Caught On Tape: Sanford Dad Threatens Kids On Bus

[mj278]

Caught On Tape: Sanford Dad Threatens Kids On Bus (http://cbs4.com/local/James.Jones.father.2.1918232.html)

A central Florida man angry that his daughter had been the victims of school bullies turned bully himself, caught on surveillance cameras when he boarded a Seminole Countyschool bus and started screaming at the children to leave his kid alone. His rant bought him a trip to jail.

James Jones ordered the kids aboard the bus to sit down, and after asking his daughter to identify the kids who had been bothering her, threatened to kill a child who "fought her".

The whole incident was caught on tape by the security cameras on the bus. The driver is shown allowing Jones on the bus, and doing nothing as he makes his threats.

Jones told deputies a student threw an open condom in his daughter's hair and kids were laughing at her. Video later obtained by CBS affiliate WKMG showed a student picking up what appeared to be a condom from the aisle of the bus, and dropping on Jones' daughter's hair. The bus erupted into laughter as the girl tried to get the condom out of her hair

Jones later said he could not accept his daughter being disrespected by every child on the bus.

Officials say he crossed the line between concern for his daughter and the rights of the kids not to be threatened.

Thursday, Jones was charged with disorderly conduct and disturbing a school function, and briefly jailed. He was released on bond from Seminole County Jail later in the day.

According to an article on ABC (http://abcnews.go.com/US/dad-loses-cool-threatens-students-bus/story?id=11660119&page=2), the girl is on suicide watch and we were reminded that some kids eventually do get to that point, in a recent thread that was posted on the forum.

While I understand the father's anger and frustration, I disagree with the way he handled the matter. Bullying is a serious matter though and needs to be addressed, albeit in a more appropriate manner that this dad did.

[MonsterMan]

So what happens to the kids?

Nothing but maybe a slap on the wrist.

Just another day in backwards world.

[Boots]

Caught On Tape: Sanford Dad Threatens Kids On Bus (http://cbs4.com/local/James.Jones.father.2.1918232.html)



According to an article on ABC (http://abcnews.go.com/US/dad-loses-cool-threatens-students-bus/story?id=11660119&page=2), the girl is on suicide watch and we were reminded that some kids eventually do get to that point, in a recent thread that was posted on the forum.

While I understand the father's anger and frustration, I disagree with the way he handled the matter. Bullying is a serious matter though and needs to be addressed, albeit in a more appropriate manner that this dad did.

I don't know, I might give him a pass on this. A condom? That's pretty skanky and potentially really dangerous for his kid.

We once had to defend a guy who went onto the bus and beat the crap out of two kids who had picked on his son. Yeah, that was a tough defense!

[mj278]

I don't know, I might give him a pass on this. A condom? That's pretty skanky and potentially really dangerous for his kid.

We once had to defend a guy who went onto the bus and beat the crap out of two kids who had picked on his son. Yeah, that was a tough defense!

Oh I completely understand that he got to the point where he just lost it. I get that, as I have done so in the past.

My point is that as an adult, you don't threaten he kids in the matter he did and his doing so may may matters worse. How are the parents of the bullies going to react to his outburst?

No one wants to see their child bullied, teased or picked on. It is a truly heartbreaking experience so I could understand giving him a pass. But another thing you have to think about is that the next parent who snaps may take things further and get physical.

[VocalLisa]

Yeah, I think this falls under the heading of ... we all understand that the father was wrong, you just can't do that ...

but we also all understand how a parent could "lose it" in a situation where your child is bullied to the point of endangerment, and no one is either willing or able to do anything about it.

[Angr]

There's no mention as to whether or not the actions of these kids had been reported to the school prior to this incident. No history whatsoever.
I understand the rage that can come up when you want to protect your child, and in this case, IF these kids had been reported, etc. and no one was doing anything about it...then I probably would have done the same thing.
If this was the first time, and the proper route hadn't been taken yet....then it's a different story.
Bother's me a bit too that he brought up the fact that his brother in law was in law-enforcement.....that speaks to knowing you're doing something wrong, and justifying it because of your connections.

[Boots]

Oh I completely understand that he got to the point where he just lost it. I get that, as I have done so in the past.

My point is that as an adult, you don't threaten he kids in the matter he did and his doing so may may matters worse. How are the parents of the bullies going to react to his outburst?

No one wants to see their child bullied, teased or picked on. It is a truly heartbreaking experience so I could understand giving him a pass. But another thing you have to think about is that the next parent who snaps may take things further and get physical.

Yeah, I know. But still...some kids just need an ass whooping!

[Bok_Tukalo]

Focus on the Family should help those kids out since they are against stopping the bullies.

[potter]

I don't have a problem with what the dad did. As long as he didn't touch any of the kids. He stood up for his child and stood up to the bullies, something apparently nobody else was willing to do. :thumbsup:

I'll give him a big "G" for guts.

