Principal Accused of Dragging Child with Down Syndrome Across Concrete Floor
It's hard letting our kids head out into a world where we aren't there to protect them. Especially if they have special needs.
The one place we should feel comfortable leaving our kids is at school with teachers. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case at a private school in Florida.
As reported on NBCLatino.com, police say an 11-year-old boy with Down Syndrome was badly hurt after his principal pulled him out of class and dragged him across concrete.
Meibol and Cesar Suarez adopted their grandson after his parents could no longer care for him and enrolled him in New Leaf School for Change, a place for children with learning disabilities. The Suarez' thought the school would be perfect for their boy but the couple tell police that in September, when they picked up their child from school, they discovered bruises on his arm and side. Apparently the boy had thrown himself on the ground and refused to get up, something he sometimes does as a child with Down Syndrome. The boy's behavior didn't surprise Meibol and Cesar Suarez. It's what the principal admitted to doing that had them contacting police.
"You could imagine, when I saw his hand like that and his rib cage I said 'Jesus Christ this is criminal,'" Cesar Suarez said. "'What did you do to my baby?' The only thing she could say is 'I'm deeply sorry.'"
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It was the principal. She apparently became frustrated with the boy and made some unfortunate decisions in the heat of the moment.
Lt. Adam Militello says, "He was not getting up from the ground and the principal pulled him across the floor, just under 30 feet, some of it unfortunately over concrete and over two door thresholds."
The Suarez' are outraged.
"This is my child. I have to protect my child," said Meibol Suarez. The boy now attends another school.
Cesar Suarez says the principal, Ronda McDonald, has apologized several times and says she deeply cares about the boy and his family, but it isn't enough. "I want justice to be done," said Cesar Suarez. "And I hope we get justice."
"I would like to see that this never happens to any other kid ever," Meibol Suarez adds.
The State Attorney's Office has not decided whether to file charges. What do you think? The principal did admit to making a mistake and apologized to the family but as far as I'm concerned she should be fired immediately. Anyone who responds to a child, special needs or not, in such a manner doesn't belong in a position of authority at any school.
-By Monica Bielanko
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