A school should be a relatively safe environment for students. Unfortunately, although many teachers and school administrators do work hard to ensure students are not treated improperly at school, there are instances when students are victimized because those responsible for protecting them have been negligent in some capacity.
School negligence can take a variety of forms. The following are among the more common examples.
It might not be possible for school officials to prevent bullying from occurring entirely. While school officials and teachers can proactively monitor student behavior and intervene when they witness instances of bullying, in the digital age, when bullying is often invisible, harassment and bullying may occur despite a school’s best efforts to
That said, a school may be found negligent if bullying was happening overtly and would have been noticed had school officials been on the lookout for warning signs of such behavior. Additionally, some students may even report instances of bullying, only to find that the school’s response to their complaints is insufficient.
Don’t underestimate the potential negative consequences a student may experience if a school is negligently allowing bullying to continue. Being the victim of bullying has been shown to have a significant impact on a young person’s mental and emotional wellness.
During recess, lunch, and gym class, when students may be participating in activities that could put them at risk of being injured or bullied, it’s particularly important that school employees properly supervise them.
Sometimes they fail to do so. Accidents can occur as a result. If your child has been injured or mistreated during these times of day and you feel this would not have occurred had they been adequately supervised, you may be able to take legal action against the school.
Teachers and school officials are granted the power to discipline and punish students when they misbehave or break the rules. Some school employees abuse this power, punishing students more severely than may be appropriate based on the nature of their infractions.
Proving that punishment was excessive can be difficult. It is best to enlist the help of an expert if you genuinely feel the manner in which your child was punished by a teacher or school official was not warranted. Sometimes, teachers essentially have vendettas against particular students, punishing them more harshly than they would punish others for engaging in the same behavior. A legal professional could help you demonstrate that your child’s punishment did not fit the crime.
Again, these are just a few noteworthy examples of school negligence. If you believe your child has been victimized in some capacity that could have been prevented had school officials or teachers not been negligent, contact a lawyer who specializes in handling these types of cases to learn more about your legal options. At Okabe & Haushalter, a California school negligence attorney will review the details of your case and explain whether you have grounds to file a claim or lawsuit. Learn more about how we can help by contacting our offices online or calling us at 310-543-7708.
