Judge Throws Out 9 of 13 Charges in Baltimore Bullying Case

In my Saturday, December 17th blog entry, "VICTORY!!!", I spoke briefly about a case in Baltimore where a 10-year-old special needs student had been bullied so severely, his parents were suing the school administrators and system.  I provided a link to the article.  Maybe you read it.  Maybe not.

The latest development in that case is the judge, today, through out nearly 3/4 of the charges brought against the school and its administrators.  An amazing 9 of the 13 charges were dropped, citing that they were "too vague".  Apparently, not everyone has adopted a ZERO TOLERANCE policy, yet. (the maddening thing is Maryland is MY state!!!)  If the school officials in this case get off with nothing more than a wrist slap, what message will that send?  What will that say to the family involved?  What does the kid, himself, get out that?  I'll tell you.  He, and they, will come away with a state-sanctioned message that kids getting bullied while on their watch really isn't a big concern of theirs.  Says the defense attorney in the case, "Not all fights...are bullying..."  I'm thinking the defense attorney doesn't have kids.

Let's set this straight:  bullying is NEVER ok!  And, when it happens at school or on school grounds, the school administrators are required, REQUIRED!, to take immediate and decisive action.  Anything less than that, and every child in that school system is at risk everyday that they are in school.

Maryland would do well to follow Tennessee's lead from earlier in the week.  There, the judge sent a clear-cut message the bullying was absolutely not tolerated there.  State-by-state, that same policy needs to be introduced and upheld.  Once implemented, any teacher or school administrator who doesn't follow the zero tolerance guidelines should be removed from a position where they are responsible for the safety, physically and emotionally, of young people.  Failure to follow the zero tolerance guidelines means that they are incapable of protecting YOUR children from vicious attacks.  And, if that's the case, they should have to pay.  Pay by losing their jobs.  And, as in the case in Baltimore, they should have to pay monetarily for the pain and suffering endured by the bullying.

Here's to hoping the jury makes the right decision.