Bullied Kansas Teen Wins $440,000 Settlement From School District

Dec 24, 2005, 08:33 AM CST

KANSAS CITY, MO. -- A Kansas teenager who was bullied by his classmates because they believed he was gay was awarded $440,000 in a settlement, ending his longstanding legal battle with the Tonganoxie School District, his lawyer said.

Dylan Theno, 18, sued the district in May 2004, claiming he was harassed with homophobic slurs from the seventh grade until he quit school in his junior year. The settlement, reached Thursday, halts further appeals in the case, which has been presented in courts in Kansas and Colorado, said Theno's lawyer, Arthur Benson.

Under the terms of the settlement, the school district and its insurance company will pay Theno $440,000, which will also be used to pay his legal fees, Benson said.

Theno had testified that he is not gay.

more :

http://www.kctv5.com/Global/story.asp?S=4284779

Gay or not, it doesn't matter- harassment so severe that the kid drops out of school is not okay. It's not just "harmless teasing".
I know many gay teenagers personally who dropped out of school because they felt so threatened (physically or mentally) that they literally could not continue attending classes. This has to stop.

I have been following it for about 18 months now and am glad to hear the kid won the lawsuit.

thanks for sharing.

Harassment and bullying in any form is disgusting.

I can only imagine what this young man has endured. He endured it for years too. I'm so glad he won. He stood up for himself and he held the perpetrators accountable.

I am currently dealing with a bullying situation. Can you believe that my daughter--a kindergartner is being bullied? During the course of the semester, she has been hit in the face, hit with a whiffle-ball bat, kicked, spit on, pushed into a mud puddle (we had to throw her clothes away) and screamed at by another little girl in her class.

We are currently attempting to end the situation. The principal refuses to call it bullying. He calls it "a friendship issue." He is attempting to discipline the little girl--but he is focusing more on helping our daughter be more assertive. The bully has had several trips to the principals' office, calls to hear parents and she still attacks my daughter. She also hits other kids in the class, but her teacher said that she is the main target. My daughter is the smallest child in the class.

I've been doing a great deal of research, due to my daughter's situation. Schools ignore this problem, and I find that a very surprising reality. I had no idea that schools left students to fend for themselves. It's really revolting and evil.

I am in awe of this young man who sued. It takes guts. After you're beaten down for so many years, it really takes a strong person to rise up and defend yourself--especially someone in high school. I hope that he has great parents and other friends who support him. Sounds like that may be the case.

Thanks for sharing this news. Maybe I should wave this story in front of our principal's face.

...and I don't believe a word of it.

Every year, the schools have a pre-orientation meeting, and every year, the principal trots out the "zero-tolerance" policy... extending to the buses and even the bus stops themselves, and every year, I get to hear about the shit my kids have to put up with on the buses, in the hallways, and in the lunchrooms --- sometimes, right in front of a teacher, who will somehow manage to be looking somewhere else.

:grr:

How did this happen to our schools?

Seriously. WHAT has happened? Why is bullying allowed?

I feel like I just fell off the turnip truck, because I don't know what power play is behind these school administrators and teachers who will not help kids who are being bullied. It's outrageous!

Like I mentioned, my daughter is in kindergarten, so I'm just learning about this harsh reality.

Does anyone know...what is behind this ignore-the-bullies mentality?

Are teachers afraid of parents who will be offended if their child is labeled a bully?

As far as I'm concerned, we're in the dark ages on this issue. This is a very sick period in our educational system if children cannot feel safe and free of harassment in schools.

I'd really like to know why this is allowed to happen.

And Mark--I'm so sorry about what your kids have endured. It really, really sucks! From one parent to another, I understand how difficult this is and I know your frustration. I'm glad that you know about it though. Even though it's hard to hear when your kids have to endure this crap--at least they tell you. That's so important. Their openness is a testament to your supportive parenting. They will get through this as long as they can talk about it and vent. It helps to have someone (especially an adult) reminding them that there are thugs out there and unfortunately, we cannot control what the moron bullies do. I'm sure it means a lot to your kids that they can talk with you and get support and validation.

Good job.

... I went to school nearly forty years earlier in the next district over, and HS has a living, breathing Hieronymus Bosch jock-fest nightmare ... and if you happen to a little short, and not athletic, and just moved in from somewhere that has a reputation for being "tough" (NYC) --- you're NOT GOING TO HAVE A PLEASANT FOUR YEARS.

My son has grown to be a big mother, and since he's hit HS this year , NOBODY fucks with him.

My daughter in JHS, is still a little slip of a thing, and takes a daily dose of crap from the local "Heathers" about her hair and clothes.

I blame the parents, who are probably the same fuckers I had to deal with way back when.

Sigh.