Thursday, September 22, 2011

7 Year Old Girl Repeatedly Sexually Assaulted in School

I hope the headline is enough. Her parents are suing the school for lack of supervision as well as negligence, in their failure to prevent these attacks. AttackS. That's plural.

It started when the boy kissed her. Teachers were informed. Then he put his hand down her pants in class. Teachers were informed. Then he continued to put his hands in her pants in hallways. Again, the school was informed. Until finally the parents were forced to sue.

The two kids were never separated - they were continually put in the same classes despite the allegations. There is no mention of whether the boy was ever even punished. The school's defense?

The parents never requested separation.

Yup. That's right. The school apparently saw no reason to separate a boy from the girl he was molesting because the parents didn't specifically ask for it. When you're that young, it really shouldn't be that difficult to put two kids in separate classes all day. And whether requested or not, there is no reason to not do that. That's problem number 1.

The defense goes on to say that on one of the days that the girl complained to her mother of an unwanted touching, that a teacher saw the girl laughing with the boy near the bathroom. Now, I don't know what happened. I do, however, know what it's like to be young. How difficult it is to be the victim of bullying. And how hard it is to be the outcast. It is undoubtedly believable that she may have had to endure the presence of this male in order to avoid being cast out. Laughter is not a sign of compliance. Problem number 2.

Their third argument is that the hallway in which the alleged touching took place was frequented by many students and faculty. I guess this is their attempt to argue that lack of supervision was not a factor. Ya know, in case the argument that it never happened doesn't pan out. I've always been a firm believer that a defense should pick a story and stick to it. Apparently no one else is. Either it didn't happen, or it happened despite supervision.

I believe both are false. I don't know how a seven year old child could make up these stories. Yes, there are many cases of sexual abuse on children which turns out to be false because of false victim statements. Yes, children are easily coerced into saying whatever the authorities want them to say. But this girl came home to her mother and told her each of the incidents as they happened. Spread out over 2 years. Law authorities were never told in the hopes the school would help prevent such incidents.

I was recently speaking with someone I know whose child is being bullied. The kid has taken to fighting back. The mother had spoken with the school on various occasions but they failed to stop the bullying, and yes, the kid finally took matters into his own hands, at which point the mother was called in and chastised. She was appalled.

When you drop your child off at school for 8 hours a day, you are putting the child in the care of the school authorities. They are expected to protect your kid from any harm. Their job is not just to educate them, but to keep them safe.

Especially safe from any sort of sexual touching. Especially after repeated complaints. This poor girl is clearly already traumatized, as evidenced by her seeking comfort and solace from her mother on so many occasions. And now, is quite possibly, doubly so with the suit going to trial (as most victims are when the case is put in the spotlight).

Also importantly, where is this boy's mother? Or father for that matter? Were they ever notified of these events? Did they ever punish him for it? Did they ever teach him respect for women? Did he exhibit any misogynistic characteristics prior, traits they may have ignored, may have written off as "boys being boys?"

Why a seven year old child would even need to be taught respect for any female is a societal problem worth addressing.

Worth addressing in a school system that doesn't respect the children they're paid to protect. Everything needs to be overthrown and done over.

People just need to be taught respect.

Father's lawsuit: White Plains school failed to protect girl, 7, from unwanted touching

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