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Here Are 6 New Facts You Need to Know About the Abused Bus Driver Incident

Jun. 22, 2012 10:47am Billy Hallowell

Karen Klein

As outrage continues over video footage showing a bus monitor from Greece, New York, being abused by middle school children, the kids at the center of the controversy are speaking out. On Thursday night, CNN’s Anderson Cooper read official statements from the children that purportedly showcased their remorse — apologies that victim Karen Klein flatly rejected.

(1) These apologies are an interesting, new element in the bizarre incident that has attracted mass attention and support for Klein. The Huffington Post provides a recap of the comments that were released to CNN and read on the air to Klein last night:

“I feel really bad about what I did,” [Weslie], one of the boys in the video, said in a statement issued to the show by police. “I wish I had never done those things. If that had happened to someone in my family, like my mother or grandmother, I would be really mad at the people who did that to them.”

“I am so sorry for the way I treated you,” Josh, another one of the boys, said in a statement. “When I saw the video I was disgusted and could not believe I did that. I am sorry for being so mean and I will never treat anyone this way again.”

After hearing Josh’s statement, Klein declined to accept his apology and noted that he is a troublemaker who regularly makes problems. She also rejected Weslie’s comments as well, going on to say that she’s still waiting for official apologies from the four children involved in the abusive incident. So far, not one of the boys has approached her or reached out. Admittedly, Klein says she may need more time before seeing them face-to-face.

Watch the CNN interview during which these issues are discussed, below:

While the kids have been quiet, at least one of the parents has come forward to comment. On Thursday, Robert Helm, Weslie’s father, spoke to “Inside Edition,” where he expressed surprise at his child’s ability to act out so horrendously toward the 68-year-old grandmother of eight.

“It was very hard to watch that and even tougher as a father to see your child treat someone like that. It broke my heart,” Helm said, going on to highlight the punishment that his son will receive. ”It’s not just going to stop at ‘You’re grounded, you don’t get TV.’ This is much bigger than that. This is something for a professional to interview Weslie and find out what the underlining problem is.”

However, (2) Helm has also said that his child has suffered enough. Considering the intense controversy and resulting media coverage, he believes that the situation has gone too far.

“My family’s received death threats. He’s a 13-year-old kid,” he said. “It was a stupid mistake and he’s paying for it but I just think it’s a little out of control.”

Bus Monitor Karen Klein Comments on Kids Apologies & the Ongoing Controversy

Some agree with Helm, while others remain discontented — some to profoundly extreme levels — with what was observed on the video. The Greece Public School District and the families, alike, continue to receive threats. The Democrat & Chronicle recapped the details surrounding just how intense the response has been to the children and families at the center of the incident (emphasis added):

The names of some of the alleged perpetrators — all juveniles who have yet to be charged with any crimes — and their parents and details about where they live ended up online. And since Wednesday, they’ve been barraged by death threats and harassing phone calls.

Greece police Capt. Steve Chatterton said Thursday that (3) someone even made a false 911 call claiming there were people being held hostage inside one of the students’ homes. He said officers have been assigned to run special patrols down the youths’ streets to ensure their safety.

“We have a cellphone of one of the boys and he’s received more than 1,000 missed calls and more than 1,000 text messages threatening him,” he said. “Threats to overcome threats do no good.”

One woman even claims that her son has been falsely accused of assaulting Klein (her child doesn’t even ride the bus that the incident occurred on). As a result, he has been harassed on Facebook and has also received death threats. Klein has called for the counter-harassment to stop and has expressed her sadness in knowing that the kids at the center of the dispute are receiving such harsh treatment from the public.

During her interview with Cooper, (4) Klein also expressed doubt surrounding the massive sum of money being collected in her name. Currently, the number is approaching $500,000 (as of 9:40 a.m. ET on Friday it was at $471,216).

Bus Monitor Karen Klein Comments on Kids Apologies & the Ongoing Controversy

“I can’t believe it. That much?,” she rhetorically asked Cooper. “I don’t know, I just don’t feel like it’ll come to me anyway, so I don’t think too much about it. It’s a nice gesture, but I just don’t know if it’s for real or not.”

While Klein can’t quite be sure of the authenticity of the money that is slated to come to her (last night, The Blaze delved into this issue as well), (5) she’s headed to Disneyland — and that’s a fact. Cooper told the elderly woman that Southwest Airlines will be sending her and nine others to the destination, located in Anaheim, California.

As far as punishment for the boys goes, while Klein says she isn’t sure about criminal charges, she has indicated that she will not file them and that she would rather see the children punished in different ways. While the district hasn’t yet announced how officials will handle the situation, (6) Klein would like to see the children lose the ability to ride the bus and play sports for a year. She also talked about the potential of community service as an option for the boys.

