Topic: Northeast High School

Adult teacher rapes student; “lenient” 120 day jail sentence infuriates parent

August 11, 2008 |

In June, 2008, a Clarksville, Tennessee high school teacher received a 120 day jail sentence for rape of a student and two years probation. I cannot understand why such leniency was given by Clarksville Judge John H. Gasaway for rape of a minor to a repeat offender, Bryan Dale Farmer.

Since reading about this case, whenever I hear about any conviction I compare the jail time the person receives to this case. For example, a ‘blue collar criminal’ received three years in prison for embezzlement; to me, and I’d think to most people, that is a much lesser crime. Therefore, raping a minor should have had at least that long of an incarceration. I’m shocked that 120 days is even remotely considered a ‘valid’ sentence for a severe crime, especially rape. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues, News, Opinion, Politics | 2 Comments

NEHS students grapple with loss of a friend; MySpace suicide blog says “goodbye”

By Christine Anne Piesyk | February 21, 2008 |

“Goodbye every 1.”

With those words with the numeric ‘1′ displayed in a small black-bordered box on the social networking website, MySpace,  a boy said goodbye to family and friends before taking his life on Wednesday. Above the ID box on his page, which had been set to private and therefore viewable only to his “friends,” this Northeast High School student had written the chilling words, “wishing it would all just end.” In the notation of his mood, he had entered a single word: “Blissful.”

Thursday morning, unsuspecting NEHS students heard the announcement of 16-year-old Steven McCausland’s death over the PA system, along with a request for a moment of silence. Crisis counselors were on hand to assist students, some of whom were crying the hallways and in class. Teachers reportedly made numerous referrals for any student affected by the loss of their friend and classmate. Many students gathered after school to console each other. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News | No Comments

Self-expression or Suspension? It’s all a matter of the color purple

By Christine Anne Piesyk | August 10, 2007 |

Who’s Who. Honor Roll. Beta Club. Good writer. Avid reader. Harry Potter junkie, with a sorting hat to prove it. Slightly eccentric with a hefty dash of charm and a wide smile. Freckles. Works at a local fast food place to support her new used car and pay insurance. Donated hair to Locks of Love. Listed on report cards as “a joy” to have in the classroom. So why is 17-year-old Rochelle LaPlante about to be suspended on her second day as a senior at Northeast High School?

Purple hair. Well, the color on the box claimed to be “ultra violet.” And for Rochelle, it’s been her normal hair color for some time.

There’s not a word — not one word — in the student handbook, code of conduct or dress code section that says anything about hair color, and bolder, wilder shades than Rochelle’s purple are seen across the social strata at Northeast — in streaks or by the whole headfull. It isn’t a case of gang colors or logo’d T-shirts or bandannas or studded belts.

On Thursday morning, ten minutes after arriving for her first day as a senior at Northeast High School, Rochelle was told by Vice-Principal Nancy Borders that she would have to change her hair back to a “normal” color or face a three day suspension. “Don’t come back with that hair on Monday,” Rochelle was told. No comment was made as to what might happen beyond that three-day suspension if Rochelle’s hair color remained unchanged. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues, Politics | 2 Comments