The bully-pulpit.
I heard a story on the news this morning about the Fargo School District paying a former student a $300,00 settlement in a case alleging that the student was bullied for several yearsI am opposed to bullying. I hope for the day when our schools and culture foster a climate that makes it clear that no form of bullying will be tolerated. Better yet-- ( Read more... )
I don't know where the settlement number came from (and I won't; mediation proceedings are private and nondiscloseable). If it was based on the former student's medical expenses for psychological care, okay, that seems reasonable. And I like the schools agreement to implement anti-bullying programs and training. But if the former student is getting financially awarded for having been bullied... that doesn't seem right. Also, it will encourage others to sue their school districts for the same thing in hopes of getting money, and I can see this becoming like all the ridiculous personal injury cases where people see it as an easy way to get money.
And the biggest problem with this progression? In the case of public schools, the money is coming out of the pockets of the taxpayers in the end, many of whom may be advocates for anti-bullying, or victims themselves.
I can see the sense in taking this to court. It gets attention and sends a message that schools can't get away with looking the other way, and that's a good and sometimes necessary thing. It's one of the things our legal system is for.
But I really think doing it as a personal injury type case with a monetary award was the wrong way to go about it. I know the reasons the school settled, and I'm not sure it was the right choice.
At least it didn't get through trial, so it hasn't actually set legal precedent. But the other school districts in North Dakota and the rest of the US aren't going to be thanking Fargo for opening them to lawsuits because they let it work the first time.
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