How Far Would You Go To Prove A Point?
Apparently, these two women in Las Vegas were willing to go to great lengths to prove that Joe Macky Elementary School does not have adequate safety measures set in place. This is what happened as reported by KTNV:
Two women face kidnapping charges after police say they went too far trying to prove a point.
Police say the pair kidnapped a 6-year-old boy just outside Joe Macky Elementary School.Laurinda Drake and Elaine Clermont reportedly wanted to show Clark County school leaders that the school was not secure enough.
Officers say the women later released the boy and he is fine.
Their efforts bring up concerns over student safety near schools.
“In this particular case, we have two individuals with an ongoing aught with the administration at this particular site,” explained Ken Young.Instead of spending his morning in class and with his friends, police say the 6-year-old spent a couple of hours with 40 - year - old Laurinda Drake who picked him up and took him to different locations including Elaine Clermont’s home and delivered him safely to officers on West Sahara.
The women allegedly wanted to prove the point that security at Mackey is laxed.
School police say it is anything but.
“The school did a great job immediately reporting the student was not in class,” explained Young.
My reaction as I read the news report? Who is the kid in relation to the two women? Is he related to them? I mean, if I were the parents of the kid and they did it to my son – whether they were related to me or not – I would go bonkers! Alright, I understand that their intentions were good but as the cliché goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions!
It is a good thing that nothing bad happened to the boy while all this was going on but can you imagine the stress that the school authorities and the parents had to go through while he was still in the custody of the two women? I am thinking that there could have been something else that they could have done in order to get the attention of the authorities regarding school safety. These kinds of actions are too drastic and, I think, counterproductive.
What about you, would you go this far to prove your point? Do you think that what the two women did is justifiable under any circumstances?
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Posted on September 10th, 2008 by Deborah J Thomas
Filed under: Administrators, K-6, News, Parents, People Involved, School Grade Level, School Safety Issues, Security, Students
These women didn’t have good intentions at all. Clermont has been a problem since her arrival in Las Vegas and was supposed to be leaving last October. Clermont stated at the last school board meeting that she was going to be arrested. She went off in a completely non understandable psychotic or drug induced rant. She never once mentioned school security that evening. You can hear the entire episode at: http://www.ccsd.net.
CCSD officials have more than graciously accommodated her for over a year now. If there was a security issue at her school she knew who to go to. Instead, she and her friend chose to kidnap a child?
Their lawyer needs to order a psychological evaluation for both of them. It will definitely indicate a serious disorder.
I am a Jo Mackey parent. Last winter those two women arranged to have the Associate Superintendent of our schools meet with the PTSO, our site administrator over the issue of school security. Since Spring Mrs. Clermont has been going to the Board on all kinds of security issues for our students. She has not had a response and our security is still the same.
As I have personal knowledge, the Administration of CCSD DOES NOT LISTEN to parents. And, they were not and are not the only parents concerned about safety at our school. I was encouraged to “go to the District” to have my concerns with my son handled. Mrs. Clermont has advocated parents being involved and has gone again and again to the Board to get us help, and we have received none. They are both leaders in advocacy for parents and student safety.
I believe Ms. Drake found a lost boy and did what she thought was best, not just for that day but for his life. She worked for CPS for years, she protects children. She would not use him as a pawn, she has experience with Jo Mackey, there are many parents who are concerned with the administration and the way students and parents are treated at the school.
If I was the mother of that student, I would be down at the School Board to ask them … “WHY? After our PTSO and our parents have been asking for help on our school security, WHY AND HOW DID MY SON WALK OFF THAT CAMPUS after all the help they asked for from the HIGHEST LEVEL of the school district?” Thank GOD it was two Jo Mackey moms who found that 1st grader … imagine what could have happened … his picture would have been on the news, not theirs!
What happens if it happens again and they are not around, nor are any other parents because if you do, you will be charged with kidnapping!
Just wanted to share my perspective. Those two ladies helped me save my son last year.