Self defense forbidden at Calcasieu
School Fight Captured On Camera
Donald Yeates was video taped defending himself from an attacker at Sam Houston High School. He now faces arrest and punishment through the school system’s Zero Tolerance policy.
The shiner around Donald Yeates’ eye was just the beginning of a painful experience that started with a school fight at Sam Houston High School last Thursday. Donald says, “He hit me first and it was planned out. It was video camered, and I was just defending myself.”
The fight was recorded, most likely by another student. Even though another student is seen hitting Donald first, Donald, too, is facing an arrest through the school system’s zero tolerance fighting policy. The reason–because school administrators believe he could have walked away. Assistant Principal Anne Guidry says, “They have to feel like they can’t get away, they can’t find a staff member, and they feel like they have to defend themselves. They have to be very careful that they themselves do not become the aggressor.” Donald says, “That guy would have came back at me if I would have started walking to the office and got me from behind. No telling what else could have happened to me.”
It seems pretty clear to me that Donald didn’t think he could get away. How else do you interpret “That guy would have came back at me if I would have started walking to the office and got me from behind”? Given the choreographed nature of the attack and the history of his assailant (the boy was in another fight with another student the same week) it’s quite likely that Donald’s gut feeling was correct.
So Donald is off the hook, right? He meets the criteria specified by Ms.Guidry so there should be no problem. Don’t count on it. The problem is the warped perception that defending yourself is the same as instigating violence, as typified by Ms.Guidry’s statement “They have to be very careful that they themselves do not become the aggressor”. There is no way that you can become the aggressor when somebody else attacks you. Can. Not. Happen.
But since this school system ascribes to the theory that fighting back equals assault Donald is in for a world of problems. After he is arrested he will have to pay a $250 dollar fine, take an anger management course and will be suspended from school for two days. This is, of course, in addition to any criminal charges resulting from the arrest.
It’s times for the parents to rise up in mass against these school idiots. Protest at the school and school boards. I know in Baltimore a few years back parents got three principals fired within a year. They protested and threatened violence, since it was a majority black school the cops left it alone. The parents need to coordinate and attack. The best principals and administrators should always fear for there lives knowing that if they mess with parents and students rights there lives are meaningless.
Reading your site is beginning to become terrifying.
For most of their waking hours Our children are being exposed to The people making these assinine decisions . What are the lessons they are learning? What kind of values are being transmitted to them?
I thank God (I know…this is a politically incorrect word…but what the heck)
my children are no longer in the school system.
I can only pray (also politically incorrect) that vice principal Anne Guidry isn’t accosted by a mugger.
She better be a good runner because I, for one, will not lift a hand to help her. After all, it would be wrong, just as it would be wrong for her to actually defend herself, thereby commiting a criminal act.
STUPID, STUPID, STUPID !!!
If an adult male is attacked for no reason and then fights back against his agressor, does he get arrested, too?
(I know I used the same analogy when that girl was suspended for being forced to perform a sex act, but when are school officials learn to NOT punish the victims???)
I was picked on in school and often punished if I stood up for myself. The popular kids, the good kids (in their eyes) get away with murder, while the outcasts take the fall.
It’s time to ditch the public schools.
I agree. In mediation and apeals the school admin and the board have all the power. Take the fight to the school it self refuse to let your children go and sit in their place make the admin feel the fear that they forcing are children to fear. They seem to forget that they are no better than any one else it may just take a few threats (And I rahter liked my idea of state sanctioned hangings as well)to get them to open their eyes And I dont mean leagle threats. Threaten their future and show you can really do it. then they might get an idea.
Do you have an e-mail address for this school
From britannica.com
ag�gres�sion
1 : a forceful action or procedure (as an unprovoked attack) especially when intended to dominate or master
The Don’s comment “Reading your site is beginning to become terrifying.” is all to true, however I come from a slightly more pessimistic view so rather than terrifying it’s just evidence as to why our society is getting worse rather then better.
I have sent the following e-mail to Ms. Guidry at Sam Houston High School. Perhaps if others do something similar, both in this instance and with other postings, it will helpn to bring some common sense back to decisions being made in our school system.
