School shooting in California HS today: Shooter targeted bullies.

[GreenKirby]

(CBS/AP) TAFT, Calif. - The 16-year-old boy who allegedly fired two rounds at students in a California high school on Thursday wounded a teenager he claimed had bullied him for more than a year, authorities said.


Students said the violence came just minutes after administrators at Taft Union High School announced new lockdown safety procedures prompted by the Newtown, Conn., school slayings.

"Just 10 minutes before it happened our teachers were giving us protocol because of what happened in Connecticut," said student Oscar Nuno. He said he was across campus when an announcer on the PA system said the school was under lock down "and it was not a drill."

The suspect surrendered his shotgun to teacher Ryan Heber and campus supervisor Kim Lee Fields after Heber coaxed the teen into giving up.

"I don't want to shoot you," he told the popular teacher.

Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood said the confrontation was enough of a distraction to give 28 students time to escape their classroom. Youngblood said the suspect's pockets were stuffed with more ammunition upon his surrender.

"This teacher and this counselor stood there face-to-face not knowing if he was going to shoot them," Youngblood said. "They probably expected the worst and hoped for the best, but they gave the students a chance to escape."

Heber's forehead was grazed by a stray pellet, but Youngblood said the teacher was unaware that he was hit.

"He's the nicest teacher I know," Nuno said. "He loves his students and he always wants to help."

The shooting shocked residents of this remote town of 9,400, about 120 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Authorities aren't releasing the name of the accused gunman because he's a juvenile.

Neighbor Trish Montes described the suspect as "a short guy" and "small" who was teased by many about his stature. Montes said her son had worked at the school and tutored the boy last year.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_...nman-claims-he-targeted-bullies-sheriff-says/

Once again, another violent incident happened at a school that probably wouldn't have if the useless adults actually started being useful and punished the bullies earlier.

 

[Claire Diviner]

Question is, were the teachers and staff aware of the bullying?

 

[Kal]

..........

 

[Froggy]

I don't know of any adequate way to really prevent bullying. I also think it's silly to call the adults at this school useless when their hands are just bound by a ridiculous amount of red tape.

It's really not difficult. You simply have a no bullying policy. Investigate every case, and if there is evidence that someone beyond a reasonable doubt is bullying another person then kick them out of the school.

 

[Yodery]

Or they can just do this lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tp-QPNz6e2M

 

[Kal]

..........

 

[Froggy]

It's hardly that simple. A zero-tolerance policy results in things being under-reported. I don't know of any evidence that zero-tolerance schools have lower rates of bullying, and this is ignoring certain more complex issues that aren't solved by a zero-tolerance policy, like bullying by classmates outside of school and group bullying.

I disagree about a zero-tolerance policy resulting in under reporting. And even if it did it wouldn't be so for the important cases. That kid who showed up with a gun for example, would have reported the bullies had he thought the school would have actually taken it as seriously as he did.

The complexities don't matter. I never said it would be easy, I said it would be helpful.

 

[Falconv1.0]

It's really not difficult. You simply have a no bullying policy. Investigate every case, and if there is evidence that someone beyond a reasonable doubt is bullying another person then kick them out of the school.

Schools also have no drugs and no drinking policies, some are also opposed to sex before marriage!

Having some kind of zero tolerance policy for "bullying" of any kind is essentially advocating ****ing thought control and is such a ridiculous thing to even attempt. This, btw, is coming from someone who was bullied quite a bit growing up. It's a part of growing up, it's such a ridiculous notion that you're going to stop it forever. Oh great, then they grow up and realize the world isn't set up to protect them mean people and they get ****ed in the *** as their over inflated self esteem gets ripped to shreds, ooohh boy sounds like a fun society to live in if I get to be one of the mean people!

Be a star! Steal a car, fella!

 

[Froggy]

Schools also have no drugs and no drinking policies, some are also opposed to sex before marriage!

Having some kind of zero tolerance policy for "bullying" of any kind is essentially advocating ****ing thought control and is such a ridiculous thing to even attempt. This, btw, is coming from someone who was bullied quite a bit growing up. It's a part of growing up, it's such a ridiculous notion that you're going to stop it forever. Oh great, then they grow up and realize the world isn't set up to protect them mean people and they get ****ed in the *** as their over inflated self esteem gets ripped to shreds, ooohh boy sounds like a fun society to live in if I get to be one of the mean people!

