7th Graders fight, arrested

Today's Northwest Herald reports the arrest of six 7th Graders from Harrison School in Wonder Lake. Dumb move, kids.

The six allegedly ganged up on a seventh in a school bathroom between classes.

Worse, the school officials did not immediately notify the sheriff's department! The fight was Wednesday, January 13, and the sheriff's department wasn't notified until later, when the parents of the boy who was attacked reported it.

Safe Schools? Do Harrison School officials understand state laws that are supposed to make schools safe for all students?

The boy's mother, who must have spoken with NWH reporter Crystal Lindell, reported that her son had been "harassed" for the past three years.

One big question is why Harrison School authorities allowed that to take place.

School District Superintendent Jill Gildes, according to the article, "defended the original decision not to involve the police."

Yeah, sure. I have some experience with schools and bullying; i.e., trying to get a school to prevent bullying and to take effective action to halt it. Too often a kid (victim) is just told to "suck it up." Another common excuse at schools is "boys will be boys."

McHenry County Sheriff's Department Lt. Zinke is exactly right when he says, "... anytime a child is being bullied or threatened, they should report it."

It needs to be immediately reported orally and then quickly followed with a written complaint, with enough copies to school board members, the press, the law enforcement agency, and other agencies to get swift, meaningful action by school authorities.

Otherwise, it'll get handled "internally", which sometimes means out-of-sight. After which it just continues.