Kissing at school a crime?
By Jeff Kass, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published March 6, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.
Updated March 6, 2008 at 12:40 p.m.
Public officials called it "nutty" and "foolishness" Wednesday morning, and one asked whether SWAT teams would now descend on teenagers kissing at school.
The Denver district attorney calls one such case a crime.
The difference between a kiss, and a crime, centers on the requirement that Denver Public Schools employees "make a report if child abuse or neglect reasonably is suspected."
But a meeting Wednesday of the City Council Safety Committee indicated that a climate of fear among DPS employees is spurring an unwarranted increase in abuse and neglect referrals. The head of Human Services indicated the agency was being overloaded, and there was concern about police resources.
"It's just getting to the point of ridiculousness where we're prosecuting kids for kissing," Councilman Doug Linkhart, who chairs the Safety Committee, said after the meeting.
Much of Wednesday's discussion involved issues of sexual harassment. Among the examples cited Wednesday was a referral to Human Services for two 5-year-olds who were kissing. In another case, one 6-year-old said to another 6-year-old, "You have a sexy booty."
There was no sanction in the case of the 6-year-old, but it remains a traumatic experience for children and their parents to be "ordered in" to Human Services, said spokeswoman Benilda Samuels.
Safety committee discussion indicated the trigger for these and other cases came in January when the district attorney served Skinner Middle School principal Nicole Veltze with a misdemeanor summons for failure to report an unlawful sexual contact.
Veltze was investigating the case, but in the meantime, the girl's mom notified police, said Rich Caschette, Veltze's attorney. Police and the district attorney are making an example out of Veltze because they believe DPS is underreporting crimes, Caschette added.
After the Veltze case was filed, Chief Deputy District Attorney Lamar Sims attended a training with DPS principals about the requirement to report child abuse or neglect. Linkhart indicated that Sims further prompted employees to overreport.
In February, Human Services said it received 251 referrals from DPS. Previously, the monthly average was 142, Samuels said. That's a 76.7 percent increase.
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March 6, 2008
6:49 a.m.
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randyj01 writes:
2 five year olds kissing and a six year old making a comment about a sexy body. He probably doesn't even know what that means. What is wrong with you people? These are crimes? I'm glad they weren't playing show me yours and I'll show you mine!!! Life in prison.
It's a shame kids can't be kids anymore.
March 6, 2008
7:03 a.m.
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Scott writes:
This is absolutely pathetic! DPS, Denver Prostitute (DA) and the Denver Welfare Office have to be the largest collection of ignorant a$$#0!es in the world. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the typical government employee.
Hey DPS apologists! Where are you now? You should be defending your beloved worthless school district and its teachers' union.
Scott
March 6, 2008
7:10 a.m.
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HollyGoLightly writes:
I remember kissing a boy in Kindergarten. It was just a peck on the lips, nothing big. This is ridiculous to get police involved over a little innocent kiss. As for the boy that said "you have a sexy booty", he probably heard it on the television or radio.
March 6, 2008
7:30 a.m.
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MO writes:
I'm so glad we don't have anything serious to worry about in this world! Bless those little pumpkins.. I hope they stick to kissing down the road in their futures, and not turn into wasteful, unintelligible beings driving pickup trucks and waging wars for profit to fill them up cheap.
March 6, 2008
7:37 a.m.
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vudumom writes:
I was talking to a parent at my children's school and was astounded when she told me her child's 2nd grade teacher called social services on her because her husband and her stopped reading with the child because she couldn't read and was throwing fits out of frustration.So they stopped reading at night with her because it wasn't worth the hassle.So the teacher called social services.
They investigated and found no abuse and thought it was totally out of line for this teacher to call.
This teacher is the one that used to be my youngest daughter's kindergarten teacher,that terrorized her all year.This is the same teacher who has had over 100 complaints against her.The principal protects her pathetic teaching skills and the now lets her teach 2nd grade,even though she can't teach her way out of a wet paper bag,with a hole,a switchblade and the directions.
