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April 7th, 2016 
Awake Goy
Susanne Posel ,Chief Editor Occupy Corporatism | Media Spokesperson, HEALTH MAX Brands
A complaint and proposed class action lawsuit has been filed asserting that the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) failed to protect students from violence. The complaint also claims that “black and Hispanic students as well as LGBT students are far more likely to be victims of in-school violence than their peers.”
The plaintiffs are not seeking monetary damages. They want the court to issue an injunction that forces the NYCDOE to enforce policies that protect students from abuse and investigate violence committed in public schools.
In the court document filed on behalf of 11 students by the group Families for Excellent Schools (FES), a pro-charter school advocacy organization, the plaintiffs say the NYC education department facilitates an environment of “chronic and deliberate indifference to the pervasive violence, intimidation and harassment experienced by their students.”
The FES being behind this lawsuit is telling because charter schools advocates have been ignoring violence in their own schools.
In fact, this lawsuit suspiciously comes a few weeks after a controversial video of a Success Academy Charter School (SACS) teacher lashing out at a student was published in the media.
FES has close ties to SACS, and before the suit was filed, ran attack ads on television, campaigned in social media, and held a press conference claiming that NYC public schools are in a “state of emergency” because of violence and abuse.
As for violence in charter schools, the numbers show it is at a 54% all time high and has more than doubled that of violence committed in public schools from 2014 to 2015.
In addition there has been a 65% increase in reports of “criminal mischief” and a 33% rise in “other disruptive incidence” at charter schools. This includes:
• 53% increase in reports of drugs
• 27% increase in weapons possessions
Ten charter schools with the most reported violent incidents in 2014 and 2015 showed that there was a spike of 485% as of last year which trumps the incidents at public schools.
Part of the problem with violence in charter schools is the disciplinary policy of “zero tolerance” which results in abuse such as:
• Controlling the precise physical movements of students
• Erratic reward and punishment
• Enforced silence through hallways
• Locking students in padded “time-out” closets
The 11 children named as plaintiffs in the FES lawsuit range in age from 7 to 14. In the complaint are examples of the violence they claim to be victims’ of, although their names are omitted for protection.
Named in the complaint, John Doe #2, an 8 year old boy, claimed he was bullied and physically attacked by classmates, and the educators and administration did nothing to stop it.
The lawsuit states the boy had nightmares and developed anxiety because of the bullying. In frustration, the boy “stabbed himself in the ear”.
John Doe #3 in the suit is a 9 year old boy who said he was thrown down a flight of stairs by a teacher who initially denied the statement, but then stated that they “had [John Doe #3] by the shirt and he tripped down the stairs”.
This plaintiff claims he has seen a psychiatrist because of this incident and has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and still suffers as a result.
FES said there is a “’blame the victim’ mentality, which often results in de facto punishment of, or retaliation against, the victims.”
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio issued a statement confirming he shares the plaintiffs concerns about student safety, but asserts that conditions have improved.
The mayor said: “I was a public school parent as recently as last June, and we never want to see a weapon in schools. I view each incidents as obviously troubling. However, when we look at the facts, school safety is doing a very good job continuing a trend that started in the last administration and continues.”
With crime in schools down by 14% as of 2016, de Blasio said: “If you look at the facts, school safety is doing a very good job at continuing a trend that started in the previous administration, continuing to drive down crime in our schools.”
In contrast, the lawsuit alleges that school administrations do not report violence in schools. The complaint cites a 2015 report by the NY comptroller that identifies 10 public schools and found that nearly 1/3rd of the incidents of abuse were not adequately reported.
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