Father in School Bus Outburst, Apologizes for Rage Against Daughter's Bullies

Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:

No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.

If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

**Frazzled**

I wouldn't have apologized. I would have reiterated it.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/father-school-bus-outburst-apologizes-rage-daughters-bullies/story?id=11687592

James Jones, Father in School Bus Outburst, Apologizes for Rage Against Daughter's Bullies
James Jones Boarded the Bus and Raged at Students Who Bullied His Daughter

286 comments By SARAH NETTER, SABRINA PARISE and KEVIN DOLAK
Sept. 21, 2010
PrintRSSFont Size: Share:EmailTwitterFacebookMoreFarkTechnoratiGoogleLiveMy SpaceNewsvineRedditDeliciousMixxYahooThe Florida father who boarded his daughter's school bus and ranted at his daughter's bullies in a profanity and threat-filled rage said his behavior went too far.

"I'd like to still apologize," James Jones said today on "Good Morning America." "I regret for all the kids that weren't involved -- the kids that had nothing to do with this that were on the bus at the time."

Jones inspired nationwide debate after he was caught on camera threatening his daughter's tormenters and even the bus driver. Though he was eventually arrested and charged with two misdemeanors after the incident, parents around the nation took to the Internet to applaud how he stood up for his daughter, who has cerebral palsy.

Jones told "Good Morning America" that he got a call that morning that his 11-year-old daughter did not want to go to school that day and was crying. He came home to console her.

Related
WATCH: School Bullies IndictedPublic Divided on DadDo Anti-Bullying Programs Push Gay Agenda?"I said, "I'll walk you, I'll take you to the bus stop,'" Jones said.

"At the time I was really going to confront with the bus driver and ask him what's going on," Jones said.

But as he asked his daughter which kids were the ones who taunted her -- who denied her a seat on the bus and who reportedly threw condoms at her -- he lost it.

The surveillance tape, which blurred out the students faces, but allowed Jones to be heard loud and clear, recorded the entire outburst.

"I'm gonna (expletive) you up. … this is my daughter, and I will kill the (expletive) who fought her," Jones said.

Jones reportedly threatened not only the students but the bus driver as well.

"If anything happens to my daughter I'm going to (expletive) you up and everybody on this (expletive)," he said.

Before leaving, he dares them to call the police. "You call the police, call them. My brother's the damn deputy sheriff."

Jones now faces up to six months in jail and a $500 fine, according to his lawyer Natalie Jackson. He is facing charges of obstruction of justice and interference with a school function.

"I just took it a little bit too much farther," Jones said.

Their daughter is now in the care of a doctor, being treated for stress, and has not yet returned home. Her mother, Deborah Jones, said the little girl will not be going back to her old school

Police are also investigating the alleged bullies; they could face charges of their own.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Ok truth be told I probably would have just F'd them up.

**Arctik_Firangi**

You're such a hero, Frazzled.

He merely apologised to the uninvolved kids who would have been scared out of their wits. He was clearly still completely out of control.

**Frazzled**

Arctik_Firangi wrote:You're such a hero, Frazzled.

He merely apologised to the uninvolved kids who would have been scared out of their wits. He was clearly still completely out of control.

I'm guessing you don't have a daughter.

They should have been scared.

**avantgarde**

What kind of bully targets the handicapped? That's like playing basketball with a 5 ft hoop. Kids these days got no sense of pride in their achievements. I blame these newfangled video games with their achievement systems.

**Arctik_Firangi**

I'm not defending the handicapped-taunting kids, I'm simply saying that the father lost control. It's understandable but he still deserves what's coming to him.
The law is in place because people make dangerous mistakes - the reason is appreciated during sentencing but that won't get him off scott-free. Revenge killings are illegal. Threats of such are still assaults.

I don't have a daughter, but I have a little sister. I've done technically illegal things to defend her honour as much as mine, and I wasn't dumb enough to do it loudly on a schoolbus.