This is also the same teacher ,when my daughter was in her kindergarten class,told me quote,"You are being abusive to your daughter by allowing her to read 2nd grade level books and anything harder than kindergarten level." This was said after she tested at a late 1st,early 2nd grade level in kindergarten.
March 6, 2008
7:41 a.m.
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Francesca writes:
MO: You're right, there is more to worry about for our kids than a story like this.
So what does that have to do with waging wars, unintelligible beings and driving a pickup? Watch the sweeping generalizations or you'll find your foot in your mouth.
March 6, 2008
8 a.m.
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Usually_Quiet writes:
For those of you (Scott) chastising DPS or the Denver Police for going overboard please read again:
"Veltze (The school principal) was investigating the case, but in the meantime, the girl's mom (Generally read as the parent of the child involved in the kiss) notified police, said Rich Caschette, Veltze's attorney."
The MOTHER decided the matter needed to go to the police. The police are doing their job by investigating. The newspaper picked up on the story in light of a recent proposal in the state legistlature. The school is responding by making sure every potential impropriety is reported.
PS. I am NOT a teacher or police officer in Denver or anywhere in the continental US. And as additional disclaimer I do agree that maybe kids will be kids and two 5yr olds kissing MIGHT be innocent and not worthy of a police invesitigation. BUT what if there was a basis for concern? We would probably see postings implicating the schools and police for failing to follow through...hmmm
March 6, 2008
8:13 a.m.
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mrNiceGuy writes:
I'm sorry, what was the reason given for the sharp increase in prison populations? It's been a sad pattern of rediculous arrests / prosecutions lately. On top of this, there are quite a few who have been or are in the process of being freed from prison becuase they were innocent. It's quite frightening! Now were bringing the judicial circus to our elementary schools? Poor kids, poor us.
March 6, 2008
8:23 a.m.
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POHA writes:
We are apparently a litigation-happy culture.
Where are all the good judges who can help decipher between Waste Of Time and Legitimate Law???
March 6, 2008
8:32 a.m.
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Clouser writes:
5-year olds? Doesn't it seem that awareness of sex would be required before someone could be accused of sexual harassment? Just more thoughtless rote behavior in the name of "Zero Tolerance", created by politically correct robots to alleviate themselves of the burden of thinking. In defense of DPS though, if the mother called police they have to investigate. No doubt that the mother who called the police was also "educated" in a fine government school.
March 6, 2008
8:38 a.m.
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Scott writes:
Usually_Quiet,
I quote from the article, "But a meeting Wednesday of the City Council Safety Committee indicated that a climate of fear among DPS employees is spurring an unwarranted increase in abuse and neglect referrals." You were saying about my chastising of DPS?
Also, I did NOT repeat did NOT chastise the Denver Police Department. I chastised the Prostitutes (lawyers) at the Denver DA's office for bringing charges against a principal while the principal "was investigating the case." These prostitutes down at the DA's office should be fired, but hey, they're all government employees ... what more needs to be said.
Scott
March 6, 2008
9 a.m.
Suggest removal
wow writes:
My eyes will pop out of my head if they roll further back in the sockets over this idiocy. It makes me physically ill how people who can't parent are allowed to use thier kids, schools, and needed Social Services as a crowbar in the Justice system. Wasn't the reporting of abuse and neglect meant to cover abuse and neglect at home?? Since when do children playing together fall under that heading??
Note to CPS...Maybe if you stopped insisting on taking reports of 5 yearolds kissing eachother, children being starved to death wouldn't fall through your ever widening cracks...just an idea.
March 6, 2008
9:44 a.m.
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blacksho89 writes:
MO: You moran. Don't you realize that the teachers are overwhelmingly LIBERAL and the DA is a Democrat?
Try not to talk anymore.
March 6, 2008
9:56 a.m.
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Scott writes:
Remembering back to my early childhood: As a seven year old I diligently studied for my "medical boards" with the girl that lived about 1/2 block down from my house. :-) For the Snivel Serpents at the welfare office, it's called "paying doctor". GAD, the Denver Prostitutes (DA) would have put me in the slammer with a 10 - 20 year sentence.
Scott
March 6, 2008
10:23 a.m.
