Needham Girls HS Hazing

[Unregistered]

You weren't there, were you? You are reading a newspaper article and drawing conclusions, exactly the thing you say no one should do. Did the article mention that the student had been expelled from other schools for bullying prior to Groton, or that his mother commit suicide as well the year before? This is what a student from Groton told me. I think they are closer to the incident than that article, and whether it's true or not, I suspect this poor child had way more going against him than this single incident or Groton could have dealt with, which is why the begged him to leave. I would certainly also like to know way more about the father before I passed judgement, so I won't. I suggest you don't either.

Needham did not suspend these girls because of a newspaper article. They talked directly to the girls and the coach and the other witnesses, THEN suspended them for obvious rule violations. Then the girls parents went to court to try and plea bargain. They did not sue the school for slander, they tried to PLEA BARGIN. Generally speaking, that is not a sign of innocence.

You say that, but there is nothing that indicates that it was the girls parents that went to court. Only a parent of one of the "hazed" freshman. The court documents are there to view. Unless you have some other information, don't speculate on what you do not know is fact. And if you have some inside information post under your real name so we can determine it's accuracy or if YOU might have an aggenda. Right now you come across as someone just arguing for the sake of an argument.

[Unregistered]

Isn't time to start questioning how WBZ got tipped off about the story. If it was someone with a kid on the team, what does it tell you about that person? Shouldn't we expect a parent to bring a complaint to the school before the media? If it wasn't a parent on the team, what sort of person would do this? What possible motivation could they have to stir up this much controversy? They would have to be a pretty twisted individual.

That is a good question. I could only assume that the person didn't feel the administration would act unless pressured by the media. The biggest issue is that WBZ seems to have released a news report without having all the information. The Globe/Boston.com seems to have done a much better job getting the story.

[Unregistered]

You weren't there, were you? You are reading a newspaper article and drawing conclusions, exactly the thing you say no one should do. Did the article mention that the student had been expelled from other schools for bullying prior to Groton, or that his mother commit suicide as well the year before? This is what a student from Groton told me. I think they are closer to the incident than that article, and whether it's true or not, I suspect this poor child had way more going against him than this single incident or Groton could have dealt with, which is why the begged him to leave. I would certainly also like to know way more about the father before I passed judgement, so I won't. I suggest you don't either.

Needham did not suspend these girls because of a newspaper article. They talked directly to the girls and the coach and the other witnesses, THEN suspended them for obvious rule violations. Then the girls parents went to court to try and plea bargain. They did not sue the school for slander, they tried to PLEA BARGIN. Generally speaking, that is not a sign of innocence.

Hey Perry Mason- they went to court for an INJUNCTION not to PLEA BARGIN (sic). Generally speaking, your post is a sign that you don't know what the heck you are talking about. Yet you feel perfectly comfortable passing judgment about the guilt or "innocence" of teenagers who have been suspended from school (and not charged with any crime). Don't give up the day job just yet.

[Unregistered]

Hey Perry Mason- they went to court for an INJUNCTION not to PLEA BARGIN (sic). Generally speaking, your post is a sign that you don't know what the heck you are talking about. Yet you feel perfectly comfortable passing judgment about the guilt or "innocence" of teenagers who have been suspended from school (and not charged with any crime). Don't give up the day job just yet.

Not the OP, but it was reported that the father did suggest an alternative punishment. I guess that's a type of bargaining.

[Unregistered]

Isn't time to start questioning how WBZ got tipped off about the story. If it was someone with a kid on the team, what does it tell you about that person? Shouldn't we expect a parent to bring a complaint to the school before the media? If it wasn't a parent on the team, what sort of person would do this? What possible motivation could they have to stir up this much controversy? They would have to be a pretty twisted individual.

I'd rather ask isn't it time to start questioning why the Needham coach still has a job? This happened on HIS watch. Nobody should have to tip WBZ off about anything because it shouldn't have happened in the first place. Once it did happen, the Coach is the one who should have taken action. He should have come forward and HE should have suspended the kids himself rather than scuttling off with his tail between his legs and let the principal take all the heat.

Where was the COACH? You want to talk about a twisted individual who put his own ego ahead of what was right.

[Unregistered]

Not the OP, but it was reported that the father did suggest an alternative punishment. I guess that's a type of bargaining.

No, but I see you went to same law school as the OP. The alternative disciplinary measure sought by the attorney for the moving party in the injunction proceeding was in lieu of the suspension that was the subject of the injunction.

