Posted on 09/21/2006 5:44:48 AM PDT by laotzu
A fake web page on the website, myspace.com, has some Northside ISD students in legal trouble, News 4 WOAI learned Wednesday. The teens are accused of using the site to spread malicious rumors about their vice principal.
The vice principal is taking the students to court, News 4 WOAI learned.
On Clark High School's web page, a picture of Assistant Principal Anna Draker has been removed. According to Draker’s attorney, a couple of students doctored her pictures and posted them on myspace.com.
The civil lawsuit claims a couple of students who Draker disciplined retaliated by filing the myspace page. The web page was filled with lewd, defamatory and obscene comments, pictures and graphics, according to the suit.
The students even attacked the assistant principal's sexuality by posting false rumors, Draker’s attorney said. The suit claims Draker has been harassed by others accessing the web page.
Assistant Principal Draker is also suing the students parents, suggesting they have a duty to supervise the teens, according to court papers.
Geez, settle down. Discipline is one thing, lawsuits are something entirely different.
Do you live in one of those "no children allowed" communities?
So vice principals don't have the power to impose after school detention or in-school suspension any more? No more "write 500 times" assignments?
Going to the lawsuit level on this is just silly and a waste of valuable court time.
There's detention, suspension, and expulsion. The article does not mention whether or not the parents were even contacted before it got to this level. Again, making this a lawsuit is just plain silly and a waste of the court's time.
In school, I was always terrified of my principals. I had a healthy respect because I knew if anything happened at school, my parents would give me a double dose of trouble when I got home. My children now know that this is mine and my husband's philosophy, but sadly not as many children have this healthy respect taught to them. Fortunately we are in a school district that has high parent participation and very good principals. I cannot imagine my children going to school with kids like this.
When my daughters were in elementary school a boy kept trying to kiss one of them. I told her that if he did it again to punch him and for all three of them to beat the crap out of him. He tried and they did. The embarrassment of getting whipped by three girls made him stop. BUT he came over with his brother (about 12 years old) who complained to me. I told him that his brother needed to stop or else the beatings would continue and to go away and send his parents over if there was anymore to be said. Never heard from any of them again.
Really? Why don't you upload some pictures of your wife/girlfriend/daughter to these guys and ask them to give her the same treatment, and make sure everyone your family knows gets to see it. See if its just a silly prank then. Maybe having them write a sentence 500 times would make your family feel better?
Again, no it's not. the article said the students did it in retailation to discipline. The kids are probably brats, and that is parents fault.
Becky
I failed to answer your questions. The answers are NO and NO. As this was a public school, the vice principal has absolutely no authority whatsoever to do anything concerning activity occurring outside of school activities and off of school property. Not so much as one word on a blackboard, and I'm guessing these little wonders' parents would be just the type to sue her if she did.
If they were adults and this were their boss, they'd be looking for another job right now. Time the get a little lesson about the grownup world.
And they don't understand this because of the way they are being brought up. Too many parents think it's okay to shift blame and not teach children they are responsible for their actions: hence, all the lawsuits when kids don't graduate because they get failing grades. It can't possibly be the children's fault, it has to be the teacher's or someone elses. It's better than kids get into trouble before they are 16 so they don't end up doing time as an adult.
First, they're not adults. Second, she's not their boss. Third, there's no evidence she even tried to contact the parents about this. Fourth, she suffered no actual harm from words and obviously doctored pictures. I guess everyone who gets made fun of or is the subject of a photoshopped pic on FR should sue, too.
There's far too many humorless people in this world who can't take a joke.
Words and photoshopped pictures don't cause harm. If it did, everyone on FR would have been sued by now.
I think I need to take a break from FR. There are too many people on here that have a giant stick up their backsides. Ya bunch of grouchy old farts.
Looks like you're getting there pretty fast, yourself.
Old and grouchy, that is.
If the school has half a clue, Myspace was firewalled off from school networks long ago. While many schools are clueless, chances are quite good, they did this from home.
Perhaps you aren't familiar with these words:
Slander: the utterance of false charges or misrepresentations which defame and damage another's reputation
Defamation: the act of defaming; false or unjustified injury of the good reputation of another
Libel: defamation by written or printed words, pictures, or in any form other than by spoken words or gestures.
Reputation: the estimation in which a person or thing is held, esp. by the community or the public generally
If the vice principal can prove that her reputation was hurt, and thus her earning capability was hurt, then her case has merit. Your defense that "boys will be boys" is probably what got them this far along, instead of learning their lesson earlier.
I'm all with you when it comes to give out quick and appropriate punishment and not having a cow concerning minor pranks, but this was no minor prank. It was targeted defamation, which has real consequences in the real world. I wasn't exactly a timid kid. I did quite a lot to get into trouble as a teen, and thankfully, I did get into trouble and didn't get coddled. Turned out much the better for it.
As I said, a lesson in adult responsibilities.
And they never will be if they get coddled during their adolesent years. Teenagers believe they are adults and in many ways they are. They certainly aren't children. Responsibility for one's own actions comes with growing up.
There's far too many humorless people in this world who can't take a joke.
Photoshopping pornographic photos of the school vice principal in retaliation for being punished is funny to you? Sounds like these kids have a character witness.
Wrong. I hope the lawsuit bankrupts the lousy kids's parents.
You are a legal fool. The parents can and should be held financially responsible. Maybe you should let your parents know they are responsible for immature behavior of you.
Indeed.
The legal system is a civilized way to settle disputes, what way would you prefer to settle this one? public caning?
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