BTW...this scene was played out almost exactly the same on a televison program program I caught 5 minutes of the other day on BET. It was the one with the man dressed up as the big black momma. She got on the bus and did essentially the exact same thing defending her daughter, however she was made out to be a hero for it.

[MonsterMan]

Focus on the Family should help those kids out since they are against stopping the bullies.

Talk about an outright lie.

[jafar00]

I support the Dad and as many have said, as long as he didn't lay a hand on the kids he can and should be able to have his say to stop the bullying of his child.

[Professor]

I don't think the Dad should have gotten on the bus and started screaming at the kids, he should have gone to the school and had them handle it. Then if that didn't work try another method.

But really, how are you supposed to show bullies that bullying is wrong when you are trying to bully them into not bullying?

[CdrMike]

God, what an idiot. Would the man like one of the fathers of the bullies to climb on the bus and start screaming at his daughter? Of course not, so why does he think it's okay for him to do it to somebody else's kid?

Bullying is wrong, but acting like a bully is not going to solve it.

[Boots]

What it teaches the bullies is that there is always someone bigger than you that is going to eventually kick your ass. That's a good lesson to learn at a young age.

[dgun]

The guy's daughter is disabled. She has CP.

Someone should check if the bus driver is keeping control of his kids. When I was a kid, our bus driver didn't take any crap.

[RosieS]

The Dad ranted at the bus driver, too, understandably. The Dad is facing charges.

What is usually done, given there is video, is the kids who taunted the disabled girl aren't allowed to ride the bus for a week. Given that the girl has cerebral palsy, make it two weeks.

Inconveniencing the parents usually has the magical ability of improving the behavior of the students.

Regards from Rosie

[MonsterMan]

But really, how are you supposed to show bullies that bullying is wrong when you are trying to bully them into not bullying?

Do you seriously think that the problem is that someone has not reasoned with a bully enough?

Bullys stop being bullys when they realize it isn't worth it, by someone fighting back or their being punished for it.

They are not the type of personality that is going to see someone's better example and one day wake up and say to themselves, hey, maybe I shouldn't be a bully anymore.

[Wiseguy]

I can't say that the father did the right thing. But what I can say is that he did what he felt needed to be done considering that the bullying had been going on for awhile and nobody else was ignoring it and not doing a damn thing about it. I can understand that completely. BTW, what's up with the bus driver? Why hadn't he ever tried to do something? I put some of the blame directly on him. He was the adult authority figure on the bus and apparently he did zilch to stop the bullying.

In my experience, the best and most direct way to handle a bully is to confront them, face to face. I learned that lesson when I was in elementary school. In my case, I was bullied by a much bigger fifth grade kid when I was in the fourth grade. This happened on the playground on a daily basis. He always pushed me around and called me names for no good reason. One day, I finally got fed up and grabbed a small tree branch laying on the ground. I went up to him and busted him right upside his head! He fell down and started crying and howling up a storm. A little blood started running down his face. But that was the extent of his injuries. The funny thing is that he never messed with me after that. As a matter of fact, we later became good friends.

I believe in standing up for yourself even if you get beat down doing it. But at the same time, I don't necessarily advocate always fighting or attacking one's bully. But in my case, it did the trick.

[Angr]

Saw a piece on the news today.

He had addressed it with the school prior to this incident. Nothing was done.
His daughter has cerebral palsy.
There were TWO bus monitors on this bus, neither one of them spoke english.

Yeah....I can 100% see where the dad came from.

[Alonzo]

I doubt this is going to help the situation, and I bet the daughter will be much more hesitant to tell her father what is happening in the future.

I understand the desire to do this and why he did it, but I think he made it worse for his daughter. And from what I read, she was hospitalized and put on suicide watch in part due to this incident.

[mj278]

Saw a piece on the news today.

He had addressed it with the school prior to this incident. Nothing was done.
His daughter has cerebral palsy.
There were TWO bus monitors on this bus, neither one of them spoke english.

Yeah....I can 100% see where the dad came from.

Thanks for the update Biv! Wasn't aware of this, and yes...I can see where the Dad was coming from considering this information.

[Angr]

Thanks for the update Biv! Wasn't aware of this, and yes...I can see where the Dad was coming from considering this information.

He was so distraught, for his daughter, at his behaviour....I truly felt for him.
I also felt bad for the kids who were not involved in the bullying that were on the bus. He really scared them. :(
Just an all around sad, sad situation.

[Boots]

Saw a piece on the news today.

He had addressed it with the school prior to this incident. Nothing was done.
His daughter has cerebral palsy.
There were TWO bus monitors on this bus, neither one of them spoke english.

Yeah....I can 100% see where the dad came from.

That's really a travesty. I hope he doesn't end up with anything on his record for this and the kids involved with the bullying get more than just 2 weeks off the bus. Taxpayers paying for their transportation is a privilege, not a right. These kids should be banned from the bus for the rest of the year.