first of its kind...

What do you think? Is it the school's responsibilty?

A federal judge has approved a settlement of $55,000 in a first-of-its-kind lawsuit by a woman who claims her daughter was bullied into anorexia. Mary V. filed the lawsuit against the Pittsburgh, Pa. Schools last August on behalf of her daughter, who is now 15. Her daughter cites daily harassment by boys during the 2006–07 and 2007–08 school years, when the girl was in sixth and seventh grade. The harassment involved unrelenting taunting about the girl’s weight, including comments about her being “fat.” She subsequently developed anorexia, and entered an inpatient treatment program for because her weight was “dangerously low.”

Although bullying has always occurred, focus on the issue and the affects it has on children has reached an all-time high since the suicide of Phoebe Prince in Massachusetts last January. As with the Prince case, staff at the school in question were aware of the harassment — but neither teachers, school officials, nor the guidance counselor intervened on her behalf. Peer harassment violates Title IX, an antidiscrimination law. Under Title IX, a school must stop the abuse and can be liable if a student will lose an educational opportunity as a result of the harassment.

Although there is no evidence that bullying in and of itself can case cause an eating disorder, many things are disturbing about this case and the school’s lack of support for this student. The early teen years are pivotal in terms of a body image development, and peer rejection or acceptance are extremely important to the teen psyche. Thomas Cash, author of The Body Image Workbook, writes that “The teen years are a tough time for body image. Teenagers’ feelings of social adequacy depend in part on how they think their appearance is perceived by peers.” He finds that teasing by peers is a factor in those who have disordered body image.

It is important, though, not to oversimplify the connection between bullying and the development of an eating disorder. There are many factors that can play a role, including low self-esteem, family issues, school and other pressures, and cultural norms that exaggerate the need for thinness.

Dr. Ed Dragan, a nationally known expert on bullying who is based in Lambertville, N.J., thinks that it’s good that the case was settled rather than going to court. Dragan, author of the upcoming book The Bully Action Guide, says drawing a direct link from bullying to anorexia would have been an uphill battle. “There are so many variables, other than just bullying, that are clinically linked to this disease. Like the Phoebe Prince case in Massachusetts, kids who are emotionally fragile are already vulnerable to eating disorders, suicide, and other issues,” he says.

“Schools, if they know of students’ emotional issues, need to be more diligent when implementing their anti-bullying policies. These kids, who are already vulnerable, can — with just one more mean word from a classmate — be pushed over the edge to an eating disorder or even suicide.”

I love that schools are being made accountable to control the behavior of students. School should be a safe place for students, instead its made into an absolute hell for many because teachers and administrators and society just let this shit continue.

Yes, by all means, blame the schools - not the dumbass parents who are raising these creeps.

Genesia said:

Yes, by all means, blame the schools - not the dumbass parents who are raising these creeps.

Exactly! Damn schools! Who needs them?

Genesia said:

Yes, by all means, blame the schools - not the dumbass parents who are raising these creeps.

I think the parents should also be held accountable, but if the school knew this was happening and did nothing, they contributed to a bad situation.

Nothinbutjoy said:

Genesia said:

Yes, by all means, blame the schools - not the dumbass parents who are raising these creeps.

I think the parents should also be held accountable, but if the school knew this was happening and did nothing, they contributed to a bad situation.

Exactly and as much as I despise some people around here, I would argue on behalf of their own children that they have a right to go to school without having to endure a nightmare.

Who said otherwise?

PANDURITO said:

Who said otherwise?

Your mockery aside....

Nothinbutjoy said:

Genesia said:

Yes, by all means, blame the schools - not the dumbass parents who are raising these creeps.

I think the parents should also be held accountable, but if the school knew this was happening and did nothing, they contributed to a bad situation.

Oh, please. I was taunted, teased, and threatened with physical violence every single day of sixth and seventh grade by boys who were pissed off because I spoke up in class and got better grades than they. They came after me in every way they could think of - calling me fat (I wasn't), ugly (that either), and stupid (obviously not).

11- and 12-year-old boys are assholes - plain and simple. The only way to get rid of bullying is by killing every boy at the age of 6.

Of course, then the girls would just take over.

Genesia said:

Nothinbutjoy said:

I think the parents should also be held accountable, but if the school knew this was happening and did nothing, they contributed to a bad situation.

