A Pennsylvania school district is under fire for allegedly covering up a 12-year old student's sexual assault of a first-grader.
But instead of calling police and removing F.H., district officials covered up the attack and allowed him to remain in class, leading to the sexual assault of three more first-graders, parents say.
This and other allegations are apart of a $15 million dollar federal lawsuit against the school district. Parents are outraged and feel the alleged cover-up that allowed the student to remain in school led to the assault of three more first-graders.
Counsel for the Allentown School District argues "under the Constitution school officials cannot be held responsible simply for failing to protect youngsters from assaults by other students".
This case has led me (and maybe many others) to question how responsible ARE schools for protecting children? It seems like everyday there is news about a child bringing/using a weapon at school. What steps are schools taking to ensure children's safety?
Sure, adding metal detectors and having police officers "wand" kids before they enter, could be viewed as steps. They could also be seen as protecting faculty from students. I can't lie, I wouldn't be a teacher in this day and age for all the money in the world. The pay is too lousy to walk around wondering if the kid you failed last week is going to shoot you in the hallway.
But where does fear end and obligation begin?
I'm a bit too frazzled to get out all my thoughts on this issue. Though I don't have kids of my own, if I did, I couldn't imagine being told that their school is under no obligation to protect them. I'd have been beside myself. I could not have tolerated such as response. Apparently, neither can parents in Allentown, PA.
