District hopes to put Elizabeth's siblings at ease
By Derek Jensen and Pat Reavy
Deseret News staff writers
© 2002 Deseret News
 Elizabeth Smart's classmates decorated a fence by Bryant Intermediate. Their affectionate expression remains 2 1/2 months after she vanished. Chuck Wing, Deseret News |
Following a summer of police interviews, numerous searches and intense media attention as a result of the kidnapping 2 1/2 months ago of Elizabeth Smart, her four siblings go back to school this week. That includes her sister, Mary Katherine — the only known witness to the kidnapping — and three brothers.
With the resumption of recess, homework and cafeteria food, a host of questions is expected from curious classmates wanting to know what happened June 5 when Elizabeth was taken from her bedroom.
The Smart children will be in three different schools in the Salt Lake District this year, ranging from elementary to high school. The family asked that the names of those schools not be published out of concern for their children's safety.
For the most part, Mary Katherine, 10, will leave the protective shelter of family and friends for the fifth grade. Her mother said she plans to take the children to and from school every day — no more walking alone or riding the bus.
"We have warned them about things, about being alone, about staying with the group," Lois Smart said.
But while the Smarts want to protect their children, Ed Smart said he doesn't want to take away their childhood by making them paranoid about every step they take. There has to be a balance of allowing for childhood freedom and parental protection, he said.
And the two parents worry innocent inquiries from classmates could turn into intimations that had the frightened Mary Katherine screamed or told her parents sooner, the abduction may have been stopped.
 Elizabeth Smart, kidnapped June 5, is still missing. The school district is asking the media not to bother her siblings as they return to school. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News |
"I believe she felt she was protecting the rest of the family and saving Elizabeth from being shot," she said. "I just want her to know she did the right thing. She was so brave. I can't even imagine lying there watching someone with a gun in your sister's back."
Mary Katherine feigned sleep in the early morning hours when a gun-toting intruder entered the bedroom she shared with Elizabeth. Mary Katherine heard the man threaten Elizabeth's life, then leave the room, according to police.
After the kidnapper led Elizabeth out of the room, Mary Katherine got up to notify her parents, but spotted her sister and the abductor in another part of the house. Terrified, she returned to bed and didn't wake her parents for another two hours.
The most important witness in this puzzling case, Mary Katherine has been generally sheltered from unparalleled media and public attention. Police say they're not worried about their star witness being tainted once she resumes school Tuesday.
"We can't just quarantine her forever," Capt. Scott Atkinson said.
Ed Smart concurred that he can't keep his children inside forever.
"I don't want to completely insulate them from the world," Smart said.
The Salt Lake School District wants to make the school day as normal as possible for the four young Smarts and everyone else, spokesman Jason Olsen said. Teachers and principals have been instructed to watch for teasing and excessive questioning regarding the case by classmates and overall distress, he said.
The district is asking members of the media to respect the Smart family's privacy and not follow Mary Katherine or any of the other Smart children to school or interview them.
The high awareness of stranger abductions that the Smart case and other kidnappings generated this summer will be on the minds of many parents as they prepare their children for school.
School districts are also aware of the concerns, but the public isn't likely to see any noticeable changes.
"Safety isn't something that we can all of a sudden cram for like an exam," said Jordan District spokeswoman Melinda Colton. "We believe that we have the programs in place that we focus on all year long."
"Sure we'll be more alert," said Salt Lake County Sheriff's Sgt. Shane Hudson, whose department plans extra patrols near schools each morning and afternoon. "We'll also be more visible to help parents feel more comfortable."
Murray police detective Rob Hall said schools this year have requested officers talk to students about strangers much earlier than normal. His department also plans to increase patrols around the schools and surrounding neighborhoods once classes are in session.
But school districts and police agree that it takes more than a police presence to protect the children.
"We need all community members to be our eyes and ears. Watch for the kids walking to school," Colton said.
Many schools use the Operation Safe Passage program in which adults in the community keep an eye on the children as they walk to school.
E-mail: djensen@desnews.com; preavy@desnews.com