St. Ann’s (NYC) - Private School Horror Show

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't see how the school is at fault. Just another sad instance of choosing image over meeting a kids needs. Paying for a school doesn't mean it's good for a child. No idea of how a lawsuit will bring peace.

The school will think twice before doing this again. Dyslexia is not that hard to accommodate. We know severaal kids with this condition.

Well at that age (8th grade) the feeling of losing your friends / fitting in can be devastating. I think we all forget that mentality as we age.
(Note: I am not suggesting the school is at fault or liable (don't know)).

[Anonymous]

Is the school like the Sidwell of NYC or something?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone please summarize what exactly happened? Thank you in advance.

Ellis Lariviere, a 13 year old, 8th grade student, committed suicide in May 2021, roughly 3 months after leaving/being counseled out/dismissed from St. Ann's.

Ellis' academic difficulties surfaced in 2nd grade, St. Ann's recommended an evaluation, and immediately into his 3rd grade year, the school/HOS suggested that Ellis' parents look into other schools to meet his needs (ADD and dyslexia diagnosis) because St. Ann's could not. Ellis was allowed to return for 4th grade and maintained enrollment, based on the advice of the neuropsychologist/evaluator.

Fast forward five years, Ellis is counseled out/denied a 9th grade seat, was devastated to be out of the school, and subsequently took his own life.

As of April 2023, the parents are suing the school for their son's death because they believe the school’s policies directly led to their son’s death. Ellis' grandfather, chairman of a major real estate developer, has also joined forces. The HOS resigned at the end of the 22-23 school year.

Why was he he denied enrollment? Was he haring / disturbing other kids? Did he fail out?

According to the article, "Ellis had never been asked to repeat a class or been disciplined for behavioral issues. There was no grading structure in which he had failed. His midyear reports from eighth grade note his problems with writing and organization, but also his progress, and they praise him for his creative thinking and contributions to his classes."

[Anonymous]

I think the school bears some fault ethically, but not legally. The school was not upfront about what it actually is (at least for high school) - a place that does and wants to place kids in highly or reasonably selective colleges. The school is 100 percent allowed to be that, as a private school (and I don't even think there is objectively anything wrong with that goal, necessarily). But that's not how the school portrayed itself. I realize that they were trying to counsel this kid out for a while, and I am not saying it is entirely the school's fault at all - but they did send mixed messages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't see how the school is at fault. Just another sad instance of choosing image over meeting a kids needs. Paying for a school doesn't mean it's good for a child. No idea of how a lawsuit will bring peace.

The school will think twice before doing this again. Dyslexia is not that hard to accommodate. We know severaal kids with this condition.

Not necessarily. What makes you think that? This case will be dismissed.

Well for one they were found to have half the support staff of peer schools and so hired to have double what they had before

[Anonymous]

Not necessarily. What makes you think that? This case will be dismissed.


Well for one they were found to have half the support staff of peer schools and so hired to have double what they had before

But is there some legal requirement for them to have more? I agree that, as a parent, when selecting a private, that would be concerning to me. But did they misrepresent the number of support staff that they had?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone please summarize what exactly happened? Thank you in advance.

Ellis Lariviere, a 13 year old, 8th grade student, committed suicide in May 2021, roughly 3 months after leaving/being counseled out/dismissed from St. Ann's.

Ellis' academic difficulties surfaced in 2nd grade, St. Ann's recommended an evaluation, and immediately into his 3rd grade year, the school/HOS suggested that Ellis' parents look into other schools to meet his needs (ADD and dyslexia diagnosis) because St. Ann's could not. Ellis was allowed to return for 4th grade and maintained enrollment, based on the advice of the neuropsychologist/evaluator.

Fast forward five years, Ellis is counseled out/denied a 9th grade seat, was devastated to be out of the school, and subsequently took his own life.

As of April 2023, the parents are suing the school for their son's death because they believe the school’s policies directly led to their son’s death. Ellis' grandfather, chairman of a major real estate developer, has also joined forces. The HOS resigned at the end of the 22-23 school year.

Why was he he denied enrollment? Was he haring / disturbing other kids? Did he fail out?

According to the article, "Ellis had never been asked to repeat a class or been disciplined for behavioral issues. There was no grading structure in which he had failed. His midyear reports from eighth grade note his problems with writing and organization, but also his progress, and they praise him for his creative thinking and contributions to his classes."

So we don't know the actual reason he was kicked out? (Not be offered to come back to the school you've attended for many years is the same imo as being kicked out)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the school like the Sidwell of NYC or something?

No, not at all imo. A few other schools come to mind when I think "NYC Sidwell." St. Ann's doesn't use grades and hasn't for decades. Sidwell would never. Just a known private in Brooklyn with a significant price tag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the school like the Sidwell of NYC or something?

No, not at all imo. A few other schools come to mind when I think "NYC Sidwell." St. Ann's doesn't use grades and hasn't for decades. Sidwell would never. Just a known private in Brooklyn with a significant price tag.

I should also add that is also top-rated and does produce results if Ivy admission is the goal.

[Anonymous]

Didn’t the school tell the parents beginning in 3rd grade that they can’t adequately meet the child’s needs?

High school is a different ballgame so I can understand whatever support the school offered to 8th grade just would not be enough for the child beyond that.

If I read correctly, he has both an ASD and dyslexia diagnosis. No or little information was provided about how the ASD presents but the child has to be prepared for success beyond HS. The parents seem to be saying since the kid was not likely to go the academic route there was no harm in the school warehousing him until he turns 18.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't see how the school is at fault. Just another sad instance of choosing image over meeting a kids needs. Paying for a school doesn't mean it's good for a child. No idea of how a lawsuit will bring peace.

The school will think twice before doing this again. Dyslexia is not that hard to accommodate. We know severaal kids with this condition.

The school was kind and gentle with its recommendation it seems. This will make them become direct and callous. Plus, why did the parents allow the other kid to stay? This will be a major issue in their case.

[Anonymous]

The parents seem to be saying since the kid was not likely to go the academic route there was no harm in the school warehousing him until he turns 18.

And that may well have been objectively true, but if the school didn't want him there and accept him for who he was, it was not the right place for him.

[Anonymous]

Parents kept quoting an evaluation from second or third grade. Kids change a lot in 5 years.

I’m sorry that this happened to their child. It’s a lousy situation. But I dont think the school is at fault.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents kept quoting an evaluation from second or third grade. Kids change a lot in 5 years.

I’m sorry that this happened to their child. It’s a lousy situation. But I dont think the school is at fault.

Do you think the school could be partially liable? "joint liability"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The parents seem to be saying since the kid was not likely to go the academic route there was no harm in the school warehousing him until he turns 18.

And that may well have been objectively true, but if the school didn't want him there and accept him for who he was, it was not the right place for him.

I agree keeping him there was not in the child’s best interest.