It wasn’t bringing a tiny toy gun to class or making a weapon shape with his finger that resulted in 6-year-old Hunter Yelton’s suspension. It was kissing the hand and cheek of his female classmate, actions that his school deemed “sexual harassment.”
The Colorado boy was home from class on Monday, according to KRDO, following the display of affection.
“We were doing reading group and I leaned over and kissed her on the hand,” he told the station. “That’s what happened.”
Yelton’s mom, Jennifer Saunders, said the two children consider each other boyfriend and girlfriend. She admitted that Yelton has had trouble at school before, involving kissing the same girl on the cheek. But she pointed out that she has been dealing with her son’s behavior at home by grounding him.
Saunders is angered that the school is placing “sexual harassment” on his permanent record.
“”How can you do this?” she asked. “How can you say this about my child? Remove sexual harassment — remove it from his record. I’m going to stand up and fight for him because that’s not the case, that’s not what happened at all.”
The school district superintendent told the station that the boy’s actions fell under the definition of sexual harassment based on the school’s policy. Administrators hope the suspension changes his actions long-term.
The boy reportedly returned to school on Tuesday.
