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| South Carolina Fifth Grader Dies After School Fight, Officials Say | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A fifth-grade student in South Carolina has died after a fight at her elementary school this week, a devastating outcome that left her community shocked with grief and spurred a discussion about how to handle painful issues of bullying and violence in the classroom. | A fifth-grade student in South Carolina has died after a fight at her elementary school this week, a devastating outcome that left her community shocked with grief and spurred a discussion about how to handle painful issues of bullying and violence in the classroom. |
| The student, Raniya Wright, had gotten into a fight with another fifth-grade student at Forest Hills Elementary School on Monday and collapsed, according to officials in Colleton County, about an hour west of Charleston. | The student, Raniya Wright, had gotten into a fight with another fifth-grade student at Forest Hills Elementary School on Monday and collapsed, according to officials in Colleton County, about an hour west of Charleston. |
| Emergency workers who responded to a 911 call found Raniya “unconscious but breathing” at the school nurse’s station and rushed her to the hospital, the authorities said. By Wednesday morning, her mother said in a Facebook post, her “baby girl” had gotten her “wings.” | Emergency workers who responded to a 911 call found Raniya “unconscious but breathing” at the school nurse’s station and rushed her to the hospital, the authorities said. By Wednesday morning, her mother said in a Facebook post, her “baby girl” had gotten her “wings.” |
| It was unclear what led to the fight. The other student was suspended, school officials said, and the authorities were investigating. An autopsy was scheduled for Friday. | It was unclear what led to the fight. The other student was suspended, school officials said, and the authorities were investigating. An autopsy was scheduled for Friday. |
| “Raniya was a wonderful student,” said a statement Wednesday from the office of the superintendent of the Colleton County School District. “She loved to write, spend time with her friends, play basketball and loved being a big sister. She was actively involved in her church as a junior usher. She will be missed greatly.” | “Raniya was a wonderful student,” said a statement Wednesday from the office of the superintendent of the Colleton County School District. “She loved to write, spend time with her friends, play basketball and loved being a big sister. She was actively involved in her church as a junior usher. She will be missed greatly.” |
| “Our entire school district is saddened by this event,” the statement said. “It is very difficult to experience the death of a young person.” | “Our entire school district is saddened by this event,” the statement said. “It is very difficult to experience the death of a young person.” |
| In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Raniya’s mother suggested that bullying may have been a factor. She posted a photo of her kissing her daughter’s cheek, as Raniya lay unresponsive, wearing a neck brace and hooked up to tubes. “Stay woke PARENTS!” she wrote. Attempts to reach her on Thursday were not immediately successful. | In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Raniya’s mother suggested that bullying may have been a factor. She posted a photo of her kissing her daughter’s cheek, as Raniya lay unresponsive, wearing a neck brace and hooked up to tubes. “Stay woke PARENTS!” she wrote. Attempts to reach her on Thursday were not immediately successful. |
| A spokesman for the school district said Thursday that he could not comment on whether bullying had played a role, citing a continuing investigation. | A spokesman for the school district said Thursday that he could not comment on whether bullying had played a role, citing a continuing investigation. |
| A spokeswoman for the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office described the episode as a “physical altercation” and said no weapons were used. | A spokeswoman for the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office described the episode as a “physical altercation” and said no weapons were used. |
| No arrests or criminal charges had been made, she said. The other student is a minor and has not been identified. | No arrests or criminal charges had been made, she said. The other student is a minor and has not been identified. |
| Though information was scarce, Raniya’s death was a stunning development to what felt like a familiar issue to parents in the South Carolina community and beyond, leading to a discussion about the challenges facing young students and their families today. | Though information was scarce, Raniya’s death was a stunning development to what felt like a familiar issue to parents in the South Carolina community and beyond, leading to a discussion about the challenges facing young students and their families today. |
| News 2, a television station in Charleston, reported that a group of parents met at a library in Colleton County on Wednesday to discuss what they see as a problem with bullying in the district. | News 2, a television station in Charleston, reported that a group of parents met at a library in Colleton County on Wednesday to discuss what they see as a problem with bullying in the district. |
| Online, condolences poured in for Raniya’s family. A GoFundMe account had raised more than $40,000 by Thursday morning, with messages of support from other parents — “To a mother from a mother” — and those who had experiences with bullying themselves. “I see myself in your beautiful daughter,” wrote one person who recalled being picked on in elementary school. | Online, condolences poured in for Raniya’s family. A GoFundMe account had raised more than $40,000 by Thursday morning, with messages of support from other parents — “To a mother from a mother” — and those who had experiences with bullying themselves. “I see myself in your beautiful daughter,” wrote one person who recalled being picked on in elementary school. |
| Forest Hills Elementary School had about 700 students as of the 2016-17 school year. There were 44 classroom teachers, with a student to teacher ratio of 15.77, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. | Forest Hills Elementary School had about 700 students as of the 2016-17 school year. There were 44 classroom teachers, with a student to teacher ratio of 15.77, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. |
| The elementary school had about 50 student behavior incidents that led to out-of-school suspensions last school year, according to data provided by district officials. | The elementary school had about 50 student behavior incidents that led to out-of-school suspensions last school year, according to data provided by district officials. |
| A special meeting of the Colleton County school board was scheduled for Thursday afternoon. | A special meeting of the Colleton County school board was scheduled for Thursday afternoon. |