WILKINS TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A local mother told Channel 11 News that her son was attacked inside his school.
“He has always loved school; now he hates it,” said LaRon Gilbert, the mother. Last year, she transferred her son to Life Male STEAM Academy, an all-boys charter school in Wilkins Township, hoping to provide him with an environment that would foster mentorship, character development, self-esteem, and college readiness.
Unfortunately, she feels that has not happened. Instead, her 14-year-old son has been bullied and was recently attacked by a group of boys.
Gilbert explained that her son came home from school one day and went straight to his room. It wasn’t until the next day, during a scheduled orthodontist appointment, that she discovered his braces had been knocked out of place due to the violence he had experienced.
“Some of his brace brackets had come off; that has never happened before,” Gilbert said. At the doctor’s appointment following the incident, she also learned that her son had suffered a concussion.
Her son explained that a boy in his class had tripped him. When he fell to the ground, he hit his head and was subsequently attacked by several other boys.
“I was shocked and furious because I didn’t receive a phone call from the school; I had no idea what had happened,” she stated.
She mentioned that the entire incident was caught on video, but school administrators refused to let her see it. This prompted her to file a police report.
Wilkins Township Police Chief Randy Lamb confirmed that his office has the video and that the incident is now under active investigation.
Gilbert believes that Life Male STEAM Academy has failed to fulfill its promises. When asked what she wants the school to do to address the issues her son has faced, she replied, “Unfortunately, it’s too late. I have to get him out of this school, and I hope there will be no retaliation because of the measures I’ve taken.”
Channel 11 reached out to the school multiple times to inquire about any disciplinary actions and to get their perspective, but so far, they have not responded.
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