APD (2 cruisers 1 detective vehicle) on scene Amherst Regional High School 9:45 AM
There's a heavy police presence at Amherst Regional High School at the moment and it probably has something to do with "Dialogue Day," although I'm guessing not a prepared, planned presence since they seemed to have parked in a hurry.
Since no students are outside the building, probably not a bomb or weapon threat. Although an employee out front said administrators, "did not look happy."
UPDATE: 10:30 AM
School Superintendent Maria Geryk has confirmed the incident has been safely resolved. It was an, "unrelated student issue."
Unrelated to What?
ReplyDeleteUnrelated to Anon notes or grafitti left in bathrooms.
ReplyDeleteSometimes you need to slow down a bit. You are so breathlessly trying to cover the story that you are covering it before there is a story.
ReplyDeleteOh, I think three police vehicles showing up unscheduled at the High School is still a story.
ReplyDelete"Safely resolved." "Unrelated student issue." Sounds like Maria G's attempt at damage control. I'd bet there's a story there but we might never be told what the story is.
ReplyDeleteBut maybe we will get a positive press release about today's "Dialogue Day."
ReplyDeleteWell when I worked for the schools I was asked if I could ever put what ever happened to my son and myself behind me and continue to do my job. My answer was yes when the schools or administration stops bringing it all up. See what happens
ReplyDeleteWho are these people that claim to run the school system. The tax payers of Amherst should demand a back ground check on these idiots. Something is not right here.
ReplyDeleteIf I were a parent of a child in that high school, at this point I'd write a formal letter to DECE and ask THEM to find out what happened today -- stating that while they may not be able to tell you, you want them to investigate and tell you that *they* don't have any concerns.
ReplyDelete3 cruisers at that time of day could well be the entire shift...
There was one cruiser left in town center.
ReplyDeleteSteve akalis said...
ReplyDeleteWell when I worked for the schools I was asked if I could ever put what ever happened to my son and myself behind me and continue to do my job
That's significant and you want to use it in both your civil service appeal and the appeal of their inevitable denial of your unemployment benefits (you will have to go to a hearing).
They essentially were threatening termination if you exercised your lawful rights as a parent, and terminate you the day after your son no longer is a student -- they are not on solid ground.
oh for crying out loud -- maybe there really is no story here. Police come to schools (not just our school, but schools in general) for a variety of reasons. It could be something involving a student's situation outside of school. It could be anything. One thing we know for sure is that it's not anybody's business other than that student and the relevant adults. End of story. No story.
ReplyDeleteIt's like people are looking for things to be bad, rubbing their hands with glee at the thought of another "incident" at ARHS. If you said something like "oh goody" when you saw Larry's headline, then I am talking to you. Why do you want things to be bad?
One of the major themes that came out during the discussion on Dialogue Day is that the kids are very frustrated at the negative depiction of their school in the media and on social media. That depiction doesn't jibe with their experience at the school.
And you know, Larry, you could have come back a few hours later and taken a picture of a hundred kids playing Capture the Flag together or even a very wet Mark Jackson walking around after getting dunked. It was fun. Just plain fun. Not worth reporting?
Exactly what Nina said! I'm an ARHS student myself, and today was a great day, the best we've had in a while. Police were at dialogue day -- to prevent students from skipping school as we moved into the school wide celebration. You need to back off of ARHS and stop defiling our school when you aren't even there during the day to witness what happens! There are many things I would change about arhs, but you don't bring up any real issues. Just cause problems. Leave our school community alone, hype building wannabe-muckrakers like you are the reason we're having so many problems...
ReplyDeleteOne of the major themes that came out during the discussion on Dialogue Day is that the kids are very frustrated at the negative depiction of their school in the media and on social media. That depiction doesn't jibe with their experience at the school.
ReplyDeleteKinda like the folks in South Africa back in the era of Apartied who were upset with all the criticism of South African.
Yes, that's so similar.
ReplyDeleteAnon 9:16 PM
ReplyDelete"Police were at dialogue day -- to prevent students from skipping school as we moved into the school wide celebration."
mmh? Three cruisers present at HS, just to prevent students from skipping schools? Does that make any sense?
" today was a great day, ... You need to back off of ARHS and stop defiling our school when you aren't even there during the day to witness what happens! "
Spending valuable HS study time to have a good time so everyone feels good. It is fine once in a while especially in such difficult time. But eventually, students get to do its work and excel, and achieve. If Amherst school is really well run to achieve excellence goals, people will go away.
just saying...
