[skeptoid]

No mention of amount, but sounds like volentary silence for now.

Anyone know of similar cases with settelments?

[John Jorsett]

Were the parents aware of the magnitude of the problem and yet sent the kid to that school anyway?

[BlazingArizona]

Another victim of "publik skul edukayshun".

Time to start expelling bullies so the better kids can learn. Let it be broadcast that we're condemning them to a life of minimum-wage labor.

[NYCVirago]

What about Tom's suspensions or detentions for fights or skirmishes in which he and his mother both said he was the victim and, at most, was simply fighting back? Gail Opalinski, director of middle school education for the district, testified that any student who "participated in an action" is subject to disciplinary measures. "It has worked in the past," Opalinski testified. "I believe that was an appropriate response."

This is one of the many things that's screwed up about the school system today. The kid is bullied, he fights back, and he gets punished just like the instigator does. And the school *still* thinks that's an appropriate measure. Let the kids have the right to self-defense, and a lot of this stuff would go away.

[abclily]

God bless the children in our public schools.

[netmilsmom]

>>Medical records from the emergency room at Providence Alaska Medical Center that day say the boy's mother told doctors that her son "has been under lots of emotional stress at school" and "has no friends and is teased often at school." <<

I would have been checking the homeschool laws in Alaska.

[MotleyGirl70]

A few years ago I saw a "Dateline" type program showing how these bullies act on hidden camera. They are down right mean for being so small. Evil little kids.

[Heatseeker]

Bullying is a 'hot topic' among educators now, which by itself makes me a bit suspicious.

But - the fact that the school destroyed records between the boy's suicide attempt and when the suit was brought - that speaks volumes, doesn't it?

[MotleyGirl70]

I can relate, being bullied myself in grade school. Being small for my age at the time, the girls were worse than the boys. In the end, when, "I grew into my shoes", if you will, they couldn't hurt me anymore. I hurt them back through the years with my academic and athletic achievements.

[dennisw]

BTTTTTTT

[Hot Tabasco]

I hate bullies! Being smaller than average and moving from a little town in upper Michigan to a Detroit public school undergoing segregation in my junior year of high school was definitely a bad decision on my part.

I think the character "Tanner" from Bad News Bears pretty much sums up what life was like for me in Detroit! LOL!

Thank God I never lost my sense of humor or my willingness to stand up for what's right.

My heart goes out to that poor kid and am saddened by the fact that there was nobody there to stand by his side.........

[BibChr]

Ahhhhhh; socialization!

Dan

[Mamzelle]

Given the natural (can't be denied) predatory nature of undisciplined children, it would behoove the school system to prudently invest in a strong infrastructure of supervision.

Cameras (newly cheap), short-fused intolerance of misbehavior, constant adult observation, investment in security officers.

Teachers must stand in the halls in between classes--and trade off with one another for bathroom and other breaks. But there must be an adult or two in the halls--principals must enforce this policy strongly. Bathrooms are a problem, maybe even have cameras there!

Another potential danger are the "alleys" in between the outbuildings. These should have cameras and adult patrols.

When a kid misbehaves, FINE the parents. As for buses--do not allow any child who shows aggression to ride. Make Mommy drive.

Whatever we need to do to toughen up our kids, they should at least not fear for their lives when they attend school--or just shut the place down.

[TexasCajun]

Conservatives should play the name-game just as our opponents do:

Public Schools = Government Schools

[Paul C. Jesup]

U.S. Public Schools are some nothing more than torture chambers. And I am saying this from PERSONAL experience.

[Paul C. Jesup]

U.S. Public Schools are nothing more than torture chambers. And I am saying this from PERSONAL experience.