lawprofessors

By Michelle Ball, California Education Attorney for Students since 1995 Are you frustrated that your school's Principal or Vice Principal are not listening nor acting adequately on your school complaints?  Are you being given a blank stare when you sit in the office telling your tale?  Is your child's problem not being resolved?  When problems are not resolved at the school site, don't forget the school district. I have sat and consoled many parents who have complained to their child's principal or other school staff about issues, such as continual bullying, targeting by a teacher, a dangerous situation on campus, issues with a student group, etc. to no avail.  The parents complain of getting nowhere, being treated like idiots or bothersome pests, and know their issues are not being taken seriously.  They are at a loss. Often these parents do not know nor think to involve their school district.  I think some parents believe that their school district may re...

By Michelle Ball, California Education Attorney for Students since 1995 Schools may question students to investigate bullying at school, ask about fights a student has seen, or inquire about something the student may have done at school.  However, such a school investigation can end up in a student revealing something that is held against them.  How do we prevent student confessions that later end up getting them suspended and even expelled?   We educate our kids to respectfully decline to make a statement . The problem is that kids usually feel a sense of obligation to "tell all" to authority figures.  Unfortunately, when they "tell all" to a school official and that "all" involves e.g. potential sexual harassment, threats, fights, disruption, etc., they are not hailed for their honesty, they are kicked out! Most kids will probably be questioned at some point in their long school careers.  Parents can arm them in advance by instructing them as follows: 1)...