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Comments (333)

wti6564
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:30pm
It is time for Conservative and Christian parents to get their children OUT of public schools. Their is NO WAY they could educate their children any worse than the education they are getting in public schools. As far as the lack of interaction with other kids that people always talk about as being a problem, I say after seeing how the kids are turning out today, it is more of a benefit to have less interaction.

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reportanddeport
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:25pm
Kids this evil come from PARENTS who are evil. And Klein SHOULD press charges, because otherwise this will be swept under the rug.

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thequeenbee
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:23pm
These kids need to put a year in volunteering at a senior facility of some kind. I suggest parents start paying attention to their little darlings who aren’t as darling as they think. Here’s a novel idea, how about teaching your kids respect and gratitude for starters. I see bad parental management every day. These kids are going to grow up to be really unpleasant adults.

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tonyloaf
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:21pm
In the past the rising generation would acquire an educated conscience from church. But starting with the baby boom generation parents have abandoned church attendance and religious training for Sunday recreation and left their children’s moral training to Hollywood and feelgood new age movements. The result is we have a rising generation filled with sociopaths. Apparently these parents thought that their children would become moral beings by osmosis without regular instruction.

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BobtheMoron
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:19pm
Too bad we don’t have we don’t have whup ass cane punishment.

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mac55
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:18pm
Today’s schools are ran by the kids and their parents wait to sue if there is any kind of discipline rendered! it’s just crazy! you can’t swat them, you can’t tell them to shut up and sit down, they can spit, hit, kick you and you can’t protect yourself without getting sued. It’s just nuts!

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KAS_Wolf
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:15pm
When I first moved to Texas from New England, I was surprised to have young people here say “yes, ma’am” and “no ma’am”. It is nice to hear polite responses from kids here.

Similarly, we have raised our two boys to act and respond like this. I love Texas.

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- hatchetjob
  Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:21pm
  You’re lucky KAS_WOLF, it must be like living on another planet compared to other places.
  
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kissmygritsextremists
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:15pm
The only reason these kids “wish they’d never done it” is because they got caught. They should not only get a full suspension but have their bus privileges revoked for an entire calender year. I wonder how much ‘regret’ they’d have if they had to spend time in juvenile hall. Give them a record, then see how much this bullying thing keeps going.

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LovinUSA
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:15pm
There are more than one lesson to learn here, the parents need to learn as well as the children, Perhaps eliminating all those eletronics the kids have today, block texting on their phones or take the phone away completely, no television, no dances, movies,parties, sports, game visiting denied, yes- personal apologies work wonders when you have to face the person you hurt along with their parents in attendance, see that te child is doing odd jobs and no, it wouldn’t hurt to offer the same to the victum. Children need to be taken off twitter, facebook and all thos social networks, they are the root of much unrest, and should beeliminated completely. Way too much information goes out on these programs and more than likely, the parents don’t know hardly any thing that goes on on them. They need to sit down at least once a week and have a family discussion, not just at dinner time, but after dinner. parents need to parent, and children need to learn good things not all the garbage that is on the net. We don’t need a collection of idots in the future because their parents didn’t want to be bothered to take the time tobring there children up knowing right from wrong, just buying more crap to get them in more hot water is definately not the answer. Throw that junk out.They WILL survive!

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SERE
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:14pm
The fact an adult sits back and allows little punks to treat her this way means, at a minimum, she is not strong enough to be a monitor.

It is the lack of standing up against this type of activity, by individuals like Ms, Klein herself that allow these little punks to continue to act out in inappropriate ways.

Had I been the monitor, these kids would have been retrieving their eyeballs off the floor with granddad slaps to the backs of their heads.

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- mac55
  Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:19pm
  them get sued!
  
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- mac55
  Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:24pm
  Then get your **** sued!
  
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- SERE
  Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:41pm
  …an adult crying over the words of 13 year olds???? Talk about playing victim. get sued??? really??? If I worried about getting sued I would never leave the house. You are either part of the solution OR YOU ARE THE PROBLEM
  
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- Lloyd Drako
  Posted on June 22, 2012 at 1:35pm
  Sharks in the water scenting blood.
  
  Kids on a bus with a fat granny either unable or unwilling to defend herself effectively.
  
  Commenters here and everywhere calling for them to be horse-whipped, people threatening their parents with physical assault.
  
  Fools contributing money to who knows who or what?
  
  The crooked timber of humanity.
  
  Report this comment
BooneCtyBeek
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:13pm
Lord of the Flies

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GoodStuff
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:12pm
Am I the only one who heard a girl’s voice in video? But, now they’re only talking about three boys?

Whoever did it, they should expelled from school. Not suspended, expelled! Their faces should be put on national television and shamed. They should also serve some sort of community service. But, I still can’t understand why the police are involved? What do the police have to do with anything.

These parents are the worst parents in history.

