I just got off the phone with a very dear friend of our family. She called to congratulate me that our son's name wasn't on the front page of the paper today. We have been having trouble getting our newspapers lately and no one had bothered to go down and get the last one we still subscribe to, so I had to ask her what she meant. She said that she was glad he wasn't one of the ones arrested for burglary....or rather a whole string of burglaries in the town of Glen. (For the record, between college and working when he is home he doesn't really have time to be involved, but I am pretty darned sure he wouldn't be anyhow).
I sent the kid who isn't on the front page on a hurried trip down the driveway to get the paper, which, for a change was actually there.
There it was...or should I say there they were. Thirteen kids, every one of them someone he knew from our school, four of them football stars, arrested for stealing lap tops, ipods, cash, credit cards, car stereos, gps units, and radar detectors plus money out of a church donation box. We had heard weeks back that there was something nasty going on around here, with a lot of break ins, but didn't realize the scope of the ring.
The youngest ones were only fifteen. I am not going to get into wondering how they found unsupervised time to get into that much trouble. What really ticked me off is how the school bent the code of conduct so they only miss four football games.
Same thing happened several years ago when a bunch of guys from the football team blew up a bunch of mailboxes (including ours I do believe) with bottle bombs. There were championships games at stake. Suspensions were reversed just in time for them to play. I am sure they learned a lot from the non-punishment, no consequences approach to enforcement of the rules and laws.
What a way to teach them that stealing is wrong and crime doesn't pay. Sports are supposed to teach cooperation, following of rules, sportsmanship and all that aren't they?
Instead I am sure they feel a sense of entitlement and freedom from social constraints.
Dang it makes me mad. How on earth are you supposed to raise decent law-abiding, caring kids when they have to watch their peers get away with such stuff?
Here is an excerpt from the Gazette story linked to above
"Deputies said the 13 were charged after a month-long investigation by sheriff's investigators, Amsterdam and Johnstown police and state troopers into numerous reports of burglaries, larcenies and vandalism throughout the county, including the city of Amsterdam, the villages of Fort Johnson, Tribes Hill, Fort Hunter, Fonda and Fultonville and the towns of Glen, Florida and Amsterdam. Among the incidents were break-ins at Karen’s Produce, the Auriesville Shrine and a private residence, all in the town of Glen, deputies said."
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That's awful, the same thing has happened here before, and isn't it amazing how quickly it can get swept under the rug!
Nita, I was just appalled. I have been the villain in the parenting play for years...you know, no kids in your truck, no going in other kids' trucks, ride the bus home instead etc. etc. Mean old mother! Then you see what happens when parents aren't ogres and nothing happens. Dang!
Get on that soapbox and preach it sister...I'm here to say a big AMEN!
Sounds familiar. We've had a huge increase in those exact crimes in the past 3 or 4 years. Down here the problem has been spoiled rich kids whose excuse is that they were "bored." It's scary, isn't it?
They stole from a church up there, and they graffitied all over two churches down here...Graffiti was unheard of here just a few years ago...It's amazing how things change.
How could somebody possibly do that TO A CHURCH?!
But rest assured I know plenty of younguns that hate it just as much as you do :-D
I hadn't heard a thing, threecollie, until I saw your post. I share your outrage, but it doesn't really surprise you, does it? Way back when I was in the same high school, sports were always more important than anything else.
Now, now... Isn't it possible that you are simply overreacting here? C'mon, TC... kids will be kids and after all sports and scholarships and entitlement and pardons are the watchword for innocent play. If said behavior wasn't appropriate, then your community wouldn't be rewarding it, would they? Say, how's the team doing this year?
Don't even think of whacking the crap out of them either because that is easliy construed as abuse to a minor, for which YOU can be responsible. Unless you can effectively blame someone else.
Who taught these idiots how to steal anyway? Electronics are the stupidest things to grab.
The same thing happened in our town several years ago, but the kids all learned a lesson that they never forgot. None of the twelve involved ever had so much as a library fine after this.
Don't you understand that foot ball is more important than anything they could have learned by not being able to play. They can play foot ball and win. Why learn anything else. /sarcasm
there was an incident here a couple of years ago with basket ball. the school didn't even suspend her from any games. But the coach wouldn't let her play. Guess what? there was different coach the next year!
Sam's Darling Wife
Melissa, thanks, it really made me mad
HT, stealing from the church was truly awful. So was stealing from the farm stand. The folks there are wonderful to students (to everyone really) and they didn't deserve any such thing
akagaga, you are right, of course, it is so sad
Steve, they actually stole credit cards and USED them....smart huh?
Jan, I wonder if we will have the same outcome....
Darling Wife, same here. Even if the coaches wanted to enforce the code book, winning is everything.
The sad excuse they use down here is" well, if we ban him from the team we punish the rest of the kids on the team."
My response is "Well, yes, but try it and see if it doesn't raise the bar as they begin to police themselves."
Glad they got caught anyway!
People these days! Nobody has any regard to another person's property anymore.
It's sad nowadays that these things get swepted under the rug and justified. Makes me mad too!
What a rude, pretentious and downright bitchy telephone call for your "friend" to make.
FC, we have some insider knowledge now and they were even more foolish than they seemed...maxing out the credit cards and running up thousands in charges....
Aussie O, well said
Linda, yes, I feel sorry for the victims and I guess there were a bunch of them
IslaG, not at all. she is one of my dearest friends and genuinely likes and admires my kids. She meant ever word as a compliment to them.
Any of those kids live on a farm? I'm guessing not. Perhaps they need to forego football and do some chores someplace.
I echo what Knolltop farm wife said, Preach It Sister!!
Hi Teri, I had the same thought. Certainly some of the victims were farm folk....I always feel guilty after launch a tirade like that, but I just couldn't let this one pass/
It kinda kicks you in the gut... We work really hard to show our country kids, the value of a dollar, that there really is a right from wrong. And then we have to let them go out in this world where they have the values we have instilled only to have them stumble a little when they are faced with people/kids with no values. I have had my kids come home and say they have stuck up for the right things with the wrong people only to be placed in the loser catagory at school. I do have to say I am lucky they realize they would rather be "losers" in the eyes of their peers than do harm to others or their values. But as a mom who thinks her kids are great it tears my heart out that in school they even have to make choices like that. I know they are not alone there are other country kids that are in the same boat at their school. And the Jock Kids are just another story, we had one just get three and a half years in prison for theft. I do not think it helps that in this day and age these Jocks are handed free rides that they are not prepared to appreciate. OK I'll get off the soap box now...
Willow Witch, as this plays out the story just gets worse and worse. Some of the kids' friends were victims and there was some nasty and pointless vandalism as well. Sad story for sure. Thanks for the excellent comment.
You are right to be outraged. I know you don't think it will make a difference (based on past writings here) but until those who are outraged make a bigger noise than those in the 'kids will be kids camp," nothing will change. Sadly there may not be enough of us who are outraged left in this country.
Apple, it does leave you feeling pretty helpless.
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