**BluntmanDC**

Although what he did was inappropriate for the enviroment, talking to the head master and the bullies parents would be have been better, bullies need to be set straight.

Not only did the bullies step way over the line, they were bulling a disabled child.

The bus driver should have informed the school about the bulling seeing as the driver would definetly be aware of it.

**Frazzled**

Arctik_Firangi wrote:I'm not defending the handicapped-taunting kids, I'm simply saying that the father lost control. It's understandable but he still deserves what's coming to him.
The law is in place because people make dangerous mistakes - the reason is appreciated during sentencing but that won't get him off scott-free. Revenge killings are illegal. Threats of such are still assaults.

I don't have a daughter, but I have a little sister. I've done technically illegal things to defend her honour as much as mine, and I wasn't dumb enough to do it loudly on a schoolbus.

You're right. You need to do this sort of thing off camera.

**Kanluwen**

Arctik_Firangi wrote:Threats of such are still assaults.

Uh, actually they're not.

"Assaults" actually involve physical contact. At most, you'd get something for threats, inappropriate behavior in the presence of minors(depending on the age of the kids on the bus), etc.

**Slarg232**

BluntmanDC wrote:The bus driver should have informed the school about the bulling seeing as the driver would definetly be aware of it.

Right....

Should have, but wouldn't have anyway. As a recent graduate from high school, let me say: Teachers don't give a feth. Teachers of today are there for a paycheck, hell if the kids actually learn something, that's a bonus. In my school, kids would yell out "OH LETS feth SOME gak UP!" and the teacher not 2 feet from them wouldn't say anything. If they didn't see something happen, it didn't happen for them, and they only tell you what you want to hear so you would leave them alone.

**AbaddonFidelis**

if the school cant protect kids the parents have to do it; those little kids are lucky that man didnt pulverize them infront of everyone. Would have been completely justified.
AF

**Arctik_Firangi**

Kanluwen wrote:
Arctik_Firangi wrote:Threats of such are still assaults.

Uh, actually they're not.

"Assaults" actually involve physical contact. At most, you'd get something for threats, inappropriate behavior in the presence of minors(depending on the age of the kids on the bus), etc.

Welcome to the schoolbus. Here's your free condom. That's for your protection while you get LEARNED.

**croggy**

i think the guys a fething legend and i would of kicked ten shades out of that bus driver for letting it happen .

sometimes the bullies parents arwe just as brain dead as they are and don't really give an appropiate punishment , so maybe what he did was the better way of doing things.

but truely i would of just not circumvented the swear filter at all, despite my best efforts 1111111

ha ha lol wasn't trying to dodge the filter just got used to typing my swear words that way

my bad in the future i'll just write them and let the filter deal with my filth

**Frazzled**

Kanluwen wrote:
Arctik_Firangi wrote:Threats of such are still assaults.

Uh, actually they're not.

"Assaults" actually involve physical contact. At most, you'd get something for threats, inappropriate behavior in the presence of minors(depending on the age of the kids on the bus), etc.

It depends on local jurisdiction. Some states consider assault the threat fo harmful or offensive touching, others consider it the act.
Neither case would this have been assault. i don't think he was charged with that, more of some nonsese-interfering with a school event (what?)

Slarg232 wrote:
BluntmanDC wrote:The bus driver should have informed the school about the bulling seeing as the driver would definetly be aware of it.

Right....

Should have, but wouldn't have anyway. As a recent graduate from high school, let me say: Teachers don't give a feth. Teachers of today are there for a paycheck, hell if the kids actually learn something, that's a bonus. In my school, kids would yell out "OH LETS feth SOME gak UP!" and the teacher not 2 feet from them wouldn't say anything. If they didn't see something happen, it didn't happen for them, and they only tell you what you want to hear so you would leave them alone.

teachers are there to teach not play gymboree monitor. Plus they are afraid of being sued and fired now. Frankly, we need to bring back principals with bats. And yes I am talking about the kind of bats with wings that go eek eek eek. You don't

with a principal who carries a bat around.

