Tell South Scranton Intermediate School to Stop Protecting Bullies

For two years, a student at South Scranton Intermediate School was bullied by her classmates, who called her "bitch" and "whore" in full view of teachers. Yet because one of her tormentors was the daughter of a teacher, school officials let the bullies off the hook, even while the bullied girl became so ostracized that she became anxious and depressed, even contemplating suicide.

The Scranton School District's bullying policy states that consequences "for a student who commits one or more acts of harassment or bullying" include "suspension or expulsion," yet the school did nothing other than banning the bullies from sitting together in the cafeteria.

The school's response to the bullying isn't only unconscionable--it's also a violation of Title IX, since the school reacted with "deliberate indifference" to "a sexually hostile educational environment." When the gender-based taunting and slurs continued, the girl suffered a drop in her grades, withdrew from school activities, and eventually decided to leave the school district altogether. 

Sign now to tell the Scranton School District to stop protecting bullies and to make their schools safe for all students, regardless of gender. Tell the Scranton School District to take harassment seriously by disciplining bullies before tragedy strikes.