By FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZ
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com
A parent of one of the three girls arrested for pulling a fire alarm in a non-emergency situation expressed concern on Monday regarding his daughter’s punishment.
As reported in the April 14 edition of the San Benito News, three Miller Jordan Middle School students were detained after allegedly setting off the fire alarm on two separate incidents on the same day, Wednesday, April 10. They now face state jail felony charges, which were elevated from a misdemeanor since the incident occurred in school, San Benito CISD Police Chief Santiago R. Garcia said.
The parent, who spoke on the condition of anonymity so as to not identify his daughter, cited numerous other incidents of fire alarms sounding throughout that day. “From what I understand, my daughter said to her mom that there were fire alarms all day long,” the father said. “I don’t know if there was something going on with students protesting or what, but apparently it was an all day thing. It wasn’t just the one incident.”
The concerned parent claims that his daughter is only guilty of removing the plastic from the fire alarm and alleged there was another girl with her who actually set off the alarm. While he agrees that she was indeed involved, the father feels that his daughter’s punishment was much too severe given her small role in the matter.
More so, he is upset because he feels that his daughter did not have an opportunity to explain herself.
“The arresting officer tried to make her sign a confession stating that she did it,” said the girl’s father. “Well, she didn’t sign it, of course. According to my daughter, she didn’t pull the alarm but she pulled the plastic off. So yes, she’s an accomplice, but if this turns out the way they want it to she’s going to be incarcerated for 15 days for that. Not only that, but the court-appointed attorney told her mom that it was easier just to admit that she did it.”
The girl went before a juvenile court judge on Friday, April 12, who set another court date for Friday, April 26.
“They want her to serve 10 days, not counting the weekends or the extra day she spent in there,” the father added. “It’s kind of a lengthy punishment. They gave her a drug test and she passed it. She’s had good grades all year; she’s in ROTC, she’s an animal lover… the whole family is just in shock. We all feel really bad for her. I’m upset that the judge did not allow her to say her side of the story, and the length of time is just crazy and outrageous. She’s a minor, a juvenile, and they want to hold her for all this time. It just doesn’t seem fair.”
Attempts to reach Superintendent of Schools Antonio G. Limón for comment were unsuccessful as of presstime.
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I guess this one time only student s can be taught in school that can not be taught by teachers is by experianceing it themselves and teaching thier follow students in school what the consequences are when breaking serious rules and laws that are there to protect society . This should get the ready for the real life out there in the real world. Don’nt forget they are only kids support them and always hold them in your prayers.The puishment is just..
What Those three girls got was a slap on the hand, they are lucky more charges are not pending they need to suck it up like the tough girls they were when they pulled the fire alarm.
Ditto Ms Liz!!!
Dillion,
Just because you are educated does not mean you are fit to carry a gun. Your narrative has more of the stench of a Republican.
Allow me to present a hypothetical scenario: fire alarm is falsely pulled, supposedly during a break between classes, which causes a panic throughout the school . . students begin scurring and running, not knowing that it is a false alarm . . a student trips or is pushed to the floor, while other students step over or on student, who suffers a spinal cord injury. The party guilty of pulling the alarm is identified, and within a week, the injured student’s parents have obtained an attorney and file a lawsuit against the guilty parties, who promptly hire their own lawyers, and . . . you can imagine the consequences. Huge judgements, attorney fees, possible loss of properties . . . all brought on by a foolish act. Ten days pales in comparison to the possible consequences. I can assure you the majority of the students’ parents are not pleased with the actions of the three . . .
Well said James.
Admin was switched out. The new principal is stern. But stern gets things done. Students are doing better. Even teachers/staff have adjusted and are working harder. At school, it does start at the top, as it is with any place of employment. With students, it’s starts at the top too – PARENTS.
Of the three middle schools, I believe (my opinion) that Miller Jordan by far is the most lawless. Is it possible
that there is a correlation between a school in which most of the parents are on some sort of freebee welfare
and a school full of disruptive students? I don’t know; however, it certainly is my gut feeling. If I am correct,
both the Principal and Vice-principal had been “reassigned” to other schools this school year and replaced with
a “fresh batch” of administrators. I don’t think the problem is in the professional staff at this school… I think the
problem starts at the TOP. The school district is reluctant to make students do the right thing. For example, the
High School has placards everywhere on the use of electronics, dress code, etc. Look at the placards and
observe the student population as they hypnotically walk in circles before school starts. Violation after violation in plain view. Why???? Rules and laws are worthless… they are worthless and not worth the paper they are
written on unless there is enforcement.
