To the editor:

After reading the article about sexual abuse at Central Junior High, I am compelled to write my first response ever to a public forum. I am amazed that people in positions of authority within the Lawrence school district could be so cavalier about this type of abusive behavior by students.

Some of the statements the trouble me are: “students are not aware that their behavior is inappropriate,” “incidents like these are probably not unusual for junior high,” “students are still learning how to behave in unsupervised settings,” and “they don’t understand how to interact.”

Are you kidding me? These are excuses for inappropriate behavior. I cannot be convinced that junior high aged boys that touch girls inappropriately or that expose themselves to others do not have a clue that this behavior is unacceptable and wrong.