So they called over a verbal threat but not the physical gang like fight from 2 weeks ago? Nice!

Sara, they don't want it to get out that, in public, "Our Children" act like that, and that the school or police, couldn't solve the problem !

Getting ridiculous. Wonder what type of tragedy needs to happen for someone to start enforcing harsher consequences towards kids who are a significant threat to others. It's going to be humiliating for our entire community when News 12 shows up some day!!

Wait a second - according to the article, it was a verbal argument, mediated by a guidance counselor, with the kids shaking hands at the end - seems to me that the parent going to the school the next day and then calling the police is somewhat extreme!

As a parent of a Hauppauge student, why am I hearing about this now on a public forum???

Nothing like going overboard with the drama...

Does anyone here know what the insults were that were exchanged between the two students? If anyone here has that answer then great. If not, how can you assume that it was not serious enough for the parent to feel that it warranted a call to the police. Who are we to judge? I think what has so many parents in todays society concerned is the fact that there is so much going on with our kids such as bullying, teasing, targeting specific kids, verbal abuse, and more and it is ending up with some very serious outcome such as suicide. So again, who are we to judge how this parent decided to handle this? I am sure if the shoe were on your foot you may have done the very same thing and not felt like the school district has it under control. It appears to me that all these other schools where it ended up deadly did not have it under control. Let's not hide the fact that Hauppauge has a lot of work to do! I can further comment on one specific individual who has decided to throw his 2 cents in when he and wife can say no wrong at this time due to his wifes title.....I can also talk about your own stupidity withing the community streets!

Sometimes it is David and sometimes it's not. Keep it slow!

Let's not let this happen......... http://smithtown.patch.com/articles/video-assaulted-student-questions-school-safety-disciplinary-action#video-8872712

We Heart Long Island---------> not a parent with real concerns but covering up for the SD....
This girl should not have to address the BOE after being attacked like she was....do you even know what happened? Which BOE member are you?

You made a statement as though you had a way to prevent one student from attacking another. I was just curious what that was. Yes I know what happened. She chose to address them. People like drama. That's what is going on in Hauppauge. The rumor mill is in full gear.

I don't know any of you nor the details of the two different situations in the Middle School. What I know is that attitudes and behaviors, especially of adolescents, are unpredictable. I also know from experience with more than one incident in Hauppauge over 10 years that Hauppauge DOES NOT know how to control nor respond to bullying. We as parents are their biggest advocates. If you feel your child is in danger for any reason, whether it be verbal or physical and you feel the school is not doing their share (which often they blow it off and sweep it under the carpet, AND THEY DO, THEY REALLY DO!!!) THEN it is your responsibility as a concerned parent to do what you think is necessary. Furthermore, as parents we should not bicker with another parent or belittle their choice of reaction. That, first, is the worst possible example for our children, but should be responded to with concern or I don't know enough to judge. Remember, it could be your child. You would be devastated if the situation was blown off and something tragic happened to your child. Better to over react then not to react at all. Never ever assume what you would do if you're not in the circumstance yourself. Secondly, show your children the civilized way to handle these situations. They do learn by our examples, negative or positive. OH - ANONYMITY - WHO CARES My name is Hallie, if you know that name, you know who I am. I doubt there's many of us in Hauppauge.

We Heart Long Island-----------> BOE Member or District Administrator. Saying that this student addressing the BOE about being attacked in the bathroom at school, and being blocked in by boys while a group of girls beat her is her liking "DRAMA" is a disgrace! So, you are proving the Hauppauge school district "Motto". They would basically shut the girl up as they do all parents that speak up at their meetings!
As far as the other intelligent parent on here------------> his wife is the MS PTA President.....not shocking to see his point of view. The problem with this district is they play dirty and when you speak up you get paid back for speaking up! I know families that are currently going through those situations now for speaking up.

Hallie, what can I say other than well said!!!!!

