Harassment, Not Sexual Harassment For 6-Year-Old Singing Student

Singing “I’m Sexy And I Know It” Apparently Bothered Classmate

D-Avonte-Meadows--Suspended-1st-Grader-31007675.jpg

Posted: 05/18/2012
Last Updated: 369 days ago

A mother is relieved her son’s punishment for singing a popular song at school has been modified from sexual harassment to harassment.

“I definitely am happy about that,” said Stephanie Meadows, mother of D’Avonte Meadows.

D'Avonte Meadows is a first-grader at Sable Elementary School in Aurora.

He was accused of sexual harassment and disrupting other students for allegedly saying to a girl "I'm sexy and I know it," a line from a song by the popular duo LMFAO. He was suspended May 2.

The boy's mother, Stepahine Meadows, said the allegations went too far, and her son was singing in the lunch line, not to the girl.

She has since met with APS Superintendent John Barry and believes the district views the incident differently than the way her son described it.

Meadows said that district staff describes D’Avonte as reciting the line from the song but also blocking the female classmate from moving away from him.

“That part’s not making any sense,” Meadows said. “I understand where they’re coming from. But I would say right now, I’m unsatisfied. Granted, they did change it from sexual (harassment) to harassment I definitely am happy about that. I think they’re more concerned with it being in the media than with the whole situation being resolved.”

Meadows said she was assisted in the meeting by representatives at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People who had heard about the controversy and offered free assistance.

She hopes the district may further reduce the infraction to being profane toward another student.

She said she still believes the source of the incident is a personality conflict between her son and the classmate but that the two seem to be doing their classwork normally, and Meadows said she has not been notified of any other incidents since.

Forms from the school indicate the first-grader had been suspended for sexual harassment, which the school district's discipline code says has "negative affects of the learning or work of others."

Aurora Public Schools issued a statement earlier this month that said:

"Aurora Public Schools is committed to trust, teamwork and transparency. Achieving this is a continual process. We would like thank our parents, community members and others who shared their viewpoints with us.

"Because of our commitment to keep student matters private, which is a legal and ethical obligation, we cannot discuss this case specifically.

"Aurora Public Schools wants to assure students, parents and community members that a student would not be suspended for merely singing a song. If actions warrant, we would consider suspending a student to emphasize the seriousness of the actions and to prevent further inappropriate behavior toward another student.

"We want to clarify that our discipline procedures allow principals the discretion to work with families and possibly change the reason for a suspension while continuing to address the disruptive behavior.

"If a student faces disciplinary action, our priority and goal is to meet with parents and guardians to collaborate with them on solutions that will support their child’s success and promote a safe learning environment for all students."

The boy's mother told 7NEWS D’Avonte has had discipline troubles before, including last month when he quoted the same line from the same song to the same girl, this time "shaking his booty" near the girl’s face.

He met with the school’s assistant principal last month, Stephanie Meadows said, adding she told her son not to shake anything in the girl's face again.

"I’m going to definitely have to sit with him and see if he understands exactly what the song means,” Meadows said.

She also said her son was suspended earlier in the year for disruptive behavior.

“I think it’s, kind of overwhelming, you know? Sexual harassment on a 6-year-old?" Meadows said. "I don’t understand. You know, kids are kids."

State Sen. Linda Newell (D-Littleton) told 7NEWS her Senate Bill 46 would require school districts to include components within their discipline code such as peer mediation, as an alternative prior to suspension or expulsion.

The bill passed in the legislative session. The Governor has until June 8 to decide if he will sign it.

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