Brief
PETA urges Maryland school board to reinstate bus driver fired after kitten rescue
The animal‑rights group says the dismissal sends the wrong message about compassion in schools.
By Felo News Desk · Published
PETA has launched a petition urging the Harford County Board of Education to reverse the firing of Cynthia Morgan, a veteran bus driver who stopped her route on Heaps School Road to let a 10‑year‑old student rescue an injured kitten.
What happened
On a quiet stretch of Heaps School Road in Pylesville, Maryland, Morgan, 67, was driving a school bus for Harford County Public Schools when Alex Thomas, 10, the only child on board, spotted an injured kitten on the roadside. Morgan stopped the bus, allowed Thomas to pick up the animal and kept the kitten with her after dropping the child at North Harford Elementary School. The district terminated Morgan’s employment the following week.
What the reports add
The Independent notes that a Change.org petition supporting Morgan has gathered more than 10,200 signatures as of Wednesday, up from 9,000 the day before. PETA’s letter to the board, cited by the outlet, argues that punishing an adult for facilitating a child’s act of compassion contradicts the schools’ stated goal of nurturing caring citizens.
What was said
PETA Senior Vice President Colleen O’Brien told the outlet, "A child who stops to help a kitten in danger is showing exactly the compassion and respect for others that schools should nurture. Kindness should be encouraged, not punished."
Parent Carolyn Kalambi, speaking to CBS News Baltimore, described Morgan as “an angel” who often buys school supplies and birthday cards for students. Kalambi added, "It’s definitely a concern for safety. There is no question that it was a mistake, but she knows she made a mistake and should not have done what she did."
How it came about
Earlier Felo coverage of school‑related safety incidents, such as the bus fire on the Yamuna Expressway, highlighted the importance of balancing safety protocols with community expectations. The current dispute reflects a similar tension between procedural safety concerns and the desire to model compassionate behaviour for students.
Key facts
- Cynthia Morgan was fired after stopping a school bus to let a student rescue an injured kitten. (independent.co.uk)
- PETA has started a petition that has collected over 10,200 signatures demanding her reinstatement. (independent.co.uk)
- PETA Senior Vice President Colleen O'Brien said kindness should be encouraged, not punished. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “PETA backs petition to reinstate bus driver fired over kitten rescue”