A plea “bargain” is a negotiated agreement between a prosecutor and the defense in a criminal case after an admission of guilt and therefore it has a whole different connotation.

[Unregistered]

No, but I see you went to same law school as the OP. The alternative disciplinary measure sought by the attorney for the moving party in the injunction proceeding was in lieu of the suspension that was the subject of the injunction.

A plea “bargain” is a negotiated agreement between a prosecutor and the defense in a criminal case after an admission of guilt and therefore it has a whole different connotation.

Never went to law school, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night. Got it now, thanks Matlock

[Unregistered]

You say that, but there is nothing that indicates that it was the girls parents that went to court. Only a parent of one of the "hazed" freshman. The court documents are there to view. Unless you have some other information, don't speculate on what you do not know is fact. And if you have some inside information post under your real name so we can determine it's accuracy or if YOU might have an aggenda. Right now you come across as someone just arguing for the sake of an argument.

Please give us a break. Mr. unregistered

[Unregistered]

I am wondering why so many people, I am guesing mostly Needham parents, are coming out in support of the girls who committed this illegal activity. My lifetime experience has been, you don't learn from your mistakes unless you pay for them. So these kids have to take responsibility for what they did, even if the victims support them. I am guessing at least one of the girls parents, if not more is a lawyer. That would explain a lot about how this got brought before the court. How long before the lawsuit? Sometimes I guess the true story is people's reluctance to look in the mirror and ask themselves, Is what I am doing here actually benefitting these children?

[Unregistered]

Why is playing time the sole potential conflict? Isn't it possible that your kid could be a star but you could still think hazing isn't a wonderful thing for the team?

Because I have been around the scene long enough not only to question the sanity of soccer parents but their underlying motives as well. I put nothing past them. I have seen and heard enough to know that they are capable of anything. I have stated clearly that punishment has been given and that should be enough. Now people want the players and coaches heads. Typical mob behavior. They screwed up they were punished move on. Do you want to ruin their lives?

- Cujo

[Unregistered]

Cujo, if you were the AD, what would you do if soccer players dragged other players by dog leashes and threw pies in their faces?

Send them to Alcatraz - 3 years hard time in solitary......

Seriously. I would have suspended them for the game along with the coach. Then I would close the book on the incident and move on. In two weeks (assuming there are no major celebrity deaths in the intervening week) this whole issue will blow over and be forgotten. I would bring the coach back and advise him that he has two strikes on him. Some mistakes are punishable by termination. I don't think this is one of them. If you do not give individuals a chance at redemption then we have really failed as a society. Everybody makes mistakes and deserves a second chance if the error is not too egregious. This incident does not rise to the level of outrageous. Stupid yes, Egregious no...

- Cujo

[Unregistered]

Send them to Alcatraz - 3 years hard time in solitary......

Seriously. I would have suspended them for the game along with the coach. Then I would close the book on the incident and move on. In two weeks (assuming there are no major celebrity deaths in the intervening week) this whole issue will blow over and be forgotten. I would bring the coach back and advise him that he has two strikes on him. Some mistakes are punishable by termination. I don't think this is one of them. If you do not give individuals a chance at redemption then we have really failed as a society. Everybody makes mistakes and deserves a second chance if the error is not too egregious. This incident does not rise to the level of outrageous. Stupid yes, Egregious no...

- Cujo

Wow a sane view of this situation - finally. I cannot for the life of me figure out why this has become a national news story.

[Unregistered]

Wow a sane view of this situation - finally. I cannot for the life of me figure out why this has become a national news story.

Because the parents would not accept a punishment for their child.

[Unregistered]

Because the parents would not accept a punishment for their child.

BINGO, we have BINGO

[Unregistered]

Seriously. I would have suspended them for the game along with the coach. Then I would close the book on the incident and move on. In two weeks (assuming there are no major celebrity deaths in the intervening week) this whole issue will blow over and be forgotten. I would bring the coach back and advise him that he has two strikes on him. Some mistakes are punishable by termination. I don't think this is one of them. If you do not give individuals a chance at redemption then we have really failed as a society. Everybody makes mistakes and deserves a second chance if the error is not too egregious. This incident does not rise to the level of outrageous. Stupid yes, Egregious no...

- Cujo

I rarely agree with Cuj,o but this time - I go to say - you nailed it.

Because the parents would not accept a punishment for their child.

Double Bingo