My neighbor is having problems with her 8 year old's school. She's in 3rd grade and has attended the school since kindergarten. Need legal advice PLEASE! WHat can be done?? Here's the background info:
1st grade: child comes home with lice. She is an only child and has contact with other children only at school. My neighbor treated her child and then notified the school so others could be checked too.. The next day the child goes to school. The school nurse checks out her hair and finds a lice egg. The nurse FREAKS out and calls my neighbor at work, basically saying she was a bad mother. The child's grandmother gets involved and almost brings the nurse to tears for embarrassing the child in front of her classmates. The nurse apologies..
2nd grade: Child is bullied relentless by 3 girls who "gang" up on her and keep others from being her friend. She is basically isolated from her classmates. My neighbor informs the principal and the teacher.
2006-09-02 06:44:22 · 11 answers · asked by molly m 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
She keeps at them to resolve the situation but to no avail. The child becomes depressed and no longer enjoys school. The teacher makes up excuses about it being out of her control because they (the school) have notified the parents of the girls and the girls are not being disciplined at home.. The vice principal promises action but never follows up. Only checks the child's progress once.. The child earned "tickets" to enter in a drawing to have lunch with the principal and won, but when lunch came around all the other winners names were called EXCEPT hers. She no longer participates. She still earns the "tickets" for being good but refuses to enter them in the drawing box...
2006-09-02 06:44:41 · update #1
3rd grade: When school started they (school employees) claimed that they believed the child was no longer going to attend the school. When asked why they said someone had sent back a survey letter marked with an X, stating that the child would attend a different school. When asked to show the paper, it only had an X in the box. No signature or ANY other info. Just a simple little penciled in X that ANYONE could have done. My neighbor asked why she wasn't notified by phone or mail. No logical answer. She asked if they thought it was strange that she didn't request the necessary transfer documents to enroll her child at another school if her child would no longer attend their school. Again no logical answer. My neighbor and her child were made to wait 3 HOURS to finally be allowed to "re" enroll in the same school she has been attending since kinder. The child actually had to sit and wait on the floor in her new school clothes since there were no available chairs for her.
2006-09-02 06:44:58 · update #2
Recent: Yesterday the child was singled out for a louse inspection which the school claimed was random. NO other child was screened in the ENTIRE school. My neighbor called up and asked who authorized this "random" screening which only included her child. The secretary claimed that another child was also checked. My neighbor's child said that she was the only one scheduled and the "other" child who was checked was a girl from her class who was only supposed to "escort" her to the nurse's office, but that she started scratching her head in front of the person doing the screening so that's why she was also checked. It was not the school nurse who did the inspection, she was out that day. My neighbor's child did not scratch her head in class at anytime or give any other implication that she might have lice.
2006-09-02 06:45:14 · update #3
The worst part is that the other students in her class were made aware of it and are now teasing and ostracizing her. This makes it the third year that this poor child has been ostracized by her peers. She was actually happy to be in third grade and not scared to go to school until this recent incident. She is once again a nervous wreck and depressed. It's soo sad to see this 8 year old go through this. It seems like the school is retaliating at the mother through the daughter. This 8yr old is shy, quiet, and sweet. She loves science and art. She used to love school but now she no longer wants to go. She feels like the principal and her teachers are out to get her.
2006-09-02 06:45:32 · update #4
Wow.. I feel sorry for the kid, all that bad stuff happening to her. They could get a counselor and maybe read this book called "Dibs", it's by Virgina M. Axline. It may be related or may be far off-topic. Just depends on how you look at it.
2006-09-02 06:56:38 · answer #1 · answered by darktorcher 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I hate to say this but I can't believe how this poor child is being 'tossed' around like this! Come on, does it take kindergarten years, first two grades and the start of another new year to make it clear to the parent that it is time for her to take her child away from what I would call abuse in this case. ( we only have your word for it-sorry but basing this on fact)
She, in no way deserves to be going through all this, she deserves better- send her to another school who really cares for their students.
First of all, the school and the school nurse should never let on to other children that another child in their class has lice no matter what. It should be discretely done and both parents and nurse should work together to ensure the child does not suffer.Treating her unfairly regarding isolation, bullying and the ticket incident is rather nasty indeed. Something the principal needs to sort out immediately.
Secondly, the parents should do their best to make sure their child and all members fo the family are treated for lice in order that it doesn't return. It should be noted, however; there is always a risk of lice with any child not just one.
