5-year-old forced to vape in school bathroom by older students in ‘concerning’ video

New York Post - Mar 25th, 2025

A disturbing video has surfaced online showing a 5-year-old boy being coerced to vape in a school bathroom at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning School. The footage, which has sparked outrage, was brought to light by a teacher and reported by TMJ4 News after speaking with the child's mother. The mother, who wishes to remain anonymous, expressed her deep concern over her son's safety and the school's negligence, particularly as her son requires special education support. The Milwaukee Public School (MPS) system has stated they are addressing the incident according to their policies and are reviewing measures to prevent future occurrences.

The incident highlights a growing concern over vaping among minors and the vulnerabilities of young children in school environments. This case is part of a larger pattern of young children being pressured into vaping, underscoring serious health and safety risks. Reports from various sources, including The Conversation, emphasize the dangers of vaping for physical and mental health, especially among teens and children. The situation calls for increased vigilance and measures by schools and parents to protect children from such incidents. Support resources like Quitline are available for parents seeking guidance on addressing vaping issues among teens.

Child Safety Vaping Wisconsin Conservatory Of Lifelong Learning School Milwaukee Public Schools School Incident Special Education Tmj4 News

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.4

Moderately Fair

Read with skepticism

The article effectively highlights a concerning incident involving a young child being forced to vape at school, drawing attention to broader issues of student safety and youth vaping. It provides a clear narrative and includes perspectives from the child's mother and the school, but would benefit from additional viewpoints and verification of the video's authenticity. The story is timely and relevant, addressing public interest concerns and encouraging discussions about preventive measures in schools. Greater transparency in methodology and more diverse sources would enhance the article's credibility and impact. Overall, the story is engaging and accessible, but could be strengthened by exploring the broader context and implications of the incident.

Accuracy

The story presents a factual account of a video showing a 5-year-old boy being forced to vape at a school in Milwaukee. The location, the Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning, and the involvement of Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) are accurately reported. However, the story could benefit from further verification of the video's authenticity and the specific details surrounding the incident, such as the supervision policies for special needs students. The mother's concerns and the school's response are presented accurately, but additional context on the investigation's progress would improve precision.

Balance

The article primarily presents the perspective of the child's mother and the school's official statement. While it highlights the mother's concerns and the school's response, it lacks viewpoints from other stakeholders, such as teachers, other parents, or child safety experts. This omission may lead to a perceived imbalance, as the article does not explore potential reasons for the incident or the school's preventive measures in depth. Including diverse perspectives would provide a more comprehensive view of the situation.

Clarity

The article is well-structured and easy to follow, with a clear narrative that outlines the key events and responses. The language is straightforward, making the story accessible to a general audience. However, the inclusion of more background information on vaping and its risks, as well as the school's policies on student supervision, would enhance the reader's understanding of the broader context.

Source quality

The story relies on a single primary source, the child's mother, and an official statement from MPS. The mother's account is credible but lacks corroboration from other witnesses or school officials. The MPS statement provides an authoritative perspective, but the article would benefit from additional sources, such as interviews with school staff or experts in child safety. This would enhance the story's credibility and provide a more rounded understanding of the incident.

Transparency

The article clearly states the mother's anonymity request and the school's official response, which helps readers understand the context. However, the article does not disclose the process by which the video was verified or how the information was gathered. Greater transparency regarding the methodology and potential biases would improve the story's credibility and allow readers to better assess the reliability of the information presented.