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Diff writes:
nospmisjo-
"Five year olds kissing and six year olds saying "You have a sexy booty", are in 10 years pregnant, drop outs, deadbeat dads, etc."
I have read some real garbage on these threads - but that is the most ignorant and stupid thing to date -
GET REAL!
March 6, 2008
10:33 a.m.
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momof5 writes:
How about the parents of the 5 year olds kissing come in and meet with the teacher, play ground aide and the principal and they explain to the kids that this is not considered appropriate behavior and then let it go at that. Why involve Social Services? Whatever happened to common sense and logic in our culture.
As the parent of 5, I want the schools and governmental agencies to keep their nose out of my business. I DO NOT adhere to the philosophy that it takes a village to raise a child. It takes concerned, caring parents to teach their children right from wrong. The schools are supposed to educate, not be substitute parents.
When my siblings and I were growing up our parents made it clear to us that we were their responsibility. As my father used to put it, if we needed discipline (including a swat on our backside), he would be the one administering the punishment. Not the school. Not the government. Not the church. And if we were deserving of praise or a hug, he would be the one giving that too.
My kids are my responsibility. I don't remember any teachers, principals or social workers in the bedroom when they were conceived. I don't remember any of them in the delivery room. They sure as heck don't pay any child support. It is my job to teach my kids right from wrong. Too many parents forget that and want to be friends to their kids. You can't be a friend and a parent to your kids at the same time.
Bring back common sense to our society. And parents who don't have the time, energy or patience to be parents shouldn't become parents in the first place.
March 6, 2008
10:37 a.m.
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American100 writes:
Some people really don't have enough sense to know the difference between two 5 year olds kissing and a 15 year old being unwillingly fondled in the classroom.
The teacher's over reaction to the little ones smooching MAY be a sarcastic reaction to some very real complaints against the school district.
It's been reported previously that DPS and the DPD are at odds.
March 6, 2008
10:38 a.m.
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beentheredonethat writes:
Can any of you experts spell? I know morons who can at least spell moron, whether they are liberal or conservative. Someone seems to have forgotten that the judgment and morals of small children are not yet developed, and that's why we have complex social structures to care for them while they take 20 plus years to achieve adulthood. Holding them accountable for choosing appropriate behavior in a world in which inappropriate behavior is celebrated 24-7 in the media is absurd. Kids try stupid things and schools and parents are there to say, "You shouldn't do that and here's why." That's what human education is about. People are being mistreated daily by our government, and we are so helpless that we waste our time being lured into non-issues such as this one... Good job, Denver City Government. One more day that no one knows what's really going on.
March 6, 2008
10:52 a.m.
Suggest removal
Theoldguy writes:
In previous posts I have mentioned that I've moved out of the Denver Metro area and I'm far enough away to watch the implosion.
This story and others similiar to it only reinforce my decision. As I've said before....You guys have voted for these people and now you get to deal with that decision. Representative government works if those people pay attention to what the voters want. The voters need to make their concerns known. Too bad the ones that work are too busy and the "others" keep authorities jumping.
The school system is going to protect themselves from lawsuits any way they can. The apparent overreaction may spend your tax dollars, but keeps their butts protected. In the long run these actions keep the costs of doing business lower : ).
March 6, 2008
10:57 a.m.
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wow writes:
Beenthere--
This IS an example of of people being mistreated by our government. This IS an example of the everyday, little injustices that feed into the large scale ones a little bit at a time. And this IS really going on. Are we expected to be uninformed/unconcerned about the workings of our local services because those things are less globally important? I would hardly call the missappropriation and application of vital CPS services in our communities a non-issue.
The "media's" celebration of impropriety notwhithstanding, yes, children should be held accountable for thier choices, duh. That is precisely how children grow up to become responsible adults with fully developed judgement and morals. Parents are meant to see to that.
March 6, 2008
11:11 a.m.
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wow writes:
Air--They don't have monkey bars or merry-go-rounds at DPS anymore, and running is forbidden at recess. The kids might get skinned up, you know?
Great nostalgia from the song though. It's bitter that the few have to ruin it for the rest.
