I like this part:  "At least one student viewed pornography"

"At least one" - yeah, I'm sure only one or two students checked out the pr0n...

PlentifulBalls wrote: Wooo!! Pennsylvania!! ZOMG TEH iCHAT! OH NOEZ! Its the admins fault for having the password taped to the back of the computers. So, I guess I coud be arrested for setting up a prox server on my home pc and using it to view restricted web pages at my school, eh? They are just mad a bunch of kids outsmarted them.

 I see where you are comming from, but the kids have to take responsibility for what they did.  It says in the report that they recieved detention, ISS, and loss of internet access, yet they still violated the rules.

  The way I see it, rules are rules.  If you want them changed, then you can try whatever, but if you break them you should be prepared to face the consequences.  It doesn't sound like some of the parents are helping the situation either.

hashi2008 wrote:  I see where you are comming from, but the kids have to take responsibility for what they did.  It says in the report that they recieved detention, ISS, and loss of internet access, yet they still violated the rules.   The way I see it, rules are rules.  If you want them changed, then you can try whatever, but if you break them you should be prepared to face the consequences.  It doesn't sound like some of the parents are helping the situation either.

Rules, yes - they are rules, not criminal laws.  This is like the NBA filing criminal charges against a player for violating a rule like tucking in the shirt, or talking to the press.

They may have violated an actual law in the process, but it appears pretty clear (to me) that this is really about the school being upset because students didn't follow their RULES.  The school was unable to enforce their own rules, and went crying to daddy police for help.  Waa-waa.

Now I am waiting for criminal trespass charges to be filed against students that don't have hall passes.

Clark Kent wrote: hashi2008 wrote:  I see where you are comming from, but the kids have to take responsibility for what they did.  It says in the report that they recieved detention, ISS, and loss of internet access, yet they still violated the rules.   The way I see it, rules are rules.  If you want them changed, then you can try whatever, but if you break them you should be prepared to face the consequences.  It doesn't sound like some of the parents are helping the situation either. Rules, yes - they are rules, not criminal laws.  This is like the NBA filing criminal charges against a player for violating a rule like tucking in the shirt, or talking to the press. They may have violated an actual law in the process, but it appears pretty clear (to me) that this is really about the school being upset because students didn't follow their RULES.  The school was unable to enforce their own rules, and went crying to daddy police for help.  Waa-waa. Now I am waiting for criminal trespass charges to be filed against students that don't have hall passes.

  Ok, so what you're saying is that even though they broke a law(s), they shouldn't be punished by the police just because thier crime happened at school?

  A felony is a felony.  If I assaulted someone at school, I would probably get suspended.  But if I continued to assault people, they could call the police and have me arrested.  I have seen fights at school end with people leaving in squad cars.

  If it was me, they students would be expelled.  I agree that the felony charges are a bit extreme, but you can only push your luck so far before something bad happens.

hashi2008 wrote:   Ok, so what you're saying is that even though they broke a law(s), they shouldn't be punished by the police just because thier crime happened at school?   A felony is a felony.  If I assaulted someone at school, I would probably get suspended.  But if I continued to assault people, they could call the police and have me arrested.  I have seen fights at school end with people leaving in squad cars.

Well, yes and no.

You are mostly right - a felony is a felony.  But they haven't been convicted of anything yet, only charged.  And it is the decision to charge that I question, on the facts given.  I believe that some discretion may be in order here.

I'll take the analogy of the hall pass.  Technically, an argument could be made that wandering the halls without a hall pass is criminal trespass.  But can we all agree that it would be bizarrely inappropriate for a school to file those charges?

Similarly, it is possible that some of the actions of these students can be squeezed into some anti-h4x felony category, but it is simply inappropriate to make those charges.  They didn't change grades, they didn't attack the system, they just installed Mac-AIM.

If it was me, they students would be expelled.  I agree that the felony charges are a bit extreme, but you can only push your luck so far before something bad happens.

And I don't disagree with this.  Clearly the school tried intermediate punishments - detentions etc. - without luck, so expulsion may be in order.  I would find that much more appropriate than criminal charges.

My two cents.

EDIT - But I will readily admit that we do not have all the facts in this case, and it is perfectly possible that something will surface that makes criminal charges perfectly appropriate.  We'll have to wait and see.

Nah, there were 13 kids.

Thats what i thought too untill it mentioned one of the kids is 15...and I think they're highschool students.

Im still amazed at clark's sig...i mean...wow...

Clark Kent wrote: hashi2008 wrote:   Ok, so what you're saying is that even though they broke a law(s), they shouldn't be punished by the police just because thier crime happened at school?   A felony is a felony.  If I assaulted someone at school, I would probably get suspended.  But if I continued to assault people, they could call the police and have me arrested.  I have seen fights at school end with people leaving in squad cars. Well, yes and no. You are mostly right - a felony is a felony.  But they haven't been convicted of anything yet, only charged.  And it is the decision to charge that I question, on the facts given.  I believe that some discretion may be in order here. I'll take the analogy of the hall pass.  Technically, an argument could be made that wandering the halls without a hall pass is criminal trespass.  But can we all agree that it would be bizarrely inappropriate for a school to file those charges? Similarly, it is possible that some of the actions of these students can be squeezed into some anti-h4x felony category, but it is simply inappropriate to make those charges.  They didn't change grades, they didn't attack the system, they just installed Mac-AIM.   If it was me, they students would be expelled.  I agree that the felony charges are a bit extreme, but you can only push your luck so far before something bad happens. And I don't disagree with this.  Clearly the school tried intermediate punishments - detentions etc. - without luck, so expulsion may be in order.  I would find that much more appropriate than criminal charges. My two cents.   EDIT - But I will readily admit that we do not have all the facts in this case, and it is perfectly possible that something will surface that makes criminal charges perfectly appropriate.  We'll have to wait and see.

 Well said.  Like I said, I see where you are coming from about it being extreme.  Whatever the outcome, I hope these students learn to stop making asses of themselves.