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Patch's Poll: Is A One-Year Suspension Enough For Bus Monitor Bullies?

The four middle school students who bullied bus monitor Karen Klein were suspended from school last week and sent to do community service. What do you think about this?

The four students caught on video an elderly bus monitor have been suspended for a year from their school in Greece, N.Y.

As part of their punishment, the seventh-grade students will also have to serve 50 hours of community service with senior citizens, according to CNN.

The profanity-laced video, posted on YouTube on June 19 and since garnering over 8 million hits, shows the students taunting, poking and using very harsh language against 68-year-old Karen Klein. Klein doesn’t fight back, despite the students’ brutal insults.

Klein told the Associated Press that the students will still be attending an alternative school, and that they “wont be at home doing nothing.”

She also told the AP she approved of the punishment, and that she intends to meet with the four students to ask them why they did what they did.

What are your thoughts on this punishment? Is it too much? Not enough? Or should it be more severe? Take our poll and share your thoughts in the comments.

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Luigi (the original) July 2, 2012 at 08:50 pm
What these punks did was disgusting, but a one year suspension is adequate time for them to reflect on their really bad behavior. Expulsion maybe a bit much, and reserved for those who are unredeemable and/or violent.
Community service however should be ordered in an elderly home with supervision. Perhaps there they could learn some respect and prove themselves as redeemable.
Nerissa July 2, 2012 at 10:49 pm
I hope that the monitor is also suspended for failing to do her job. Imagine how much bullying probably went on towards other children on the bus while she just sat there and refused to handle the situation.
Luigi (the original) July 3, 2012 at 09:51 am
I disagree Nerissa. This woman was a 78 year old "VOLUNTEER".........
"HANDLE" the situation?...... she's just lucky these thugs didn't take it to the next level. I think she will now voluntarily RETIRE......
ted Aub July 3, 2012 at 11:52 am
the parents of these socially distorted thugs should share the punishment , they should be sending their children to receive an education along with consistent behavior and respect for their elders . It is not the school systems responsibility to set social values , only to accentuate and support what the parents and guardians have provided . Or do we site some social malady that blames someone else and makes the thugs victims , so the poor woman monitor can be punished for her contribution to the betterment of the community. Have a safe 4TH of July
Nerissa July 3, 2012 at 12:01 pm
I don't know why she is there then? Just to sit and look pretty?
Thugs take it to the next level? LOL. They are a bunch of school kids and I saw kids behave like that time and again when I was that age. The fact that she let them do it to her is rather unusual for an adult, don't you think? She should have made the bus driver take those kids back to the school, like they also did when I was that age.
thomas July 3, 2012 at 02:26 pm
they are building jails and graveyards for this younger generation, very few of them will make it.
Luigi (the original) July 3, 2012 at 02:32 pm
Narissa, school kids or not, they acted like thugs. Just because you saw kids act like that, doesn't make what these kids did right.
This 78 yr old women probably thought she could be helpful and feel useful at the same time. Sounds to me like you also may have a respect issue, if you can't grasp that fact.
Mrs. Dolly A. Madison July 3, 2012 at 02:49 pm
They were just kids being kids and doing kid stuff. kids in Madison CT act like that all the time with no problems from anyone. For pete's sake, give them a break all ready.
Nerissa July 3, 2012 at 02:51 pm
It is doubtful that I have a respect issue. I'm a mother of a child and I would be horrified if she behaved that way and I'm also taking care of my dying elderly father at home right now. So, perhaps it is you who can't grasp that children need strict rules and strong adults to set boundaries and keep them in line. What this woman did not do, be an authority figure, only empowered them more in their behavior. We had monitors her age and older in my high/middle school and trust me, no one would have messed with them because they projected authority. Perhaps someone should have noticed she wasn't suitable or she should have?
Luigi (the original) July 3, 2012 at 03:01 pm
"KIDS being KIDS"?
Is everyone going insane?........ Did you even see the video or read the story?
Luigi (the original) July 3, 2012 at 03:38 pm
It seems to me a mother with young children and caretaker for an elderly individual would have a bite more compassion for this woman. She is NOT the problem in this matter, she is the victim.
It's not HER that needs correcting, it's those kids. It seems to me the school board doled out a good measure of the discipline that they needed. Hopefully the year off will do them good. Maybe help them change their ways.
Nerissa July 3, 2012 at 03:49 pm
Yes, what they did is wrong, let's not misread anything I wrote. However, it is also the responsibility of ALL adults in our society to set firm boundaries with children and teens and not let them behave in a disrespectful manner.
Frankly, you and I both know that she shouldn't have been on this bus and I shudder to think what would have happened if she witnessed a young child being bullied. I have compassion, but I'm also a realist. If someone walked into a prison and was harassed, would you not have said "Shouldn't you have expected that? Perhaps you are not cut out for this." You don't think it is a little ridiculous that she has gotten close to $600,000 in donations? I only wish a child being bullied could receive the same.
