A high school in Chicago has released disturbing video that shows a juvenile kid with Down syndrome being assaulted by bullies while other classmates laugh and record the incident.
On Sunday, York Community High School’s parents were informed about the Thursday-shot video.
Keisha Campbell, the superintendent of Elmhurst School District 205, expressed her disappointment and sadness at the conduct of this tiny handful of pupils, and the principal promised that those guilty will face consequences.
The student-shot video shows the adolescent lad with his book bag inside the restroom, accompanied by many other adolescent guys.
The crowd laughs and catcalls as the crippled youngster is forced backwards and drops to the ground.
Some shout, “World Star,” a term that initially denoted the website World Star Hip Hop and has evolved to signify that a fight is being videotaped and will be posted online.
The youngster succeeds in rising to his feet once again and flees, hiding in a restroom stall.
The other pupils guffaw and laugh together.
‘Bullying, intimidation, and harassment degrade a student’s capacity to study and a school’s ability to teach,’ Campbell said in a Sunday email to parents.
Such conduct is not acceptable, and any student who chooses to participate in it will be subject to the relevant sanctions.
The principal, Shahe Bagdasarian, stated: “Our school staff started looking into this information as soon as we received it.
Interviews with students and parents were conducted. When the school’s investigation is over, the individuals implicated will face the proper repercussions.
According to Campbell, both the administrative staff at the school and school resource officers from the Elmhurst Police Department have been in touch with the parents of the kid who was pushed.
We are grateful for the folks who have already contacted our rapid tip line to give the district with further information as we continue to collaborate to serve our children, Campbell added.
The York community’s swift and enthusiastic reaction serves as evidence that a small number of bad actors do not speak for the whole institution.
According to The Chicago Tribune, students are debating planning a walk-out on Friday to protest bullying.
One mom, whose son attends the York High School Transition Center for children with intellectual impairments aged 18 to 21, said she did not get the email regarding the footage and claimed it unleashed a wave of complaints from other students and parents.
Speaking to the newspaper, Cris O’Connell stated, “I have a lot of questions.”
“Why did I not get the email?” Why aren’t the implications of this situation being better conveyed to the public?
“I’ve tried to report this, my kid has been bullied, my special needs child has experienced this, and nothing gets done about it,” people are coming out of the woodwork left and right.
“There is evidence of it,” you say, “as horrible as the circumstance is, and you wish it didn’t happen or someone stepped in and stopped it for the unfortunate child.”
It’s quite serious, she continued.
What do we really need in York? Do we need extra staff members or hall monitors?
“I don’t know the solution, but I know that the repercussions of these acts will set the scene going ahead because this is going to garner a lot of attention,” the speaker said.
Robin Petchul, a different parent, said to the newspaper that her two kids, who attend York, returned home from school on Friday feeling “upset and disappointed.”
But Petchul wasn’t very shocked.
“They merely knew the students involved were known to them, but they weren’t pals with them,” the report reads. “They knew a special needs youngster had been abused in a restroom at York.”
She has a student in the video in a lesson with one of her daughters.
I don’t want to be close to him, she says. After what he done, I don’t want to have to see him,” Petchul remarked.
The results are something that “the pupils themselves desire to know,”
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