**Viktor von Domm**

as a father of three boys i teach my boys honor and self defense. never to threaten women or girls and also not to bother smaller kids or beeing cruel to animals. one rule i will always make clear to them is: never make the first move in a conflict (depends of the conflict but it is a general rule). but if the first move is done by an oponent, they have my addmisiion to hit him with everything they ´ve got. one time a nasty kid kicked my oldest son in the nadgers... i told him he should hit him straght in the face and to probably break the nose. reason: hits in the groinarea might cause svere damage and might cause infertility. an oponent that tries to destroy part of ones future has it coming all the way.

there are certain things where civilisied behavior doesnt get you anywhere...

**Kanluwen**

Arctik_Firangi wrote:
Kanluwen wrote:
Arctik_Firangi wrote:Threats of such are still assaults.

Uh, actually they're not.

"Assaults" actually involve physical contact. At most, you'd get something for threats, inappropriate behavior in the presence of minors(depending on the age of the kids on the bus), etc.

Welcome to the schoolbus. Here's your free condom. That's for your protection while you get LEARNED.

Your Article wrote:This legal distinction exists only in jurisdictions that distinguish assault as threatened violence rather than actual violence.

Not everywhere distinguishes "threatened violence" v. "actual violence".

So take your condom back. You might need it...nah. I take that back. Scrub like you won't ever get laid. Keep it for your lonely nights on the internet.

**Slarg232**

Kanluwen wrote:
Arctik_Firangi wrote:Threats of such are still assaults.

Uh, actually they're not.

"Assaults" actually involve physical contact. At most, you'd get something for threats, inappropriate behavior in the presence of minors(depending on the age of the kids on the bus), etc.

Actually, if I remember my Criminal Law class, and I'm not saying I do, Assault is defined as threats, Battery is defined as physical contact.

Or was it the other way around?

**Hordini**

Without condoning his actions, I can certainly understand why a parent might do something like that.

If schools would actually do something to address their bullying problems, parents might not feel the need to do stuff like this.

**Slarg232**

Frazzled wrote:

Slarg232 wrote:
BluntmanDC wrote:The bus driver should have informed the school about the bulling seeing as the driver would definetly be aware of it.

Right....

Should have, but wouldn't have anyway. As a recent graduate from high school, let me say: Teachers don't give a feth. Teachers of today are there for a paycheck, hell if the kids actually learn something, that's a bonus. In my school, kids would yell out "OH LETS feth SOME gak UP!" and the teacher not 2 feet from them wouldn't say anything. If they didn't see something happen, it didn't happen for them, and they only tell you what you want to hear so you would leave them alone.

teachers are there to teach not play gymboree monitor. Plus they are afraid of being sued and fired now. Frankly, we need to bring back principals with bats. And yes I am talking about the kind of bats with wings that go eek eek eek. You don't with a principal who carries a bat around.

No, you truely wouldn't. Especially if he handled the bats like Ozzy Osbourne.

**Kanluwen**

Slarg232 wrote:
Kanluwen wrote:
Arctik_Firangi wrote:Threats of such are still assaults.

Uh, actually they're not.

"Assaults" actually involve physical contact. At most, you'd get something for threats, inappropriate behavior in the presence of minors(depending on the age of the kids on the bus), etc.

Actually, if I remember my Criminal Law class, and I'm not saying I do, Assault is defined as threats, Battery is defined as physical contact.

Or was it the other way around?

Very rarely is "assault" ever charged by itself, simply because you can't really charge someone for just saying something. At best, it's a delaying tactic while building up a better case against someone--and assault is also affected by mitigating circumstances.

**Scrabb**

"Obstruction of justice?" Could anyone explain how this fits the situation?

**rubiksnoob**

I hate it when I take things a little bit too much farther.

