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Kindergartner wanders off from school, found nearly two miles away
FRUITPORT, Mich. -- Fruitport Community Schools educators are reviewing their procedures after a kindergartner left school without anybody's knowledge and walked nearly two miles along roads with dirt shoulders and no sidewalks.
The principal of Shettler Elementary School found the boy walking along a heavily traveled road in Cloverville.
No school official called police during the boy's absence Wednesday, although the school district's policy requires such a call. That meant only one person, principal Norm Heerema, searched for the boy off school grounds.
Joey Japenga, 6, was not injured and was returned safely to his mother, Misty Japenga-Riley, and stepfather, Anthony Riley.
They told The Muskegon Chronicle for a story Friday that the boy started feeling sick at school Wednesday morning. He apparently misunderstood a substitute teacher and thought he was told to go to his grandparents' house, because his parents weren't home during the day. The grandparents live more than a mile beyond the point where the boy was later found.
So, unnoticed by the teacher, a teacher's aide and a parent volunteer who were all in the classroom, Joey put on his coat, grabbed his book bag and headed out of the classroom and the school building for his grandparents' home.
Riley said whether the boy misunderstood something the substitute teacher told him isn't the issue.
"It's not a matter of, what was he thinking in his mind," Riley said. "It's a matter of, how did he get out of the school."
Fruitport Superintendent Joyce Lutrey said Friday the district still was trying to figure out how the child walked away without anybody seeing him.
"We're still investigating what happened," she said. "It is an unfortunate situation."
When a child feels sick, send him to the nurse or the school office. I bet this will never happen again.
Notice that SEVERAL infractons of rules by ADULTS took place here: Not only did they lose a child, they should never have told a six year old to go, even to the office, by himself. He should have been taken there by one of the aides. Once they discovered he was gone they are under law to call the police and they didn't. Why should we expect kids in schools to follow rules when the adults don't.
And why would anyone keep sending children to a school that shows so much irresponsibility. IMO that makes ALL parents responsible for their own kid and not just the school authorities when the school loses their kids.
Don't count on it!!!!!!!!
Wonder why government schools are disorderly?
Kids have always done that. My cousin was 5 and got tired of being at school and just left and went home and that was over 40 years ago. It's not terrible news and we just have to have a society where kids aren't stalked by pedophiles because sometimes they do get out of sight.
Joey Japenga, 6, was not injured and was returned safely to his mother, Misty Japenga-Riley, and stepfather, Anthony Riley.
Kinfolk riley1992?
That little boy knew where he could go to get his problems resolved (IMHO-from a child's view, grandparents can fix anything) and almost made it to their house. Smart kid. I wonder if the school/teachers/principal will want to have him put on some medication in an attempt to control his "impulsive" behavior.
beat me to the punchline :> More likely to happen than I care to think though. Poor kiddo he's the smartest one there
It won't if there is a large lawsuit!
The journalist who wrote this article must be a product of government schools.
Kinfolk riley1992?
Not unless they are related to my dog. His name is what I chose for my screen name.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
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