Be a star! Steal a car, fella!

That is a very stupid point.

Schools with no drug and alcohol policies have far less people using drugs and alcohol in the school than schools which don't have such policies, it's the same concept with bullying.

I don't know where you get the notion that bullying is impossible to prevent. It isn't. I was bullied really hard up until I spoke to the headmaster about it. And with my parents being very good friends with the headmaster she looked out for me. People simply knowing that I was protected by the headmaster got them to stop, I didn't even have to report anyone.

Also contrary to your dramatic idiocy the world does protect them. That's the whole point of law-enforcement and the U.S Army.

 

[MajinSweet]

That is a very stupid point.

Schools with no drug and alcohol policies have far less people using drugs and alcohol in the school than schools which don't have such policies, it's the same concept with bullying.

I don't know where you get the notion that bullying is impossible to prevent. It isn't. I was bullied really hard up until I spoke to the headmaster about it. And with my parents being very good friends with the headmaster she looked out for me. People simply knowing that I was protected by the headmaster got them to stop, I didn't even have to report anyone.

Also contrary to your dramatic idiocy the world does protect them. That's the whole point of law-enforcement and the U.S Army.

Must have been crappy for the kid who didn't have connections that the bullies moved onto. Can't believe I just read that. "Oh don't worry, as long as your parents are friends with the head of the school, everything will be fine!" Well no ****.

 

[Falconv1.0]

I don't know where you get the notion that bullying is impossible to prevent. It isn't. I was bullied really hard up until I spoke to the headmaster about it. And with my parents being very good friends with the headmaster she looked out for me. People simply knowing that I was protected by the headmaster got them to stop, I didn't even have to report anyone.

I feel like this quote alone buries the **** out of your argument.

What do you think I never turned to the school ever? You're asking for regulations they couldn't possibly effectively or fairly enforce. Oh I guess they just need to throw out a **** ton of kids because I was awkward and thus people were sometimes mean to me, yeah that will create a balanced society.

Also I think you're confusing school policies with **** neighborhoods. Wait, what school actually encourages or allows drugs to be used, what? The difference between a school near/in the ghetto and some nice little humble white boy school is nothing is ****ing going on so it's a lot easier for them to crack down on minor drug issues, but hey I could pretty easily get my hands on anything I wanted through people at my school and it's in a pretty stable area with very low crime and pretty high passing rates!

Fella!

Edit-My brain can't even handle that last line. You think the world protects us all from bullies? Then why are there...wait...wha you can't...? Fella?

 

[Kal]

..........

 

[Teran]

My school's bullying policy was stricter than the theft and drugs policy.

Guess which one actually went on more often. Bullying is just human nature and especially hard to drum out amongst youth, hell even grown ups who probably do it just as much if not more (no anti bullying policy at work!)

 

[Falconv1.0]

My school's bullying policy was stricter than the theft and drugs policy.

Guess which one actually went on more often. Bullying is just human nature and especially hard to drum out amongst youth, hell even grown ups who probably do it just as much if not more (no anti bullying policy at work!)

Are you saying the military didn't magically save you when someone thought your shoes looked goofy or some ****? Really?

You're lying.

 

[Teran]

No, making disparaging comments about their divorcée mother generally did though.

 

[theeboredone]

Just want to chime in that, all the studies I read back in college about zero tolerance policies in regards to bullies didn't help the cause all that much. As Kal said, bullying would be reported to take place outside of school. Furthermore, it also leaves the uncertainty that the bully-ee will not be able to get any form of help. Even though they may act out in school, it doesn't come from no where, and likely stems from being at home. There have also been plenty of studies done that show a school can be a get away or good environment for the student in helping them develop into a better person.

So yeah, you're not really fixing the problem with a zero tolerance policy. All you're doing is just creating a big gap that gives little to no chance for the bullies to mold into better people.

 

[HoChiMinhTrail]

survival of the fittest, the world is a rough place, bullying is part of life. kids need to grow a pair and deal with it. scrubs

 

[Kal]

..........

 

[Teran]

People don't like hard knocks these days.

Not ready brother.