jmeyer3131

You've probably seen this article by now. There is a school system in Pennsylvania where some parents are suing because an older kid raped some younger ones. Apparently the school knew about the first one, but kept quiet and let the kid stay in classes.

Here's an excerpt about what the school district attorney said in court:

In federal court last month, the district's lawyer, John Freund III, argued that school officials cannot be held responsible under the Constitution simply for failing to protect youngsters from assaults by other students.

He cited federal court rulings that say school systems are generally immune from paying damages unless it can be shown that they actually took "affirmative" steps that put youngsters in danger, and that the action taken "shocks the conscience."

That attitude is just scary.

I have to add that I'm pretty confident of the school system where my daughter goes. Things are out in the open and dealt with. My daughter and some friends have just recently reported somebody for sexual harrassment (and I'm not talking just a touch here and there, it was pretty bad) and the school has handled it extremely well. I can't say enough about the principal there. She's outstanding.

I only hope that the majority of school systems are much more open. What they did was just wrong.

If you're not homeschooling, do you have faith in your school system? (And even if you are homeschooling, what's the reputation of your school district?)

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Janet
www.CanIChangeALife.blogspot.com

mamab

Personally, I think the school is liable in this case. If they knew about the older student and didn't take steps to remove the student for everyone else's safety, then they are just as guilty as the student that committed the crime. I can't see how they could feel otherwise, except to cover their own tails. If they knew the student had already committed one rape, why didn't they suspend the student for the remainder of the year? They had just cause.

Since my kids aren't in the public school system, I really don't know about the reputation of the school system in regard to anything sexual in nature. I know academically they have a good reputation, but I'm not sure about otherwise. The one thing I do know they AREN'T very good at is racial situations. I haven't heard anything else that would be upsetting.

trick-r-treat

I wonder why a school wouldn't have jumped all over that the first time. Were they afraid of this kid's parents, are they some higher ups or something? Which shouldn't have made any difference.

Teresa

After the first time it happened, the school district should have taken some sort of action. If they had, the other three children would have been spared what happened to them. They should definitely be held responsible for all incidents past the first one.

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Wife to Barry
Mother to Brian,Adrienne and Amy
Christianity is not a religion like most people think. Christianity is a life of imitating Jesus.