Oh, please. I was taunted, teased, and threatened with physical violence every single day of sixth and seventh grade by boys who were pissed off because I spoke up in class and got better grades than they. They came after me in every way they could think of - calling me fat (I wasn't), ugly (that either), and stupid (obviously not).

11- and 12-year-old boys are assholes - plain and simple. The only way to get rid of bullying is by killing every boy at the age of 6.

Of course, then the girls would just take over.

Schools don't have to turn blind eyes.

Genesia said:

Nothinbutjoy said:

I think the parents should also be held accountable, but if the school knew this was happening and did nothing, they contributed to a bad situation.

Oh, please. I was taunted, teased, and threatened with physical violence every single day of sixth and seventh grade by boys who were pissed off because I spoke up in class and got better grades than they. They came after me in every way they could think of - calling me fat (I wasn't), ugly (that either), and stupid (obviously not).

11- and 12-year-old boys are assholes - plain and simple. The only way to get rid of bullying is by killing every boy at the age of 6.

Of course, then the girls would just take over.

Girls that age aren't much better. Some of the things I've seen my daughters' friends do LORDY!!

My daughters are angels of course

If I were to hear of my daughters being cruel in any way to another person I would end them....I mean it. There's no excuse for it and there's no excuse for a parent allowing it to happen. Parents are the grown ups. Kids can be difficult to say it lightly, but parents need to nuture their kids and if that sometimes means breaking off a foot in their ass to get them to act right then so be it.

And for those parents who don't want to nuture their kids, for those who could care less, or think their kids do no wrong, they are still accountable for their kids actions.

Nothinbutjoy said:

And for those parents who don't want to nuture their kids, for those who could care less, or think their kids do no wrong, they are still accountable for their kids actions.

Apparently, not anymore

You cannot truly make anybody else accountable for this but the girl. The bullying has probably been a contributing factor, but with anorexia there is usually a lot more involved. In the end it's the girl herself who chooses not to eat anymore.

--

[Edited 8/13/10 19:06pm]

i think we can all agree that the solution to this problem is to stop havng children.

enough, already.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Genesia said:

Oh, please. I was taunted, teased, and threatened with physical violence every single day of sixth and seventh grade by boys who were pissed off because I spoke up in class and got better grades than they. They came after me in every way they could think of - calling me fat (I wasn't), ugly (that either), and stupid (obviously not).

11- and 12-year-old boys are assholes - plain and simple. The only way to get rid of bullying is by killing every boy at the age of 6.

Of course, then the girls would just take over.

Schools don't have to turn blind eyes.

Then they get sued for disciplining someone's child, or saying something that hurts the bully's feeling . . .

PANDURITO said:

Nothinbutjoy said:

And for those parents who don't want to nuture their kids, for those who could care less, or think their kids do no wrong, they are still accountable for their kids actions.

Apparently, not anymore

I know. No one is accountable for anything anymore.

Tremolina said:

You cannot truly make anybody else accountable for this but the girl. The bullying has probably been a contributing factor, but with anorexia there is usually a lot more involved. In the end it's the girl herself who chooses not to eat anymore.

--

[Edited 8/13/10 19:06pm]

That is also true and that was noted in the original article.

What was also noted is that bullying was known to be happening was not being stopped by the school administration which was against the school's district's policies.

minneapolisgenius said:

Hell, ballet schools should be getting sued right and left then. lol I could have made a fortune off mine!

you were officially anorexic?

I do think the parents bear some responsibility for the girl being anorexic. But when the kids are at school it is their responsibility to make sure the environment is safe. For EVERYONE. It's not ok to pick on kids or bully them because of their race, or weight, or religion, (I was teased mercilessly for being a JW), or hair color, etc. The school had a responisibility to this girl. They looked the other way.

Reminds me of when our middle school integrated in 1971. I knew all the Black kids. I was friends with everyone. Because of that I was spit on, called ni**** lover, tripped in the hall, even suspended for sitting with a Black boy at lunch. School became unbearable for me. Plus I was teased for being a JW. The school and the teachers did nothing to help me. They were racist and didn't care. Things could have gotten much worse for me but my mom took me out of school in the 10th grade to wait for Armageddon. I might have been dead otherwise.

ZombieKitten said:

minneapolisgenius said:

Hell, ballet schools should be getting sued right and left then. lol I could have made a fortune off mine!

you were officially anorexic?

Nah, not me. But nearly. So many others I knew were though. Either that or they had other pretty severe eating disorders.