(Sent care of a teacher address found at the school site)
This e-mail is directed to Assistant Principal Anne Guidry, however, as I am unable to obtain an address for any administrative staff I ask that you forward this to Ms. Guidry on my behalf. I thank you for your assistance.
Dear Ms. Guidry:
I read, with dismay, the decision you and your administration have made regarding the altercation between Donald Yeates and a fellow student. As I understand the situation, you have a video tape of Mr. Yeates being attacked by another person. You intend to bring charges against Mr. Yeates for defending himself against the attack.
Please explain how any thinking individual can possibly come to the conclusion to charge Mr Yeates for defending himself.
As an education administrator I assume you are responsible for providing a safe environment in which students under your care can acquire and learns kills which will allow them to become valued and competent members of our society.
What lessons are you teaching Mr. Yeates and all other students in YOUR school, with the actions you are taking?
I see four:
(1) One can attack another with the understanding if the person attacked defends him/herself they will be penalized.
(2) If one defends him/herself against attack or, I assume, helps another who is under attack, that person will be dealt with severely.
(3) All members of the staff should follow, blindly, zero tolerance rules, even if common sense dictates otherwise. The rules are what is important, not the well being of the student.
(4) As a student, don’t count on any help from administrators. Your wellbeing is of no consequence to them.
Is this what you intend?
If you use the same logic outside of the school environment, I suggest you join your school’s track team and become an expert runner in the one hundred yard dash. You will need it if you should ever encounter a mugger. You will be unable to count on any outside assistance. I, for one, will not lift a hand to help you. After all, it would be wrong, just as it would be wrong for you to actually defend yourself. To do so will be committing a criminal act.
I will be interested in your response.
Yours sincerely
Don Popowich
My email wasnt as nice. It wasnt rude. But it wasnt nice.
My grandson came home from school today with a “referral” note (notice of reprimand)stating that he was involved in a fight. In asking my straight “A” 5th grade grandson about the incident, he said he was the victim, not the attacker, having been kicked from behind by another student. He then tangled with the other kid. We are waiting now for the formal letter from the school which will set up a meeting. I found your website and related postings, because I wanted to know if there are others who have problems with this “Zero Tolerance” or “Zero Intelligence” policy. It is, in my mind, simply a mechanism for teachers and school administrators to hide behind so they don’t have to make any disciplinary decisions. Granted that some inflexible rules have become necessary concerning weapons, but the problem has become one of carrying the caution to extremes. There is, in my mind anyway, a natural God given law that gives everyone, children included, the right to defend themselves……even in schools. If an adult were accosted in the same manner and defended him/herself, no charges whatsoever would be brought………even in our prisons. So, good luck with your war against Zero Intelligence. My war appears to be just starting.
My daughter was in the bathroom at school, and got kedney puched from behind by a girl student, and my turned and fought her. Because she was thirteen it was reported to the police.
Yesterday I got a notice from the juvenile courts, she will have to appear before a judge on 3-15-05.
What do I do now? I don’t have the money for a lawyer!
Jan-
Often you can get help through children’s organizations. If the charge is criminal a lawyer must be provided by the state.
I would like to asy I am thankful that if you are attacked at my school, the handbook says that [i]you have the right[/i] to defend your self, violently if necessary. But only if necessary.
The problem here is that when attacked, most people find it an irrisistable impulse to return the favor. Its an instinct, kill or be killed. Sad, but true. Supervision is always present but causing one teacher to watch over the entire group of kids is plain rediculous. The only two kids I know that can calmly walk away from something like that would me my friend Matt and yours truely.
If you go to jail today for merely defending yourself in a fight….which was not only premeditated but also the administration is so ruled by political figures that are so afraid of being accused of racism that they will allow an innocent white student to be unjustly prosecuted……then our judicial branch of government will become so warped and twisted that the truth and justice has no place in it.
That poor young man had to endure enough self-humiliation- not only from his peers but also from administration and higher athorities-that further punishment was not necessary. I personally talked to Mr. Yeates and he wished that things could have went any other way, but he took his pride and the remains of his battered self-dignity and accepted all of the punishments put before him. Mrs. Anne was just scared to stand up for what was right and we can only hope that in the future she will be more willing to accept the responsibilities that she has been solely endowed with and do what is right. That is all I have to say on this matter.