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Dad Who Stormed Bus Apologizes for Some Actions
Filed under: In The News, Bullying
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - A Florida father who stormed onto a school bus and threatened children because his 13-year-old disabled daughter had been bullied is apologizing for the way he handled the situation.
James Willie Jones said in a statement to The Associated Press on Monday that he is sorry for his "inappropriate use of language and for the way I handled the situation." But he says his daughter suffers from cerebral palsy and he "could not stand by and helplessly watch her suffer."
"As a dad, my No. 1 priority is providing for and protecting my children," he said in a statement released to the AP. "Since the school year started, my wife and I noticed that our daughter had become increasingly distraught about school and riding the school bus, but she wouldn't tell us exactly why.
"As the involved parent of a child who suffers from cerebral palsy, it broke my heart. When I walked my daughter to the bus that morning, she broke down in tears and finally told me about the bullies who had tormented her on the school bus. She was afraid.
"In the heat of the moment, I wanted to confront the individuals who had bullied my daughter and the authority figure who failed to protect her. I sincerely apologize for my inappropriate use of language and for the way I handled the situation. As the protector of my daughter I could not stand by and helplessly watch her suffer."
Jones plans to hold a news conference with his attorney Tuesday to answer questions related to his arrest.
He was charged last week with disorderly conduct and disturbing a school function for the Sept. 3 incident in Sanford, just north of Orlando. He later posted $2,000 bail and was ordered to stay away from the driver and county school buses.
The girl had to be hospitalized because of stress from the confrontation, Jones' attorney, Natalie Jackson, said last week. She said Jones told deputies he complained to Seminole County school administrators in the past but nothing had been done to help the girl.
School spokeswoman Regina Murray Klaers said in an e-mail that Jones did not express his concerns to school administrators. He did report an incident involving another girl, not his daughter, Klaers said. That incident was fully investigated, and appropriate action was taken, Klaers said.
Jones boarded the school bus because several boys were allegedly bullying his daughter, according to the sheriff's office report. He told deputies the boys placed an open condom on his daughter's head, smacked her on the back of her head, twisted her ear and shouted rude comments at her, the report said.
Video surveillance from the bus - which fueled fodder on national talk shows - displays Jones asking his daughter to point out the students accused of harassing her. Jones is heard on the video threatening those who bully his daughter, and he also threatens the bus driver.
Jones said in the statement that he plans to advocate and raise awareness against bullying.
"Bullying has become an epidemic in our country," he said. "Even though some schools are adopting 'zero tolerance' anti-bullying policies, it hasn't eliminated the problem. Parents need to work with their children to let them know this kind of behavior is unacceptable and we all need to be aware of what's happening with our kids.
"I hope that there are lessons we can all learn from this situation. I know I have," he added. "It is my prayer that your children, whether disabled or not, will never have to endure anything like what my daughter went through."
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL. This article was written by ANTONIO GONZALEZ, Associated Press Writer.
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ReaderComments (Page 4 of 8)
9-21-2010 @ 10:17PM
Mick said...I stringly disagree Christina...EVERY KID ON THAT BUS by allowing the behavior to occur to someone as described is AS GUILTY AS THE ONES WHO DID IT by allowing it to happen REPEATEDLY. If they were scrarred by what might have happend to them if they "got invovlved" then they should have told the bus driver, teachers or principle and / ot their parents about it to STOP IT.
9-21-2010 @ 9:31PM
eddie said...those kids parents should be a shame, im glad this man stuck up for his kid especially haivng a disease. that bus driver and kids better be glad that wasnt my child and the school better watch out for a full blown investigation and law suit these kids need to learn respect or stay home and hang out on the corner see were that leads them so many kids waist there school life on bullying instead of learning and thats because these politicans are more worried about money than education im from chicago the most corruption ever the school board is broke the kids are using books from the 80's maybe 90's if there lucky were is the equality in this., bottom line is that guy is a real man when it comes down to it he said FU to everyone and took care of business no one looks out for these kids until its to late and blown way out of proportion keep your head up guy were proud of you in CHICAGO
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9-21-2010 @ 9:33PM
zoot Rollo III said...This poor guy did what he had to do. No duty is more sacred than protecting your child, especially when she's handicapped and when the assaulting parties are a bunch of cruel, drooling, gapped-toothed rednecks. I bet every last one of them is a "good Christian" too, ready to burn a Koran at a moment's notice. Redneck scum.
