Terror In Talihina – Part 1
Commentary and Opinion
Two wrongs do not make a right. How many times have we all heard that old saying? I can not recall a more glaring example of two wrongs failing to make a right than demonstrated by this fiasco.
Children like adults make mistakes, it is just human nature. It is our duty as parents, teachers, supervisors and adults in general to teach children right from wrong. We all have boundaries within which we must work when it comes to correcting and disciplining children. Parents have the ultimate responsibility and right to correct their children, discipline appropriately and teach their children acceptable behavior.
When parents send their children off to school they are delegating a portion of their responsibility and rights to school teachers and administrators. Were this not the case our schools would be little more than day care facilities with the children in charge. There is however a bright line between home and school, a line that must not be crossed by school personnel.
When a child leaves their home and steps aboard a school bus they become responsible to and under the authority of the school’s administration. This is not the case when the child leaves their home and walks to school. School responsibility for the child’s welfare and safety and authority over the child does not begin until the child steps onto school property. Were this not the case the schools and not the parents would be both legally and financially responsible for any actions the children take or injuries they might suffer while walking to and from school and this is clearly not the case.
Certainly Steven and Brian Owens did wrong on February 22nd. For that wrong they have been and are being duly punished by their mother. Equally certain is that Angela Rogers/Weaver did wrong when she interfered in what should have been a disciplinary matter between a parent, her children and the gentleman whose newspaper was stolen. Had the gentleman wanted the police called he could have easily done so himself.
Not only did Angela Rogers/Weaver over-step her authority in regard to the children, she usurped the rights of the ‘victim’ in regard to how the incident would be handled. It would have been an easy and logical matter for Rogers to pick up her phone, call Julie Owens, inform her that a man had called the school and stated that some kids had stolen his newspaper and that she had identified Owens’ children as being involved. This would have enabled Julie Owens to address the matter with her children and the gentleman after school.
That Rogers did not do this is, in the opinion of this writer, indicative of a person that should not be around children in any context, let alone in a supervisory position. That Angela Rogers/Weaver took upon herself and without authority, the role of figurative judge, jury and executioner in this matter is both unquestionable and indefensible. Rogers mishandling of this situation suggests that she is the person needing to be taught a lesson, one which entails her termination from the Talihina School System.
What can one say in defense of two law enforcement officers, one a chief of police, that are either unaware of the laws pertaining to the warrantless arrest of persons of any age and the constraints upon the detention of children, or simply disregard these laws? Are not all law enforcement officers in Oklahoma required to undergo CLEET training and certification? Who does Julie Owens go to with a complaint about the improper conduct on the part of the Chief of Police, when the chief’s supervisor, the Mayor of Talihina, is first and foremost his wife?
Is Talihina, Oklahoma a ‘one family run town’? It would certainly appear that way. A town under the badge of what sounds like a ‘b-movie actor’ mangling the lines from a poorly written, badly directed and obscure western movie where folks say things like, “”We went up there and took care of the little situation and do what we normally do what we do when someone is caught stealing.” on a regular basis. Chief England’s misconduct in this fiasco is bad enough, that he would utter such an explanation for that misconduct and for publication in the largest circulation newspaper in the state of Oklahoma gives all Oklahomans reason to cringe.
While Oklahomans cringe at the thought of this scandal, we must all keep in mind the cringing of two small boys, ages 7 and 8, taken from their classroom, searched and questioned by Angela Rogers/Weaver even though she had no legal justification to do any of those things. What terror those poor boys must have felt while being loaded into a police car and hauled away like two hardened criminals. Can we even imagine what went through their young minds while awaiting the arrival of their mother? Or while being read their Miranda rights, being forced to make statements and then being led away to be fingerprinted and have their mug shots taken, all in violation of their civil rights and the laws of the State of Oklahoma?
Of course some apparently believe that the treatment of Steven and Brian Owens was not only acceptable but commendable. In a ‘letter to the editor’of the Poteau Daily News and purportedly written by Laura Newsom the writer called Owens sons “little thieves”, called the entire fiasco “a brilliant idea” and even went on to speculate that Owens children would be robbing liquor stores by age 18.
Certainly everyone is entitled to their opinion and to state that opinion even if it is wrong and indefensible in light of the violations of Oklahoma law which occurred on the part of the adults at the heart of this scandal.
Children must be taught respect for the law and for authority. Adults must earn the respect of children through words and deeds, it can not be ‘scared’ into them. Adults are supposed to set a good example for children. I can not help but wonder when Angela Rogers/Weaver, Brian Hibdon and Jack England are going to start…
[...] Telling It Like It Is In Oklahoma « The Case of the ‘Busted’ Sheriff Terror In Talihina – Part 1 [...]
Weaver trying her scams again BUT in Pittsburg co. now!!!!!!!! We need help to save our school……………………..