The outrage is palpable in Castle Rock, Colorado, as substitute school bus driver Brian Fitzgerald intentionally slammed the brakes to teach misbehaving elementary students a lesson.
This ill-advised attempt at discipline has led to the driver facing a staggering 30 child abuse charges, proving that such reckless actions have no place in our educational system. It seems that Democrats’ policies are putting our children at risk, as the school district’s staffing woes have led to lowered standards and a lack of proper background checks.
Fitzgerald, clearly fed up with the children not staying in their seats, chose to make a dangerous point when he abruptly stopped the vehicle. The result? Multiple injured children. This act of aggression took place on March 1, and the Douglas County School District was quick to fire Fitzgerald, as reported by KRDO.
The 61-year-old bus driver was caught on surveillance footage lecturing the children, exclaiming “You guys need to be in your seats,” before demonstrating the dangers of disobeying his instructions. He slammed on the brakes, causing the students to fly forward, hitting their heads on windows and the seats in front of them. The bus was traveling at approximately 9 mph at the time, according to CBS News.
In a moment of twisted justification, Fitzgerald told the children, “Did you get that? That’s why you need to be in your seat,” and threatened to write them up if they failed to comply. But what does it say about our society when an adult tasked with transporting children resorts to such extreme measures to maintain control?
One child bravely called her parents after the incident, describing the injuries sustained by her fellow students. She said the bus driver seemed not to care about the consequences of his actions. Fitzgerald later admitted to wanting to teach the children a lesson, KRDO reported.
Lauren Thomason, a parent of one of the students, expressed her disgust with the situation, stating, “It really made my stomach turn.” She, like many others, is left wondering how the school district could allow such an individual to be responsible for the welfare of their children. Are we becoming so desperate for support staff that we are willing to overlook potential dangers?
In an attempt to save face, Fitzgerald apologized to a parent for the incident and sent an apology note to the district. However, his actions had already sealed his fate, and he was terminated from his position. But should we be satisfied with this outcome? The fact that he was even hired in the first place raises serious questions about the thoroughness of background checks and the hiring process.
Thomason expressed her relief at Fitzgerald’s firing but questioned the school district’s standards, asking, “Are we lowering our standards? Are we not really doing the background checks?” Her concerns are valid and reflect the fears of many parents who entrust their children to the school system.
The Douglas County School District condemned Fitzgerald’s behavior in a statement, asserting that “The behavior and actions of this bus driver are completely unacceptable.” They thanked the parents and principal who reported the incident and ensured that Fitzgerald would never drive a school bus again. Court records filed on April 12 include 29 charges of child abuse with no injury and one count of child abuse with bodily injuries, as reported by ABC News.
As citizens, we must demand better for our children. The negligence and lack of proper oversight by the school district have put our kids in harm’s way. It’s time to reassess our priorities and hold those in power accountable for the individuals they choose to entrust with the lives of our precious children.
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Sources: Scallywagandvagabond, KRDO, CBS News