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Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Education Department Investigating California District's Handling Of Bullying Claim

The AP (12/22, Leff) reports, "Federal education officials are investigating a school district in a Central California town where a 13-year-old boy committed suicide after allegedly being harassed by classmates because he was gay, a spokesman for Education Secretary Arne Duncan confirmed Tuesday. The probe was launched in response to a complaint from Seth Walsh's mother that Tehachapi Unified School District employees failed to adequately address the years of bullying that preceded her son's death last Sept. 28, spokesman Justin Hamilton said." The AP adds, "Seth was one of at least seven gay teenagers whose suicides this fall - all occurring within a month - focused renewed attention on the pain inflicted by peers who mock other children because of their sexual orientations."


 

The Bakersfield Californian (12/22, Barrientos) reports, "Education and legal officials confirmed Tuesday that the US Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights is investigating the Tehachapi Unified School District's handling of bullying claims connected with the death of Seth Walsh, who hanged himself in September after complaining about being harassed because of his sexuality. The investigation is perhaps the first time the department has investigated a gender harassment, bullying claim since October, when it sent out letters to school districts setting guidelines for bullying prevention and warning of reprimands to those who didn't follow them."

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