WTF - how does this happen?

[pamela]

WTF to the teachner, the school, the abductor.  To me this is scarier than a random abduction.


www.cnn.com/2013/01/15/justice/pennsylvania-abduction/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

Philadelphia (CNN) -- A 5-year-old girl abducted Monday from a West Philadelphia elementary school was found early Tuesday barely dressed and crying under a slide at a playground, police said.

A pedestrian walking by the park around 4:40 a.m. heard the child crying.

"When I got closer, it sounded clear: 'Help, help,'" the Good Samaritan, Nelson Myers, said at a news conference Tuesday.

"When I saw her under the slide I was shocked," he said. "She was there by herself and only had a shirt on."

"Five-year-olds don't escape. Someone put her at that playground," said Capt. John Darby, commanding officer of Special Victims.

The girl told Myers she "was stolen," Darby said.

The girl was taken by an unidentified woman wearing Muslim-style head garb with her face covered, authorities said.

The woman, walking with an umbrella, came to Bryant Elementary School shortly after school started Monday. She scribbled her name on a sign-in sheet, police said.

She did not show identification, but said she was the child's mother and wanted to take her out for breakfast, Darby said. She then proceeded to the child's classroom and asked for the girl by name.

"It appears this is not a random act," Darby said, adding that the woman "knew exactly what to do."

Darby said police do not know the abductor's identity, and that neither parent had given permission for the child to be taken out of school.

There were "no overt" signs of injury, but the girl was being examined for any assault, Darby said.

The investigation is ongoing, and police are continuing to search for the abductor or abductors.

After the girl disappeared Monday, Pennsylvania State Police sent out an Amber Alert and police announced a $10,000 reward.

Law enforcement and Mayor Michael Nutter turned to social networking sites Twitter and Facebook to ask for the public's help.

"It's disturbing that an adult is able to walk into a classroom and have the teacher release the child without knowing who the adult is," said Fernando Gallard, School District of Philadelphia spokesman.

Policy requires anyone signing out a student to go to the main office, and provide identification that matches a list of approved individuals, he said.

The substitute teacher who was in the classroom will not work for the city schools during the investigation, he said.

Officials are reaching out to all school personnel to make sure they understand the policy for signing out students.

[MrsAxilla]

This sort of sounds like a plot line from a movie or 24 or something. Like someone sending a "message" to the family.

[summer]

That's so scary.

I read somewhere else that the mother also wore a headscarf and face-covering. I suppose they thought it would be rude or offensive to ask if they could see her face? The girl didn't recognize either that it wasn't her mother until it was too late, I suppose?

[redheadbaker]

Jan 16, 2013 10:12:33 GMT -5 @soudesafinado said:

But I thought schools had limitations on who could check out your child?

They do. The woman gave a name that was on the approved list which is why they think it's someone who knew the child and/or her family. 

[redheadbaker]

Jan 16, 2013 10:24:23 GMT -5 summer said:

That's so scary.

I read somewhere else that the mother also wore a headscarf and face-covering. I suppose they thought it would be rude or offensive to ask if they could see her face? The girl didn't recognize either that it wasn't her mother until it was too late, I suppose?

The little girl thought it was one of her aunts. 

[iammalcolmx]

What the fuck? That poor child.

[redheadbaker]

The non-teaching assistant that was "working the door" has been removed from that position, and the substitute teacher has been suspended. All full-time teachers are required to attend yearly training sessions on security, but it's unclear whether the substitute teacher received that training.

[EloiseWeenie]

That poor little girl

[twotrue]

I'm terrified of this happening at DD's school. Even though they are supposed to check ID and have a permission slip from me (or DW) to allow someone else to pick up DD, I have doubts that certain teachers would check. Some of them just seem too timid. And some of the new teachers have never met DW so I could see someone assuming another woman was my wife. Likely to happen, no? But I can see it unfolding there. Just another reason why I want a better daycare option.

[decemberwedding07]

Jan 16, 2013 10:36:47 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Jan 16, 2013 10:24:23 GMT -5 summer said:

That's so scary.

I read somewhere else that the mother also wore a headscarf and face-covering. I suppose they thought it would be rude or offensive to ask if they could see her face? The girl didn't recognize either that it wasn't her mother until it was too late, I suppose?

The little girl thought it was one of her aunts. 

This is so, so scary.  But it does bring up a good point about providing security to children whose legal female guardian(s) wear face-coverings.  Other than simple facial recognition by the teachers/administrators at the school, what is a low cost way of positively identifying a person? 

[redheadbaker]

Jan 16, 2013 10:46:00 GMT -5 decemberwedding07 said:

Jan 16, 2013 10:36:47 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

The little girl thought it was one of her aunts. 

This is so, so scary.  But it does bring up a good point about providing security to children whose legal female guardian(s) wear face-coverings.  Other than simple facial recognition by the teachers/administrators at the school, what is a low cost way of positively identifying a person? 

According to their security policy, teachers are allowed to ask women to remove their facial coverings for identification, but as I said, they're not sure the sub received security policy training. 

[decemberwedding07]

Jan 16, 2013 10:48:08 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Jan 16, 2013 10:46:00 GMT -5 decemberwedding07 said:

This is so, so scary.  But it does bring up a good point about providing security to children whose legal female guardian(s) wear face-coverings.  Other than simple facial recognition by the teachers/administrators at the school, what is a low cost way of positively identifying a person? 

According to their security policy, teachers are allowed to ask women to remove their facial coverings for identification, but as I said, they're not sure the sub received security policy training. 

But wouldn't a female administrator or teacher need to ask the woman to remove her facial covering on they day they met the child, and then several times after, to be sure they'd remember the woman?  I know I couldn't see someone on August 15th, and then say 4 months later, "Yes, that's definitely the same woman!"

[redheadbaker]

Jan 16, 2013 10:56:14 GMT -5 decemberwedding07 said:

Jan 16, 2013 10:48:08 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

According to their security policy, teachers are allowed to ask women to remove their facial coverings for identification, but as I said, they're not sure the sub received security policy training. 

But wouldn't a female administrator or teacher need to ask the woman to remove her facial covering on they day they met the child, and then several times after, to be sure they'd remember the woman?  I know I couldn't see someone on August 15th, and then say 4 months later, "Yes, that's definitely the same woman!"

The teacher or administrator might not have remembered her, but the child would've recognized that it was not her aunt and said, "I don't know you, I'm not going with you." 

[meshaliuknits]

I would've thought that removal of face coverings would be to match face to ID and ID to names on the approved list.

Sent from my EVO

[soontobeka]

First, WTF but I also have some questions. (My only experience with this is at B's school)

When B is checked out of school during the school day, we have to show ID. As much hell as we have raised at B's school this year regarding her placement they can probably tell you my license plate number but we still have to show ID AND be on the approved list.

I have only read the article in the OP, but was the front desk staff suspended during the investigation also? They are the first line of defense and seem to have dropped the ball (if providing ID is policy).

This whole story is weird.

[redheadbaker]

There's a press conference about the suspects going on right now.