Kids and cellphones are a hot debate among parents. The discussion can become particularly heated when deciding whether kids should have access to their phones at school. Many parents want their kids to have their phones for safety reasons but not to have unlimited access to technology during the school day. Others think that having phones on them is too tempting so kids should leave their phones at home.
A 12-year-old in Colorado's cellphone use is causing an uproar at her school because she caught an incident from the school playground on camera, and it appears the school district isn't pleased her video went viral. Her father claims that the school is punishing his daughter because officials are embarrassed by the footage she caught and not because she broke any rules. Now, he wants an apology.
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The seventh grader reportedly began recording because she was afraid.
According to her father, Aaron Frost, the 12-year-old grabbed her phone and began recording a frightening incident on the playground at Monarch PK-8 School in Louisville. A group of students reportedly surrounded another student, "Who is very clearly convulsing, twitching, writhing," Frost told CBS News Colorado. And soon after, some children began to chant, "Sacrifice!" and "Heil Satan!"
His daughter was shocked.
Not only did the playground incident frighten her, but she was also reportedly terrified after being called to the office to speak to administrators.
"I go to pick up my daughter, she has been pulled back into an interrogation with five district employees … all of whom are questioning her without me being present," he said. "She comes out of that meeting in tears," Frost told CBS News Colorado.
He added that the principal was threatening the tween with disciplinary action because she used her phone during school hours.
Frost said his daughter was just doing what a lot of other kids at school do.
According to the dad, many kids use their phones at school, but he thinks his daughter is being used as a scapegoat. He believes that the footage embarrassed school officials. Therefore, they are making an example out of her. The dad claims no one at the school tried to care for his daughter.
"Never approached her about being OK, never showed any type of empathy, never any concern for what she just had witnessed," he said.
The father hired an attorney.
According to Frost, a friend of his wife posted the video on social media, where it went viral. His daughter had nothing to do with the posting.
In a written statement to CBS News Colorado, Frost's attorney, James Kerwin, senior counsel at Mountain States Legal Foundation, explained.
"Students regularly film videos on school property for posting on TikTok and other social media platforms without any serious effort by the school to prevent such recordings. And it would pose serious constitutional issues if the school were to impose penalties for (the 7th grader's) technical violations that are disproportionate to the penalties (if any) imposed on other students for their breaches of Policy," the statement reads. "In short, however upset school officials may be due to the unwanted attention created by a viral social media event, as you know, school officials must treat student conduct consistent with the First Amendment and the Constitution more broadly."
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The school district countered with its own statement.
Per CBS News Colorado, the Boulder Valley School District released a statement that reads, "The Boulder Valley School District is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all students. Monarch PK-8 investigated the incident captured on video and shared on social media and found no evidence of bullying or harassment. We always encourage students who have a concern to connect with a trusted adult or to make a complaint using the reporting options available on our website."
Frost said his daughter has not returned to school as she is still traumatized by the whole situation.
"Is that for real? Is it for fun? Is it just a joke? No matter what it is, it's terrifying and shouldn't happen," he said.
