A number of students and their parents have filed complaints against a middle school in Queens of a shocking nature. Now elected officials are demanding more answers and action from the New York City Chancellor of Schools, Richard Carranza. The shocking allegations of sexual harassment in New York City arose from a number of isolated events at Marie Curie Middle School in Bayside (part of M.S. 158). Documents show that one 8th grade student was repeatedly exposed to sexual harassment, another was sexually abused, and a third was physically abused.
None of the alleged incidents involve faculty and all of the incidents involved punishment doled out by school officials. However, the fact that a culture of neglect and disinterest has grown so prevalent in a middle school in New York is terrifying enough to warrant a deeper investigation. Indeed, U.S. Congresswoman Grace Meng and several of her peers penned a letter to the Chancellor expressing shock and outrage and demanding that further, more appropriate punishments and an overhaul of the school’s leadership team take place to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
Indeed, the harassment case involved a single student who was systematically targeted by another for months-including incidents in which the aggressor exposed his genitals and sexually touched the victim. The school’s initial response was simply to give the aggressor detention. Not until the student’s parents were notified did the police get involved. Eventually, the harasser was arrested and charged with a Class A Misdemeanor.
In the letter, the officials stated that “it must be the first priority of the DOE [Department of Education] to ensure the safety and security of all children within its walls.”
If your child has been traumatized by such horrific incidents, you need an experienced sexual harassment lawyer in New York City so that your child gets the compensation he or she deserves. Contact the legal experts at the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel. Call 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 for a free and confidential consultation today.