Preschoolers Walk Out of School without Any Adults

Category: Human Interest

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. unaccompanied / ˌʌn əˈkʌm pə nid / (adj) – not together with another person
    Example:

    During the whole trip, the teacher did not leave her students unaccompanied.


  2. faulty / ˈfɔl ti / (adj) – having an imperfection or weakness
    Example:

    Many customers complained about the smartphone’s faulty design.


  3. motorist / ˈmoʊ tər ɪst / (n) – a person driving a private vehicle
    Example:

    The motorists stopped driving to let school kids cross the street safely.


  4. toddler / ˈtɒd lər / (n) – a young child who just started learning to walk
    Example:

    I would rather teach my toddler at home than send him to a preschool.


  5. neglect / nɪˈɡlɛkt / (v) – to fail to give attention or care
    Example:

    Some students neglect their studies to spend more time playing video games.


Article

Read the text below.

Seven unaccompanied children left their preschool in Arizona and were seen walking on a nearby road.


The preschoolers, approximately as young as 18 months, were from Little Sunshine’s Playhouse & Preschool. According to the school’s employees, the kids managed to leave the school’s playground because the gate was faulty.


Despite the incident, the kids were not harmed. Motorists noticed the toddlers walking on the street alone and immediately took them back to the school. One of the drivers who brought the children back spoke to a school employee. She reported that the staff did not know the children were missing.


Little Sunshine immediately responded to the incident. The school officials suspended the staff who neglected their duties. Furthermore, the preschool released an official statement, announcing plans to set up additional safety features on the gate. In addition, the school reported the incident to Arizona’s childcare licensing authorities.


The Arizona police are also conducting an investigation. Although investigators think that it is unlikely for a criminal case to push through, a lawyer who is not connected to the investigation said that Little Sunshine may still face civil charges.


In light of the incident, some parents whose toddlers attend the preschool expressed concerns. One father said that he does not feel comfortable about his kids going back to the school. A mother cannot believe that the kids managed to leave the school so easily. She feels horrified, thinking that a worse scenario could have happened if the kids were not rescued right away.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• Do you think the school officials managed the incident well? Why or why not?
• If you were the parent of one of the children left unaccompanied, what would be your reaction?

Discussion B

• In your opinion, what other kinds of incidents should schools keep students safe from? Explain.
• What are some ways to further ensure the safety of children in school? Discuss.