Fire alarms are programmed to go off when the plastic case covering them is removed. It is a local alarm. When the actual fire alarm is pulled a school wide alarm is activated (ex. what you would hear during a fire drill). Hundreds of students pass by them daily in the hallway and in the classroom without incident. It takes a deliberate act for the cover to be removed. It takes a deliberate act for the fire alarm to be pulled. A mistake perhaps, highly unlikely more like it.
Nobody is perfect. The problem here is with the parent. Minors have to be held accountable. Stealing, fighting, tardies, unexcused absences, not following rules, bad words, damaging property, pulling alarms, etc. Its called responsibility. Its called accountability. Shame on the parents who think this act should go unpunished. In a world where God, morals, ethics, right and wrong are strictly monitored and questioned in schools, by students and parents, teachers are only left to teach. Teach = Teachers. Fair enough. Parents and students, you have to do your part. Instill discipline, right and wrong, responsibility, accountability, etc.
The point can be easily argued either way. For every bad apple there are 100 good ones. Perhaps. Just as the the good apples are eaten (praised), the bad apples are thrown away (punished). Parent, if this was a student that had been in and out of ISS/PRC, lunch detention, had C’s or failing grades, what would the punishment be for that student? Is your student better than any other student? Who are you to judge? A tardy is a tardy, A fight is a fight. A bad word is a bad word. How many other “passed drug test” students have pulled the alarms at MJMS? How many other “good grades” students have pulled the alarms at MJMS.
There is a first time for everything. Its called precedence and has elevated priority so that it doesn’t become a problem down the road (in this case, perhaps because there was more than one alarm pulled and the school doesn’t want it to become an issue). Or should we just not punish the students. Or just punish the alarm pullers. Hey thats an idea. Lets not punish the students. “Students, tomorrow feel free to go and knock over all the plastic and set off small alarms. Its ok. You’ve passed by them all year long and they haven’t been knocked over. But now lets intentionally pull them off, knock them off, and set off small alarms throughout the day. YEAH! What do you say students? Sounds like a plan? Ok! But don’t forget! You can knock them off or pull them off, just don’t pull them cause then you’ll get in TROUBLE!”
I applaud the MJMS admin for handling this. I applaud the local authorities for handling this. I only hope that whatever punishment is given, a lesson is learned by the student and the parent. Its part of growing up. Its part of life. Its part of becoming a better person.
The sad part about all this is that as a former Miller Jordan student, students nowadays have it made in the shade. Its a pro-student/parent run district when it comes to discipline. The moment they whine or complain, admin backs off. Its just sad. In the good ol’ days, some swats to that student to teach a lesson, suspension, ISS, PRC, DH, community service, all would be just punishment. I wonder if this parent would complain about that too.
No pride in raising a child to do right and know the difference between good and bad. No pride in raising a child to stand up to peer pressure. No pride in punishing their child when they do wrong. No pride.
Punishment serves a purpose. Think about it.
It’s kind of like the NRA. They provide the guns. Other people kill. Your daughter provided a way to pull the fire alarm by removing the plastic covering. The other girl pulled the fire alarm. They worked as a tag team. Guilty by association. Hopefully there is a BIG lesson learned here. I also talked to my kids that go to this school and they said the fire alarms just went off three (3) times.
Well he girl did do wrong and I agree it is a stupid punishment, leave it to our lousy politicians to make ridiculous laws like this. Money, money, money lousy attorney says plead guilty and gets his check.
So…… “I was just doing what everyone else was doing” is your daughter’s justification for her actions? Doesn’t mean that what everyone was doing was right. That justification has never been acceptable when a crime has been committed. And let’s face it, she broke the law. 10 days now for a lifelong lesson that you are responsible for your own actions. As a parent, I know how difficult it is to see your child make a poor decision and have to suffer the consequences. It’s also hard being a good parent and let them learn that hard lesson. But it is one that must be taught and learned for her at this time. 10 days go by quicker than a lifetime of bad decisions.
Thats exactly what I meant to say but couldn’t put into words….
“10 days go by quicker than a LIFETIME of bad decisions.”
She should’ve thought twice before her actions…in my opinion she should be there the entire year. These girls need to be taught a lesson. I fully support the reprimand given to them.