Former student sues Eugene schools over bullying
EUGENE, Ore. - A family who says school officials didn't do enough to protect their son was bullying has filed a federal lawsuit against the district seeking unspecified damages.
The lawsuit filed on behalf of a former Cal Young Middle School student seeks compensation for both economic and non-economic damages from the Eugene 4J School District.
The district declined to comment, saying it does not comment on pending litigation. District policy does not tolerate bullying and requires all faculty to report bullying, a spokesperson said.
According to the lawsuit, the boy was bullied for three years. "On a daily basis, plaintiff was targeted as gay though he does not identify as gay," says the lawsuit, filed on behalf of the student identified only as "C.K."
The bullying continued from the 6th through the 8th grade, the lawsuit says. "Plaintiff faced daily verbal harassment and frequent physical assaults," the complaint says.
And it wasn't just students: the lawsuit also names a parent volunteer who "played a video of a track meet in which plaintiff had been lapped, pointing out to everyone to watch this funny part where plaintiff is lapped," the lawsuit says.
The plaintiff's mother claims she tried to inform the school about what was going on, but that the district failed to stop the abuse and even blamed the victim.
The student is now attending private school and seeing a doctor for anxiety.
Luckily, I haven't had any real issue with bullying with either my 1st or my 3rd grader. However, I was bullied as a child in elementary school. The school was at their wits end with the child, but were also in a tough position. The child was a minority, and their parents would YELL AND SCREAM discrimination whenever any discipline was attempted with the child. I eventually had to move to another city, live with another family member, and finish out the school year there. However, I have learned from that experience. If my children were being bullied, I would make (progressively) as huge a deal over it as I could until it was dealt with. This is MY child were talking about... and I WILL do whatever is necessary to make sure that they are not harmed in any way!
I too moved two of my children out of 4J. They were horribly bullied. I went through "all the proper channels" first. I agree with takeiteasy. 4J Administration doesn't help, and some of the "teachers" are part of the problem. I chose to pull my children out as they were being blamed as well. The victims are often blamed. Interesting, it hasn't happened at their new schools and my children are still the same color and people they are. I chose not to sue for the sake of my children. But I applaud these parents, it is time for someone to standup to 4J. They need to take the bully laws seriously and stop the hate.Â
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School officials, teachers, and bullies need to be held accountable.  School is for education, ALL CHILDREN have a right to be safe.
All 3 of my children were bullied within Gilliam, Cal Young and Sheldon. It was a constant battle with school officials.They did absolutely NOTHING!
@souptonuts, it's not always a matter of quality parenting. I met with parents of the bullies and they were at their wits end like I was. I was told by those parents they do what they can at home and they have asked the school to punish their bully children to no avial.
I moved my family out of the state. Best move I ever made. The education provided, at least within the 4J school district is severely lacking. Add bullying to the equation and what exactly are your children learning?
4J Admins support BULLIES! They have not a care in this world for the kids getting BULLIED. They will do whatever it takes to protect the BULLY be it a kid or heaven forbid it being an adult working in their district. They can say all they want that they have a policy against bullying but it is only words on paper. They have no intention to support the kids being bullied, only how they will protect the bully themselves. PERIOD!!
I see Public Schools as having many many problems, but I also see a lack of quality parenting. I believe it is a combination of the two that have caused weaknesses in some of our young people and a meaness in other young people. I would hope that good lawyers are not just seeing more deep pockets and this transfer of wealth garbage. The last thing we need is to open another Pandora's Box in an already dismal economy. If all parents and all teachers would just sit down and come together to try to get truth and honor back in our schools and homes, the rest will take care of itself. Our young people because of all the rules and regulations have nothing to do a good share of the time. When myself and others my age were old enough to carry a bucket we were old enough to do chores and labor according to our capabilities. There was little idle time after chores and school work.  We did not have television, we read listened to stories from our parents. I know that many of you think this is silly, but just look around at the work ethic today, the tenseness in our society, the willingness to jump down someones throat in a heartbeat, impatience, no endurance, disabilities and the list goes on and on. It all has to start with parents, supported by teachers and law makers to do the right thing for our kids. We need to build back strong minds and backs. Our society is in dire need of help.
 @souptonuts No, really, so many parents anymore expect the school and teachers to counter act what ever is going on at home. Although, I will say that a school in 4-J is sending a child on thru every grade and he CAN NOT read AT ALL. I know, because I talk to the parent all the time about the time he plays in video games and she has to read everything to him and when I ask him the simplest word like cat (he is 5th grade this year) he can not do it. So that to me is very disappointing that even in this day they will push these kids thru just to not have to deal with the parents. She blames the school. She says she is paying for them to teach him. It is no longer worth the argument with her and the child doesn't want me in his space.
@UsaidWHAT @souptonuts I am sorry, but if what you say is true, and this 5th grade child can not recognize or spell the word "cat", and is able to play video games, there is a serious parenting problem going on here. A childs education starts in the home, then it is up to the educators to build on this initial learning. Something else is going on the case you describe.
 @gunters  @souptonuts  @UsaidWHAT gunters: Good job working with your "bully" I wish more people would address bullying children this way. Bullying children have serious issues as well. What many don't know is they (without help) often grow up to have serious issues as adults. They need help. You make a very good point. That is exactly why we need to intervene FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.
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That is why bullying is against the law. These kids victims and bullies need help. 4J needs to do what they are contracted to do. If they are going to have our kids all day, they need to be responsible.
 @souptonuts  @UsaidWHAT It's true. They still pass the kids on to the next grade and just put them in remedial classes. It's ridiculous!
 @souptonuts  @UsaidWHAT I have a child from RMS and this child failed every class. I have the report card to prove it. There was no notification that the child was failing. The say they post results of classes on Basmati but many times the postings don't happen because they are so "busy". Bottom line is they passed my child onto the next grade. I have another child I took out of school for being a bully. Home schooled this child from Jan. to June. Now my bully can read, knows basic math, writes better, spells better. And likes science. Maybe the direction of the bullies are not being addressed correctly. Having corrected my own bully I wonder if we need to look into these kids inability to keep up with the schools agenda as part of why they bully. Kids really want to be on a level playing field and sometimes can't without the right help. Parents are fully responsible for their kids success and some people should have never been allowed to be a parent.Â
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 @Serious A Schooler I hear what you are saying my children went through the same thing. This happens all too often. It is sad, as the parents of the bullies should also know, research shows the outlook for bullies is not good either. Your child needs help NOW. The bullies need to be stopped and they have serious issues that need to be addressed, their future is very bleak without intervention as well. I hope your child is getting help. My best wishes are with you and your family.