>The bigger problem just may be how to deal with this in a small town that I have to stay in and a school system that my children will have to stay in for the immediate future. What I want to to is kick some butt in court, not for any gain but to see that no other parents daughter has to go through this. AND what kind of message to we send the children when they know that they can go tell a lie about a student, ruin their reputation, humiliate them, AND NOTHING HAPPEN TO THEM! (sorry for the shouting. < s >)

I think your best bet, if you can make it happen, is to find an ally among the school adminstration or school board. Make them air all this publicly and ensure that the parties who broke the rules get punished appropriately. Use the thread of legal action to get their attention, but don't do it unless you need to.

I suspect that plenty of other parents in your town will be just as incensed as you are about this. Use them. Get a crowd at the next school board meeting and demand to know what action is being taken against those who violated your daughter's rights.

Finally, make sure that you document everything in writing. Don't call the superintendant, write to him. Don't call the other girl's parents. If you feel you must contact them, do it in writing. Etc., etc.

While we've never had a problem of this magnitude, over the years, we have had to put out a fire or two. We've also worked hard to effect change in my district. By writing letters and enlisting others, we've been successful in, among other things, getting rid of an ineffective teacher and in getting a new program started.

Tamar