Story Archive

Sexualized

“My son is not a sexualized minor,” says Erica Martinez. He signed a document that says he committed “sexual misconduct,” but she says he signed because administrators at Ashton Ranch Elementary School in Surprise, Ariz., told him to. He did pull down his pants, but she says he did that because another student told him to — and threatened to do it for him if he didn’t. He’s 5 years old. The Dysart Unified School District defends the “sexual misconduct” label, which has been placed in the boy’s permanent file. “Our school district uses consistent language for disciplinary infractions in order to provide clarity and track discipline data accurately,” said Assistant Superintendent Jim Dean. Martinez can add a rebuttal to the file, but the label will follow her son until he leaves the Dysart schools. (AC/KTVK Phoenix) ...Which perhaps he should do very soon.