March 6, 2008
11:49 a.m.
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buffsblg writes:
Listen, this is in large part a pi**ing contest between DPS and the Denver DA. Everyone knows that 5 year olds kissing is not illegal and note that no one said it was. The issue here is that the DA decided to charge one principal for not reporting and now the teachers and school administrators are overreacting either deliberately or out of fear or both. If you read the reporting statute literally, every possible issue no matter how small must be reported. In the past, both law enforcement and the teachers have read some common sense into the requirement. Now with the charging of the principal, all common sense has gone out the window and Human services is being dragged into it. The sad part is that Human Services already cannot do its regular job and all these reports only add to an already overwhelmed system.
Now that everyone has made their point the DA and DPS superintendent and DHS need to make nice and work this out. Lots of grown ups acting like children here and the public gets caught.
March 6, 2008
11:54 a.m.
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American100 writes:
Sorry Wow. I can't tell if you're being serious.
Really? They don't have monkey bars and can't run?
Please tell me you're kidding.
March 6, 2008
12:10 p.m.
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wow writes:
LOL, American, partially kidding.
My Daughter's grade school had playground equipment, but it was too big for the kids up to 2nd grade and when they hit 4th or 5th grade, they weren't allowed to use it anymore, and were restricted to the black top for recess, unless they had volunteered for supervisory duty to help with the younger kids.
As for running, no, I'm dead serious. Tag, chasing, any running at all would get her "standing at the wall" as punishment for the rest of recess.
I was so sad for her, I can't even tell ya.
March 6, 2008
12:20 p.m.
Suggest removal
donco6 writes:
buffsblg is right again.
This is all about the DA prosecuting a principal for another such incident. Now the rest of the principals are reporting EVERYTHING to a) cover their own *sses, and b) make a point.
As for the tag - I had a case recently where a kid was running from another kid playing tag, didn't watch where they were going, and ran into a tetherball pole, knocking out her teeth (permanent, of course). The parents sued the school. The district ended up winning because there was supervision present, but defense cost them more than $15,000 for a simple case.
Ergo, no more tag. Can you blame them?
March 6, 2008
12:24 p.m.
Suggest removal
donco6 writes:
Oh, and monkey bars were taken away many years ago. Those cases had an express lane in the court system, there were so many. The next thing to go is swings - the bell is tolling on swing sets in schoolyards.
And it's NOT THE SCHOOL'S FAULT. It's all the lawsuits - they're very, very expensive - even if you WIN! No, you can't recover attorney fees. No, you can't ignore the suit. I don't know what the solution is. If people want to sue, they'll find a way.
March 6, 2008
12:47 p.m.
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Eric writes:
I just tell my girls that everytime kids kiss....God kills a unicorn.
March 6, 2008
12:49 p.m.
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llcj writes:
two 5 yr. olds kissing? i hope you had them handcuffed! gimme a break! what is wrong with society today? can't kiss, can't hug, can't hold hands! i am at a major loss of words on this issue.i guess i should've had the little girl that was holding my 5 yr. olds hand in his kinder class arrested! please stop wasting time on frivolous issues and concentrate on good old fashioned schooling (i.e. math, english, etc.) once again, these children are 5, not 15!!
March 6, 2008
12:51 p.m.
Suggest removal
llcj writes:
Eric...what????????????
March 6, 2008
1:33 p.m.
Suggest removal
wow writes:
Eric...LOL, sheesh man, that'd about do it, huh?
Donco..remember when the tetherball pole had a ball hanging from it?? I do..they took them away because some kids got clotheslined.
At the time, I didn't even know what to say about that...and now they are finding ways to hurt themselves on the POLES!!
My dweebie kids get hurt all the time, and I have to giggle at some of the really stupid injuries. Then I break out the checkbook and write the copay, and berate the kid endlessly, just like my parents and thiers before always did.
Firivolous lawsuits have changed the landscape of childhood forever...
March 6, 2008
1:36 p.m.
Suggest removal
princess writes:
OMG that is stupid. My son is in kindergarten and got his little girlfriend a kiddie box of chocolate for Valentines Day. He came home and he was excited because she said she loved it and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. What's the punishment for that?
