Keeping it real: 12-year-old Yashua Robinson dies
Last updated Sep 5, 2023 by BVN
“At this difficult moment, we are deeply saddened to confirm the death of one of our students due to a medical emergency at one of our LEUSD campuses. Our thoughts are with the family, friends and our school community.
Lake Elsinore Unified School District spokeswoman, Melissa Valdez
The death of Yahshua Robinson, a 12-year-old middle school student, while jogging during gym class at Canyon Lake Middle School in Lake Elsinore last week was devastating for his family, school and community.
According to a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department report, deputies were called to the school at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, August 29. A press release from the Yahshua County Police Department shows that the time of Yahshua’s death was 12:25 p.m.
By 10:45 a.m. that day the temperature in Lake Elsinore was expected to be at or near 90 degrees, by 12:30 the temperature was expected to rise to 100 degrees and by 2:30 p.m. Temperatures are expected to reach 102 degrees according to. to hourly forecasts by Worldweather.info.com.
Of course, we must withhold judgment regarding Yashua’s death because the incident is still under investigation. However, early reports indicate that young Yahshua was mainly punished for not dressing appropriately for PE class and his teacher asked him to run because he did not.
Certainly the question arises, Why would a teacher tell a child to run when temperatures are dangerously high?
Although the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) notes that “there is no specific temperature that is too hot for an infant or child to be outdoors,” it’s important to be safe by limiting the amount of time your children spend outdoors. outside during the hottest hours.
The American Academy of Pediatrics also highlights the importance of limiting sun exposure between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun is at its strongest. Water and fluids should also be provided outside for children’s consumption.
Hourly forecast for Lake Elsinore 29.08.2023
Portions of San Bernardino County and large swathes of Riverside County were at “high risk” of heat effects on Aug. 29 according to the National Weather Service’s (NWS) HeatRisk forecast tool recommended by the California Department of Public Health for schools in the state for use in hot weather. Guidance on sports and strenuous activities during extreme heat.
According to the department’s Heat Hazard Network guidance for schools, when a heat risk level is considered significant, as set for parts of San Bernardino and Riverside counties on August 29, the following is the first item recommended: “Canceling outdoor activities during the heat of the day (usually from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and move activities to the cooler part of the day.
Evidently, regulations were in place to prevent young Yehoshua from running in the dangerous heat. Why did they fail? Why was he ordered to run as punishment when it was so hot?
“Cancel outdoor activities during the heat of the day (usually 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and move activities to the cooler part of the day.”
Again, we should refrain from passing judgment until the investigation is completed, but I have some concerns because the rules set out to guide the schools seem clear. In addition, as an ironic point, many media reported, Robinson’s mother is a gym teacher in another district, and she alerted school officials of the extreme heat that same day. She asked the administration not to let the children out for gym lessons.
I try to keep my mind fixed on the tragedy and away from “what if” scenarios and remind myself that Yahshua’s death may not be heat related. However, common sense says regardless of the cause of death, it was too hot for the children to run outside that day. And I couldn’t help but wonder if unconscious bias played a role. A quick look at the staff at Canyon Lake Middle School shows little, if any, diversity.
I say this because a quote I read from his aunt, Amarna Plummer, revealed that her nephew “was reaching out to the teacher saying he needed some water. He said he couldn’t breathe.” This is a refrain we hear over and over again in the black community when a black child or adult is coerced by authority.
The family also alleges that the teacher ignored the young Yahshua’s request for help. The hollow silence of power that we also know in the black community.
I hope I am wrong in my assessment but for these reasons we must continue to ask why?…and we will continue to ask the question.
Of course, this is just my opinion. I keep it real.
