Introduction to the Incident
A 6-year-old boy was hospitalized after his classmates attacked him on an elementary school playground, according to his mother — who said the school has denied her requests to view the surveillance video. Leslie McLaurin said she spent months alerting administrators at Bronzeville Classical Elementary School about a group of her son’s peers who regularly bullied him.
Background of the Bullying
“I have been asking the school for some kind of intervention,” McLaurin said. But on Nov. 21, McLaurin picked up her son from the school, 8 W. Root St., with a swollen face, she said. He told her 10 bullies kicked and punched him on the playground.
The Attack and Its Aftermath
The boy, whom Block Club is not naming because of his age, was hospitalized with a concussion as a “victim of assault and battery,” according to a doctor’s note reviewed by Block Club. McLaurin filed a police report. The boy was hit “multiple times” by a “group of juvenile offenders,” a police spokesperson said in a statement. An investigation is ongoing.
Request for Surveillance Footage
McLaurin has repeatedly requested footage of the incident involving her son, but administrators have declined, writing in part that her son was the initiator. “Video footage is for administrative review and is not released for parent viewing due to student privacy regulations and school policy,” administrators wrote to McLaurin, according to emails reviewed by Block Club. “Our security team will preserve any footage available from the playground to the main office.”
CPS’ Downtown headquarters. Credit: Reema Amin/Chalkbeat
Concerns and Reactions
McLaurin said she only has her son’s word until she sees the footage. “One person cannot be the aggressor of seven to potentially 10 kids. And my child ends up in the hospital,” McLaurin said. “Where was the supervision?” Chicago Public Schools did not directly answer questions from Block Club about the incident, including a request for the surveillance footage, referring instead to the district’s anti-bullying policy.
Ongoing Issues with Bullying in CPS
The incident came four days after a mother and her 9-year-old son were attacked by a group of that child’s bullies outside another CPS elementary school in South Deering. Video of the attack drew national outrage. In September, a mother told Block Club she was forced to pull her sixth-grader out of Pershing STEAM Magnet Elementary School in Bronzeville after bullying went ignored for months. In July, a mother sued CPS after her daughter endured two years of racial harassment and bullying at Wildwood IB World Magnet School, accusing the staff of negligence, according to reports.
Conclusion
The incident highlights the ongoing issues with bullying in Chicago Public Schools and the need for more effective measures to prevent such incidents. McLaurin’s fight to view the surveillance footage and ensure her son’s safety is a testament to the challenges faced by parents in navigating the system. The district’s response to the incident and its handling of bullying cases will be crucial in restoring trust and ensuring a safe learning environment for all students.
FAQs
- Q: What happened to the 6-year-old boy?
A: The boy was attacked by his classmates on the playground and hospitalized with a concussion. - Q: Why is the mother requesting surveillance footage?
A: The mother wants to see the footage to understand what happened and to ensure that her son is safe. - Q: How has the school responded to the incident?
A: The school has declined to release the surveillance footage, citing student privacy regulations and school policy. - Q: What are the broader implications of this incident?
A: The incident highlights the ongoing issues with bullying in Chicago Public Schools and the need for more effective measures to prevent such incidents.