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9-21-2010 @ 10:15PM
Mick said...I agree also with the actions...the language is just a manifestation of probably the years he has faced of others actions toward her either perceived or real. I too have had a daughter, not with cp but other disabilities...also tormented and bullied on a bus by an older kid. I tried to explain that while being a human pinata is not O.K., there are probably reasons the other kid was bullying her. No kid had the right to do that to any other kid. There's a place where such kids get retrobution for kids who bully, belittle or flat out beat up others on the bus, at school or on a playground...that place is Columbine...and if other kids who think their actions don't matter than they should pay attention in school to recent history and parents should find out more about what the hell therir kids are up to before it happens again. God forbid.
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9-21-2010 @ 9:41PM
Ore N. Mavro said...Its funny...there's a very simple solution to this problem I thought about just now. I used to go to this summer camp and the counselors drove their cars when we went on trips, some chose not to or something and rode the bus, But they kept people in check.
Obviously even the most careful and caring bus driver can't have 4 arms and eyes in the back of his or her head.
Why not hire people to ride the busses and moderate what goes on, keeping the demons in check and just general hijinx (like kids throwing stuff out the windows for fun)?
New jobs all across the country and at least one less place kids will be traumatized during their school years.
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9-21-2010 @ 9:43PM
Dolly Jones said...What the hell was he supposed to do? Wait until one of the little bastards killed her? They physically attacked her, put open condoms on her head, and terrorized her. And HE was arrested? HE has to apologize? When we were kids, if my mother (or father), not to mention the rest of the clan, EVER got wind that one of us treated another kid like that - especially one who was challenged, it would have been us spending the rest of our lives in a wheelchair. And that's what's wrong with our society today. Where the hell ARE these bullies' parents? Where was the bus driver?
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9-21-2010 @ 9:45PM
tammy said...I can understand the parents frustration over the child being bullied. I am a mother of a handicap son as well as a school bus driver. I do not agree with the father getting on the bus using the language that was used and the threats to the children. Not all the kids were involved in the situation and they were then bullied by the father. The situation should have been handled within the school. The father just found out that day what was going on. The driver is being blamed for not seeing what was going on. Who is to say the situation wasn't done without the driver being able to see. The driver should have been informed and then maybe they could have helped handle the situation. Knowledge is power. Maybe the father should have spoken with the driver. The father has now placed his child into another situation which is embarassment. My son endured lots of ridacule b/c of his limitations. He never wanted me to step in and embarass him. He has now grow into a fine young man. Just remember before you judge with hearing only one side that there is another side to it. No I do not agree with nor stand for bullying. I handle that situation on my bus with the principal and then move up the ladder if need be.
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9-21-2010 @ 9:45PM
Bill P. said...Having faced that same situation with a disabled daughter, I would have done the same thing. Guess I need to attend anger management classes? But after those S.O.B. bullies washed their soiled trousers, they would not have bullied again!
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9-21-2010 @ 9:48PM
Honor said...I wouldn't apologize for anything if I was the father. He did exactly what he should have done which was protect his daughter. If he had already filed a complaint what else was he supposed to do, sit around and wait until someone actually physically hurt his child? I think not. So to the father I say congrats for standing up like a man should and protecting your family
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9-21-2010 @ 9:50PM
candy said...My heart goes out to these parents and this child. I can only amagine the pain they feel. I would have done the same thing. Where is the bus driver or the school adults to control this whole situation. SAD VERY SAD!!!
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9-21-2010 @ 9:50PM
sharp914 said...I'm glad he steped in to protect his child. The school system these days are relly bad. The kids are far worse now in the last 15 years due to the killing, bullying, rape, fights, and so on. when is it going to stop when all the kids really hurt or dead. The parents need to step up there game when it comes to raising there kids, It seems that the parents just don't care if there kid is bad or allows there kid to harm or hurt other kids. Think how you would feel if you were the one being bullyed or harmed, now you understand it's not a good thing; so parents you need to put a stop to your kids harming others before it's to late.
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9-21-2010 @ 9:50PM
J.E.B. said...It's always the instigators who get off scot-free, and the victim becomes the bad person. If somebody had done this to MY kid, I'd have done the same thing, or WORSE to those kids, AND their parents, who obviously haven't taught their brats that bullying is WRONG!
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9-21-2010 @ 9:53PM
teresa said...as long as schools claim to be "zero tolerance" nothing will actually get fixed. more often then not, they zero in on situations that are not bullying or kids that are not bullies and then totally miss the real bullying. Parents get the job done, the only problem with that today is that some parents are overly sensitive and won't let their kids learn to stand up for themselves. (there are a few moms like that in the playgroup) Anyway, parents are often better judges of when things are getting out of hand and schools/bus drivers often fail to solve anything so I don't blame this guy. Sounds like the bullying punks had it coming and if they never have someone stand up to them then they'll probably grow up to become trouble making thugs in society.
