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News: Bullied kid records bullying, threatened with felony charges
ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 9/26/2001
Posts: 22,475
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Bullied kid records bullying, threatened with felony charges
Quote:
A South Fayette High School sophomore claims to have been bullied all year at his new school located in McDonald, Pennsylvania. In February, the student made an audio recording of one bullying incident during his special education math class. Instead of questioning the students whose voices were recorded, school administrators threatened to charge him with felony wiretapping before eventually agreeing to reduce the charge to disorderly conduct. On Wednesday, March 19, the student, whose name we have agreed to not include in this story, was found guilty of disorderly conduct by District Judge Maureen McGraw-Desmet.
Before the defendant was able to give a statement, McGraw said, “Normally, if there is — I certainly have a big problem with any kind of bullying at school. But normally, you know, I would expect a parent would let the school know about it, because it’s not tolerated. I know that, and that you guys [school administrators] would handle that, you know. To go to this extreme, you know, it was the only alternative or something like that, but you weren’t made aware of that and that was kind of what I was curious about. Because it’s not tolerated, but you need to go through — let the school handle it. And I know from experience with South Fayette School that, you know, it always is. And if there is a problem and it continues, then it is usually brought in front of me.” (emphasis added)
The student and his mother, Shea Love, testified before the magistrate that the boy has been repeatedly shoved and tripped at school, and that a fellow student had even attempted to burn him with a cigarette lighter. The defendant is, according to school records, a well-behaved student with no history of disciplinary action. He was, however, previously diagnosed with a comprehension delay disorder, which is a slower processing speed for information than is normal, ADHD, and an anxiety disorder. He says the bullying treatment is especially harsh and academically disruptive during his special education math class, in which students with behavioral problems are also placed. On February 11, after doing research on several anti-bullying websites, he used his school approved personal iPad to make a seven-minute audio recording of his classroom experience. He played the recording at home for his mother. Outraged, Love, a former Air Force Morse code operator, transcribed the audio before calling school administrators.
According to Love, as the teacher is heard attempting to help her son with a math problem, a student says, “You should pull his pants down!” Another student replies, “No, man. Imagine how bad that (c**t) smells! No one wants to smell that (t**t).” As the recording continues, the teacher instructs the classroom that they may only talk if it pertains to math. Shortly thereafter, a loud noise is heard on the recording, which her son explained was a book being slammed down next to him after a student pretended to hit him in the head with it. When the teacher yells, the student exclaims, “What? I was just trying to scare him!” A group of boys are heard laughing.
The school board’s bullying policy pledges no retribution for reporting suspected bullying. Its policy for abuse of electronic devices is disciplinary action and/or confiscation of the device pending a conference with the parent. South Fayette High School’s policy guidebook on the discipline of disabled students states, “Students with disabilities who engage in inappropriate behavior shall be disciplined in accordance with their Individualized Education Program (IEP), positive behavior support plan in place, each building’s Code of Conduct, and Board policy.”
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More information can be found here. If this has been posted before, I apologize.
This story makes me so irrationally angry and makes my blood boil that all I can do is rant uncontrollably. All you need to do is check out my Twitter page to see that. I'll leave it there for now.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 4,816
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That's ****ing ridiculous. 
He did nothing wrong. Frankly, it seems obvious the school is at fault if any student felt they needed to go to these lengths to stop other students harassing them.
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Member Since: 4/6/2014
Posts: 12,514
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WTF. What is wrong with society?
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Member Since: 11/13/2009
Posts: 25,902
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The sad thing is I feel like this could happen here, easily.
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Member Since: 3/21/2012
Posts: 55,134
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Oh wow . How is this happening . And it is on my stAte
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Member Since: 11/27/2008
Posts: 78,826
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HE gets punished for simply trying to provide the receipts of his bullying?
What kinda ****ed up world is this?
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Member Since: 4/12/2012
Posts: 10,997
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The people who are in charge of schools are A DAMN MESS
I hear stories likes this all the time where they punish an innocent person. It makes me so mad.
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Banned
Member Since: 1/7/2014
Posts: 1,787
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Moral of the story : do not provide receipts when asked
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Member Since: 9/1/2013
Posts: 27,364
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WTF? 
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 43,104
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Well at least it wasn't in Florida 
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Member Since: 11/17/2011
Posts: 52,363
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this is when you start keying the administrations car and when they try use video surveillance you counterattack
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Banned
Member Since: 3/19/2012
Posts: 7,835
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Wtf?  did he record their phone calls? If he was just recording in the classroom, he should not be guilty of anything. There must be more to the story.
"The law does not cover oral communications when the speakers do not have an "expectation that such communication is not subject to interception under circumstances justifying such expectation." See 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5702 (link is to the entire code, choose Title 18, Part II, Article F, Chapter 57, Subchapter A, and then the specific provision). Therefore, you may be able to record in-person conversations occurring in a public place without consent. However, you should always get the consent of all parties before recording any conversation that common sense tells you is private."
I've recorded Pennsylvanians before but since I'm in a different country y'all can't do anything about it  the pizza guy was annoyed with my soundboard though.
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Member Since: 2/6/2014
Posts: 41,074
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What is wrong with them?
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Member Since: 2/24/2012
Posts: 30,779
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Member Since: 12/30/2011
Posts: 15,778
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This guy was smart to record this. He should be congratulated for a job well done. This makes no sense. I was bullied in high school and teachers never did anything about it so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 40,803
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Member Since: 11/4/2006
Posts: 37,808
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Our school system in this country is a joke!
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
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Member Since: 8/1/2012
Posts: 11,608
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What the ****?
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