March 6, 2008
1:39 p.m.
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HolierThanThou writes:
Make love, not war.
Fire Lamar Sims for being a complete idiot.
March 6, 2008
1:46 p.m.
Suggest removal
jconder45 writes:
blacksho89 wrote: "You moran"
I love it; consult a dictionary, "blacksho89", you just made a "moran" out of yourself.
March 6, 2008
2:12 p.m.
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wow writes:
No way...That's hysterical. Who'da thunk the spelling police would have hit on such a gem?
March 6, 2008
2:20 p.m.
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Scott writes:
princess,
The punishment for your son and his girlfriend will be the Denver Prostitute (DA) filing charges of sexual harassment on you son and the girl will be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Or at least that's about what those idiots down at the Denver DA's office would consider.
Scott
March 6, 2008
2:23 p.m.
Suggest removal
MO writes:
Blacksho and PMSexpress.. a) Moron is the best you can come up with? Pityful, and proves my point about unintelligibility.. ; ) b) Generalizations: what do they have to do with the kids "making out" (lol)? well, I thought y'all could never be reminded enough of y'all's unintelligible wastefulness. I'll exclude myself from this as I drive no pickup nor SUV, and am also a dual citizen of another, more advanced country, thankfully so. I hope the next president will wake this fat, sleeping princess up a bit. And yeah, the one guy talks, a buncha hot air, the other is a McSame, leaves the lesser of the three evils, no? She'd also be a wonderful Koffeklatsch partner for the "president" where I come from, I'll leave it at that. Cheers.
Jconder45 - thanks for the backup.
March 6, 2008
3:13 p.m.
Suggest removal
donco6 writes:
Hi wow,
Ah tetherball. Rope burns, clotheslining, hitting in the face, breaking glasses - kids are so very creative at general mayhem. It wouldn't matter if the schoolyard were replaced with giant fluffy foam pillows, some kid would smother himself and schools would STILL get sued.
But back to this one . . . have you guys been by a school lately? I picked up my kid at middle school last week and two kids were just snogging the hell out of each other right on the front steps. I said to my daughter, "Where are those kids parents?" and she pointed to a lady standing right there with them. I'm sure my mouth dropped open in astonishment.
So, am I being a prude? These kids were totally tonguing each other - and in middle school! In front of mom! WTF?
March 6, 2008
3:30 p.m.
Suggest removal
princess writes:
Scott, she kissed and hugged him all he did was watch his daddy buy some chocolate for me so he wanted to do the same for her, but either way its stupid. Don't they have better uses for tax dollars? Kids are just kids and people need to just let them be kids. Most people get their first kiss in kindergarten.
March 6, 2008
3:39 p.m.
Suggest removal
yankeejw writes:
How about this for a novel idea? Maybe parents should start being parents and teach their kids what's right and wrong. Of course, this would entail talking to them and showing interest in them. On the flip side, maybe the powers that be in the districts could actually worry about providing a good solid education instead of being worried that little Jimmy stole a kiss on the merry-go-round at recess. One more thing to the Lawyers... QUIT WASTING MY TAXPAYERS DOLLARS!
Good grief, society needs help.
March 6, 2008
3:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
Francesca writes:
MO: Quote: "b) Generalizations: what do they have to do with the kids "making out" (lol)? well, I thought y'all could never be reminded enough of y'all's unintelligible wastefulness."
It only took y'all a second post to get that size 12 wedged entirely into your mouth. The only unintelligible wastefulness I see here is the one you're taking up in waste of bandwidth with your mindless drivel. Don't you have another country to go to or something? Don't let America's safety net hit you on the @ss on the way out.
March 6, 2008
4:03 p.m.
Suggest removal
wow writes:
donco---
No you aren't being prude. That would have messed with me too. But I have been accused of being prude, and overprotective and overbearing too, so who the heck am I to judge these things anymore. I have a middle shool daughter now too, and lemme tell ya, some of the things her classmates do will stand one's hair on end.
March 6, 2008
4:04 p.m.
