School Fight Policy Punishes Victim

by Mike Hedeen
RNews
Feb. 10, 2007

Rush-Henrietta has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to fighting in schools.

That isn't sitting well with some parents as it punishes not only the instigator, but also the victim.

Some parents believe things are getting rough at the high school. One told R News about her son being attacked by two brothers. Amy Schubach says even though her son didn't fight, he received the same ten week suspension as the instigators.

“The zero tolerance policy is really a no-thinking policy, and what it means is that they don't have to make a decision,” Schubach said. “So if someone attacks someone even from behind and the other one protects himself then they are also suspended. I feel they should have a policy that goes after the attackers or the instigators and makes them take the punishment.”

The same two brothers were allegedly involved in an incident about ten days ago in the gym locker room. The victim's mother says she was called to pick up her son and take him to the emergency room.

“He was cut up above his eye which required six stitches and on his head which required three,” Karen Nagy explained.

And just like Amy Shubach's son, Nagy's was suspended.

“I don't understand why the school is holding my son reliable and suspending my son for five days when the aggressors went after my son,” Nagy questioned.

Rush-Henrietta students engaged in fighting, whether they are the attacker or the victim, are prosecuted. Three students recently involved in an altercation appeared in Henrietta Town Court on Tuesday, all three will be back here next week.

Karen Nagy's son was one of them. Nikko Narvaez and his brother Eddie were the others.

Even though the Narvaez brothers were the alleged instigators, their mother has issues with the school's policy.

“I have gone to plenty of meetings at this high school; I have spoken to plenty of people. I have received no resolution,” said Sandra Narvaez. “What do I get? Letters in the mail. I got to go to court, because my children have been in trouble.”

Nikko says he's fed up with Rush-Henrietta's zero tolerance policy and may look into transferring to another school.

“I'll just go on to something else and succeed in what I'm going to do and look at them and say hey, you could have looked at me and proud of being one of your students and a Rush-Henrietta graduate to do something big, but now I'm part of this school and making this school look good,” Nikko said.

Telephone calls to Rush-Henrietta Central School District officials seeking comment on their zero tolerance policy were not returned.












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