First grade boy accused of "sexual harassment" for fighting off a bully on the bus

If we are to take this Boston Globe story at face value, first graders at the Tynan Elementary School in South Boston are no longer allowed to physically defend themselves. If they do so, they may be accused of "sexual harassment" and their families investigated by the Department of Children and Families.

“Any kind of inappropriate touching would fall under that category,’’ Wilder said. “The school administration is conducting a full investigation that has not concluded yet. Certainly, once that investigation is through, we’ll then make a final conclusion as to who will be disciplined and how.’’

According to the child, the "inappropriate touching" was a kick to the groin to stop the other boy from choking him:

Later that day, Lynch received a message from Mark’s grandmother, telling her that school officials were trying to reach her. Lynch said she spoke with Gant, who told her the school had called the state Department of Children and Families to report the incident.

Gant said Mark confessed to punching the other boy in the groin, according to Lynch. But later Mark said he had kicked, not punched, the student.

“She said, ‘It doesn’t matter who hit who first,’ ’’ Lynch said. “ ‘He said he hit him in the testicles. That’s assault. That’s sexual assault.’

“I said: ‘The kid choked my son first and that’s called attempted murder. He said he couldn’t breathe,’ ’’ Lynch said.

What's worse -- being choked by another kid on the bus or finding yourself at the mercy of unreasoning, inhuman state agencies that have the power to destroy families?

Cayenne Isaksen, spokeswoman for the Department of Children and Families, said yesterday that she could not find a record of a complaint against Lynch or her son.

Wilder declined to comment on any possible calls to the state, but said generally they are legally obligated to report incidents of sexual misconduct to the agency.

“We’re mandatory reporters as a school employee,’’ he said. “We have to report any type of accusation of sexual assault or sexual harassment that is reported to a school employee.’’

The school wouldn't have known about the incident if the victim hadn't complained to the principal about it. The victim's mother expected a meeting of the boys and parents, some handshaking, and perhaps the return of her son's new gloves. Instead, seven year-old Mark is threatened with suspension and the DCF is now looking into his possible "sexual misconduct."

Moral of the story: Don't fight back, keep your head down, and try not to attract the attention of your minders.

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Mark Steyn comments:

If officials of the Boston public schools system genuinely believe that when a seven-year old kicks another seven-year old in the crotch that that is an act of “sexual harassment”, then they are too stupid to be entrusted with the care of the city’s children. If, on the other hand, they retain enough residual humanity to understand that a seven-year-old groin-kick is not a sexual assault but have concluded that regulatory compliance obliges them to investigate it as such, then they are colluding in an act of great evil.

Read the rest.

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Hat tip to HotAir headlines.

Many thanks to Blazing Cat Fur and Michelle Malkin for linking.

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