"Spending valuable HS study time to have a good time so everyone feels good."
ReplyDeleteWe did this 20 years ago @ARHS. It was called Open Campus. Just ask Nina. And like then, I'm sure it's the same now...if the cops showed up, we weren't celebrating!
This is not a story. What is a story is how Thursday was a great day for the entire school community. Where's a post about that Larry??
ReplyDeleteto Anon 10:35 am, I hope you will agree that once per year qualifies as "once in a while" to have a good time. This was our first year to hold a school-wide celebration like this and I hope we repeat it next year. Thanks to our PGO for helping us pull it off.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, the students are spending plenty of time studying hard and doing excellent work in many arenas. Take a look at the "Features" section of our home page and you will see evidence of that.
Students at ARHS can excel not only in the classroom but also as members of an award-winning vocal ensemble or as committed enthusiastic volunteers out in the community or in any number of endeavors. Have you ever seen one of our theater productions? Did you go the fabulous AR[T]HS exhibit that just closed at Amherst College? We just sent 8 runners off to compete at the national level. And those kids get it done in the classroom, too, or they wouldn't be eligible to be on the team. I happen to know that one of those runners is also a very talented musician and computer programmer. All of these forms of excellence are important and are highly valued by colleges.
We have some really terrific kids and lots of adults who dedicate a huge portion of their waking hours to working with those kids. Sure, there are some kids who struggle and there are things that need to improve at the school, but that is true of all schools. Overall, it's a great place and graduates come back to tell us that all the time.
What else would you like to see?
"Other than the shooting and your husband dying, how did you like the play Mrs. Lincoln?"
ReplyDeleteNormally you wouldn't need three cruisers at a school in one location to make sure students didn't skip. So the fact that they kinda flew in fast and parked says something else happened, only no one will ever know most likely. So the school had a party and all. Their is so many staff that you shouldn't have needed police their and if you did need police their for the reason of making sure no one skipped, then maybe only one. This school does have problems and a lot of them and a lot no one hears about cause they hide things and sweep it under a rug so no one knows about them, well now stuff is coming out and no one likes it. Oh well. Great they had a party and didn't want students to skip, they should not mean take most the police force to make sure that doesn't happen. They have enough staff that should be able to handle that without the help from the police.
ReplyDeleteHaters hate and live hate filled lives. Can't imagine what it's like to live with a hater like those who can't seem to get enough of kicking the local hs.
ReplyDeleteLuckily the world has a stronger balance of love than hate. Otherwise our species would have destroyed itself long ago.
Sung to the tune of Kumbaya.
ReplyDeleteJust to clarify, the three police vehicles that Larry photographed were there early in the day to deal with a student who was in distress. The superintendent did release a statement about that incident and it was reported in the Gazette. It had nothing to do with Dialogue Day.
ReplyDeleteThe all-school celebration happened later in the day. No connection.
Once again, it seems like people are looking for a way to make things seem worse than they are. I don't understand the motivation behind that. Why do you want things to be bad? What do you gain by that?
A student in distress usually requires an ambulance. And since (supposedly) students posting anonymously here are saying that the cruisers were there to make sure students didn't skip, then for what reason was the police presence necessary?
ReplyDeleteYou have to wonder if I had not published the photo of the THREE police vehicles at the school would the superintendent have released a statement?
ReplyDeleteWhile I'm thinking of it Keith: Amherst police officers do NOT carry on their person or in their vehicles a taser.
Larry, I can tell you that the dozens of times I've had to call crisis (a mental health emergency) on a student, never was there ever a time where an ambulance wasn't involved. When these types of crises occur, they are treated as a medical emergency and police are there typically as backup. Once the crisis is called and the police & ambulance arrive, somebody's going for a ride, whether they like it or not. The only times there was solely a police presence involved a serious assault or drugs. I wonder what the real story is?
ReplyDeleteYeah, I hear a lot of "section 12" cases where AFD transports to CDH and APD always acts as back up (usually arriving first at the scene).
ReplyDeleteSo are you guys saying that Chief Livingstone is lying?
ReplyDelete“It was mostly to keep the peace,” Police Chief Scott Livingstone said Friday. “There was no action warranted by the police, that’s for sure.” (Gazette)
I wonder why people on this blog think it is their right to know the details of a student in distress. All I see are a bunch of busy bodies who really need to get a life. You don't think things like this don't happen at other high schools?
