Reaction From Community After Bus Monitor is Bullied
By: WROC-TV
Updated: June 21, 2012
There was anger and embarrassment in Greece Wednesday, after a viral video went viral depicting students bullying school bus monitor Karen Klein.
Caroline Putman is Klein's neighbor. She was horrified by what she saw on the video.
"It's disgusting. It shows total lack of respect for adults, for authority figures, by these young men, young boys," Putman says.
Mike Weber is a parent with two children who attend Athena.
"I was shocked and saddened by the whole thing. I couldn't even sit through the whole video online. It was difficult to watch," Weber explains.
Jessica DiManno is an eighth grader at Athena. She called the video disgusting and said it made her angry.
"It makes people think that all of the students at Athena are like that and they're really not, most of them are good kids. I know many of my friends, and if I was there there, I would try to stop that," DiManna states.
it's unclear what type of punishment the students will face. Putman believes it should send a message. She says,
"I think there should be criminal charges brought up against them. I mean, there was threats on their life, more or less. They were threatening to stab her. That's unacceptable."
Many parents are taking the oppurtunity to have a discussion about the video with their children, including Weber.
"I told them that they should at least, if something like that happens and they witness it, they need to let people know as soon as possible if they don't feel safe to actually step up and confront the group at the time of the event."
To give you an idea of the huge influence the internet has played in this story - early today, someone who doesn't know Karen Klein set up a website, to collect money to send her on vacation. The website included tabs so people could donate via credit card or paypal. His goal was to collect $5,000. As of Wednesday evening people have donated nearly $80,000.
Caroline Putman is Klein's neighbor. She was horrified by what she saw on the video.
"It's disgusting. It shows total lack of respect for adults, for authority figures, by these young men, young boys," Putman says.
Mike Weber is a parent with two children who attend Athena.
"I was shocked and saddened by the whole thing. I couldn't even sit through the whole video online. It was difficult to watch," Weber explains.
Jessica DiManno is an eighth grader at Athena. She called the video disgusting and said it made her angry.
"It makes people think that all of the students at Athena are like that and they're really not, most of them are good kids. I know many of my friends, and if I was there there, I would try to stop that," DiManna states.
it's unclear what type of punishment the students will face. Putman believes it should send a message. She says,
"I think there should be criminal charges brought up against them. I mean, there was threats on their life, more or less. They were threatening to stab her. That's unacceptable."
Many parents are taking the oppurtunity to have a discussion about the video with their children, including Weber.
"I told them that they should at least, if something like that happens and they witness it, they need to let people know as soon as possible if they don't feel safe to actually step up and confront the group at the time of the event."
To give you an idea of the huge influence the internet has played in this story - early today, someone who doesn't know Karen Klein set up a website, to collect money to send her on vacation. The website included tabs so people could donate via credit card or paypal. His goal was to collect $5,000. As of Wednesday evening people have donated nearly $80,000.