mrshess July 3, 2012 at 05:32 pm
This story is incomplete. These children have to go to a special school, similar to reform school, and if they do well in a 30 week course, they can go back to regular school.
Luigi (the original) July 3, 2012 at 06:01 pm
So your telling me we should "expect" our children to act like inconsiderate bullies to any elderly person of their choosing? NO, I am not "misreading" anything that you are saying, but frankly if your stand is, that you are the one being a "realist" then you see our society has slipped way past civility and towards total anarchy. I for one don't hold that bleak a view.
So I'm not sure what we are arguing about.....because those kids were dead wrong and paying the appropriate price. That woman did nothing wrong and deserves no reprimand from anyone.
resident July 3, 2012 at 10:13 pm
Nerissa for you to blame this 78 year old woman is ridiculous to say the least. Obviously you don't have children in any school system or you would be well aware of what would be happening to this woman had she stood up for herself. Had this woman said or done anything that believe me 98% of the parents out there today would consider innapropriate then this woman would be the one facing a lawsuit from some delusional parent. The laws are not what they were when most of us were kids, today the kids can say and do what they want to whomever they wish and there are very little consequences. These kids were punished as they should be. My question is what was the bus driver doing for the 10 minutes that this was going on? What if any punishment is the driver receiving? Kids will be kids is one thing Nerissa but what these kids did went far beyond that.
Jonathan Sanders July 4, 2012 at 04:32 am
The bus drivers job is to drive th bus. The bus monitors job is to monitor the kids. I understand what Nerissa is talking about. What if these kids were harassing your child, would you be ok with the bus monitor doing absolutely nothing as she did here?
allahbakash July 4, 2012 at 04:06 pm
BULLYING AND HARRAS,MENT IS THE WORST THING ONE SHOULD NOT HARRAS ANYBODY. ALL HAVE RIGHT TO LIVE THEIR OWN LIFE.
cheryl white July 4, 2012 at 10:47 pm
Dear All, I have said and will continue to say, what we see today in young adults is the result of the government taking over and telling us we can't disipline our children they are not afraid of any adult because they are told disckekipline they dont like is abuse. So everyone enjoy the out come
Lucy C. Lugie July 4, 2012 at 10:50 pm
Just a big over reaction and misunderstanding. Forgive and forget.
Note Article
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Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Lise Cavallaro June 17, 2013 at 09:37 am
I'm disappointed with the new format. Doesn't seem to be very user friendly.
Melissa Simoes June 17, 2013 at 09:06 am
It's probably the same punks who broke into our cars over on Mansfield Grove AGAIN.... the policeRead More think its a bunch of teenagers because they take little things that are not of much value in any cars that arent locked..and are also doing things like slashing tires, etc all over town. They got into my car the same night! Hope you find your scooter
paul beisler June 11, 2013 at 08:40 am
i don't live by the beach but i can guess what a zoo it must be- the town really should charge nonRead More residents and use the money to help the congestion good luck for a rainy summer :) paul beisler
David Lalama June 10, 2013 at 07:33 pm
One Tearm Dan ........
Lou June 11, 2013 at 09:30 am
Gov. O'mally is ruining this State by driving more and more people into poverty, giving illegalsRead More drivers licenses, letting criminals out of jail early, pushing good companies out, and making it's citizens unsafe. Time to clean house starting locally!
Richard Poulton June 11, 2013 at 10:19 am
WE THE PEOPLE have no say in how governments govern nor how OUR money is spent. WE supposedly electRead More people who take the trust of the people with them when elected and do the will of WE THE PEOPLE. This has never happened. Especially in state and federal office. Once in office the power they discover they now have pushes aside the will of the people. It an attitude of we have the power and you don't. Someday, but I doubt it, we can elect those who will not loose site of why they were elected.
Fay Abrahamsson (Editor) June 7, 2013 at 08:54 am
Beth - I am sorry to hear about your disappointment and I'll try to explain a few of your points.Read More First, Patch is a community forum as well as a news source. We have been looking for sports-minded folks to blog for us and keep us informed about events such as the softball team's state playoffs. We don't have a sports editor to cover just sports for the town so we rely on folks in the community to help us all stay informed. Many Patch sites have a sports blogger who reports on sports. Anyone interested?? In regard to the accident on No. High Street, you are correct in the fact that minimal information was reported and there was a reason for that - because minimal information was released to the press. We asked, we didn't get answers. And with our new format, there are 'bugs' in the system which are being worked out, so we apologize for all of them ahead of time, especially when links don't work or when spacing is off. It's frustrating, I understand. Please continue to support the EH Patch.
Fay Abrahamsson (Editor) June 7, 2013 at 03:46 pm
This article on the softball team was posted today:Read More http://easthaven.patch.com/groups/sports/p/east-haven-girls-lose-in-state-softball-semis