A parent of a student in Fayette County Public Schools is expressing concern about punishments at Liberty Elementary in Lexington, including “forced walking during recess and silent lunch as punishments.”
“While the school states that positive reinforcement is a primary approach, these practices directly contradict that claim and instead function as public shaming and humiliation for young children,” Megan Laffew, whose son attends Liberty, told the Herald-Leader in an email. “Publicly isolating children in front of peers is harmful, stigmatizing, and undermines their sense of safety and dignity.”
In response, Tracy Bruno, chief of staff for the district, told the Herald-Leader on Friday, “When a family has a concern, we encourage the family to reach out to the student’s teacher. If the family continues to have the same concern, we encourage the family to reach out to the school administration and then the School Chief in the Office of School Leadership.” Laffew said there appeared to be no records, logs, or documentation showing which students were punished, when the punishment occurred, the duration or frequency of the punishment, the reason for the consequence, and who authorized or supervised it. The absence of such documentation raises concerns about accountability and transparency, said Laffew…