A Rockville parent said he was moved to speak out and advocate for his 10-year-old son, who was allegedly struck in the head on his schoolyard in early October, after reading about MCPS middle school student Lenny Diaz on MCM news. Diaz was hospitalized with serious injuries after another student threw a metal object at his head.
The parent, John Bittner, has a fifth grader at Sequoyah Elementary School in Derwood, whom he said has been harassed by two classmates for several years. Bittner alleges his son was kicked in the head and suffered headaches and nightmares as a result.
“It’s pretty much gotten down to where, you have the honor [roll], smart kid, who loves school to the point now where he’s having nightmares. He’s having trouble sleeping. He gets up. He cries. He doesn’t want to go to school,” said John Bittner, the parent of an MCPS student who said his 10-year-old son is experiencing physical and verbal harassment.
Bittner spoke on camera exclusively with MCM, stating one of the accused students threatened gun violence.
“He’s scared and honestly, I can’t blame him,” Bittner said.
Bullying Incident at Sequoyah Elementary
In an Oct. 8 incident during recess involving Bittner’s son the 10-year-old was kicked in the head, while another child was attacked by the same two students, according to a police complaint filed by Bittner and his wife..
The family said they saw it with their own eyes when they viewed a video of the incident captured on a campus surveillance camera with school officials.
“The principal and the director have met with the parent on multiple occasions regarding the incident. To move forward, the school developed a safety plan to continue to support the student. MCPS Student Code of Conduct was followed. We remain open to collaborating with parents to ensure a safe and secure learning environment for all our students,” according to an email from a MCPS spokesperson.
One option the family was given was to have their son transfer to a different school. But they said they don’t want that and question why their son should have to move away from his friends.
On MCPS’ website, there is a Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation Prevention page that states, “Montgomery County Public Schools is strongly committed to providing an equitable, positive, and respectful school culture where all students can safely learn in an environment that encourages academic and social success. Any behavior that creates a hostile school environment, disrupts learning and school activities, or negatively interferes with a student’s academic, psychological, social or physical well-being will not be tolerated.”
MCM attempted to contact the parents of the accused students and did not receive a response.
Aftermath of Incident at Odessa Shannon MS
Meanwhile, MCM contacted the school district to request a copy of the incident report regarding the Odessa Shannon Middle School student through the Maryland Public Information Act. That student was hospitalized following an Oct. 22 incident during gym class in which he was struck in the head by a metal object thrown by another student. He sustained an open skull injury, according to his mother.
The request for the incident report was denied due to student privacy. “Disclosure of such emails would, in our view, discourage full and frank deliberations by MCPS decision makers and other Montgomery County agencies, which is contrary to the public interest,” said Deputy Chief of Communications for MCPS Christopher Cram in a letter responding to MCM’s request.
However, the schools’ principal confirmed general details of the incident in a follow-up note to parents obtained by MCM.
The middle school student is now home from the hospital but needs further surgery.
Diaz Mom Speaks Out
The student’s mother originally posted on Facebook, “The bone fragments went into his brain.” He is improving, according to more recent Facebook posts.
In one post she wrote, “These panic attacks I get really bother me. I’m so angry and frustrated with everything going on, my baby didn’t deserve this. He’s a sweet boy. You see his personality in the videos I uploaded on my stories. I just don’t understand why. I just want to know why. My mommy heart can’t take this anymore.”
Bittner Family Waits for Answers
The Bittner family is continuing to engage with their son’s school and the school district on a plan to support their 10-year-old son and find a resolution.
