Day Camp Hazing Is A Disgrace

To the Editor:

Ritual hazing in Newtown’s Parks and Recreation Day Camp is a disgrace and not acceptable. For Camp Supervisor MaryAnn Reggiano to simply say that the practice will not occur again is not enough. If the activity has been going on for some time surely the supervisors knew about it. It is their responsibility to know, their responsibility to protect all the campers, young and old.

When parents send their children to day camp they have a right to know that their children are well cared for, and not to be the victims of hazing, or seeing other people being victimized.

In addition, Newtown Parks and Recreation programs are funded by the taxpayers who along with parents have a right to be sure that disgraceful activities such as hazing are not simply shunted aside with the scapegoat-like statement that it will stop.

All those responsible, from the top down, should be fired!

Many years ago my own two children loved day camp, could not stop telling us all the wonderful things they did. It is too bad that campers today have to see such brutish things as hazing.

We all owe Maryann Barrett a real debt of gratitude for having exposed ritual hazing at day camp.

William D. Downing

10 Saw Mill Ridge Road, Newtown                             August 2, 2004