Doggedly searching for the crux of the biscuit.
IPS police and Marion County child protection workers are investigating an incident involving two first-graders who officials said were caught trying to have sex Wednesday at an Eastside school. District officials worried that the incident may have signaled that at least one of the 6-year-olds had been abused before. A child psychologist acknowledged that possibility but said the behavior simply could have been an attempt to copy something seen on a video or cable TV.
"One of them may be a victim," said Indianapolis Public Schools Superintendent Duncan Pat Pritchett. "We're waiting for the conclusion of the two investigations. At that age, that's learned behavior."
The names of the two children have not been made public. But the girl and boy, who were released to their parents, received five-day suspensions and could be booted from classes at School 69 for the rest of the year.
Having been a six-year-old about 30 years ago and having raised one kid through that age, I know that what looks like scarily precocious sexual behavior can certainly happen without sexual abuse to spur it. Kids are natural scientists, y'know, and without much actual detail to rely on here, it's hard to say whether this is really cause for serious concern or a nervous administration overreacting to a game of doctor. I vividly remember getting busted for a similar infraction at right about six years old myself, and in retrospect I'm sure it looked horribly incriminating when the girl's parents walked in. Believe you me, they freaked right on out. Nonetheless, being two knuckles deep in her rear end honestly was nothing more than my best re-creation of getting a shot, as I'd always been facing away when getting them myself and, really, it seemed the obvious place to put my hypodermic finger. I can recall quite clearly being completely flummoxed at the resulting uproar. So who knows?
On the other hand, maybe the Indianapolis Public Schools should look into renaming this school. Seems like that's just asking for trouble.
TrackBackOMG, that it happened at this particular school is just hilarious. And yes, given that buildings often skip the 13th floor (which I think is stupid, and note that the airlines do not skip the 13th row) school systems that go by numbers should definitely go from 68 to 70.
Posted by: profgrrrrl at January 10, 2005 01:23 PMTwo knuckles deep in her rear end.. at six? Are you kidding me? No wonder they freaked out, I think I probably would, too. :P
But you're right.. kids at that age are in what Freud called the 'latent stage', i.e. taking a break from sexual development. Generally kids running around naked together or playing doctor, or otherwise exploring, have nothing to do with sexuality as adults know it. Sure it's physical exploration, but adults tend to take such things through a filter of adult sexuality, reacting swiftly and emotionally. I *HIGHLY* doubt these kids really and truly knew what they were doing. Of course, there is a chance of abuse, but who really knows. They may want to look into whether daddy's porn collection is not being put away properly...
"Let's watch Barn..... WOW!"
Posted by: Alena at January 11, 2005 02:20 PMat six? Are you kidding me?
Y'know, as I've thought about this and where it took place, I was more likely at the tail end (ha!) of 4 or the beginning of 5. I suppose that doesn't really change the story much, though.
"Let's watch Barn..... WOW!"
Heh heh.
Posted by: apostropher at January 11, 2005 02:28 PMI was reading on Salon the Princeton (or some such place, with doctor type people) put out a book stating that stuff of this nature is considered normal.
But, on a more paranoid note, God help us all when this becomes a popular referenece for Social Conservatives.
Posted by: Hanke at January 14, 2005 12:03 AM