, respectful, and caring children. Chance doesn't need counceling, he needs to put his enery and intelligence to good use!

[CLHSSOPHMORE]

chance seriously no one cares about ur point omg u need to get over yourself and ur mommy thinks she knows what goes on at school she only knows what you tell her and for gods sake shes a lawyer so what!! shes a lawyer in LAKE COUNTY which is fully of sue happy and money hungry people plus booing isnt bullying brush up on ur facts!! be careful one wrong move and the district can say we dont want him and send u back to kvill and thats so much worse trust me!! and u dont think coll;eges look at this stuff they dont want ur crap or drama either haha they wont take u and for people who think this is a cry for help yea freaking right he just is an attention ***

NO ONE CARES ABOUT UR POINT WE ARE GOING TO BOO IF U LIKE IT OR NOT!!

[costcobob]

Booing (if that is a verb) is protected speech. Case closed. The Classes can boo away to their hearts content...the first amendment protects it. So please, seniors, boo the freshmen and exercise your constitutionally protected right under the first amendment. Bite it, Chance and Maile. That is also protected.

[PARENT]

CLHSSOPHMORE wrote:

chance seriously no one cares about ur point omg u need to get over yourself and ur mommy thinks she knows what goes on at school she only knows what you tell her and for gods sake shes a lawyer so what!! shes a lawyer in LAKE COUNTY which is fully of sue happy and money hungry people plus booing isnt bullying brush up on ur facts!! be careful one wrong move and the district can say we dont want him and send u back to kvill and thats so much worse trust me!! and u dont think coll;eges look at this stuff they dont want ur **** or drama either haha they wont take u and for people who think this is a cry for help yea freaking right he just is an attention ***
NO ONE CARES ABOUT UR POINT WE ARE GOING TO BOO IF U LIKE IT OR NOT!!

HEY CHANCE EVERYONE DOES CARE AND ONLY A PERSON WITH NO SENSITIVITY WOULD CONTINUE TO BOO ANOTHER STUDENT. DID THEY NOT UNDERSTAND HOW IT MADE THE YOU FEEL? LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE KIDS, IF JUST ONE STUDENT WAS OFFENDED BY THIS RITUAL THEN IT'S NOT O.K.

[Get it]

costcobob wrote:

Booing (if that is a verb) is protected speech. Case closed. The Classes can boo away to their hearts content...the first amendment protects it. So please, seniors, boo the freshmen and exercise your constitutionally protected right under the first amendment. Bite it, Chance and Maile. That is also protected.

Yelling the "N" word is not illegal and is protected speech, so please, seniors, yell the "N" word at anyone you want and exercise your constitutionally protected right under the first amendment. Just because your view is, it does't offend any one, doesn't mean it won't or hasn't. Get it? Case closed. This and what Chase wrote is also protected.

[Breakfast Club]

I believe this boy and his mother are the ones who are the "bullies". Are they not "bullying" CLHS and the LPSD with the media and internet e.g. topix? Are they not casting a disparaging light on the Admin. with whom we've entrusted our children's education for years? I suggest that those of us who believe this whole thing is way "overblown" just quit posting here as a sign of support for CLHS and just let this boy and his mother and "their" supporter's just post back and forth to themselves!