Suggest removal
gwats writes:
yankeejw is right. This crap generally starts @ home where parents aren't parents anymore. My nieghbor has a 20 yr old who is a dropout and plays 'gangbanger' with pellet guns with his dropout buddies on the front lawn. His parents act like they are afraid of him instead of going upside his head. if you want your kids to grow up to be responsible adults, the time to train them is NOW. Training and guidance and discipline are ways to say "I love you" too!
March 6, 2008
4:19 p.m.
Suggest removal
luis2222 writes:
The DA told the principals that teachers in a February training session that they had to report ANY potential abuse “EVERY SEXUAL IMPROPRIETY IS A POTENTIAL CRIME” and asks that they all should be investigated.
Certainly he does not consider that an investigation, be this by the DPD or any other agency can be a very negative trauma on children, be the offended or the offender.
Now Mr. Morrisey has his hands full with the increased investigations that he solicited, washes his hands just like Pontius Pilatous, by saying that the DPS lawyers should advise teachers on the definition of a crime. No, certainly not, he should not be giving out hypothetical examples of what is a crime or not. He should be giving a CONCRETE ANSWERS by defining exactly what constitutes a crime, so all teachers know exactly exactly when and how to report an incident.
I believe the DPD defines a sexual crime as when as when there is physical harm or penetration.
Sex is an attitude, not a crime. It is a learning process since early childhood and the learning experiences change along with age. A kissing or touching experience between 5 year olds and 15 year olds is certainly different learning experience and probably not a crime in either case as long as there is no physical harm or penetration.
It would be wise that schools, police and prosecutors be guided by this definition:
“Sexual assault occurring in childhood also is defined by most states as child abuse. The National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect defines childhood sexual abuse as "contact or interaction between a child and an adult when the child is being used for the sexual stimulation of that adult or another person. Childhood sexual abuse may be committed by another minor when that person is either significantly older than the victim (often defined as more than 5 years) or when the abuser is in a position of power or control over the child”.
Being sex an attitude, it’s learning by minors should be guided and well taught and this mostly by parents. The traumas caused to minors by police interrogations to the offended and the listing of a minor as sex offender for life, are not good teaching and certainly very counterproductive experiences.
We all should look back in our lives and ask ourselves “how we learned about sex”. We all probably would be now either offended, criminals or both under the definition: “EVERY SEXUAL IMPROPRIETY IS A CRIME”.
March 6, 2008
4:26 p.m.
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Heidi writes:
Are infants considered criminals if they are crying in public and therefore disturbing the peace?
March 6, 2008
4:46 p.m.
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wow writes:
luis..informative post, thank you.
The question is, what is "sexual impropriety" as the DA sees it? We all have different ideas of what that means and under what circmstances a child is behaving "sexually" anyway.
So many things used to be just common sense, now there are 12 year olds making out under mom's watchful and approving gaze, kindergarteners hauled into CPS for an innocent peck on the cheek, and other middle schoolers who aren't allowed to hug a friend.
Wacky old world.
March 6, 2008
4:49 p.m.
Suggest removal
politwriter writes:
I think it is now time to adopt a Zero Tolerance policy toward bureaucratized government run schools.
It is time to give parents a choice as per where to educate their children. That means giving parents a voucher equal to the share of their property taxes allocated to schools -- and allowing them to give that cash voucher to any school of their choice -- private, religious, government operated -- whatever they choose.
Then the schools would represent "communities of interest" and the cops and lawyers wouldn't be called in for every piddling thing.
The nuns of the Order of St. Benedict at my grammar school would have known how to handle this -- and it wouldn't have involved calling in the police and the DA.
March 6, 2008
5:03 p.m.
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my3pugs writes:
Boiled down, something probably innocent happened. A parent felt not enough was being done and went to other authorities. Authority went to the principal and said it isn't up to you to decide if something is a crime, its up to us, you must report all potentially suspicious behavior. Principal instruct teachers to do this. Teachers do this and so more work is generated for Authority. And this is the teachers fault? Sorry, I don't follow.
March 7, 2008
7:30 a.m.
