The story is that of a young girl from Readfield Maine who had a bag put over her head by a teacher on multiple occasions which led to her being traumatized and bullied by other students. Even though the school launched an investigation into the incident, they figured it was no big deal. The parents are not satisfied with this and the fact they can get no answers as to what is being done to address the situation. They are now seeking damages and access to the documents in regards to the investigation of the incident.
A Readfield couple is suing the Maranacook school district and Laura Reville, a fifth-grade teacher at Readfield Elementary School, charging that Reville placed a bag over their daughter’s head four times during class last year, in an act aimed at humiliating and embarrassing her.
The complaint by Michelle and Adam Woodford on behalf of their daughter, referenced by the initials SW, was filed Nov. 18 in Kennebec County Superior Court by attorneys Seth Brewster and Neal Pratt. It also charges that Regional School Unit 38 violated the state Freedom of Access Act and an anti-bullying statute in connection with results of a school investigation into the incidents.
More >> Maranacook schools, Readfield teacher sued by parents over alleged ‘head-bagging’ incidentsAll I can say is good luck with that. The schools will ruthlessly protect their own and they will sink to unbelievable lows in order to do so. Also, if the parents are finally granted access to the documents, they will probably be altered in favor of the teacher by the time they get them. It's not all that hard for them to do. These are just simple forms that just have to be filled out. The parents will never know though because they will never see them.
The complaint says that between December 2015 and March 2016, the Woodfords repeatedly requested information about the investigation into Reville’s conduct, but were refused it.
“(The Woodfords’) requests for information included questions such as: Was the complaint involving SW handled as hazing, harassment, bullying, abuse or staff standard of conduct? Why were authorities not called?”
It says the district’s refusal to release information violated the state law regarding bullying in public schools, and that the parents were denied a hearing before the school board. It also says attorney Smith, on behalf of the district, denied the Woodfords’ Oct. 20, 2016, request for access to documents relating to the investigation in a letter dated Oct. 26, 2016.Eventually the whole thing will be erased from the child's narrative and the system will continue on the path of what works best for the system. You see, the schools and their staff typically enjoy a persona of being angels among us because they work with and indoctrinate our children. They can't have any disgruntled parents thwarting that sheepish view. Therefore they will never admit to any wrong doing, and even if they do admit to it, they can keep their documents secret anyway.
Not to mention the fact that if the parents keep pushing it, they will be reported to Child Protective Services who will come in with concerns about "anger issues" or something as a way to strong arm them into letting it go.
Anyway, I wish this family luck in their struggle. As a parent who has had it out with the School System on multiple occasions myself, I can sympathize with these people.