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Culture Of Violence In NJ Schools

North Hunterdon
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The kids are not OK. Between the manufactured youth mental health pandemic created by Murphy lockdowns and child mask mandates, HIB (Harassment Intimidation and Bullying) failures and restorative justice practices, the schools are filled with escalating behavior issues that are snowballing into violent actions.

For example, on March 13, an assault was videotaped at North Hunterdon High. It was reported on the internet by students, staff and parents that one student allegedly entered a classroom that he didn’t belong in, and began punching another student. Additionally, internet comments reported that the attacked student ended up in hospital, with a broken nose and concussion. Apparently this attack had a back story and there were interactions between the students that had been never addressed by staff, and it all led up to this point of the video in this substack.

Unfortunately for the victim, since he defended himself, he could end up with a suspension for participating in fight, according to these new trending Restorative Justice practices. This type of discipline puts a victim in an impossible situation where they will be bullied until the school finally intervenes, or victims can choose to get suspended for defending themselves. Since the HIB process doesn’t seem to work, the victim will just continue to be at the mercy of their bully.

Additionally, the schools have been reluctant to punish students who are bullies in the name of “equity.” There are a lot of behavioral issues that continually escalate because the children are not accountable to their conduct in school. We have more reports on this type of behavior, over all schools in New Jersey that will be written about soon.

We spoke to another North Hunterdon parent whose son defended himself from a different student attacker, only to get the same punishment as the attacker. When the mother complained to  Principal Cottrell, he stated that the school focuses on “Equity-Focused Discipline.” This means that if you fight off your attacker... you will be punished. How many kids will just roll in a ball and take punches from a would be attacker? How is that even safe?

Many of the parents that we chatted with in North Hunterdon complain that there is an abundance of letters go home when there is an alleged “hate speech” crime, but not one letter mentioning this violent assault that was recorded and shared on social media. Parents allege that they never get letters regarding the bullying and violence in the school that happens all too often to the students, including disabled/special needs children.  Kids only have to be held accountable to their words and not to their physical behavior. Principal Cottrell is sending a clear message to parents that he clearly cares more about words and hurt feelings than actual violence.

If the schools continue to ignore bad behavior, it will just continue and increase in intensity. Kids feel unsafe from physical assault. And the kids who are the assailants will just continue until the law end up taking care of them. This Assailant-victim culture needs to change in the schools. This does not benefit students.


If you are in the North Hunterdon school system, consider asking questions on the conduct and discipline policy to find out how you can keep kids safe in schools.

Principal:  gcottrell@nhvweb.net
Superintendent:  Jbender@nhvweb.net  
Assistant Superintendent: rbergacs@nhvweb.net 



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Mathgoddess