**Arctik_Firangi**

Kanluwen wrote:
Arctik_Firangi wrote:
Kanluwen wrote:
Arctik_Firangi wrote:Threats of such are still assaults.

Uh, actually they're not.

"Assaults" actually involve physical contact. At most, you'd get something for threats, inappropriate behavior in the presence of minors(depending on the age of the kids on the bus), etc.

Welcome to the schoolbus. Here's your free condom. That's for your protection while you get LEARNED.

Your Article wrote:This legal distinction exists only in jurisdictions that distinguish assault as threatened violence rather than actual violence.

Not everywhere distinguishes "threatened violence" v. "actual violence".

So take your condom back. You might need it...nah. I take that back. Scrub like you won't ever get laid. Keep it for your lonely nights on the internet.

On the other hand, a lot of places do. You might avoid that case of sore dick if you keep it. You're the one who was incorrect in making the broad statement that "assaults involve physical contact".

Wow, this six-year relationship with no sex is so humiliating. I'm so upset that you pointed that out.

**Da Boss**

Slarg, some teachers do care, but if you don't actually see something, you can rarely act on it. Kids are pretty savy about their rights.
The other thing is, most teachers are pretty overworked. I get about 5 minutes to eat lunch every day between everything. If I seem abrupt at lunchtime, that's why.
Secondarily, tactical ignoring of low level disruption is something that teacher use so that they can get on with things rather than give attention and time to every kid's outburst. Some of the kids yelling more than likely are looking for a reaction from the teacher. I will say of course, there are plenty working with kids who have a bad attitude. It's always a little game of pass the buck. Blame the bus driver, blame the parents, blame the school. Some blame has to go on the little toe rags in question, in this case. I hope they were pretty scared, and don't do anything like that again.

**Slarg232**

Kanluwen wrote:
Slarg232 wrote:
Kanluwen wrote:
Arctik_Firangi wrote:Threats of such are still assaults.

Uh, actually they're not.

"Assaults" actually involve physical contact. At most, you'd get something for threats, inappropriate behavior in the presence of minors(depending on the age of the kids on the bus), etc.

Actually, if I remember my Criminal Law class, and I'm not saying I do, Assault is defined as threats, Battery is defined as physical contact.

Or was it the other way around?

Very rarely is "assault" ever charged by itself, simply because you can't really charge someone for just saying something. At best, it's a delaying tactic while building up a better case against someone--and assault is also affected by mitigating circumstances.

Assualt, if I remember right, was along the lines of holding a knife at someone with a malicious intent. Not neccesarily verbal threats, just threats in general. Or it was Battery.

Honestly, I just took the class because they wouldn't let me have that many study halls (I was pretty much ready to graduate during my Junior year, so I only had like 3 classes in my Senior year, but we got a new principle who decided that "Students can only have up to 3 study halls per year, so I had to take 3 more classes that I didn't need....)

**Frazzled**

Slarg232 wrote:
Kanluwen wrote:
Arctik_Firangi wrote:Threats of such are still assaults.

Uh, actually they're not.

"Assaults" actually involve physical contact. At most, you'd get something for threats, inappropriate behavior in the presence of minors(depending on the age of the kids on the bus), etc.

Actually, if I remember my Criminal Law class, and I'm not saying I do, Assault is defined as threats, Battery is defined as physical contact.

Or was it the other way around?

You're 100% correcto. However that Crim Law not Real World (TM). Different states have different legal definitions for what you could call: 1) assault; and 2) Battery. Some combine the two as one act or call battery assault etc. Its a fun world with 50 states+ 8 gazillion local jurisidictions.

**Kanluwen**

Arctik_Firangi wrote:
Kanluwen wrote:
Arctik_Firangi wrote:
Kanluwen wrote:
Arctik_Firangi wrote:Threats of such are still assaults.

Uh, actually they're not.

"Assaults" actually involve physical contact. At most, you'd get something for threats, inappropriate behavior in the presence of minors(depending on the age of the kids on the bus), etc.

