bullying

Two Anoka-Hennepin School District teachers accused of harassing a student denied the allegations, the Pioneer Press reported Monday, saying they were fabricated by the student, Alex Merritt. Jodi Merritt, Alex’s mother, says the claim by Diane Cleveland and Walter Filson — that her son falsified the harassment in retaliation against the teachers — is a [...]

Two teachers accusing of coordinated harassment of a student have been put on leave by the Anoka-Hennepin School District. The school district has come under heavy criticism for what community members see as lax disciplinary action against Diane Cleveland and Walter Filson, who are accused of repeatedly harassing one of their students because they thought he was gay.

Students, teachers and concerned residents of the Anoka-Hennepin School District crowded into the district’s board meeting on Monday evening to vent their concerns after learning that the district paid out $25,000 to a student who says he was continually harassed by two district teachers because they thought he was gay.

Concerned residents say they will demonstrate at the board meeting of the Anoka-Hennepin School District on Monday evening following news reports that two teachers in the district conspired to harass a student they thought was gay. The district agreed to pay $25,000 to settle a human rights complaint filed by the student’s parent.

Carl Walker-Hoover, an 11-year old charter school student from Massachusetts, took his own life last week after incessant taunting by fellow students. His story served as an example of the eminent danger some students face as the Minnesota Senate debated — and passed on Thursday — a measure to guide school districts in addressing bullying. It’s a measure that Senate Republicans vociferously opposed.

An Ohio family is suing its local high school after their son, 17-year-old Eric Mohat, took his own life. The family says that the school ignored Eric’s pleas for help as his fellow students ridiculed him with homophobic taunts even though he didn’t identify as gay. But they are not suing for money. Eric’s parents are suing to force the school to institute a comprehensive anti-bullying program, exactly the type of program that faces an upcoming vote in the Minnesota House and Senate.

A bill directing schools to adopt anti-bullying procedures was introduced in the Minnesota Senate on Thursday. The Safe Schools for All legislation (SF 971) will require school boards to implement policies against bullying, ensure training for school staff and collect data on bullying incidents. The legislation was crafted by LGBT groups but will prohibit bullying for every child.