Parents Demand Transparency Over Alleged Student Punishment Practices at Sevier County Middle School
MONROE, Utah (KUTV) — A disturbing account of excessive exercise as punishment for students has led to a heated call for transparency from parents in Sevier County. Jared and Shana Kummer are advocating for the release of surveillance footage from South Sevier Middle School, where they claim their daughter and her peers endured a form of punishment that left her physically ill and emotionally distressed.
The incident in question occurred on November 21, 2022, when the Kummers’ sixth-grade daughter returned home feeling unwell after what she described as a grueling "endurance day" planned by a teacher’s aide. “We did 400 push ups in gym today,” she told her parents, recounting a day filled with intense physical exertion that left her feeling nauseous and struggling to breathe. By nightfall, she was unable to move her arms, suffering from severe muscle pain.
Driven by concern for their daughter and other students, the Kummers reached out to school officials to understand the rationale behind such extreme discipline. “We just want parents to know what’s been happening to their children,” said Jared Kummer. “And we want children to know that what was done to them was wrong, that their rights were violated.”
The exercise routine allegedly imposed included sets of push-ups, followed by sprints, totalling 405 push-ups and 34 sprints in just half an hour. Eyewitness reports indicated that this was not an isolated incident; in fact, students were warned that their peers had previously vomited from similar exercises.
In response to the growing controversy, the Sevier School District conducted an internal investigation, resulting in a letter sent to parents stating that “endurance days will no longer occur.” However, the letter was criticized for lacking details about the events of November 21.
“This event is just the tip of the iceberg,” Jared Kummer stated, advocating for a more extensive review of potential disciplinary practices in the gym. The district acknowledged the concerns and committed to eliminating the use of physical exercise as a punishment in their curriculum.
Biblical teachings about compassion and care for one another can offer profound insights into situations like these. Jesus taught us to show kindness and consideration to those in our care, reminding us to treat others as we would like to be treated (Matthew 7:12). As the Kummers seek justice for their daughter and accountability within their community, their efforts also resonate with a deeper call for empathy and kindness, especially towards the vulnerable.
As the Kummers have taken legal action to address what they believe is a serious violation of their daughter’s rights, they emphasize the importance of acknowledging the pain caused by such practices and the need for schools to foster nurturing environments rather than punitive ones.
In closing, it is a moment ripe for reflection: How can we, as a community, embody the compassion that Jesus exemplified? When faced with adversity, let us remember the call to uplift rather than to punish, ensuring our actions and policies reflect a commitment to the well-being of every student. This situation asks us to consider how we can foster environments filled with grace and understanding—values that lie at the heart of our shared humanity.
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