According to County Police, at least one teen was injured after being paddled by three high school upperclassman on "Freshman Friday." Rye City School District has distanced itself from the incident which occurred off school grounds and after school hours.
Rye City School Superintendent Dr. Edward Shine adamantly denied there was any pattern of hazing activity at Rye High School after some news reports suggested the paddling was connected to a 'tradition' of this type of behavior between high school upperclassmen and incoming high school students.
"Some have suggested that these alleged acts are part of an annual 'tradition' at Rye High School," said Dr. Shine. "Let me clear: just because a small handful of students choose to believe that this is the case, does not make it a fact."
Does Rye High School have a hazing culture? Is "Freshman Friday" hazing a tradition? Does the account of this incident match your experiences at Rye High School?
Since Rye Patch first reported on this incident, commenters have been taking both sides of the issue:
- Commenter Josiah said, "This Town and This Country needs to toughen up, this is no big deal - sophomoric adolescent behavior that by all accounts was voluntary and off school grounds...this cannot be construed as bullying - when the teenagers asked to be hazed and the outcome seems to be mild indeed."
- RyeDad said, "This and other bullying has been going on in Rye for years especially in the middle school..."
What do you think? Did parents and students over-react? Did the school administration fail to act?
Westchester County Police say their investigation remains open and have a tip line for further information. Will more witnesses come forward? Victims of hazing?
Vote in our poll and leave your comments. Tell Rye Patch what you know about hazing in local high schools.