I am so far away from the ballet world of my youth though, even though I'm dancing again, I'd never get like that this time around. This story just reminded me of my good friend's daughter who just graduated from the Royal Ballet School in London, and they are apparently horrible there in this respect, which doesn't surprise me. One of the best schools and companies in the world, but the director regularly tells the students that they are fat cows and will never get a job dancing.

[Edited 8/14/10 11:05am]

minneapolisgenius said:

ZombieKitten said:

you were officially anorexic?

Nah, not me. But nearly. So many others I knew were though. Either that or they had other pretty severe eating disorders.

I am so far away from the ballet world of my youth though, even though I'm dancing again, I'd never get like that this time around. This story just reminded me of my good friend's daughter who just graduated from the Royal Ballet School in London, and they are apparently horrible there in this respect, which doesn't surprise me. One of the best schools and companies in the world, but the director regularly tells the students that they are fat cows and will never get a job dancing.

[Edited 8/14/10 11:05am]

It's INSANE how many in that world think that talking to their students that way is a good way to motivate them.

Talk about being cows. (Sorry Cow)

Nothinbutjoy said:

minneapolisgenius said:

Nah, not me. But nearly. So many others I knew were though. Either that or they had other pretty severe eating disorders.

I am so far away from the ballet world of my youth though, even though I'm dancing again, I'd never get like that this time around. This story just reminded me of my good friend's daughter who just graduated from the Royal Ballet School in London, and they are apparently horrible there in this respect, which doesn't surprise me. One of the best schools and companies in the world, but the director regularly tells the students that they are fat cows and will never get a job dancing.

[Edited 8/14/10 11:05am]

It's INSANE how many in that world think that talking to their students that way is a good way to motivate them.

Talk about being cows. (Sorry Cow)

Yes, my friend went right in there to speak with the director and called her just that. It does motivate them though: it motivates them to eat a half an apple for a full day's energy for class and rehearsals.

I do think schools should be held accountable when they try to turn a blind eye, and I'm sure there is a cost for medically treating an eating disorder, but how did they arrive at $55,000.

And Pandurito, that's enough sarcasm and " nyeh neh nyah" from you.

Of course the schools should be held accountable, but so should the parents of the bullies and the parents of the girl.

But everyone needs to stop pointing fingers at each other and take a good hard look at themselves and the roles we all play.

Eating disorders are rising among boys too.

I remember in middle school we had a Health class, and learned about feelings, temperaments, body types, body image, self-esteem and awareness, sex education and careers. I'm wondering if this student had the benefit of that kind of education.

Then I should have sued fo 55,000 because I was a vomiting, bingeing, machine in middle and high school. THat fucking school owes me for it!

Now....had I gone to a different school district, outside of suburbia, I prob would have been a hoochie. Those boys appreciated my lumps. So...hoochie, or bullemic? Which could it have been? I had 0 self esteem and it started at home. School only amplified it. The school is not at fault.

This lawsuit is absolutely frivolous. People EXPECT schools to take the place of the foundation that parents should have been setting up from day one. Yeah, the douche bags called me fat ass, but I blame my parents for not instilling unshakeable confidence (and myself, too). People do not realize, but unintentionally, parents pass down their own insecurities. Not a fucking school.

Cinnie said:

I do think schools should be held accountable when they try to turn a blind eye, and I'm sure there is a cost for medically treating an eating disorder, but how did they arrive at $55,000.

And Pandurito, that's enough sarcasm and " nyeh neh nyah" from you.

Hey, I also think schools should be held accountable IF they know what's happening and do nothing BUT only partially. What happens to the bullies' parents? Nothing? Not fair IMO

If more parents had to pay for their children's misbehaviours I'm sure there would be less bullies around.

Sorry you took it personally but the starter of the thread asked for our opinion. Deal with it.

PANDURITO said:

Cinnie said:

I do think schools should be held accountable when they try to turn a blind eye, and I'm sure there is a cost for medically treating an eating disorder, but how did they arrive at $55,000.

And Pandurito, that's enough sarcasm and " nyeh neh nyah" from you.

Hey, I also think schools should be held accountable IF they know what's happening and do nothing BUT only partially. What happens to the bullies' parents? Nothing? Not fair IMO

If more parents had to pay for their children's misbehaviours I'm sure there would be less bullies around.

Sorry you took it personally but the starter of the thread asked for our opinion. Deal with it.

Okay finally you have stated your own point beyond mocking others'! That's what I would rather read.