Bullied Student To Sue Bullies And Their Parents

[Alan C.]

Tormented For Years, NYC Student To Sue Bullies And Their Parents

 

“I thought that I would never have friends. I thought that I would never live a happy, fulfilling life. And I sort of just lost the will to live because of that,” Caitlin Rocco said.Bullies pushed 16-year-old Rocco to the verge of suicide — not once, but twice.She said they tormented her every day for years.Last year she was hospitalized after having suicidal thoughts.“One girl pushed me into the bus lane and said ‘I wish there had been a bus coming because then you would’ve died and I would’ve been happy,’” Rocco said.Rocco is a senior at Scholars Academy in Rockaway Beach. She said she’s counting the days until graduation — when she’ll finally escape her tormenters.Until then, she and her mother are fighting back, preparing to sue the bullies and their parents.“I think parents can do their part by raising children who understand that there are all different kinds of people and it is in no way acceptable to bully any kind of person for any reason,” Rocco said.Her mother didn’t want to appear on camera, but she had a message.“Raise your children, and teach your children some tolerance,” Marah Rocco said.Caitlin Rocco got the help she needed, but Joel Morales wasn’t so lucky. The 12-year-old hung himself last year because of bullies.“I have meetings together with the fathers and the kids….and they don’t do nothing,” Morales’ mother, Babilonia, said.Like the Roccos, Morales’ mother said parents are to blame and wants them to be held legally responsible.However, child specialists argue it’s not that easy for parents.“Parents cannot 100 percent control what the kids are doing,” clinical social worker Doretha Buster said.Kathy Wiegand raised six children. She agreed.“We’re not ultimately liable for what our children do. Our children are independent of us,” Wiegand said. “We should go into it with the idea that we’re helping parents and giving them tools to succeed. We don’t want to put them in a defensive position.“That’s an absolute last resort,” Wiegand said of lawsuits.

 

[Naer]

usuing the state who are bullies to sue other bullies. makes sense

[FreedomPhilosophy]

The school has a duty of care to protect its students from bullying while on their premises. If it fails in that duty of care then it should be sued. Parents should withdraw their children from any school where bullying is not being effectively prevented. If children are being bullied just off school premises, then it is their parents responsibility to escort their children out of school.

 

Expelling repeat offenders would also be a logical step in preventing bullying.