District investigates video shown to second-grade class

“Our district apologized to the families involved for any questions or concerns that this video raised with their children.” Superintendent of Schools Toni Jones

GREENWICH — Secondgraders in remote school in Greenwich were shown a cartoon movie not meant for the classroom that featured depictions of parents fighting and physical and sexual abuse, according to the school district.

The film, called “Albert Jr. & Shadow — A Short Story About Being Scared,” is typically reserved for private therapy sessions with children who have suffered abuse, Superintendent of Schools Toni Jones said. It is not part of the Greenwich Public School curriculum and is “not appropriate” for the two second-grade classrooms to which it was shown recently, Jones said in a statement earlier this week.

“The video was shared during a lesson on social and emotional learning depicting a character who discusses fear and being afraid,” Jones said in a statement. “Around the midway point in the video there is reference to situations in which

children may become afraid, including being afraid of abuse, both physical and sexual.”

The district’s Human Resource Department is investigating the incident, she said. The district also alerted the state Department of Children and Families about the video, which was shown Monday.

Sasha Houlihan, Greenwich Public Schools director of communications, said Thursday that the

DCF declined to open an investigation, “as it did not meet the statutory definition of abuse or neglect. The internal investigation continues to be ongoing,” Houlihan said.

“Our district apologized to the families involved for any questions or concerns that this video raised with their children, and offered support to families from our GPS staff psychologists,” Jones said.

“Per protocol, this was reported to DCF and the district is also investigating,” Board of Education Chair Peter Bernstein said

Thursday. “It would be premature to jump to conclusions or call for any action until that work is complete.”

Some parents said they were outraged that the video was shown and are demanding more action from the school district.

Representative Town Meeting member Carl Higbie has called for the termination of the two teachers who showed the video and has been vocal on social media since he was contacted by “concerned parents” whose kids were in the class where it was

shown.

Higbie said either the teachers involved never screened the video before showing it to the class, which he deemed negligent, or, for some reason, they intentionally showed the video to the students. Either way, he said he would not stop until the district took some decisive action.

“There are close to 200 members of the community that want to see immediate action,” Higbie said. “And I’m not going to let this stand because this was my daughter’s grade and it could have been her watching.” “This is not going away,” Higbie continued. “I will not let this stand without accountability. And anybody who doubts me, stand by.”

Another RTM member and the former Greenwich Republican Town Committee chair also weighed in.

“Full facts must be divulged to the Greenwich community within days — not weeks or months. Appropriate action must be taken, which may well include termination of those involved. Facts now!” Ed Dadakis Tweeted on

Wednesday.

Board of Education member Peter Sherr said he had been contacted by several outraged parents. He said the showing of the video was indicative of a larger problem with curriculum in the district.

“Sadly, I am not surprised because the board and the administration in the last few years have lost control of the curriculum and what our students are taught in the classroom,” Sherr said.