ReplyDeleteKeithw said...
ReplyDeleteLarry, I can tell you that the dozens of times I've had to call crisis (a mental health emergency) on a student...
Keithw, could you tell us what your job was/is that has required you to make dozens of calls to crisis on a student?
Anon 7:38
ReplyDeleteCertainly. After you identify yourself.
Anon735
ReplyDeleteNo. I don't think the chief is lying. The point I made was that an emergency response to a student in "distress" is typically an ambulance and police provide back up or to "keep the peace." Which is exactly what he said they did.
Keith is right. Not to long ago there was a kid in "distress" that led to my child being locked in their HS classroom. An ambulance was called. There was no explanation to the kids, or anything sent to us parents. Kids have a right to know what is going on in regards to their safety. Parents too.
ReplyDeleteYou have a student above saying police were there to keep them from leaving campus. Nina says no. Geryk and Livingstone give other stories. And you wonder why nobody trusts anything coming out of that place?
I can tell you that the dozens of times I've had to call crisis (a mental health emergency) on a student, never was there ever a time where an ambulance wasn't involved. When these types of crises occur, they are treated as a medical emergency and police are there typically as backup. Once the crisis is called and the police & ambulance arrive, somebody's going for a ride, whether they like it or not.
ReplyDeleteAnd Keith, I'm sure that both that student and his/her/its friends are very trusting of you afterwards.
Keith, remember what happened to Mussolini -- you and yours will suffer a similar fate.
Geryk and Livingstone haven't given any "stories"...that's the Gazette's and Larry's job. And they are both known to publish misquotes.
ReplyDeleteAnon12:21
ReplyDeletePerhaps you missed the "emergency" part. Are you suggesting that if someone needed immediate medical attention, you wouldn't make the call because you're worried about what they might think about you afterwards? You sound insecure, ambivalent and condescending--the type of personality traits that repel most adolescents nowadays.
If you're a teacher, Mussolini, then why don't you spend your summer break trying to learn how not to be such a coward.
You sound insecure, ambivalent and condescending--the type of personality traits that repel most adolescents nowadays.
ReplyDeleteSuch empathy from someone who clearly is in one of the "helping professions" -- and that's called being "sarcastic", not "condescending." I also doubt I'd ever be accused of being either "insecure" or "ambivalent", such accuracy from someone supposedly qualified to judge others.
Perhaps you missed the "emergency" part.
Blood gushing across the floor is an "emergency." What you described was nothing more than a legal justification to run roughshod over someone's civil rights.
Are you suggesting that if someone needed immediate medical attention, you wouldn't make the call because you're worried about what they might think about you afterwards?
I am stating that I would never make that call -- that I have a religious objection to forcible hospitalization and treating people who have committed no crime worse than criminals. What I am saying is that I don't think it is appropriate to put people in a cage "for their own good" let alone for the good of society -- if I did, I'd want to see you in one.
What parts of our rights to our "lives, liberty, and pursuit of happiness" does this not violate? How exactly is this different from rape -- the use of force to violate the person of another?
As it is known that I believe this, people in extremis -- and I do mean "in extremis" -- trusted me enough to reach out to me. I was able to help them when you and yours weren't, and I suggest, sir, you think about the circa-Vietnam expression "we had to destroy the village in order to save it."
And as to "cowardice", no, it's called "prudence."
I am not sure why there is so much confusion here. The incident with the student happened in the morning, three hours before the all-school party. No connection. And I have not said anything here any different from what was reported in the paper: there was a problem; it was dealt with; end of story.
ReplyDeleteAs to students being asked to stay in their classrooms when we are dealing with a crisis situation in the hallway, that makes sense to me. The student needs privacy. Suppose your own child went into anaphylactic shock during school. Would you want your child lying there unconscious with other students watching? I don't think so.
I am not sure what other information you feel you need about an individual's personal medical situation. If you know that your child was not in any danger during the situation, that should suffice.
Anon939
ReplyDeleteThanks for pointing out your religious objections. If you're putting yourself and your beliefs before the student, you obviously preclude yourself from any type of empathy. All the ambulance rides that I've taken with a student (and I went each time) one thing was always the same, they realized before they arrived at the HOSPITAL (NOT JAIL) that they're exactly where they needed to be for the help they needed. if I'm a student struggling and in a crisis, I certainly wouldn't appreciate you downgrading my emotional state. And most likely you would worsen it and make me act out even more. As far as using force goes, if ARHS would properly train their staff, then maybe they wouldn't have to call the police every other day. (talk about not being trusted by students) I can tell by what you've written that I've forgotten more about crisis intervention than you will probably ever know.
