Bullied Kansas teen wins cash settlement

[swimmernsecretsea]

Associated Press
Tuesday, December 27, 2005 / 04:23 PM

TONGANOXIE, Kan. -- A small-town teenager who was bullied for years by classmates because they believed he was gay was awarded $440,000 in a settlement with the local school district, his lawyer said.

Thursday's settlement ended a long-running battle between the Tonganoxie School District and 18-year-old Dylan Theno, who sued in May 2004, claiming he was harassed with homophobic slurs from seventh grade until he quit school in his junior year.

Under the terms, the school district and its insurance company will pay Theno $440,000, said his attorney, Arthur Benson.

Full story here: http://www.planetout.com/news/article.html?2005/12/27/3

[pilgrimm]

1. Good for him

maybe they will be a little more vigilant about going after bullies now.

[Solo_in_MD]

2. I have a problem with this decision

Presuming it did happen, how will this judgment make things better? Are the administrators who failed to do jobs still in place? They are the ones who should be paying with their jobs and their wallets if this is true.

A financial judgment just flows through to the taxpayers as a budget item and will change nothing.

[roguevalley]

3. It will be shit on the boot heel of the teachers and admin cowards

who let a child be hurt. There isn't enough hatred in my body for admins and teachers that don't protect kids from bullies.

RV, a 27 year retired teacher.