I'm typically not a big advocate of random lawsuits, but I say 'go for it' maybe that will drive the point home that behaviour like this is COMPLETELY unacceptable.
A Saskatchewan father is contemplating filing a lawsuit against the Prairie South School Division because of the way his son is being treated. Off the bat you might think, over protective parent, money digger, trouble maker or what have you, but wait until you hear the story (if you haven't already).
Five year old Ryan rides the school bus everyday - or at least he did. It's about a half an hour drive and it's been nothing but pure misery for little Ryan. I remember back to when my two kids were that young, impressionable, trusting and setting off to school... it breaks my heart to imagine them having to go through what this little guy has. Ryan lost his leg in a lawnmower accident two years ago. Kids are resilient though. They have a way of bouncing back and adapting. Ryan got a prosthetic leg and while it may not have been easy, he has been happily going about life as he knows it... until school started. "A lot of kids beat me up. A lot of big kids," he told a news crew earlier this week. How truly sad. Since school started on every bus trip, he's been bullied, punched, had his back pack stolen and one heartless child even tried to pull off his prosthetic leg. The boy who punched him (in the face), leaving him with a black eye is 13. Ryan is just five AND disabled.
"He can't defend himself," says his rightly concerned dad. "So who easier to pick on than a kid who gets punched in the eye and sits quietly in the corner?" The dad has been to the school. He has talked to the bus driver, to the principal and to the school division. All seemingly to no avail. "I asked for the child (the 13-year-old) to be disciplined. I asked for him to be suspended to teach him a lesson because there is zero tolerance for bullying." That hasn't happened. What has happened is little Ryan is no longer allowed to ride the bus. Nor is his sister. It's not safe after all. Wow. The school division has reportedly offered to pay the costs for Ryan's dad to take them to and from school... while they investigate of course. What's wrong with this picture? Kick the bad kids off the bus not the helpless, innocent little guy!!! If it's empty except for Ryan and his sister so be it. Maybe then the parents of the "bullyers" would brain up and smarten up their children.
Everyone involved in this scenario should feel very ashamed of themselves and if it takes a lawsuit to make that happen I say bring it on.
