Free Republic

A Unionville mother and father are complaining about the paddling of their 14-year-old son, allegedly by Community High School's assistant principal, and they've taken their concerns to the superintendent of schools, the sheriff's department and have released their boy's medical records showing bruises and swelling at his tailbone. "Diagnosis: Child Abuse," is a notation in the physician's notes. Community High School Principal Robert Ralston declined comment and deferred questions to Bedford County Schools' Central Office where Superintendent Ed Gray said he's in the middle with responsibilities to protect students' as well as employees' rights. To avoid duplication of efforts, Gray...

The bizarre incident began at about 10 a.m. on April 24, when a school official called Esteban Palafox, 34, at his store, Mexico Azteca II in Tomp- kinsville, telling him that 10-year-old Esteban Jr. had not shown up for classes for three days, the elder Palafox told The Post. Enraged, Palafox began searching for his son and found him inside their apartment above the deli at 7 Corson Ave. After he shouted at the boy, Palafox went down to the deli to retrieve the dried beef, cops said. He then returned to his apartment and repeatedly whacked the boy's thigh...