I get the impression too the school may have had reason to check the child head again, BUT they have to do so in a discrete manner with the parents knowledge beforehand.
Legally, you will be advised to seek out the an expert for advice.
However, I think you should not put the girl through any more distress. Consider changing the school for her sake.
2006-09-09 00:32:39 · answer #2 · answered by VelvetRose 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you ask me, and all of this is happening to the girl, why not switch schools? You'd be able to leave all of the abuse behind and start fresh.... give the little girl a chance to have some friends, by getting her involved in some afterschool activities she would like.
There isn't much legal action you CAN do, because it's basically their word against yours... you could take it to court, but then the cost of lawyers and the time wasted, would yield nothing, and the little girl will STILL be suffereing through the entire ordeal, it might even get worse, because she will be singled out as having to go to court and everything...
So, honestly... have her switch schools. If it really is just a few teachers/adminstrators that have it out for the mom, then it won't happen at a new school....
Also, have the little girl enroll in some activities that are OUT of school... like music lessons, or a martial art, or dancing... that way, if she STILL doesn't feel comfortable at school, she will still be able to have a source of friends through some other outlet...
Hope this helps... and good luck.
2006-09-02 06:57:49 · answer #3 · answered by theviolet41 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I feel so bad for children who have to go through this type of abuse. The school can be held liable. My niece went through alot of hardship in school until her mother...my sister stepped in. What my sister did, which may help you is go to the board of education. My sister also tried to talk to the teachers and principal...to no avail. My niece was constantly harassed & abused by other girls. My niece went through alot, it also got to the point where she did not want to go back to school. What those girls did to my niece was horrible. Anyways, the teachers and principal would say to my sister that they were going to do something about it. What they did to help was a joke. Finally my sister threatened to go to the media and the board of education. Needless to say they did not want the publicity and finally did something. I tried to keep this story as short as possible so you could get the gist of it. Unless you take the bulls by the horn the school will drag it on and on. Have your neighbour show them that she means business. Your neighbour should let the school know that she not only will get the media involved, but she has friends (such as yourself) and others that will back her up. Your neighbour can also get a lawyer, but the system is not always the fastest. My suggestion, get a lawyer for holding the school liable and whatever else she feels is appropriate. But until she can get to talk to a lawyer and get the proceedings on the way...it could take awhile. Use the media as your leverage. You'll get a quicker response and action. There is also the Human Rights she can go to. Your neighbour and her little girl have rights. If her story got out in the media...I know she would get alot of positive response, and that is the last thing the school wants.
I hope this helps out a bit. I wish you all the very best of luck! If you need any more info. please do not hesitate to contact me on my e-mail which you can get on my Yahoo 360.
2006-09-02 07:48:16 · answer #4 · answered by Lei-Loo 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well i think u should get the child enrolled to another school and then take some legal action against the school authorities.coz if u dont do so and directly take some legal action against the school authorities ,then the child is sure to face a lot of problem (humilation) from the school authorities........... so don't really get them a chance again and get her enrolled to another school
2006-09-02 07:15:03 · answer #5 · answered by bitsman123 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Umm yes that was very long. Yea, that is very sad. No child should have to go through it but unfortunately there is always that one child that will. I would transfer her to another school.
2006-09-02 06:53:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's a lot to be said for Home Schooling.
2006-09-09 03:57:23 · answer #7 · answered by clear_skyzz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I SAY GET AN ACLU ATTORNEY AND SCARE THE BEJEEBERS OUT OF THE WHOLE LOT OF THEM.
HAS SHE TAKEN THIS TO THE SCHOOL BOARD. SHE NEEDS TO FOLLOW THE CHAIN OF AUTHORITY TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. BUT IF IT WAS ME....I'D GET THE ACLU LAWYER AND GO TO TOWN ON THEM. SHE ALSO NEEDS TO KEEP AS MUCH DOCUMENTATION AS SHE CAN. KEEP TRACK OF ANY PHONE CALLS THAT SHE MAKES...ANYTHING THAT SHOWS PROOF SHE HAS DONE ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING SHE CAN TO STRAIGHTEN THIS THING OUT.
THIS IS THE WORST KIND OF BULLYING...COMING FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PROTECTING HER!!!!!
2006-09-02 06:59:49 · answer #8 · answered by valducci53 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Switch her school
2006-09-08 12:00:26 · answer #9 · answered by sam (joe thornton) pro 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
transfer schools!
2006-09-02 07:36:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