Welcome to the schoolbus. Here's your free condom. That's for your protection while you get LEARNED.

Your Article wrote:This legal distinction exists only in jurisdictions that distinguish assault as threatened violence rather than actual violence.

Not everywhere distinguishes "threatened violence" v. "actual violence".

So take your condom back. You might need it...nah. I take that back. Scrub like you won't ever get laid. Keep it for your lonely nights on the internet.

On the other hand, a lot of places do. You might avoid that case of sore dick if you keep it. You're the one who was incorrect in making the broad statement that "assaults involve physical contact".
Wow, this six-year relationship with no sex is so humiliating. I'm so upset that you pointed that out.

There's a reason it's called "Assault and Battery", not "Battery".

You've only had your hand for six years? Huh. Weird.

Slarg232 wrote:Assaut, if I remember right, was along the lines of holding a knife at someone with a malicious intent. Not necessarily verbal threats, just threats in general. Or it was Battery.

Pretty much. Just mouthing off by itself isn't enough to get to charge someone with Assault.
Although in the case you presented...it'd be more "Assault with Intent to Kill" or "Assault with a Deadly Weapon", which pushes the seriousness of the charges up quite a bit.

**Frazzled**

Slarg232 wrote:
Frazzled wrote:

Slarg232 wrote:
BluntmanDC wrote:The bus driver should have informed the school about the bulling seeing as the driver would definetly be aware of it.

Right....

Should have, but wouldn't have anyway. As a recent graduate from high school, let me say: Teachers don't give a feth. Teachers of today are there for a paycheck, hell if the kids actually learn something, that's a bonus. In my school, kids would yell out "OH LETS feth SOME gak UP!" and the teacher not 2 feet from them wouldn't say anything. If they didn't see something happen, it didn't happen for them, and they only tell you what you want to hear so you would leave them alone.

teachers are there to teach not play gymboree monitor. Plus they are afraid of being sued and fired now. Frankly, we need to bring back principals with bats. And yes I am talking about the kind of bats with wings that go eek eek eek. You don't with a principal who carries a bat around.

Now that would have been my kind of principal

No, you truely wouldn't. Especially if he handled the bats like Ozzy Osbourne.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Scrabb wrote:"Obstruction of justice?" Could anyone explain how this fits the situation?

Its called this got on TV and now the school/police are trying to cover their

.

**Monster Rain**

I think the school system is the real problem in this story.

Unfortunately the guy lost his cool, which I can totally understand as a parent. It must be even more difficult for the parent of a disabled child.

I can't get mad at the guy for wanting to protect his kid.

**Slarg232**

Da Boss wrote:Slarg, some teachers do care, but if you don't actually see something, you can rarely act on it. Kids are pretty savy about their rights.
The other thing is, most teachers are pretty overworked. I get about 5 minutes to eat lunch every day between everything. If I seem abrupt at lunchtime, that's why.
Secondarily, tactical ignoring of low level disruption is something that teacher use so that they can get on with things rather than give attention and time to every kid's outburst. Some of the kids yelling more than likely are looking for a reaction from the teacher. I will say of course, there are plenty working with kids who have a bad attitude. It's always a little game of pass the buck. Blame the bus driver, blame the parents, blame the school. Some blame has to go on the little toe rags in question, in this case. I hope they were pretty scared, and don't do anything like that again.

Oh I know, but most don't. Or didn't, where I was going to school.

As for the kids, nah, they will do it again, kids are too stupid these days. They will see it as a game, and keep on doing it.

Of course, I might just have a opinionated...... opinion, because the kids in my high school were the type of people who were like "Hey, I know you don't need to, but want to go help me ask a teacher a question? I'm scared to go ask him myself!", and wouldn't say anything unless they outnumbered you 3/1. Damn I hated high school.

**AbaddonFidelis**

ofcourse, if the kids actually got the

whipping they deserve the game wouldnt be nearly as fun...