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Letters | THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MADELINE STORY

IWAS disgusted when I read the article about 13-year-old Madeline "Lexie" Pagan, who was jailed for assaulting a teacher. Throughout the article, there were several "admitted" incidents of her "mouthing off" to persons in authority. Respect for authority is crucial in life.

IWAS disgusted when I read the article about 13-year-old Madeline "Lexie" Pagan, who was jailed for assaulting a teacher.

Throughout the article, there were several "admitted" incidents of her "mouthing off" to persons in authority. Respect for authority is crucial in life.

Instead of her mother demanding apologies for her daughter from the school and principal, she needs to look into why her daughter can't seem to stop being disrespectful to those in authority.

With the way things are today, children must understand there are consequences to their actions. If you don't try to correct the problem now, you'll be bailing her out of situations, maybe jail, all the time. Not listening can cost you your life.

Lenise Johnson, Philadelphia

Your article about Madeline Pagan, arrested for assaulting a school employee, had me fuming.

First, why has the other side of the story not been presented? As a newspaper, it's your responsibility to be unbiased - yet you presented Madeline as a victim who deserves our sympathy.

Feel sorry for her because she doesn't follow the rules? Sympathize with a person who disrupts instructional time, and blatantly disrespects the very people who are trying to give her the gift of an education?

Where is the article about the person who was assaulted? Now that's someone I feel sorry for. Why didn't you write about Lesly Eckstein's decades of service to the school district and the numerous students she has helped over the years?

Interview some of the people who have worked with her and find out what kind of human being she is. Let her reputation as a person with a heart of gold speak for itself.

What type of reputation does Madeline have? Let's see, she's been suspended for fighting and mouthing off three other times just this year. If that was seventh grade, I wonder what eighth grade will be like.

Do you really think that a teacher working in the School District of Philadelphia, who lives each day consumed with trying to reach "Adequate Yearly Progress," differentiating instruction for 33 students, keeping students engaged - not to mention dealing with the myriad of issues that many students come to school with - has nothing better to do than press charges on the very kids that he serves?

I have one question for Madeline: Did you learn your lesson yet?

Donna Amit-Cubbage

Philadelphia