I have been told fights at RHS are directly attributable to the change in Principal

I took Little One to dinner and a movie this evening (Red Riding Hood). We stopped by the Mall before heading home (we had to make a Icing run).

I was standing there talking with Little One about Hello Kitty jewelry and the clerk comes over out of the blue and begins to talk about she didn't know that there were black people in Panama. I asked her what made her say that. She told me that the two black ladies that were just in the store were talking in a different language and she asked them where they were from and they said Panama.

I informed her that yes, people from Panama come in all colors, just like Americans. She said that they don't teach you that stuff in District 150 and she's a senior at Richwoods. I told her that as a black girl, there are some things about people of color that she will need to find out on her own.

She changed the subject and started to tell me that she was kicked out of school and that they had 14 (fourteen) fights at Richwoods last week. My ears pricked up and I said, "14 (fourteen) fights - 14 fights"? Are you sure about that number, she said yes, because her fight was number 14 (fourteen).

I asked her what was the deal with all the fighting - she said:

"When Mr. Ptacek was Principal the rule was 10 (ten) days suspension for fighting but since Mr. Grant came, girls are willing to fight because the suspension is now only 5 (five) days and they are willing to take the 5 (five) day suspension to get at who they want."

She went on to tell me that both people are kicked out - it does not matter who started the fight. She laughed and said, "I'm suspended right now for fighting back, she tried to pull my hair, but I still got all my hair", she said, holding out a long strand of hair.

The young lady was full of conversation, she went on to tell me that she was concerned that she was going to have to go to court. I asked her why, she said she just turned eighteen and the other girl was seventeen. She told me the girl fighting her knew she would be charged if she fought her.

There have been so many conflicting reports on fights at Richwoods. This student clearly told me fourteen fights, with her's being the fourteenth. What to believe?

Anonymous weighs in on the "fights" at RHS

There was ONE fight at Richwoods the day mentioned. Some how it was inflated to "4 or 5 fights". Who exactly is Mrs. Crew's reliable source? Were they there?

It seems to me the ONLY reports of multiple fights at Richwhoods come from her, and she is spreading it far and wide. Mrs. Crew's reports don't seem malicious, just very very concerned, but notice, she has no details on any of the fights but the one that actually occurred. Did her student she has at Richwoods see the fights; could he/she provide any details?

People were talking about there was a "fight" the other day, they were swearing up and down that it had happened. I know the girl involved and talked to her, I found out it was a disagreement that escalated into shouting and she and her friend stormed off from each other in a huff.

By the time it hit the rumor mill, people were saying it was a full blown chick fight and the school let it happen. There was no fight, there were no threats, just an argument. There is a big differece between fighting and two teenaged girls having a tantrum at each other before storming off not speaking for the rest of the day.

Before posting something about fights at Richwoods, as if it actually happened, ask yourself how many people are exaggerating or inventing incidents because it's what they expect, and, second, why some people are so deeply invested in ensuring that unsubstantiated reports of violence are spread as far and wide as possible.

Thank you.

No - thank You Anonymous...