Lawsuits filed after video footage shows children being beaten at Queen’s school

Our nation’s elementary, middle and high schools are supposed to be safe havens where, regardless of socioeconomic-standing, students can learn and thrive. Sadly, some schools fail to provide students with a school environment that is safe and free of intimidation and violence. One recent incident that occurred at a New York City Queens public school was caught on video, and illustrates the deplorable and dangerous conditions that exist at some city schools.

Four teachers, one aide and four eighth-grade girls were recently removed or suspended from school for their roles in the incident. According to a New York Daily News article, video footage of what was supposed to be a tutoring session instead shows the four eighth-graders dragging and hitting four defenseless first-graders.

The violence broke out after the four teachers and one aide, who were responsible for supervising the students, left the eighth graders alone for an extended period of time with the young children. After the girls’ attempts to coax the first-graders to fight one another failed, they were captured in the video dragging and hitting the children.

The mother of a one of the seven-year-old victims plans to file a $5.5 million lawsuit against the city. Lawsuits in the amounts of $2 million have also been filed against the city by parents of two of the other victims.

Sadly, for many New York City schoolchildren, school administrators fail to keep them safe. In cases where a child suffers injuries due to acts of violence that occur on school property, parents may choose to take legal action.