School disapproves of student calling 911

Print This Post

School disapproves of student calling 911

9-1-1 in the News, Calls | April | November 28, 2011 at 9:21 am

PALMETTO BAY, FL — A family is upset that a local school scolded their child for trying to do the right thing by calling 911 when he saw another student in trouble.

Walter Richardson, 12, witnessed a fight between two students at Southwood Middle School and called 911. “There was this boy getting choked, and the boy, the other boy, the black boy, he left. So the boy unconscious, he was on the floor, so I called 911,” said Richardson.

Administrators told Walter he did the wrong thing by calling 911. “The assistant principal Miss Williams said, ‘You should have never did that,’” said Richardson.

Eight years ago, Jaime Gough, a student, was stabbed to death in the bathroom by Michael Hernandez, at the same middle school. Now the middle school carries around that reputation.

With the horrible events in mind, Richardson’s parents said they are disappointed that an assistant principal did not approve of their son calling for help in the emergency. “Instead of being praised, he was really being looked down upon for doing this action,” said Richardson’s father, Walter Sr.

Richardson now feels badly about taking action to help another student. “It made me feel sad, it made me feel like I didn’t do the right thing,” said Richardson.

Despite the reaction from the school, Richardson’s father is proud of his son. “If he felt the need to call 911, we’ve always taught him to do so.”

The Miami-Dade School Board says Richardson acted responsibly but maintains that a call from 911 should be made by the faculty. “The best thing is to consult with an adult because, as in this case, the student was not transported,” said board member John Schuster. “I think the student thought it was the best thing for him to do. Of course, if there are adults there, it should be up to the adults to call 911.”

Richardson said he received all the thanks he needed from the student he helped. “He was like, ‘Thank you for calling 911 for me, and thank you for helping me and staying with me,’” said Richardson.

Read the story here.