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

Government warns schools that bullying can violate civil rights laws

Washington (CNN) -- Bullying and harassment in schools often includes violations of federally protected civil rights, the federal government warned Tuesday in new guidelines for educators on how to address the problem.

If school administrators fail to properly deal with harassment based on gender, race or other issues, they risk being cited for contributing to a pattern of civil rights violations that could, in extreme cases, lead to a cut in federal funding, according to top officials who spoke to reporters on a conference call about the new guidelines.

"In extreme cases, schools could be stripped of their federal education monies if they don't comply with all of our civil rights laws," said Russlynn Ali, assistant secretary for civil rights. Also on the call were Arne Duncan, secretary of education, and White House Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes.

The issue of harassment gained prominence this year after a spate of suicides by students who were being bullied. President Obama has called for greater awareness of the problem, saying the nation must "dispel the myth that bullying is just a normal rite of passage or an inevitable part of growing up."

The guidelines were part of a letter that began "Dear Colleague" sent Tuesday to thousands of schools, colleges, universities and school districts around the country that included examples of bullying and harassment cases that constituted violations of federal civil rights laws.

In addition, the government said the White House will host a conference next year on preventing bullying and harassment, building on efforts by Duncan's department and other agencies.

In August, the Obama administration hosted the first National Bullying Summit and launched a national campaign against bullying.

Ali said the government proposed $410 million in fiscal year 2011 spending for "successful, safe and healthy students," a 12 percent increase over 2010.

In a statement Tuesday, the American Civil Liberties Union welcomed the new government guidelines for making clear that most religious, gender and sexual harassment comes under federal civil rights prohibitions, but it called for expanding the federal law to eliminate any doubt.

"Though the guidance goes far under current law, it does not replace having a federal statute that explicitly protects" lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, said Laura Murphy, the director of the ACLU's Washington legislative office.

Murphy called for Congress to pass the Student Non-Discrimination Act, a bill pending in the House and Senate that the ACLU said would guarantee that homosexual and transgender students are explicitly protected from harassment and discrimination under federal law.

The issue of harassment gained prominence this year after a spate of suicides by students who were being bullied. President Obama has called for greater awareness of the problem, saying the nation must "dispel the myth that bullying is just a normal rite of passage or an inevitable part of growing up."

The guidelines were part of a letter that began "Dear Colleague" sent Tuesday to thousands of schools, colleges, universities and school districts around the country that included examples of bullying and harassment cases that constituted violations of federal civil rights laws.

Story found at http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/10/26/schools.bullying.discrimination/index.html