Students Sued by Teacher Over Film

     Three Indiana boys are being sued for defamation of character by their former math teacher.  It seems the young men created a film that used stuffed animals to portray the teacher and students.  The resolution of "The Teddy Bear Master" included the murder of the teacher and his wife.

     Of course, I denounce the actions of the adolescents.  But a lawsuit?  The boys were expelled from their intermediate school, and I believe that is sanction enough.  Let's face it.  Any teacher who has been in the business has been subject to ridicule.  My first six years of teaching in an open-environment middle school taught me that much.  If I were to have hunted down each child who blurted out a variant pronunciation of my last name (pronounced wents-a-which) outside the view of my teaching area, and then sought action against them. . . I would have been a busy and bitter lady to say the least.

     I've not seen the film, however, so I suppose I shouldn't be so quick to judge.  But is this the direction educators want to go - with litigation against students?  How about not giving so much credit and attention to this type of student?  It may be just what he or she is seeking.