Defamation in school

[Guilttrips]

What is the name of your state? Michigan

I am a school secretary in a small elementary school. Twice now a student has written on the walls of the boys bathroom stating the following:

Mrs. (my name) is a big fat tub of lard and a f------ (they filled it in) bitch.

The first time it was just on a towel holder, the second time big letters on the wall.
Is there anything that I can do to the young man legally?

 

[BelizeBreeze]

1. ARE you a big fat tub of lard?

2. What are you doing in the boy's bathroom?

3. Are you 12?

In other words, GROW THE HELL UP. This student and any other student, has the same rights as you do to their opinion.

This one just seems to think that you are a big fat tub of lard.

 

[You Are Guilty]

I suspect we have found the missing link between the elementary school aged children of Michigan and their poor performance on standardized tests.

 

[Guilttrips]

So much for this being a site for law info.
1. No I am not a tub of lard
2. I don't go into the boys bathroom unless we are told there is writing on the walls that need to be removed.

 

[BelizeBreeze]

This is a law site. And your question doesn't even merit taking 5 minutes out of anyone's time to answer since it has nothing whatsoever to do with Defamation/libe/slander or bad taste.

You either need to go back to school, develop a thicker skin or grow up.

 

[casa]

If you know who the boy is- It would seem the simplest solution is to contact the parents and let them know, then hope they care enough to reprimand him. However, it's likely he will say he didn't even do it.
Sometimes the best revenge is ignoring the behavior- hence taking all the 'fun' out of it. Don't let them know it upset you, or it will only encourage more of the same behavior.

 

[You Are Guilty]

Response 1: we need to know if you are a tub of lard because truth is an absolute defense, (even though this isn't slander).

Response 2: Screw talking to the parents, how about writing some graffitti back, like "JOHHNY STICKS CRAYONS UP HIS NOSE AND LICKS THEM".

 

[badapple40]

What I don't get is.... the school has to have some sort of procedure for the discipline of children. This issue is clearly within that realm. Why not just give him detention?

 

[BelizeBreeze]

They do, it's writing on the blackboard 1,000 times:
Mrs. (my name) is a big fat tub of lard and a f------ (they filled it in) bitch.