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9-21-2010 @ 9:55PM
Marie said...Being a parent myself of two school aged children and having gone through school myself with a hearing disability (hearing aids) and also being a monority (hispanic) I can understand this father's pain and frustration. However this was in many ways the wrong way for him to go about it. First and foremost he made things more difficult for his daughter not easier. Case in point, my father confronted the kids that were bullying my sister and I at our bus stop. They acted scared at the moment but once we were on that bus their friends took over where they left off and it only got worse. It got carried on in the hallways and at lunch time when word got around of how my father "went off." Before confronting these bullies he needed to open the lines of communication more with his daughter and try to extract as much information as possible such as the specific things said, done, times, etc. and then get names including the parents of the bullies. Detective work on his end first. While doing the detective work let the school administrators know of the problem that is going on, drive her to school, and start demanding appts. to speak with principal(s), transportation head/director, superintendants, board members if necessary. Then demand since she has a handicap that an aide to ride the bus with her or that she have transportation on a minibus. There is no reason for this girl to be subjected to ridicule for being disabled and then further humiliated by her father's uncontrolled reaction. Then I would seek out counseling for this young lady to deal with the emotional trauma that she has been through. If after exhausting all these avenues and no resolution comes from it, then I would retain a good attorney and seek a lawsuit against the school, bus company, and the parents of the bullies as well. People really seem to understand the gravity of something when it involves a large sum of money, bad publicity, or jail time. Never give the power back to the bully because that's what they thrive on in the first place...
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9-21-2010 @ 9:58PM
FLA MOM said...BRAVO Mr Jones!!!! You did what any normal, decent parent would have done-only with alot more restraint!!! You never should have been arrested!!! Find it very interesting all the blame put on others (the bus driver, the administration, etc... EVERYONE but the kids who were responsible!!!! That is a major problem with our society-blame everyone but yourself!!!!! Youowe NO one an apology!!!!! Hope your daughter is feeling better!!!!
FLA MOM
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9-22-2010 @ 9:58AM
Rachell Redman said...Even though what he did was a little over the top - Amen to him confronting those kids! There are so many kids out there not being managed by their parents and think it's o.k. to do this. As a parent we instinctively seek to protect our children and I think that is exactly what took over when he stormed the bus. I bet those kids will think twice before bullying again! Mr. Jones, I don't blame you one bit for taking a stand when it seemed no one else would. Good luck and I hope your daughter is alright.
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9-21-2010 @ 9:57PM
JUDI said...GOD BLESS THIS FATHER! HE DID WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS RIGHT AT THE TIME AS ANY OTHER PARENT WOULD DO. HE IS MAKING AMMENDS FOR THE LANGUAGE HE USED, WHICH I THINK IS NOTHING SHORT OF BEING A MAN TO BE ADMIRED BY EVERYONE.
I HAVE ABHORED BULLYING SINCE I WAS A LITTLE OVERWEIGHT LITTLE GAL WHO JUST WANTED OTHER KIDS TO LOVE HER. I HAVE ZERO TOLLERANCE FOR BULLYING OF ANY SORT NOW. I DO WHAT I HAVE TO DO WHEN I WITNESS IT AND QUITE FRANKLY I DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES. IT'S WRONG... PLAIN AND SIMPLE AND NEEDS TO BE STOPPED THE MINUTE IT STARTS.
MR. JONES, YOU ARE MY HERO FOR SURE. I WISH MY DAD WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME THING FOR ME 50 YEARS AGO. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
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9-21-2010 @ 9:58PM
geem said...WHO IS NOW THE BULLY?????? YES THATS RIGHT THE MAN WHO GOT ON THE BUS TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS WITH THE DRIVER AND A BUS LOAD OF OTHER PEOPLES CHILDREN WAKE UP BIG VS SMALL BULLY
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9-21-2010 @ 10:02PM
Tammy said...I used to be one of the kids that got bullied. I would have loved it if someone, anyone would have come to my defense. This man is getting a bad rap for doing something that was the right thing to do. No one should have to be bullied for any reason.
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9-21-2010 @ 10:03PM
Florence said...There really is something wrong with our system!! I have a 6yr old son with Downs Syndrome, and I would die protecting my son from these senseless bullies!! Its hard enough going through life being different!! The parents of these bullying kids need to step up to the plate, and take responsibility for the type of kids they are raising., shame on you!! The school system says there is a "zero tolerance for bullying"? Obviously there isnt!!! They should be handing Mr.Jones back his $2000 fine and then some for the bullying that has been allowed to take place! A new law for bullying needs to be passed; When and if a child or group of kids are caught bullying, the parents of these kids and the school should be financially penalized, and if death occurs due to bullying "prison time" should be in order, maybe just maybe something positive will happen!! Im sick of this slap on the wrist or getting written up bs!! It sad that these kids who are being bullied for so long go unnoticed and resort to committing suicide, "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!"
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