Wednesday, June 06, 2012

Doe Vs. Covington and schools in Texas

I was surprised when I contacted a mother from a youtube video under coxxranch (4 videos) that the schools are so hard to work with in the complaint process. You can only present evidence in the first hearing with the school, and all further hearings no further evidence can be introduced. I was intrigued, and then I heard about Doe vs. Covington, the case that has landed a precedent that somehow (I don't know how) correlated to the bullying cases in Texas that are being thrown out.

Doe vs. Covington

This case was about a 9 year old girl who was checked out of school by Tommy Keyes (not a family member) and the superior court ruled that Keyes was a private actor, and the school was not liable for releasing the child only to be sexually abused by him. The court ruled that the school was not responsible as they could not have foreseen the incident that was to take place at the hands of a private actor. 

What does this have to do with Texas?

In Texas, mothers who are trying to get bullying/peer abuse addressed with their school are often hearing Doe vs. Covington as a way for them to avoid the law. In one case, the mother told me about how the fines would disappear if the kids would fight and the administrators would bet on these fights. I imagine this isn't in all the schools, but parents need to be aware of what is going on, and what to expect if they are bringing up Doe vs. Covington as a way to avoid the states law on bullying. 

Really, Betting on Fights?

First off, you don't bet on children in fights, and secondly schools need to be accountable for these occurrences, as no one is above the law. I have heard that judges and even advocates are routinely paid off to look the other way, and leave the parent wondering what happened. This is not all, in some cases supposed advocates (in southern states) have charged parents up to 2,000.00 to help them, when for almost 5 years I haven't charged a dime, and these crooks have slashed the tires of administrators and did nothing further in the form of resolution with the school. 

If you are looking for a service, and the advocate charges you money, chances are your getting duped. Advocate sites already have information on them of what to do in documentation, and what you need to know as a parent.

Check out this lawsuit
http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/05/29/Bullying.pdf?utm_source=June+2012+Newsletter&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_medium=email

If you have a question feel free to email me at pkefdr@aol.com

3 comments:

Ms Diverted said...

I love your blog and I am "very" passionate about this cause. So much so, that I created a petition on the whitehouse.gov site, and am just praying for new bullying laws!! I know you are also passionate about this issue! Your blog contains so much wonderful information and links!Bloggers on this subject are educating people on the seriousness of bullying. Please keep your blog going,and continue to spread the word so that those of us who are passionate about it, can make the important changes that are, and have been so desperately needed! I will be reading your posts from now on! Here is the link to my petition. Thank you for taking the time to sign my petition. If you wouldn't mind, please forward to others who share our passion! God Bless you & thank you for your blog! I look forward to learning more!

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/enact-zero-tolerance-law-prohibiting-school-bullying-wvarying-punishment-levels-offenders-and-jail/d9VmCs2c

Robin

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