Neill McNeill's Blog

I feel so sad for the children who worked so hard and long to perform this program. I bet they wanted their moms and families to be so proud of them. Instead now a few children are ashamed and embarrassed by their immature, uncontrolled parents. What kind of example did these parents set for their children? Why are schoolchildren more mature and well behaved then their parents? We wonder why we have crime and violence in the school. Could it be the examples they are receiving at home? I hope these parents see themselves on TV and I hope they are ashamed of their behave. I hope they are embarrassed for ruining the night for all those involved. Shame, shame!

I agree with Neil. Videos like this ought to be shown so maybe people will wake up and realize that our actions or lack of same have consequences. The years of lowering standards of what is acceptable for behavior, education, and just plain old teaching the difference between right and wrong in this country is going to reap a whirlwind of backlash like we've never seen. All I can say is I feel sorry for our kids and grandkids that will have to live in this fouled up world

I feel sorry for the children as well. They worked so hard only to have what should have been their attention brought to these childish parents. These girls(not women) could have at least gone outside or waited until they got home to start this fight. And these people are raising more children to be trash just like them. Where is social services? Children raising children.

listen here i was there i saw all that happen that night that woman that is a volunteer started it all the hole night she walked back and fourth saying rasist coments and using bad language to these two wemen in the altercation her and her family ganged up on these two wemen but i my self think that there is nothing wrong with this because the two wemen werent doing but defending thier self and all the others who were hurt by her it was tine that someone put her in her place and these two wemen did it and yall know that you all would have done the same thing so yall needs to stop haten on ma homies for taking up for thier selves and just know that i gots made love for you two girls

(((statement continued from above)))

the incident and charges are pending. We received word that a parent did tape the incident however; she did not share that with me. You may have already seen the tape attached to Fox 8 website.

I am proceeding with a ban for each of the parents who were actually participating in the fight. I have also received word this morning that one of the parents may actually live in Davidson County. My social worker is investigating that at this time.

We have also received a call this morning from one non-English speaking parent who informed us that their youngest child (not of school age) was hit with a chair in the head. She did not take the child to the doctor and the child is fine. But the accident report is being filed any way.

This is the latest update on the situation. Thanks for your help.

Sara Roberts
Principal
Oak Hill Elementary

Thank you for the update Neill. The only person who had the right to hit anyone in this situation is the innocent parent whose child was hit in the head with a chair. So if the other two mothers were only stiking in defense to being physically(not verbally) attacked then they werent wrong, but if they simply couldnt ignore the other parent or "volunteer" at least until the play was over or until they were outside then they are ignorant and care more about words coming out someone's mouth they dont even know than their own children. And the person who started the whole incident by cursing, hitting, or ganging up on someone should be banned permantly from the school. In reference to the two comments left after me Please get on my level before you even try to address me, what is atacts? And to the other comment you sound like you are in grade school yourself (stop hatin on my homies) come on now people we are talking about people that are supposed to be grown, not in high school. And if that someone was making racist comments or cursing then I would have been extremely mad, but I wouldnt have responed during the children's performance. Basically you are saying its more important to put someone you dont even know in there place than to pay attention to your own child(ren)'s class play. Grow up people!

I thank it's wrong to throw race in the mix but i do thank that all who were involved shod face charges what are we teaching our kid's that it's ok if we don't get cought the school kneads to do what's right

No one had no right to throw a punch, kick, or anything else. These parents are very immature and they have let their children down!

I have to say this. There is no excuse for violence in our schools! No matter what this "so called" volunteer did or said, the violence was wrong.
This happened in a school, in the presence of children! Wake up people!
Real adults would not have lost control like this!
Thank you Fox 8 for caring.

Many good things are happening in the Oak Hill Community. There is a Boy and Girls Club which offers tutoring and recreational activities. There is a Kids Cafe which feeds the children after school. There is a food pantry, clothes closet and toy shop all provided by the pastor of Ward Street Methodist Church and volunteers from throughout the city who are trying to instill love and respect by example. Those involved in the events of Tuesday evening were totally out of line. The children are the victims. I would really like to sit down and talk to those involved and try to make sense of what happened and just maybe we can mend the damage and heal the wounds and go forward with good things for the community.