Posted on 04/25/2005 6:08:36 PM PDT by Columbus Dawg
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- One of the Mifflin High School administrators involved in the controversy surrounding the alleged sexual assault of a special needs student is ignoring orders to keep quiet about the incident, NBC 4's David Wayne reported.
Suzie Retterer-Helfrich is one of three assistant principals who were suspended for 10 days without pay after the March 9 incident. The principal was fired.
A ninth-grade special education student claims she was forced to perform oral sex on at least two boys at the high school auditorium while others reportedly watched the acts and another student allegedly videotaped it.
The investigation of the alleged sexual assault has attracted national attention because of the way it was handled. Retterer-Helfrich and the other staff members were criticized for not calling police immediately after the alleged incident. Administrators failed to call the girl's father, police, or any child protective services, NBC 4 reported.
"It's not at all about the child, not about the truth, because of the reaction taken by the top administration to remove all of us from our positions," Retterer-Helfrich said. "There was no indication that there was an injury, no indication there was an assault. The word wasn't being used at all."
In fact, Retterer-Helfrich said she believes what took place was consensual sex -- an all too common occurrence, she said.
"So we have these things happen on a regular basis," she said. "We know when we have to report injury, abuse, neglect. There was no sign of injury. There was no reported abuse and neglect."
She disputes the victim's father, who says he was told not to call police, Wayne reported.
NBC 4 recently searched through personnel files from each administrator involved. Retterer-Helfrich's was the only one with some questionable evaluations. She said it was an isolated case that doesn't reflect her entire 10-year career with the district.
"The year prior to that evaluation, with a different evaluator, I was recommended to a principal," she said.
Retterer-Helfrich said she received orders from the district not to speak.
"Silence isn't golden, and silence has gotten us to the point where we are today, and the superintendent in the position she's in with all of this," she said.
The district is not commenting on Retterer-Helfrich's comments. A representative said the district is moving forward with the investigation and is taking steps to address the situation.
Besides 610 WTVN-AM radio in town, WCMH-TV is the only outlet really covering this story.
Is it true that there was no sign of injury? I thought I heard they'd punched the girl in the mouth.
I heard on Fox News that the student was bleeding. Maybe this goofball thinks it was consensual assault and battery.
Same thing I heard, and that she had facial bleeding.
That's what I heard too, and frankly I believe that version.
God, these union edu-hacks are such loathsome gutter swill.
Good Lord, the woman is an idiot.
WCMH-TV is the best local news and weather in the Columbus tv market. Channel 10 has went so far downhill it is not even funny and 6 never was very good but they are now better than 10
"In fact, Retterer-Helfrich said she believes what took place was consensual sex -- an all too common occurrence, she said."
She sounds like a Bill Clinton feminist.
Glenn Beck is all over this story on his national radio show. He's taking it personal...his teenage daughter is handicapped, too.
"So we have these things happen on a regular basis," she said."
And they apparently LET these things happen on a regular basis. This is a public school! It is outrageous. And why more and more sane parents will be home-schooling.
I can already hear Glenn Beck getting ready to go off.
This woman ought to be thanking whatever it is she worships that all she got was a 10-day vacation. If it were up to me, not only would she be fired, she'd be facing criminal charges as an accessory to the assault and for obstruction of justice.
The hell of it is, the teacher's union will probably back her and the others up, and they'll all get paid for their time on suspension, their records cleared, and probably a cash settlement for "damages."
My wife and I have been discussing why so many children are simply out of control these days. We've concluded that it's parents who coddle and defend their children and don't make the child accept accountability for it's actions.
Don't know how many times I've heard "they need to re-institute corporal punishment in the schools, but don't let them touch my kid". Or 'I'm not going to let someone tell me my kid is poorly behaved, is having trouble learning or whatever.
That doesn't mean I'm letting the schools off scot free. But the biggest problem is what is sent to be educated, not the educator.
One of the administrators was interviewed on T.V. last week and she said that they were given lemons and they were going to make lemonade (out of this situation).
I would like to here more about how this is going to happen.
Is it true that there was no sign of injury? I thought I heard they'd punched the girl in the mouth.
Thats correct...This Administrator is Lying..I hope they all go to Prison and are Gangraped for 6 months.
Is it true that there was no sign of injury? I thought I heard they'd punched the girl in the mouth.
Thats correct...This Administrator is Lying..I hope they all go to Prison and are Gangraped for 6 months.
Is it true that there was no sign of injury? I thought I heard they'd punched the girl in the mouth.
Thats correct...This Administrator is Lying..I hope they all go to Prison and are Gangraped for 6 months.
I'd agree with you to some extent, except for the fact that not only did these school administrators conveniently "forget" to tell the girl's father what happened, they tried to talk him out of calling the police to report it. And even now that the story's gotten out, the only thing they think to do is point fingers and try to cover their tails. Oh, and of course, blame the victim.
Here's my bet. When they fired her, they committed some sort of procedural breech. She will be reinstated with full back pay and benefits, probably on the basis of the procedural flaw.
1. The age of consent in Ohio is 16. Reports give the age of the girl as 14 or 15. Doesn't the administrator care about the law?
2. The girl is a special education student, who may have lessened ability to give consent even if she were 16. Doesn't the administrator care about about the safety of such students?
3. Other students stood around and watched, while another student taped at least part of the incident. Doesn't the administrator care that students were doing this instead of being in class?
4. "Consensual" or not, it occurred on school grounds. Doesn't the administrator care whether the bathrooms, locker rooms, hallways, and showers are used for sex?
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