We anticipate the e-mails: Haven't you ever made a mistake? The answer is, "No. Not that endangered the life of a child. Let alone two of them." UPDATED - grand jury did not indict.
Mar 18 - A 26-year old first-grade teacher at Evan Harlow Elementary School, left her two children, ages 2 and 4-months-old, in a locked car while she went to work. For six hours. In 80 degree weather. Police had to break a window to get the children out.
The children were still hospitalized in fair condition a day later.
She has been suspended with pay while police investigate.
The school is given an overall 4 rating by Great Schools.
Mar 14 - According to the Advocate-Messenger, a bus driver who arrived early for the school's 3 p.m. dismissal noticed the children in the car. He went in and notified the office. Even after a
schoolwide announcement was made over the intercom system, twice, describing the car and asking for the parent to come forward, there was no response. The police were called and an officer rescued the children.
A grand jury is being the case is being investigated and will be presented to a Mercer County grand jury.
Mar 15 - Police are conducting a first-degree wanton endangerment investigation. The teacher, apparently, did not ignore the P.A. announcement.
TT - You judge the rest of the article yourself. Especially the school principal's comments that include:
"I understand law enforcement officials, they have their reputations at stake, they don't know her. They have a job to do in terms of protecting children, but my hope is that all this would be cleared up and she would be able to return to work," Hatfield said.TT - If that doesn't convince you homeschooling moms you made the right choice, we frankly dont' know what else would.
"Bottom line - we want to support Kristy. And it's not one of those situations of 'protecting your own, no matter what they've done' types of things," Hatfield said. "I think if the public knew the pressure some mothers are under, and how often this really does happen, they'd be amazed."
N-5
Update Apr 25 - A grand jury decided not to indict the teacher. Police never filed charges against her, but prosecutors went ahead with the case anyway after a wanton-endangerment investigation.