It all comes down to parenting!!! How do you expect these teachers to be with these kids 24/7??? Most of this bullying occurs in the hallways, bathrooms, on the bus when no one is watching. Not to mention texting and facebook. I honestly don't believe that Hauppauge teachers or any teachers would sit idolly by and watch these events and not say or do anything....do you??? You can have all the anti- bulling campaigns, assemblie you want,but it won't make a hell of beans if these kids are not being properly parented at home.

Well said Hallie, couldn't agree more!

I have a 12 year old in the school, who is a great kid but has gotten into some hot water as well. I do not hold the school responsible for my child's actions. I look to myself and the child's father to correct our child in this very difficult and tenuous time. I remember being 12 and it was so hard, everyone trying to fit in. I would venture a guess that this goes on in most schools. The bullying needs to be stopped by the parents, parents need to take it personally when their child harms another either verbally or physically. The school can punish but what good does it do when the parents do not follow thru.

Additionally, I would not want the position of administrator in any school, between dealing with the kids in the school, dealing with them all having cell phones and cameras, parents letting 11,12 and 13 year olds on facebook, giving them iphones, they do not only have to worry about what goes on within the walls of their buildings but now what is on the internet, what's being posted on youtube. Technology has advanced light years since we were kids, but the 12 year old human brain and ability to make good decisions at this age has not changed.

Another very well said to Hallie !

Put your kid in martial arts if he is on the weaker side. After the bullies get hit a couple of times, they'll stop. I was in the Hauppauge School district as a kid and I don't recall any mass killings or anything more than a fist fight. Yeah, some kids got knocked into lockers or had their books knocked out of their hands, but they made it through alright. The parents need to take more responsibility and teach their kids better morales, but you'll never stop fighting between teenagers and there will always be the "bullies" in any school. So when your kid comes home with a bruise, toughen him/her up and let them get the bullie!

bully

I believe that the schools "no tolerance policy" mostly deters a child who wouldn't have done it anyway. I also think that it prevents that same child from standing up for themselves for fear of punishment from the authority of the school. But the children that respect authority are typically not the children that need those rules. The child that bullies, will do it anyhow, they might be more sneaky about it, but they clearly don't have a healthy regard for authority, these rules might just give the bullies easier more submissive targets. Brian has a point in that, you have to teach people how you want to be treated. If your child cannot stand up for themselves, the school will not be able to stop them from being bullied, they have to make blanket policies, but as with anything there are loop holes and parents that either support rules or show their kids how to break them. Take it from a person that was bullied as a child in middle school, a person who's mother told her "just ignore it when you can, and stand up for yourself when you have to." It is the best gift you can give to your child to teach them their worth and how to speak up for themselves. Lets not cast out the children that are bullying. These rules don't necessarily help them either, now is the time to help these kids, for when they get out in the real world how will they handle the fact that people will not put up with their behavior?

Well said to you Chelsea. What I don't understand and would love an intelligent reasonable answer to is why do we feel and why does it appear that the school staff (not all) likes to brush off these issues? It does not protect them or anyone else. I know there are staff that care and do get involved. But for the people we need to run to, why so dismissive? How does it make a school district look better if it's ignored. Especially in this time of bringing Bullying to the forefront. It is such a national dilemma that why in this day and age would any School District person brush it off, dismiss it, deny it or ignore it. I dont' get it?? A bully that is never punished nor gets help turns into a criminal. The victim that is never helped can be a murder or suicide victim. So, what is the point? It is now that a School District person can shine, look great, be noted in the public's eye as so perfectly wonderful for fighting this and standing up for it. WHY???? Of course, PARENTS - we need to really look at our children, we really need to know when they are down, hurt, isolated or super agressive. Don't dismiss it, It can mean the difference between life and death and we need the SCHOOLS help in doing that. Most of us work and juggle so much. Our children are at school more than they are home. This has to be a group effort. We can never stop bullying forever, but sure can short tail it.