This article is more than a little disturbing. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100409/ap_on_re_us/us_school_bullying I'm sorry, but if the bullies are criminally negligent, then so are the school officials who knew about the abuse. Maybe I'm wrong since I'm not a law student, but it just seems that if the law applies to one group (the bullies) then the same reasoning applies to the other group (the officials).
Perhaps the school officials are not criminally wrong but they sure are morally wrong. The parents are also responsible for their children and should do all in their power/authority to ensure that their children do what is right. It is the parents responsibility to be reasonably aware of how their children behave and treat others. Neglect or ignorance is no excuse for school officials or parents to allow such behavior to happen! This type of bullying is a good enough reason for me to homeschool.
I was bullied in middle school (well I imagine everyone was to a certain extent). Middle school was a struggle and I vowed since then to at least homeschool my middle schoolers. I would imagine officials needing to be held responsible. They knew of the issue and if they did nothing, it's as if neighbor observes the abuse of a child next door and does nothing.
I most certainly think the school officials are MORE responsible, they were the authorities and the adults in this, and KNEW what was happening, and did nothing. They are just as guilty.
If a doctor knows of abuse and does not report it, then the doctor is liable. Why not the officials? If a teacher knew of a child being abused, isn't she or he required to report it? Then why aren't these officials held liable for the abuse they neglected? Very sad story. My dd will be in 7th grade next year....she considered sending her to school. That's not going to happen.
The officials, or at least one of them, will be liable. A threat of physical violence-while not AS punishable as the actual act-is a reportable offense. They are required to report it because it went from a "bullying" situation to an actual threat of physical harm, which IS considered a form of abuse. Having it in writing is concrete evidence. Someone is gonna be in a lot of trouble....and I wouldn't be surprised if an attorney finds a way to bring the bullying person to court as well (as a cause of her committing suicide....or at least an attempt.) This is absolutely horrible.
They already filed charges against the bullies. But so far (to my knowledge), they have no filed any against the school officials. In the article it says that the prosecuter? said the official's actions where not criminal.
