is this libel?

[smitward]

What is the name of your state? South Carolina
I am a teacher. A parent wrote a letter in which she states lies about me. I feel this has hurt my professional standing, and the good name that I have worked hard to make. Additionally I know she has spoken the same things to others including my principal. What can I do? Is it my burden to prove she is lying?

 

[stephenk]

Depends on what she wrote and how she wrote it. is she stating an opinion of what she thinks of you or is she stating specific wrongdoings that you claim are false?

 

[smitward]

She is stating that I "...confronted..." her at a social event about financial assistance she received and that I said she was lucky to receive it. I had just met the woman that evening, I am not privy to information about who gets financial aide, or how it is determined. Information about financial assistance is "sacred" so a violation of this is a serious accusation. I was not even aware she received financial aide until she wrote it in the letter to the principal this week. In the same letter she also accusses me of not allowing her daughter to ask more than two questions in my classroom, again this is untrue. Finally she accusses me of belittling her daughter in class when she asks questions. Her daughter is very quiet and hardly ever even raises her hand in my class. This parent has been making similar accusations all year, but now she has written them in a letter to the principal. I feel this has harmed my good name. I do not want money, I just want her to stop lying about me because her daughter is not making good grades in my classroom. This parent has also spread rumors about other parents and the principal has met with her concerning this also.
Thank you for your help

 

[stephenk]

what was your principal's response to the letter? has the principal told you he/she believes the parent?

 

[smitward]

Because of other trouble this woman has stirred in the past, my principal is supportive; however, we have a new principal next year who also read the letter. He does not know me as well so I think this letter puts doubts on my integrity. Also this parent's child will be in my class again next year and I don't think her false accusations will stop. I have test grades to document that her child is not doing well. If her child does not do well next year she will start to stir trouble again.
I have asked the principal for a confernce with these parents. I want them to know that I am aware of their accusations and that I know they are false. If the confernce is held I would like to have something to show her, a letter- something, from a lawyer, making her aware that what she is doing is not only wrong morally but also legally, if that is the case. As I previously stated, I am not interested in any money, I just want her false accusation to stop. If to stop her I need to seek legal action than I will seek legal counsel.
By writing her letters she is sowing seeds of doubt on my character and in the long run I think her plan is to get me in trouble.

 

[BelizeBreeze]

Nothing that you have posted about the letter or her opinion of you is actionable. And unless you come back and quote the entire letter VERBATIM, that's the ONLY legal opinion that is valid.

You have suffered no 'damages' except those preceived by you. Move on.

 

[smitward]

In the last post, I was asked to quote verbatim in order to get a better opinion so here is what was stated. I also requested that a confernce be held with the parents,and the principal. When the school secretary called to set up the appt. this parent said that they just wanted to make sure the letter got in my file! This further demonstrates that this letter was written to harm my reputation.
The letter states
"...in Aug 2004 where she confronted me about financial help from the school. I personally felt uncomfortable that that information was public knowledge and the way it came across to me was that I should feel lucky. ...as a teacher this year towards my daughter was very condesending. My daughter would get told "don't ask more than two questions",or she would get be littled if asked a question..."

As stated previously, I want to know what I can do to prevent this parent from writing lies about me. Can she write these things without fearing any reprecussions from her false accusations?
thank you for your opinion.