Firing's too good for the school administrators in this case:
A 16-year-old disabled girl was punched and forced to engage in videotaped sexual acts with several boys in a high school auditorium as dozens of students watched, according to witnesses. Authorities are investigating and no charges have been filed in the alleged attack last month at Mifflin High School. Four boys suspected of involvement were sent home and have not returned to class.Also, the principal, Regina Crenshaw, was suspended and will be fired for not calling police, school officials said. And three assistant principals were suspended and will be reassigned to other schools. Crenshaw had no comment Tuesday...School officials found the girl bleeding from the mouth. An assistant principal cautioned the girl's father against calling 911 to avoid media attention, the statements said. The girl's father called police.
The high school (whose mascot is known as, ironically enough, the "Punchers,") has only a 63% graduation rate among non-disabled students, and has the following mission statement:
The Mifflin High School Community is dedicated to the use of available resources to provide quality instructional programs in a safe, clean and orderly environment through which all students will develop to their highest potential, demonstrate mutual respect and prepare for a productive role in our society.
Everyone at and above the level of the AP who told the father not to call the cops should not only be fired, but prevented from ever again working in the educational system. And the principal should not just be fired, but brought up on charges. Ohio law requires that school employees report suspected sexual abuse of students; here we have a known sexual attack that was on school property, and the perpetrators haven't even been charged. Don't tell me this conduct wasn't covered under the "zero tolerance" rules.
I can't tell you how disgusted this makes me. The idea that the APs involved will be assigned to other schools is outrageous. This Columbus Public Schools Directory contains the email addresses and phone numbers of the Columbus School Board members who voted upon the punishments. Be polite - and remember, they did vote unanimously to fire the principal - but do ask them why they thought the APs involved deserved to be given jobs at other schools.
Update: Wizbang has the link to the NYT summary of the story.
Posted by kswygert at April 13, 2005 03:59 PM