My Traumatic Experience at Manshield High School (alias for privacy)…read more
Let me be blunt: do not go to Manshield High School. No matter what promises they make -- don't believe them. What should've been a place to grow and learn ended up being one of the most traumatic experiences of my life. I'm not writing this for sympathy. I'm writing it because people need to know the truth -- this school is broken. And worse, it's actively harming students.
Targeted Harassment by the Assistant Principal
The worst part of my experience was dealing with Mr. Laningham, the assistant principal. He didn't just enforce rules -- he abused his authority in disturbing ways. From the start, he singled me out. He tracked my every move, inserted himself into my daily routine, and made it feel like I was being watched by someone who had total control over my academic life.
It escalated to the point where I was held in his office for over two hours during what should've been a basic class transfer meeting. He yelled, belittled, and emotionally wore me down -- all under the guise of "support." It wasn't support. It was control. Intimidation. Harassment.
The administration did nothing. They protect him, while students like me are left defenseless. It's a sick abuse of power, and it's happening openly.
Unsafe, Filthy, and Neglected
Health and hygiene at Manshield are basically nonexistent. The bathrooms reek of mold, the floors are filthy, and the classrooms are dusty and grimy. I caught strep throat five times and COVID twice in a single school year. That's seven illnesses -- all while the school did absolutely nothing to improve conditions.
Hand sanitizer stations are empty, air filters don't work, and surfaces aren't cleaned. Worse, random adults and substitute teachers enter the building without even going through metal detectors -- a complete breach of basic safety. Meanwhile, students are treated like suspects while actual strangers walk in freely. It's terrifying and careless.
A Culture of Chaos
Fights happen constantly. Students vape and smoke in bathrooms and hallways all day, and the staff simply look the other way. Weed? No one cares. Fights? No consequences. Suspensions? Rare. Counseling? Barely exists.
There's no structure, no discipline, and no help for the students who actually want to learn. Those of us trying to focus are stuck in an environment that feels more like a battleground than a school. The administration has clearly given up.
Financial Corruption and Waste
Despite all of this, Manshield isn't underfunded -- they're just reckless and corrupt. This year, they blew their budget before the end of the school year. One major purchase? High-end $4,000 interactive boards for every classroom -- even though we already had perfectly working projectors.
It wasn't about helping students. It was about appearances. And the leftover money? It didn't go toward food, programs, or supplies. It just disappeared. Based on what we were left with, it's hard not to assume some of it ended up in the wrong pockets. It's theft -- and nobody is being held accountable.
Students Go Hungry -- Teachers Get Treats
Lunch at Manshield is disgusting. Often ice cold, sometimes smelling rotten -- it's genuinely inedible. Many students skip lunch entirely because there's simply nothing worth eating.
Meanwhile, teachers are given snacks, drinks, and catered treats -- sometimes delivered to their rooms. I've watched students go hungry while staff get special treatment. Even celebrations and events are staff-only. While teachers are pampered, students are forgotten. It's beyond unfair -- it's humiliating.
No Support, No Voice
At Manshield, students have no voice. If we speak up, we're punished or ignored. When we ask for help -- academic, emotional, or personal -- we're met with sarcasm or outright dismissal. Programs are half-run. Resources are limited or missing. Counseling is nearly nonexistent. You're completely on your own -- unless, of course, you're one of the assistant principal's favorites.
The message is clear: students don't matter here. Obedience is more important than truth. Compliance is more valued than well-being.
Please -- Stay Away
This isn't just a bad school. It's a dangerous, harmful place where power is abused, health is ignored, and students are treated like burdens instead of people. I wish someone had warned me before I enrolled. Maybe I wouldn't be writing this now, still trying to process how damaging this experience was.
If you're considering Manshield -- for yourself, your kid, or anyone you care about -- don't. It's worse than you think. It's corrupt, chaotic, and traumatizing. And until people start speaking out, nothing will change.
So here I am, telling the truth that too many people are too afraid to say out loud: stay away from Manshield High School.