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SXC writes:
Thank goodness I grew up back in the day!
March 7, 2008
8:14 a.m.
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JYP3500 writes:
What has happened to our education system? Yet another example of politically correct educrats who have taken over and common sense has left the building. Come on! It doesn't take a PHD to understand that children raised in a loving home are probably kissed & hugged constantly. And when they start school, guess what? They bring this behavior to school.
It's shocking to read that "Cases such as two 5-year-olds kissing at a school are among the 251 school referrals in the month of February, up from a monthly average of 142." Instead of teaching these young children what's appropriate (and not appropriate) in a school setting, the educrats are actually logging & tracking & reporting these cases? And now they are involving the police and politicians? Unbelievable! They should all be fired and let's start over.
March 7, 2008
9:41 a.m.
Suggest removal
luis2222 writes:
Some thoughts on investigating abuse allegations…
In the case of harassment they are mandating their employees to ask questions (another form of saying investigate!) and to discern on whether is horseplay or crime.
By ordering teachers to report every occurrence of a sexual impropriety they are telling them that they know nothing and to call experts.
The experts or qualified investigators get their knowledge from reading books and manuals and their investigation has to be exact in following the book. So if there are experts, there must be a book and I wish some expert could identify it so we all interested can share some of this expertise. IF THERE IS NO BOOK, THERE ARE NO EXPERTS.
This book, if it exists, I imagine to qualify the experts has to be exact in such a way that nothing is left to common judgement. Probably if it exists will say things like: Is OK to touch buttocks playing football but not in the shower. Being the thigh from the knee to the hip, the book will have to read like is harassment touching it up to 2 inches up the knee and a crime any place higher. A cheek kiss is harassment, a tongue kiss is crime…. Boy I wish I had the book so I do not bust my brains thinking what it says.
The expert, following the book, in his investigation will have to review the cameras that film the shower action, will have to take fingerprints and measure with a ruler the little girl’s thigh or will have to have an ADN test on the saliva. This is the only way an expert report can be valid. Experts are no better than teachers to make judgement calls so pleaaaaase, before you expose my children to this expert investigation, SHOW ME THE BOOK.
So assuming the book exists, the best and most economical solutions for DPS are:
1. Replace principals with crime experts. (NO additional employees)
2. Equip all schools with body rulers, cameras and ADN laboratories (cheap technology in this era)
With these, the reported case load will greatly decrease (millions of $$ savings in public services), teachers will dedicate their valuable time to teaching instead of worrying about what to report or not, or whether they will be jailed or not if they fail in their judgement, there will be no law suits against the schools with the consequent BILLIONS of $$ savings in lawyers fees.
From readings on the subject I understand that DA. Morrissey decided to look tough on sex abuse (mainly for his future political aspirations) by making these WAKE UP CALLS to DPS by prosecuting teachers, and if this is so, I suggest that he follows the above suggestions.
After a generation of this CONCENTRATION CAMP SCHOOLING STYLE there will be trillions of $$ in savings to the taxpayers and DA. Morrissey will be elected President of United States.
I still take my chances with JUDGEMENT CALLS made by qualified teachers rather than JUDGEMENT CALLS by crime experts, police and mainly lawyers WITH NO BOOK.
March 7, 2008
12:22 p.m.
Suggest removal
remo writes:
I agree that overreacting to two five-year-olds kissing on the playground is idiotic. Hmm, I wonder if the kids who pose for those cute photos on greeting cards where they're dressed like adults and often pictured kissing or hugging each other could be in trouble next? Whoa, and what about their parents who approved of such behavior? They're probably getting paid for it too. OMG! The more I'm thinking about it, the more it's looking like child abuse! Quick, call the authorities!
March 7, 2008
2:04 p.m.
Suggest removal
SXC writes:
Laturno(sp) would have got the chair!
March 7, 2008
2:08 p.m.
Suggest removal
SXC writes:
I wont tell you what we made our barbies do.......oh yeah do I have to give back the nickel Micheal gave me for sliding down the slide showing my under garments?
Back then we wore panties, now it is okay to show your "brittney"