School to pay 300k to gay students, They said they were harassed at school

[FreedomAngel82]

Link: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20050609-9999-1mi9poway.htm

Snip: <By Dana Littlefield
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

June 9, 2005

A San Diego Superior Court jury found yesterday that two former Poway High School students were harassed by their classmates because they are homosexual and that the school district failed to address the situation immediately and appropriately.

After deliberating about a week, the jury determined that the harassment effectively deprived Joseph Ramelli and Megan Donovan of the same access to the educational opportunities and benefits that other students enjoy.

Ramelli and Donovan – now both 19 and attending Palomar College – were awarded $175,000 and $125,000 in damages, respectively.

"The money was never the important thing," attorney Paula Rosenstein said. "We're hoping that the next time some kids and their parents come to these administrators, that they will take a different action."

Poway Superintendent Don Phillips, one of three administrators named in the lawsuit, said in a news release that their lawyers have recommended an appeal. However, he said he is "heartened" that the jury found that there was no discrimination on the part of the school district or its employees.>

[saltpoint]

1. Academic mastery is inarguably important to any school student and

ought rightly to be important to entire school systems and the parents and community.

Of absolutely equal importance is self-respect and kindness, two characteristics that do not appear to describe the behavior by some in this school. Students who possess one and are capable of the other do not harrass others. Parents who are told this behavior is occuring but do nothing are remiss in their duties as parents and as citizens if THEY allow it.

Don't know the people involved but I'm not very surprised that a school system sat on its ass and allowed the harrassment to continue unchecked.

Superintendent Don Phillis ought to be ashamed of himself and instead he's crowing about the wording of the legal outcome.

[Fescue4u]

2. Damn...I'll turn gay for $300k

Shit I got harassed in school anyway and Im str8.

If all I had to do was act gay and collect $300k for my efforts..what the hell.

btw...when someone says..."""The money was never the important thing," a""...you can bet the money WAS the important thing. :)

[NMMNG]

4. That's a pretty $hitty remark to make

First of all, neither girl got $300k, one got $175k and the other $125k.

Secondly, being gay in this country can get you beaten or even killed, and you're acting like it would just be a big game to you.

:wtf:

[Fescue4u]

5. ALot of things can get you killed

Having no money in your pocket when a thug demand your money can also.


btw, $125k isnt chump change to me either.

[Selatius]

3. These students who did the harrassing are the product of their homes

Hatred is something that is learned. Until this is dragged out into the open and publicly debated, it will endure the same way segregation endured after slavery.