Why the need to point out the kid was from Little Compton? If this is to signify that portsmouth is better because we accept all types of people, this is a shame. Portsmouth does not want to regionalize due to the words that got this student arrested.

Hi East Side, thank-you for your question. A town of residence is included in every arrest report, not just arrests at the high school. Do you think the town of residence shouldn't have been included in this report?

Is being charged with yelling racial slurs a double standard?
I'm so sick and tired or turning on the news and seeing someone charge or judged because they did not do the political correct thing of the day.

What happened to the days in Portsmouth when two kids who had a problem went "Up the Fort" after school and took care of their differences? No cops were ever needed...

I don't think he should be arrested for making racial slurs. For fighting and assault, maybe, but only maybe because he did not throw first punch. One should not be arrested for that they say. And R.P. McMurphy, as a student of PHS, that is no longer a possibility. Unfortunately, times have changed and if the cops were not involved, parents would get angry for the school not stepping in.

I myself go to PHS and would like to point out that josh did not start the fight he was harassed for weeks by a group of students and when they finally threw the first punch he had no choice but to fight back he should not have said what he did but in the heat of the moment you don't think about political correctness. I feel his being arrested for defending himself is not needed.

I though we had this Bullying under control? The Legislature threw money at it didn't they? All the Good people at RIDE told me so.

What ever happened to the first admendment?

Bullying seems to only apply if the student claims to be transgendered or bi sexual or gay. The entire program was created by LBGT movement. Our normal student was bullied mercilessly and nothing was done, not one thing.

Police today have more than over stepped their boundaries, this is a school issue and should be handled as one. Schools need to handle there own problems not call the cops when something ugly happiness so they don't have to deal with them. Maybe we should just stop paying teachers and principals and just let's cops run our schools.

hometownLove., I can't agree since there was an assault . Kids need to learn there are consequences for their actions.

Teachers and principals are not there to babysit our children. They're there to teach them. I agree with Joe. They need to learn that this is not acceptable.

And Joe, to be honest, I don't think bullying has ever been under control. I think it's just taken on a new form.

It is ridiculous that this gets posted on the internet, as an 18 year old with his whole life ahead of him this will not disappear.

this is stupid. plain and simple.

In no way do I condone his use of a racial slur but to get arrested for saying it is absolutely ridiculous. Being a dumb kid who is a bigot isn't against the law. He already got his punishment by getting punched in the face! The other kid shouldn't have been arrested either, he had just cause for punching him assuming it was simply in done in retaliation as the short description in this story says.

What has or will the school do about the group bullying .....i have learned what the " group home" kids get away with from my own kids going to school. The parents from the Little Compton student should be very upset!!!

It's a shame that this was made public. In high school things are said and done. However, this person now has an online record with him forever. anyone doing a search on this individual would see this article and would obviously jump to conclusions that he is a racist (however, after reading some of the comments above, Portsmouth in general could need sensitivity training).

I would think that this should have been handled differently. This boy has a right to express himself if he had been being bullied. Last I checked, we still have freedom of speech in this country.

While I don't think anyone should be bullied, I have to disagree about the freedom of speech thing. When you're in school, you have to go by the rules of that school. If you break the rule, there are consequences. Racial slurs are not allowed.

The entire State of Rhode Island needs sensitivity training.. It seems like no one has ever been outside their own back yard. The article stated the older kid was 18 which is of legal age, Therefore, the police would have to be involved. The article, while not indicating so, did not describe the younger kid as being a "group home kid". Now is the issue a racial slur or is it discriminatioin again "group home" kids? New England is notoriously famous for it's WASPy thinking and it never ceases to amaze me. Does anyone realize that the entire State of Rhode Island is small than some counties in other states within the United States? All the comments above seem to lead to my opinion of the ignorance of so many people in Rhode Island. Whether it's the school's responsibility and/or the police (as in this case) is not the issue. DISCRIMINATION of ANY KIND shape form or matter is wrong. Yes, all police departments should have mandatory sensitivity training. In many other states it is mandatory. Larger states where they have larger, broader minds.

I cannot believe this kid was arrested. The school administrators and Portsmouth Police should be emabarrassed. These guys/gals are so quick to just call the police and arrest kids these days. Learn about conflict resolution for cryin out loud.

