Mary Eve Thorson
Courtesy of Mary's parents
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MARY EVE THORSON ANTI-BULLYING BILL:
To commemorate National Bullying Prevention Month in October, I am asking persons to please enter the link provided, and sign the change.org petition imploring Illinois Representative Daniel Lipinski to sponsor an Anti-Bullying Bill protecting teachers from abuse by administrators/educators. Teachers deserve to be guarded against bullying within the workplace. And, for those individuals who question whether this Bill has any relevance to them personally, consider the fact that students are also at risk because they are in the crossfire as the abuse is unfolding during class. Teachers are killing themselves. This can't be allowed to continue any longer. Thank you.
Rock Bobster
8:02 am on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Myra, did actually READ this Bill and know what it's about? It's not about ending "bullying" by administrators, its about opening the door for sleazy lawyers to steal resources from our communities and our children.
Under this law, the taxpayers would be liable for the damages, and legal bills, for the acts of an administrator who may or may not have been abusive.
The language is so vague that that "bullying" could be defiined as virtually anything a plaintiff wanted it to be, much like "sexual harassment" laws.
I also think it's repulsive that you and others are usiing her tragedy to promote teh legal community and union agenda here.
I believe from reading up on this case that there were far more "demons" in this poor woman's life than administrative bullying.
This woman had so many other choices than taking her own life; she could have gone to another district, even gotten into another profession. There was some sadness in her that made her take her life, and it had to be far more than a beligerent admin.
I'm no psychiatrist, but I understand that often suicides try to rationalize their act by creating a "red herring" rather addressing the real, or imagined, problem that led to the act. It's an attempt to put the blame on others for a real internal pain that led them to make this choice.
Myra Richardson
8:33 am on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Good morning,
The petition is to our state representative to sponsor an anti-bullying bill in Mary Thorson's name...much like the piece of legislation in existence exclusively for children. This is an issue which needs to be addressed; and, I'm making steps toward this happening. No law is perfect, but without them society would be in a state of perpetual chaos. You are correct, you are not a psychiatrist, nor do you completely understand the story of this poor woman. I have no allegiance to any union; I am not even affiliated with one. My allegiance is to God. I heard about this woman and what she was subjected to within her school. I spoke with her family and other teachers within the district. Mary was happy and well loved. She made the mistake of refusing to alter the poor grades of her students. It wasn't long before she became a target. Her life ended because all of her attempts to rectify the situation were futile. This woman was strong! She was prepared to serve our country and even was responsible for building schools in El Salvador. It's not much of a stretch to realize that if she were indeed prepared to defend our country, she might also choose to sacrifice her life for the sake of bullied teachers and for the children. When I made this film, I made it so that persons would understand that teachers are being publicly humiliated, ostracized, punished, and bullied during school hours. And, this is happening in front of the children. Help me Rock!
Rock Bobster
12:47 pm on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Myra. I'm sure your heart is in the right place, but you need to get your mind right regarding this. This poor woman walked in front of a speeding truck, that's VERY unusual for a female suicide. Women rarely commit violent suicide unless they feel they need to be punished. Most take their lives with pills because of body image issues. This may have been a factor. Was there a "psychological autopsy" following her death?
The fact is that suicide is an act of cowardice rather than bravery. Perhaps this horribly corrupt school issue was able to someone asuage her guilt for taking her life, I don't know.
The simple fact is that this wonderful young woman had a simple, and logical, choice to make as we all do in our professional lives. She could go teach in a less politically corrupt environment than 169, and then crusade against bullying and abusive administrations. That she chose to take her life instead shows that her thinking was somehow distorted or unclear.
An act of courage, and she was obviously a courageous woman, would've been to fight the corruption openly and crusade for change in 169 and work through the corrupt unions that turned a blind eye to this problem.
She had the choice to live for something, or die for nothing. It's truly a tragedy that she chose the latter.
