Reply to GDS Student Newspaper posts about the horrible incident

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]And exactly how would you propose that these details be released in a way that complies with privacy standards?[/quote]

I don't think most people understand how privacy rights work. A private school can later be sued even if a parent wants sensitive information disclosed. I am surprised they even allowed this article to be published with details about the student such as the student withdrew from the school last winter and that they were assaulted. Since students rarely leaves in the winter the student is identifiable not only to the school community, but now to members of his new school community. Even if a parent waives confidentiality for their child, that pre-teen / teen still has privacy rights a parent can't waive. Schools are expected to protect minor identities in sensitive cases, and if they don't they can later be sued.

Parents can't force a school to issue a statement in cases were privacy has to be protected. Schools also can't give police a list of names of all the boys in the school, all the boys who had classes in that hallway, or all the boys who had discipline issues. The school would get sued by those parents. Police can't go on a fishing expedition. Private schools don't provide names to police without a subpoena, court order, or warrant. If they did they could be sued by those parents. Affluent parents aren't letting their kids be interviewed by police.

This really is a terrible situation for the boy and his family but publicizing it this way can be harmful in the years to come for the victim. I think this post should be removed, not because I have anything to do with GDS, but because it discloses way too much information about the victim. [/quote]

The school could provide the report to the family with student names redacted. I suspect there was no genuine investigation by anyone and the school may be trying to hide that fact. Given that the family emailed the school community and the school paper publicly reported on it, discussion is fine. [/quote]

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