"Pig Mom" wins money from school after her neglect drives him to sucide

[Nanuk]

You gotta love this one. Her kid grows up a stinky loser because she keeps him in a filthy home, and when he kills himself out of shame, she sues THE SCHOOL and gets paid.

http://www.wfsb.com/news/15525850/detail.html

MERIDEN, Conn. -- A Meriden woman whose son committed suicide after being bullied by classmates has settled a federal lawsuit with school officials. Attorneys for Judith Scruggs and Meriden school officials said both sides agreed today to dismiss the case but would not elaborate on details. They say the settlement is confidential.

Scruggs had been convicted in 2003 of risk of injury to a minor a year after her son J. Daniel Scruggs hanged himself in his closet. Prosecutors said filthy living conditions in her home led to his death.

Scruggs said classmates kicked and punched her 12-year-old son and made fun of bad breath and body odor. The boy had started sleeping in his closet with knives out of fear.

[Jenniffer]

I wonder why the mother's conviction was overturned?

[JiveTurkey]

This is awful.

[derricksonb]

I wonder why the mother's conviction was overturned?

Typical liberal response.......

[Jenniffer]

Typical liberal response.......

Yeah, that was a question that popped into my mind (you know, wanting to know more about the facts of the case...is that only a liberal trait?), not a response. My response is pretty much the same as JT's. It's awful all around, no matter which way you slice it.

[Chutney Daftcraft]

I would imagine the suit focused more on the bullying that took place on school grounds - while they were responsible for him - than her housekeeping skills. Her filthy house in no way excuses the behavior of the other kids.

Maybe she should have gotten herself one of them illegals so this wouldn't have happened. A discount illegal maid could have saved this boy's life.

[Carl_kps]

I guess the school did not make much of an effort to stop the other kids from bullying the woman's son which led to his suicide.

Bullying is not tolerated in the work place and it should not be tolerated in schools.

[Starbuck]

Do schools (or for that matter, parents) ever try to keep bullying to a minimum?

Not that it in any way excuses kids from shooting up schools and/or offing themselves, but it does make it a bit more understandable.

[Chutney Daftcraft]

I guess the school did not make much of an effort to stop the other kids from bullying the woman's son which led to his suicide.

Bullying is not tolerated in the work place and it should not be tolerated in schools.

Exactly. Not one thing in this woman's home excuses the school for failing in their role as guardian during school hours. Not one thing. Even if she was a drug-dealing prostitute, that does not relieve the school of any of it's responsibility. Because 2 wrongs don't make anything right.

[derricksonb]

Yeah, that was a question that popped into my mind (you know, wanting to know more about the facts of the case...is that only a liberal trait?), not a response. My response is pretty much the same as JT's. It's awful all around, no matter which way you slice it.

Sorry, Here's what I see in this case. Where's the father? The article says that SHE was convicted of risk of injury, but what about the father?

FWIW- The mothers conviction was probably (and I am speculating here, go figure) overturned because she cannot be held responsible for her sons injuries if he attempted suicide and therefore placed all of the risk on himself.

[JiveTurkey]

And here's what I see--a kid had a miserable life, and killed himself to escape it.

[Tony]

I think anything schools can do to minimize bullying - both psychological and physical - is a good thing. Much better than wasting their time on silly zero-tolerance drug policies.

[betcsu]

last year, i wwnt to my kids school several times and had lunch with them. after DDs lunch her class had recess. when i would go for lunch, id stay for recess and play with her and the other kids.

there was one girl who no one would play with. she was 'challenged' in some way and stood to the side alone and just watching as everyone else was having fun. this bothered me and i always included her in whatever i was playing with the other kids. the smile on her face was PRICELESS and i know it made her happy to be joining in and having fun.

my point is, even though she wasnt being bullied, she was definatley being excluded and none of the teachers did a thing to help her to join in or have her be included in any of the fun and games. they just left her standing off to the side watching with sadness all the others having fun.

it broke my heart that after a few of my lunch/recess visits, it was decided that parents were no longer allowed to visit during recess. the reason being that recess was the only time for the kids to socialize and parent involvement disrupted this social time.

it brke my heart because all i could think of was that girl being back on the sidelines with no attention paid to her by the teachers. they basically ignored her and to this day, it breaks my heart cuz once she joined in, she was happy and having fun and NONE of the other students minded one bit that she was involved in our fun. the teachers could have cared less. and thats a sad thing.

[hillbilly]

betscu. thank goodness for you. You made a difference to someone that needed it. The teachers cannot give individual time to everybody but you could. I wish you could go back and do it again.

[AAT53]

I don't think "the teachers could have cared less" is a fair statement. I know many of the teachers at BRE and the vast majority care very much. The thing is, they are human and can't take care of every child on a personal level like most would love to do. Recess consists of a large number of kids and a few teachers. My guess is that they have to be using most of their attention to ensure that there are not injuries, etc.

[Starbuck]

Granted the teachers should keep a watchful eye on the students to ensure fights and such are avoided, but how hard is it really to notice -- every day, as Betcsu alluded to, that someone is being excluded? How much effort does it really take for one teacher -- just one -- to ask the kids to include the girl in their activities?

I find the teacher's indifference to be quite shocking and sad.

[AAT53]

If betscu was up there "several times" as she said, then I don't see how that equates into it being a known problem. Nobody knows if a teacher had tried before, etc.

I know of one girl who looks like she is the saddest thing during recess. Once she is in class she is perfectly fine, but she doesn't like recess so she mopes. Now, if someone asks her to join in a game of dodgeball, etc. she will do it and be happy but she won't initiate it (this isn't the girl betscu was talking about because she is in a different grade).

I have seen many recess times at the school. There are some crazy/nutty/loco kids out there. I never cease to be amazed by how nutso some boys tend to get. They aren't being bad, they are just being active boys who can't seem to remember that you can't climb certain things, etc.

Recess also isn't really that long. I believe it is about 20 minutes, but 11 of those minutes are taken up by the walking that is state required.

[JiveTurkey]

Recess also isn't really that long. I believe it is about 20 minutes, but 11 of those minutes are taken up by the walking that is state required.

Why run and play, when you can walk?

[Starbuck]

Recess also isn't really that long. I believe it is about 20 minutes, but 11 of those minutes are taken up by the walking that is state required.

Seriously!?! And they wonder why the boys go loco...

Who up in the state gov was smoking crack and passed that law???

[Chutney Daftcraft]

Hey Nanuk, I heard that you mom was so fat that she has to use hula-hoops to hold her socks up. When I yelled "Kool-Aid, *she* came crashing thru the wall...