Rock Bobster
12:50 pm on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Want to REALLY do something to honor her? Start a hotline for teachers in her situation. Become an "watchdog". Be tough and fight for them against the corrupt public schools and unions.
If you care, take PERSONAL responsibility for making things better.
Do that, and I'll be happy to stand with you. Continue politicizing this for the lawyer lobbies and I'll be on the other side!
Rock Bobster
8:10 am on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
I find it interesting that there is no mention of her unions failure to protect her in this case. The primary reason for a union is to PROTECT ABUSED TEACHERS AS MAY THE CASE HERE.
The union COULD have pressed this issue and gone on strike had it not been properly addressed, but they were more interested in early retirement and excessive salary increases instead of protecting the membership from abuse.
Federal law creating another means for lawyer plunder of the taxpayer's and childrens resources is not the answer.
Holding the union leadership, administration, and school board accountable at the ballot box is.
One final quesition. District 169 is largely African American, and the teacher was white. What was the race of the bullying administrator? Perhaps racism was the issue here, not just "bullying"!
Myra Richardson
9:43 am on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Hello again Rock...I must complete my thoughts here. I'm asking persons to sign the petition so that Representative Lipinski will sponsor a bill in Mary's name, hence, Mary Eve Thorson Anti-Bullying Bill. The language of the bill would be as precise as it needs to be, albeit, a dishonest lawyer knows how to manipulate ANY wording to his/her benefit when opportune to do so. And, I must say that not all administrators are cruel. Not all persons are criminals, but laws exist to prevent crimes against our citizens. The Mary Eve Thorson Anti-Bullying Bill would be in place to protect our teachers. My daughter is going to law school. I'm certain that before she takes a case she will make certain that there is a legitimate cause of action. It will be no different for this bill. I want persons to see this bill as necessary and one which is long overdue. Mary went to the administrators within her school. She went to her Union representative. She followed protocol. She's dead now. But, she could have simply ended her life like so many teachers have done. Instead, she considered the pain her colleagues were in and how the children suffered as a direct consequence of having to watch their teachers being persecuted. Mary didn't have to leave a letter stating that she wanted something to be done to rectify the situation...but, she did. When I made the film Rock, I didn't ask for a dollar in compensation. I did it for Mary, her family, and for teachers. I'm proud of this.
Myra Richardson
9:52 am on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Rock, you may write me directly and I will answer your questions. teachersformary at hotmail dot com.
Myra Richardson
1:34 pm on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Really? Will you really stand by me? www.teachersformary.org
Rock Bobster
6:29 pm on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
I visited your web site. Where is the hotline number for teachers being harrassed, and the case studies of teachers you've helped? All I saw was a petition for creating a new entitlement class through a ponderous Federal Law.
BTW, what happened to the offending administrator(s) and school board? Was justice meted out?
If you get a petition going for justice for Mary with consequences for the administrators and the board instead of creating a new way for lawyers to steal from our children, I'll gladly sign!
Myra Richardson
8:35 pm on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
When I was a little girl I sold candy for my school. I remember that I went to one house, and they said they'd by my candy if I only had some with nuts. My father brought me back to the house the next day...this time I had nuts. They didn't by the candy. What did I learn from that experience? No matter how hard you try, you simply can't please some people. I made a promise to Mary's family that I would make the world aware of their great loss. I made a promise to myself that I would champion the cause of bullied teachers. I answer to only one person...God! I am done playing these games with you. Instead of spending your lost efforts trying to convince me that what I'm doing is wrong, why don't you do something for bullied teachers yourself? I assume you were educated by teachers. Don't they deserve to be protected? I don't know if you have children, but if you do, I pray that they will never be subjected to the cruelty that Mary was subjected to. And, if your child is inhumanely treated, I hope that someone will be around to help them and to comfort you if necessary. If you don't have any children, then you won't have to lose sleep at night because someone has caused them to die. Think about Mary's mother and father...if you have a heart. Take care of yourself.