Story Archive

Rare, Unique — What’s the Difference?

A janitor at Campus Elementary School in Grand Rapids, Mich., has been fired after allegedly offering two fourth-graders a dollar to “rough up” another fourth-grader she didn’t like. A witness overheard the offer and reported the incident to school officials, and the janitor allegedly admitted the charge was true. The intended victim was apparently not assaulted. “It is absolutely unacceptable in any way, shape or form for an employee to behave in this manner,” said district spokesman John Helmholdt, adding that “This is a very rare and unique incident.” Meanwhile in a separate case, police say they have charged a lunchroom aide who allegedly paid a student a dollar to beat up a fourth-grader she didn’t like. Brooke Wilson-Johnson, 18, was fired, and charged with disorderly conduct, and aiding and abetting delinquency. She denies the charges, but a teacher says she saw her give the student the dollar, and the designated victim says he was attacked. And at what school did the second incident happen? Campus Elementary School in Grand Rapids, Mich. (RC/Grand Rapids Press, 2) ...Of course, few schools these days teach what “unique” actually means.