WALDORF, Md. (DC News Now) — After a second-grade student was hospitalized due to their jacket getting caught on a hook in the bathroom while “horseplaying” with another student, a meeting was held for parents Tuesday night to voice their concerns.
One parent who did not want to be identified spoke with DC News Now after the meeting which was held at Paul Barnhart Elementary School, where the student attended.
“I think the school should be held accountable. As a parent and a grandmother, myself this was very upsetting and very sad and it is going to take a lot of healing and support for the child’s family and mental support for the child to get back some normalcy,” the parent said.
More than 50 people attended the meeting and many parents want to see increased safety measures put in place.
“Barnhart is a really great school but it was an unfortunate situation and a little negligence from teachers and staff I went to Barnhart 4th and 5th grade and I feel it is a great school,” a parent said.
The boy’s parents claim their child was hung in the bathroom by another student but school leaders said the students involved were “horseplaying.”
The Charles County Sheriff’s Office said investigators reviewed the school security video and conducted interviews. They said there is no evidence of any racial, biased or discriminatory motivations.
One parent said the school is already making some safety upgrades.
“They did say they already removed the hooks off the bathroom stalls and they also said they might implement a buddy system and one parent said her child will not be participating in that,” another parent said.
School leaders did not want to comment after the meeting.
The case is still under investigation.
