quote:
HAMMOND — The parents of a 13-year-old Hammond Catholic school student say their daughter was hospitalized because of constant bullying by two classmates and the school not only failed to take proper disciplinary action against the bullies but forced their daughter to leave the school. William and Jeanine Holmes, the girl’s parents, allege in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in state District Court in Tangipahoa Parish that administrators at Holy Ghost Catholic School on North Oak Street failed to discipline two seventh-grade boys who allegedly “severely and traumatically bullied” the girl for months through verbal threats and taunts on social media.

Apparently, the parents complained to Holy Ghost. HGS did suspend the bullies for a few days, which does follow their handbook in which the parents signed and agreed to, but the parents wasn't satisfied with just a 2 day suspension. They threatened the principal and staff repeatedly to the result of the school threatening a restraining order on them and having cops present at times with the parents there. The older brother of the girl then started protesting during carpool line everyday. The parents claimed her kids was expelled. The school basically said their buisness were no longer welcome due to the threats by the parents.

I know this will divide the community in Hammond on which side is right. My question to you OT philosophers: what roll does schools have on bullying that happens outside of school grounds (cyber bullying), or should this be an issue between the bullies parents and the bullied parents only?

I know, TL:DR

If Germans, please delete. I searched Holy Ghost, Hammond, catholic school, lawsuit, and a few other words

Update:
Better Link

quote:
Late on Wednesday afternoon, following the filing of the lawsuit, a spokeswoman said in an additional statement, “We have not been served with a lawsuit regarding a bullying matter. The Federal Education Privacy Act does not allow us to comment on a student's discipline or academics. We may confirm that a family did make a complaint against two students for acts of bullying, that the administration took those complaints seriously, followed up and disciplined the students. These actions were taken in accordance with handbook and policy of the school and diocese. The discipline was serious, was more than detentions but less than expulsion and was designed to teach them that bullying is not acceptable at Holy Ghost or anywhere else.” It continues, “The complaining family was not satisfied with the punishment and demanded that the two boys be expelled. The father of this family became so threatening toward the principal, the pastor and the school itself that a restraining order from the court had to be obtained against the father prohibiting him from threatening the administration and the school. While we do not agree with the actions and the accusations of the family, we are praying for them, and sincerely hope that they are happy at the new school they have chosen for their children.” The diocese finished, “The family also reported this to the civil authorities. We will cooperate with the civil authorities in whatever way they request as long as it does not violate the federal law regarding privacy in education. To our knowledge, no arrests have been made.” The Holmes' say, “The diocese mentions the temporary restraining order (TRO) as an attempt to distract from the real issues.” They say they're fighting because their daughter believes it will make a difference for others.

This post was edited on 3/27/14 at 7:05 pm