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hotmomma
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:08pm
I realize that people are collecting money to give to this lady but money will never take away those hateful, hurtful words. I would have never done anything remotely like what these kids did… for fear that my parents would beat my ****! These kids obviously have no fear of their parents or respect for elders.Not all kids are like this my 14 year old son saw an elderly lady trip and fall and he ran to her side and helped her up. I was so proud and she was so taken a back by his kindness. :)

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merlinstar88
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:05pm
Watch the whole video…She flips the bird and makes snide remarks herself. Maybe she should share her $$ with the boys.

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- hatchetjob
  Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:26pm
  She didn’t start the trouble though MERLIN. She was very upset and it was probably her way to fight back.
  
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welovetheUSA
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:04pm
Allowing these brats to get away with this behavior is not right……..parents donot seem to be able to raise their children to respect another human being are accountable as well. Kick the kids out of school for two weeks, make them face this lady and give her a apology to her face.

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Kilmerfan
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:03pm
That I am sorry is so fake, let them walk to school or camp Iran

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OORsz2d1H7s

Put one foot in front of the other.

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merlinstar88
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:02pm
Oh, and don’t forget that she flips the bird and makes crude comments herself, watch the entire video and see for yourself.

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merlinstar88
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:01pm
I feel no sympathy for the woman, more for the suckers who made the donations. The woman was PAID to do a job and she, clearly, wasn’t doing anything but looking out the window and trying to ignore what was happening. The childen are not innocent, but products of poor parenting and defective school systems that are signs of the times. The lack of respect is prevalent in all parts of the country. We live in a community that is full of the same little s…s. What about all the struggling seniors who lost retirement savings, have medical bills or can’t get medical care and have chronic illnesses that drain their resources? Dont’ see anyone raising money for them. The woman should be thankful she still has a job, but. then again, she is relishing all the attention just like other overweight people. Maybe the children’s comments were on target?

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forthepeople
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:01pm
Much like the ‘ Scarlet Letter ‘ ( story ) they should be made to wear , have something written on there foreheads for a year to really embarrass them publicly . That they would never forget feeling like the victim .

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pacard33
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:01pm
The local news talked to a psychologist on this, but I don’t think he got it quite right. Bullying isn’t necessarily an epidemic as he says, but it is prevalent among kids at that age group (12-14) mainly because there are no consequences for bad behavior. The parents at that school may not be doing there job (if the district is in a low socio-economic area, that plays a part too) and the school can’t enforce their policies. The epidemic isn’t bullying–it’s the breakdown of the family unit and the laissez-faire, liberal, litigious monster that is public education.
This psychologist says they just need to suspend these kids for a period of time–so they understand the gravity of what they’ve done. Dude, suspension for a kid nowadays is a badge of honor! They want it. They like it. For them it’s a vacation from school. I saw a kid the other day get handed a notice of suspension at the middle school I work for–he tore it up right in front of the vice-principal and threw it in her face. If they are not disciplined and instructed at home, then they don’t give a s***. And without that instruction, they are too young and immature to understand the future ramifications of their abusive actions.

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- ADNIL
  Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:17pm
  One of the middle schools I worked in had “in-house suspensions”. The students reported to school everyday but were required to sit in a room by themselves away from their peers and also given school work to do. They also had lunch in this room and were not allowed to mingle with peers during any breaks during the day. Booooorrrrriiiinnng! They hated it. They were so happy to see me because I still had to take them out for OT, a mandated service on their IEPs, for an hour a week.
  
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ricckky
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 11:59am
I would really like to know how many libs have donated to this lovely woman! I bet it so lopsided that the Christian conservatives have out donated the commies at least 1000 to one!!! We will never know unfortunately. I wouldn’t be surprised if no one from the left has donated at all—–

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- Meyvn
  Posted on June 22, 2012 at 12:03pm
  I have a rod I’d like to donate but somehow I feel it may go unused.
  
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Meyvn
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 11:58am
Consequences. It’s best to ponder them before doing something evil or stupid.

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txblaze
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 11:55am
These boys are only sorry for all the trouble they have created. Their punishment needs to be mowing her lawn all summer, raking her leaves in the fall, shovel her snow all winter, etc. And I would add that they should take flowers to the grave of her child who committed suicide once a month for the rest of the year.

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TheFonz
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 11:49am
I really feel sorry for the grandmother; she reminds me of my late Nana. I am glad she is not taking these canned apologies and hope she sees it through that the kids get some real disipline. I hope that she enjoys her trip, and that if she gets the money it is used wisely such as retirement and to start college funds for her grandchildren.

As for the comment that being a punching bag is her job; well, it is not. No one should be a punching bag for anyone else. The liberals have tied the hands of teachers, school officials, and bus drivers so much that they can no longer dole out real disipline without risk of being fired or sued. What in the heck could she do? Maybe a 68 year old grandmother is not the right person for that kind of job, but she was in the situation and I think she handled it as best as she could.

As far as the death threats, etc. to the kids; that is not right either and is overboard. Alas, that is the world we live in with social media that makes it easy for people to make such threats.

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sta
Posted on June 22, 2012 at 11:45am
Homeschool.

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