discrimination and harassment question

[Anna34]

I live in Lehigh County,Pennsylvania and have a 10 year old son who has adhd, and bipolar. My childs doctors, psychologist,pediatrician, and endocrinologist feel it is fine for him to be main streemed for school as Both of these are under control. My son is the size of your average 5 year old child only weighing 47 lbs. He has other medical conditions.The school has had no issues behavioral or other due to these conditions. I have 2 mothers at my sons bus stop who are harassing me and my son feeling he should be thrown off the bus for yelling at other children to leave him alone. These wonens children tease him and he yells leave me alone. One of the mothers is a nurse and also a supposed special education teacher. She tells other parents of her degree in special education and how she knows how to deal with my son. She has yelled and screamed at my son telling him in public view he has issues.They have told stories that he has hit other children, and the bus video tapes prove that to be incorrect. My son was made a bus monitor for his bus. These two mothers told me infront of my child and many parents that the school should have never chosen a disabled child for this posistion. One of the mothers proceded to tell me she carries a hand gun on her as well does her husband. I want to know is it legal to video tape them saying these things to me in public view (i.e. middle of the street at the bus stop)? These mothers have slandered my child and done so in front of many parents and it has been proven the claims they are making against my son to be false. Is there anything you can suggest for me to resolve this issue? My son has come leaps and bounds in the past year not only educationally but behavioral as well. I dont want to see this situation further out of hand and back sliding all his hard work and progress. I appreciate greatly any help anyone out there can offer for my situation. Thus far I have around 10 adult witnesses to these activities and I do not hold conversations with these mothers as I dont want to fuel the fire. Thus far I have avoided as best I can these women. They however continue to approach me threatening that my son will not be riding the bus any longer if they can help it. I myself am a disabled mother with copd,panic and anxiety disorder,and many herniated discs,hypertension and more. The stress I am enduring is causing my medical conditions to worsen.

 

[irish223]

God, I sincerely hope that abusive mother is lying about her degree in special education. What a blight on the profession!

Have you talked to the school principal? Although the school really can't control parent behavior at the bus stop, the principal may agree to have a talk with the offending (and offensive!) parents.

Another option is to have a lawyer write a cease and desist letter to the offenders, or possibly file a restraining order against them.

You might also consider contacting the ACLU. I'm not sure if they can help, but may have other suggestions.

http://www.aclupa.org/

As far as videotaping them, I don't think there is any reason that you can't. They are in a public place with no expectation of privacy. Just be sure to focus on the adults, and avoid capturing images of the children.

 

[Anna34]

Thank you so much for the advice on that Irish223. I really appreciate anything I can get here. The principal has talked to both mothers already and it has not helped. The person who runs the transportation department for the school also has talked to these parents. None of that has seemed to help matters. I however do not talk to them. I try my best to avoid it ,as I dont want to risk making things worse then they already are. I am really glad that I googled information and found this site. I truely do appreciate the help, and I will contact the aclu in the morning regaurding this issue. Again many thanks.

 

[irish223]

All I can say is, you're a much better person than they are! What a horrible, horrible way to treat a person, and especially a child. The worst part IMO, is that they are teaching their children such a harmful lesson with their behavior. I have little tolerance for people like that, and would not have shown the restraint that you have.

Good luck, I hope you're able to put a stop to this.

 

[Anna34]

I have to restrain myself. I have a child with medical problems who does not need to see adults acting this way. There also are many other children at this bus stop. Having a child with bipolar really means you have to set examples, and choose them carefully. My child not seeing me behave inappropriately helps him to see better ways to deal with problems. It would be easy I suppose to fire back at these people. In long term though id only create problems for my child. Again , sincere thanks