[John Jorsett]

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

[MotleyGirl70]

Children always don't want to disclose bulling to their parents, probably for fear of shame or embarassment.

[the_devils_advocate_666]

The point is, schools were not created to raise our children. If they misbehave, they should be removed (why does the gov't force parents to keep them in the system?), if they aren't doing well in the public school environment, parents should take them out. Public school is simply a service that is supported by our tax dollars and should be available for those who chose to take advantage.

[jocon307]

Yes, I would have to say that was my thought too. When my daughter was very little I had her in day care, but I knew even then that had she been a different child that might not have been an option.

But it still sounds like the school administration really blew it on this one, knew it, and deserve to pay. From later in the article: "...But school records describing that incident and others involving Tom and classmates were destroyed by the school at the end of the 1998-99 school year under the district's policy, according to school officials. That was after the boy's attempted suicide but before the lawsuit was filed."

That sounds pretty suspicious to me. Whatever happened to the concept of "your permanent record". I certainly doubt any school rids itself of all student disciplinary records, or anything, that fast.