Follow-Up of the Day: Abused Bus Monitor Responds [UPDATED]

UPDATE: Just one day after the horrific verbal abuse of Karen Huff Klein by a group of teens went viral, an online fundraiser to send the 68-year-old bus monitor on "the vacation of a lifetime" has raised nearly $300,000 (and climbing). What was Klein thinking as the juvenile delinquents berated her Monday?

Something about me being so fat and ugly your kids probably should commit suicide. I don't think they knew my son had… I wanted to punch them is what I wanted to do. So that's why I laid back, tried to ignore it. Because I really wanted to hurt them, you know? You can't do that!

Klein said she doesn't want the students to face criminal charges, but that she would like to see them "grounded all summer, or maybe all year." She also would love an apology. Meanwhile, the Greece Central School District has launched an investigation: "The first we learned of the incident was by email Wednesday morning," said Deborah Hoeft, the district's assistant superintendent. Two more videos of Klein being harassed have been found, and students are being questioned. "This behavior is inexcusable and a clear violation of our code of conduct," Hoeft said. A news conference is planned for later today. [shortformblog]