Got anything else, Mussolini?
Oh, Mussolini. By the way...
ReplyDeleteOne of the topics that I used to address in my trainings was to never ever use (dark) sarcasm in the classroom. Many students don't understand it and take it as disrespect. It doesn't take a genius to understand that. Why don't you go listen to some Pink Floyd and try to figure out more ways of making connections with people...instead of arguments.
Normally Keith I would say, "Don't feed the trolls."
ReplyDeleteBut since you're doing such a good job shoving it down his cowardly little throat: carry on.
Actually that troll is Ed. Unfortunately my filter doesn't work when he doesn't use his name. If I had more time, I would teach the program to analyze the text to recognize the telltale signs of an Ed posting.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteOne of the topics that I used to address in my trainings was to never ever use (dark) sarcasm in the classroom. Many students don't understand it and take it as disrespect. It doesn't take a genius to understand that.
It ought not take one to understand that my intent was disrespect. Classroom's different, power imbalance and all, and I wouldn't do it to a student -- but here, I had no problem making it clear that I don't have a scintilla of respect for you or your kind.
Why don't you go listen to some Pink Floyd and try to figure out more ways of making connections with people...instead of arguments
Talk about a sweet pitch right over the plate -- you put that sentence on the internet and I'm using it!
Suppose your own child went into anaphylactic shock during school. Would you want your child lying there unconscious with other students watching?
ReplyDeleteI'd sure as hell want to know what CAUSED the anaphylactic shock and if my child was also in danger -- and I'd presume my child was in danger until I knew otherwise.
And on the High School level, I'd want to know if I were a student. You want to get a hysteria going -- you DON'T tell people what it was.
Anyone remember the muffin mix that led to the Anthrax scare back a bit over a decade ago now? Mass Dept of Public Health told people exactly what it was because otherwise they'd have a panic (and they knew it).
Part One:
ReplyDeleteKeithw said:
Thanks for pointing out your religious objections. If you're putting yourself and your beliefs before the student, you obviously preclude yourself from any type of empathy.
W O W!!!!
I'm not going to ask you if you have ever heard of John Locke, or the Enlightenment, or "Natural Law" or even the founding documents of this country -- I suspect you haven't -- just trust me, you & yours ain't "playing well in Peoria."
There is a growing sense that the entire mental health profession is not only inconsistent with Christian values but openly anti-Christian, and while much of this has been focused on the various aspects of things like the Jennifer Keeton Case which she describes here.
I'm remaining anonymous not just because it's prudent (yes, I actually do listen) but because I don't want this to be about me. It isn't -- your profession is increasingly using the power of the state to eviscerate the Christian values of "free will" and "self determination."
Not to mention "parental rights" -- can you say "Justinia Pelletier"?
What you will soon see is something similar to the rise of Osteopathic Medicine -- a Christian alternative to Voodoo Science. There are numerous Christian universities -- many of which are currently forced to "hide their candle under a basket" so as to have their programs in compliance with the fiats of the accrediting agencies.
(For example, any application for employment at Baylor University is required to include "a letter of recommendation from your pastor." That's not subtle...)
One or more of these institutions will inevitably establish an explicitly "Christian" program in psychology or school counseling or social work (or all three) which won't be accredited by the APA or whomever -- or an existing program will loose accreditation -- and the response will be to ask others, who share similar values, to accredit it instead.
That's how Osteopathic Medicine was born, and much like those who earn their credentials through an Osteopathic program are called "Doctors of Osteopathy" instead of "Medical Doctors", those earning their credentials through these new programs will have different but corresponding titles.
I can think of six states that would almost immediately amend their laws & licensing procedures so as to make the psychologists, school counselors, social workers and such the legal equivalent of those currently licensed -- if necessary, changing the title of everyone to something new as the accrediting agencies may "own" the existing titles.
You would then have the problem of that little "full faith & credit" clause in the US Constitution -- and things would get really interesting.
Continued....
Part Two:
ReplyDeleteAll the ambulance rides that I've taken with a student (and I went each time)
A bully "rubbing salt" into the open wounds of his victim?
one thing was always the same, they realized before they arrived at the HOSPITAL (NOT JAIL)
A distinction without a difference, the loss of liberty involved is identical -- the issue is being locked into a cage and not what the cage is called.
that they're exactly where they needed to be for the help they needed.
