Parents of students in a Washington Heights kindergarten class are freaking out after they heard that their kids were caught touching and kissing each other in school. The mother of a girl at PS 189 was told by school officials in a meeting that a group of 5-year-olds had been engaged in the sexual behavior: “They were exposing themselves and showing their body parts to each other. From what I understand, they were kissing and touching,” the mother told the Post. “They were trying to say that my daughter was inviting these children to do this to her.”
Last week, she and the mother of a boy in the class filed notices of claim against the city, each seeking $5 million in damages. Their claim says the sexual behavior occurred since last September; the girl’s classmates “pulled down their pants” and fondled and kissed her body parts “and instructed her to do likewise to them, which she did.” The boy’s mom heard about the activity from her son last October and reported it to the school, who did not notify the NYPD or the school superintendent.
Teachers told the parents that this kind of behavior was normal for children, with the guidance counselor assuring the mother of the girl, “children are curious, children do this,” she said. “They were telling me it’s normal. I said, ‘It’s not normal.’ ” The mother was especially aggrieved about teacher responsiblity: “Where were the adults? They explained the teacher had her back to the children, that it wasn’t that long. She must have had her back turned for a very long time for them to do the things that they did.”
Last year, a Queens mom claimed her kindergartner was sodomized by a gang of 6 and 7-year-olds in a school bathroom. Although the DOE dismissed those rape allegations, the mom sued the city for $10 million dollars.
