JEFFERSON CITY—State Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, spoke out on the Senate floor today regarding the recent brutal beating of a 12-year-old autistic boy in the cafeteria at Liberty Middle School by a fellow student. The victim was taken to the hospital to be treated for his injuries, which included a broken jaw, a fractured skull and possible permanent hearing loss that may require surgery.
After news of the incident broke, the boy’s parents revealed that they’d mailed a certified letter to the principal a month before the incident detailing the bullying their son was being subjected to and asking for it to be dealt with. No action was taken.
“This tragic incident could have been avoided if the school’s administrator had listened to the parents’ concerns and taken action. Instead, the problem was ignored, resulting in a small boy being so severely beaten he was hospitalized,” said Sen. Schmitt. “Not acting to stop bullying is the same as condoning it. The principal should be ashamed, and this should serve as a stark reminder to all school administrators of the importance of ending bullying. I plan to do all I can to make sure incidents like these are not repeated. And to Blake and his family, please know my heart goes out to you. The system, and those charged to ensure your safety, failed you. Period. That will not be ignored or swept under the rug.”
Liberty School District issued a statement saying the incident is being reviewed and they are cooperating with police.
“For years, we’ve known how devastating and dangerous bullying in our schools can be. It’s time we finally take action to stop this trend of harassment in Missouri schools,” said Sen. Schmitt. “We also need to ensure that school administrators are giving this issue the due attention it deserves, are listening to parents and taking real steps to prevent these reprehensible events from taking place. And if administrators and faculty aren’t doing their jobs of creating a safe environment for students, there should be real consequences for those schools.”
To view video of Sen. Schmitt discussing the incident on the Senate floor, click here or visit the senator’s multimedia page on his official Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov/schmitt.
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