That's sorta inconsistent with "[o]nce the crisis is called and the police & ambulance arrive, somebody's going for a ride, whether they like it or not." (emphasis added)
And there is a difference between convincing someone to choose to do something and using the full power of the Commonwealth to impose your will on another.
if I'm a student struggling and in a crisis, I certainly wouldn't appreciate you downgrading my emotional state.
Much as gasoline is used to extinguish fires?
And most likely you would worsen it and make me act out even more.
In hindsight, my ability to convey the appearance of nonchalantly doing just that is now I was able to resolve some of the situations that I have.
As far as using force goes, if ARHS would properly train their staff, then maybe they wouldn't have to call the police every other day.
Regardless of whatever justification you may have, having to resort to the use of force inherently means "you fucked up." You should never have let the situation get to where you had to.
I can tell by what you've written that I've forgotten more about crisis intervention than you will probably ever know.
I'm most certain that you've forgotten most of your humanity.
I've noticed that you haven't even answered the question of what it is you did/do in the schools, and I know you can't answer a lot of the ones I'd ask, but answer this one: Have you been in a situation where your personal death was a potential outcome if the situation went bad?
The same Christian values you mock preclude me from divulging information, but I can honestly say that I have been.
Got anything else, Mussolini?
Yes -- if you know anything about Aspberger's Syndrome (which I know no longer exists) have you ever wondered how it would even be possible for one with it to do what that perp did in Newtown, CT?
Not what would motivate him to do it but how he would even be able to do it.
I'd love to see a lot of stuff that I know will never be released, but I find it interesting that one of the first two people murdered was the school psychologist of his own elementary school and that while wounded, an Assistant Principal present in this altercation wasn't.
Reality is that an unarmed woman leaving a blood trail would have been dead if he'd wanted to kill her. Furthermore, we neither know if he even intended to shoot her, or even if she was wounded by a ricochet or flying glass.
But we do know that he didn't murder her, that he did murder the two women standing next to her, and I ask "why"?
Has it ever occurred to you that you're creating a worse problem than the one you think you are fixing?
Keithw said:
ReplyDeleteThanks for pointing out your religious objections. If you're putting yourself and your beliefs before the student, you obviously preclude yourself from any type of empathy.
I "preclude myself from any type of empathy" because I respect the human rights of another?
Because I recognize that such rights even exist?
Where, sir, do you draw the line? Are you familiar with something known an the Holocaust? Are you aware that the Nuremburg Court sentenced people to death for "crimes against humanity"?
This nation is built on Judeo/Christian values and while we are a secular society, values such as the individual's right to the individual's own life, liberty and property are enshrined in the bedrock of this republic.
Anon 5:35 PM
ReplyDelete"It ought not take one to understand that my intent was disrespect. Classroom's different, power imbalance and all, and I wouldn't do it to a student -- but here, I had no problem making it clear that I don't have a scintilla of respect for you or your kind."
This anon identifies itself as teacher, presumably Amherst HS teacher or administrator, could be part of core group of Team Maria. In the following a few long posts, His talking is full of rubbish, sounds like team maria is throwing out rubbish as distraction from what Keith pointed out, three police cruisers with one detective unit simultaneous landing on HS ground, it could be serious assault, or drug related, not a medical condition, like anaphylactic shock, that HS would like us to believe.
three police cruisers which may well have had more than one cop each if they were rolling from the station with one detective unit simultaneous landing on HS ground, it could be serious assault...
ReplyDeleteOr, basically, something believed to be sufficiently threatening to the safety of the police for them to essentially roll everyone but one car who was downtown -- ready to pursue someone fleeing the school.
If no ambulance, that means no one is hurt badly enough to go to the hospital, which means threat but no injury -- and the three things that come to mind are (a) firearms, (b) explosives, and (c) HazMat. No AFD, probably no HazMat, APD may or may not be themselves trained in looking for bombs, I don't know.
But what this has written all over it is a report of "student with gun." Cruiser kept in reserve to chase him/her/it if fleeing, this is pretty much the protocol for that.
Now pissed-off-looking administrator -- this may have been a false alarm. It may have been totally unfounded -- it may even have been one of the racial activists "crying wolf" and neither the school nor cops actually believing it, but having to check it out.
I agree with Keithw that this was way more than just some kid reacting to a bee sting. That does not negate my visceral response to some other things he shared....