"AI pornographic images were circulated of your 14-year-old daughter," the WHS principal informed me on Friday. "This has been confirmed by four people, but not to worry, the person who did it is gone."
"We have it under control, the images were deleted," the vice principal informed me earlier on Friday, "but actually he will be back next week, as we can't keep him out."
I listen on the other side of the phone and can't believe my own ears. Am I the only one that thinks this situation is being mishandled? So I send an email on Monday, with follow-up questions to the WHS administration, Westfield Board of Education and the anti-bullying specialists. No answer. So I follow up on Wednesday with three other emails. At this point, I am tired of waiting.
Dear Westfield parents, if you believe the Westfield school district and WHS should do more to keep our children safe, please connect with me so that we can demand more than simply waiting for things to blow over.
This incident should serve as a teachable moment. To our female students as a message that behavior like this is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. And if the authorities fail to protect them, they have the right and responsibility to advocate for themselves.
To our male students, that there will be consequences. As of this Wednesday, October 25th, the boy is back in the WHS and walking the same hallways as my daughter. Looking her in the eye. Making her feel like she is invisible.
As a mother, I find this unacceptable. My daughter should be spared the trauma of seeing him for the next 2.5 years.
If you are a parent of another WHS victim, please reach out to me at 646-662-3378, so our voices can be heard.
On another note, I believe we should also demand that the educators of our district implement immediately a new AI policy and start to initiate the process of tightening the existing loopholes around the use of AI and pornography. They have the chance to be part of something bigger. They are choosing not to.
What has happened to my daughter, no one will be able to take back. But we have a chance to protect future victims. Please reach out if you would like to talk more and demand justice for our girls and future victims.