Former Student Sues District Over Right To Defend Yourself
Fri Aug 12,11:51 AM ET
A Houston-area teenager is suing his former school district over a brutal assault at school. He claims he ended up in a hospital because he was afraid to fight back, and he wants the policy to change, Local 2 reported Thursday.
Matthew Meloy said when four students jumped him and beat him at Hastings High School in September 2003, he did not defend himself because of the district's zero-tolerance policy on fighting.
The 6-foot-3-inch, 215-pound senior was on the baseball team. Then 17 years old, he was walking a frightened younger student to class when he was attacked.
Meloy's jaw was shattered and wired back together. Two years later, he still has problems eating.
"The doctor said he said he'd never (seen the) severity of the damage that was done," father Rick Meloy said.
Rick Meloy blames the school district and its zero-tolerance policy toward fighting. He said his son did not defend himself because teachers told students if they hit someone back, they would be expelled, too.
"He'd say, 'Dad or Mom, I didn't hit anybody. I didn't want to be kicked out. I didn't want to be suspended from school,'" Rick Meloy said.
"(Rick's) over 200 pounds who is certainly adequately equipped to defend himself. But because he was made fully aware of this policy, he intentionally did not defend himself in this situation and suffered tremendous consequences as a result of that policy," attorney Jess Mason said.
Mason and the Meloys filed a lawsuit against the district and the four former students in the attack for unspecified damages.
Local 2 asked Assistant Superintendent Paula Smith about the district's zero-tolerance policy.
"We encourage children, at all costs, not to engage in any kind of physical contact, not to ever fight," Smith said.
"Does this mean that some kids think that they cannot defend themselves?" Local 2's Cynthia Hunt asked.
"I can't speak for what kids think," Smith said.
Smith showed Local 2 the student handbook, which states that self-defense is considered before a student is expelled.
The Meloys said they want the district to change the policy or clarify it so students can feel free to defend themselves.
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Zero-tolerance policies are so rediculous.
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We have a long fight in front of us gentlemen.
