Pastor Andrew, who is originally from Chuuk, said his son always comes home with bruises or was suspended because of reported fighting with other students.
He said his son, who cannot speak and hear, is always picked on by bullies who prey on the weak.
Andrew said he’s considering filing a criminal negligence charge against Guam Department of Education officials as well as filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights to put an end to his son’s ordeals.
His said GDOE did not protect his son in a learning institution.
Although school officials already apologized to Andrew for what happened to his son, the father said is not enough to protect his child from future attacks.
He said because his son finds it difficult to communicate, many of his peers take advantage of his disability.
Andrew’s son is protected under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
When a student with a disability is disciplined, the school must inform the parent. In this case, Andrew said he received no notification for the 10 times his son was suspended since the child was in 7th grade.
“They don’t tell me what’s going on. I just see my son come home with a swollen eye and he tells me he’s suspended from school for fighting,” said Andrew.
Under the law, the Guam Department of Education is required to give a special needs child a due process hearing relating to disciplinary procedures.
Andrew said his son told him there are two to three students who constantly bully him.
Agueda Johnston principal Naomi Taitingfong did not return this reporter’s phone calls.