Joe, you said, "I don't see kids changing . I got picked on, and I picked on others. We thought it was fun."

That's a load of crap. You thought it was fun when you got picked on? Really? In fact, anti-bulling programs, when supported by teachers, administration, and parents, have proven to be very effective. I talk to my kids about bullying all the time. The biggest them holding them back are the attitudes of people like you, Dan Gordon, and Original Islander.

I am Joshua's mother. I would welcome the Portsmouth Patch to speak to my son directly about the incident that occured on Monday, and to interview witnesses that were at the scene. My son has been harrassed by the students from Boy's Town for months. On Friday, the school dismissed my son early to go to his bus in order to avoid being assaulted. The school's reaction to the harrassment was to have my son "hide" and try to avoid the several students from the group home. On Monday, as soon as he arrived at school, one of the students walked up to him and punched him in the face. The same student also punched a teacher in the face. He was arrested that day for assault and battery. AFTER he was assaulted, my son called the kid who assaulted him the "n" word. May I also let everyone know that my son is bi-racial himself, though that does not excuse the use of the word, it is important to know that he too is half-black, and not a "racist" white kid from LC. I was told that the school would need to suspend him for a zero tolerance policy. I had words with Jeff Goss about the school's failure to protect my son, and told him that they had better get control of the situation before he returns from suspension. 24 hours later, he was arrested for "disorderly conduct". I ask you, if you were assaulted, would you react? My son has never had any issues with the law before, and this can affect him for college and jobs. The kids at the group home are out of control.

Hi Ms. Despres. I would be more than happy to speak with you and your son. Please e-mail me at Sandy@Patch.com or call (401) 207-7811, and we can arrange a meeting.

I don't think the police were called because of the "racial slur"... My guess would be it was more because of the teacher that was punched... (if this is indeed true. It was not stated in the report but by witnesses accounts)

Camille67, would you care to comment now after reading what the mother of the assaulted boy posted?

I blame the administration for this incident. They continue to ignore the hard issues and hope they go away.

The Boys Town issue is not new and is not limited to the high school. Heard a story about a brutal fight at PMS last year; 2 Boys Town kids punched and stomped a Portsmouth boy.

Until the school officials are held acountable for their negligence, events like this will happen again.

Does Portsmouth receive tuition for the Boys Town kids? If so how much?

From the Boys Town New England web site
"Thank you for taking the time to read about the Boys Town Educational ModelSM. As a Rhode Island resident and Executive Director of Boys Town New England, I am well aware of the challenges confronting our educators. Students are often disruptive and disrespectful to teachers and are not prepared to learn when they come to class. Other students struggle to pay attention or don’t know basic skills necessary to function within an educational environment. These students are at risk of failure, not because they can’t learn, but they don’t know how to practice basic study skills and pro-social skills that will help them to succeed. Boys Town programs can help."
- Bill Reardon

From the Boys Town New England web site
"A Beacon of Hope for Juvenile Offenders
Throughout its more than 90-year history, Boys Town has been praised and recognized for its positive and effective approach to meeting the needs of juvenile offenders. With a model that focuses on accountability, responsibility and rehabilitation, Boys Town’s Treatment Family HomesSM program delivers a cost-effective alternative to incarceration for juvenile offenders.

Instead of living in a correctional environment that can often reinforce or perpetuate criminal behavior, juveniles at Boys Town are part of a family that teaches them positive behaviors and social skills, and respect for themselves and others."

From the New York Times
"The town's main concern has been the $150,000 or so a year it will cost to educate Boys Town youths, he said, noting that Boys Town was working with state education officials on reimbursement."
Did they come to an agreement on reimbursement or are the taxpayers of Portsmouth footing the bill.

Boys Town kids are ruining the school, there is no doubt about it. If you don't believe it, go for a stroll down the E-wing or A-wing where you will find them standing in the hall(taking up the entire thing), and screaming, and making loud sounds. Also, They get away with everything. They can wear hats and listen to music without being questioned. Teachers have told us(students) they one reason is that they are afraid these kids will lash out. TEACHERS ARE AFRAID OF ENFORCE RULES BECAUSE THEY ARE SCARED OF THESE STUDENTS AND THEIR BEHAVIOR!

Arrested for racial slurs? What a joke. Its alright for them to pick on a kid and harass and assult him. But not ok to call them what they are? Bogus.