The victimization of Nicole Veltze
Friday, March 7, 2008Written by: Alan Gottlieb
A compelling story by Nancy Mitchell in today’s Rocky Mountain News illustrates how quickly a well-intentioned person’s career can be destroyed when dysfunctional bureaucracies collide.
Nicole Veltze, principal of
But for Veltze to face criminal charges for not calling the cops is the height of absurdity. It’s reminiscent of stories about first-graders who get suspended for accidentally bringing Mom’s paring knife to school in their sack lunch.
Now, in fact, Denver Public Schools employees are being forced to overreact to a comical degree. Only it’s not funny. So we’re being treated to stories about teachers calling social services when two five-year-olds are caught exchanging a smooch on the playground. Or a six-year-old boy being investigated by cops for telling a classmate she had “a sexy booty.”
DPS workers are rightfully worried that they could fall victim to the same overreaction that could cost Veltze her job. No wonder they want to cover their booties.
It’s clear that something of a pissing match has developed between DPS, the Denver Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office. And Veltze is the one getting sprayed.
There is a way to develop common-sense solutions to challenges like these. This doesn’t mean sweeping inappropriate behavior under the rug, or sanctioning sexual harassment. It means taking action commensurate with the magnitude of the alleged crime.
Poor Nicole Veltze. She is the epitome of a good soldier, volunteering for some of the toughest jobs in DPS, and performing them admirably. Let’s hope the cops and the DA come to their senses before she ends up with a criminal record for trying to do the right thing.
And let’s hope DPS gives her back her job at Skinner. It’s the least she deserves.
March 12th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Ms. Veltzé is a great prerson. I had her for my 8th grade year. Now I am a proud student at Denver Center for International Studies. She is a great person. I know that she intended to do good. If you look at the progress she did at Cole Middle School. Veltzé is just a person bettering a school. I know this. I was part of the Denver Mile High Scholars and I was also presented with the Student Leader Of The Year 2006-2008. I am proud and strong with my stance that she didn’t intend wrong.
April 2nd, 2008 at 12:02 pm
I read this article in http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/mar/18/it-was-sexual-assault-not-sexual-harassment/
It was sexual assault, not sexual harassment
This letter has not been edited
S. DeLeon, Lakewood
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
A student at Skinner Middle School in Denver reported to school principal Nicole Veltze that she was groped in class by two boys. The boys admitted groping the girl. Ms. Veltze suspended them and gave the girl’s mother the option of “Restorative Justice,” which can include letters of apology and sitting down with the involved parties to discuss the matter. She did not report the incident to the police. However, the girl’s mother did. Ms. Veltze is now charged with the misdemeanor of failure to report an allegation of child abuse or neglect at her school. Ms. Veltze is now crying scapegoat. DPS is defending her saying that she followed the DPS guidelines for dealing with sexual harassment. Regardless of what the DPS guidelines for sexual harassment are, they do not apply here because this was a sexual assault.
I think the educators need some educating. The groping of another persons private body parts is sexual assault, not sexual harassment. Sexual assault is a crime. When a child reports being the victim of sexual assault to a school employee, that school employee is required by law to report it to the police. DPS guidelines, whatever they are, do not supersede the laws of the State of Colorado or the City and County of Denver. Ms. Veltze broke the law. She has also diminished the seriousness of the crime of sexual assault and has potentially placed every other student in her school at risk. Instead of defending her actions, DPS should terminate her immediately. That they are defending her shows more concern for their own self-preservation than with the safety of their students.
I wonder if Ms. Veltze were sexually assaulted on the grounds of Skinner Middle School, would she follow DPS guidelines for sexual harassment or call Denver Police? If she chose the DPS guidelines, how would she feel about sitting down with her assailant for a face-to-face chat in the spirit of “Restorative Justice”?
THIS IS MY REPLY
“The groping of another persons private body parts is sexual assault, not sexual harassment. Sexual assault is a crime”. So states S DeLeon
I had to do some research in the word “groping” and I see is a slang word when referred to sexual behaviour. To use such uncommon word in his, her letter it only means that he is a lawyer or a practising groper.
From: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/groping
1. To make (one’s way) by reaching about uncertainly.
2. Slang To handle or fondle for sexual pleasure.
In common speech frotteurism is called groping. In psychiatry, the clinical term frotteurism (no longer called frottage) refers to a specific paraphilia which involves the non-consensual rubbing against another person to achieve sexual arousal.
Adult on child frotteurism is a common early stage in child sexual abuse.
Whatever DeLeon is, is correct in saying that groping is sexual abuse. What he does not say is WHAT IS SEXUAL ABUSE
Fromhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_sexual_abuse
Sexual abuse refers to sexual abuse of a child by an adult, or some other person significantly older or in a position of power or control over the child…..
Under the law, “child sexual abuse” is an umbrella term describing criminal and civil offenses in which an adult engages in sexual activity with a minor or exploits a minor for the purpose of sexual gratification.
For DeLeon information, this case involves children of the same age and as such no law describes groping amongst children as a crime and in this instance I rather stay with the proper definition of groping. That is: “To make (one’s way) by reaching about uncertainly” or the act of discovering sexuality in children.
DeLeon suggest to send the underage gropers to jail and to have them catalogued for the rest of their lives as sexual offenders and the principal fired for protecting gropers.
“We don’t want any children thrown in jail, but there is an issue that needs to be addressed,” Angelique Rivera said”.
Even parents of groped girls do not want to see classmate gropers sent to jail. See the following video and article of a case of probably major gravity: http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=5970339
DeLeon says: “I think the educators need some educating”
I say that DeLeon and the editors of Rocky Mountain News need to be educated, The first for writing such a stupid letter and the seconds for publishing it without any research.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:55 pm
My daughter was sexually assaulted by a boy in her pre-k class during nap-time. He forcefully kissed her, then pulled her pants down, licked her front area, then exposed himself to her. All while the teacher was in the room no more than 10 feet away. The principal did not report it. Said they were too young. Now my daughter is having nightmares and closes her eyes to avoid the boy (still at school) She has been in therapy for 8 months. If it had been reported, she would have gotten help sooner. More help than the school counselor having her draw a picture and then telling me she’s ok. Procedures are put in place for a reason. I don’t blame the little boy. He saw it somewhere, or someone has done it to him. Now, because it wasn’t reported, he too is a victim. I’m sure the principal is a nice lady. But she was WRONG! and kids are gonna suffer. I hope they throw the book at her!!!