I'm in physical pain right now, because I can't express how deeply this recent event hurts me though. I don't really want to go into detail, but the short of it is, a 16 year old girl named Phoebe Prince committed suicide because of the harassment she received at school.
Teacher knew.
Parents knew.
Other kids knew.
No one did anything. No one. How is that possible? How do ADULTS sit by and watch a child be picked on for so long.
Today in my diverse learners class this event was brought up, showing the importance of teaching about diversity, and the importance of standing up for people who can't stand up for themselves. I know this seems ridiculous, but I feel guilty because I wasn't there for this little girl. I'm a few thousand miles away, but if I had been there, she wouldn't be dead. This wouldn't have happened.
I'm kind of just putting undo stress on my self, but I know what it's like to be a new kid in a strange country (she was from Ireland).
Oddly enough - it was South Hadley HS, Mass. which is the same town my husband's extended
family lives in. Small world.
So tell me - what do you do? I am not really an outspoken person. People can have their opinions, but when it comes to respecting other human beings, and especially with kids, we - the teachers, parents, role models - are the only example. If we don't say "no" then by default, we are saying "yes."
If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything.
4 comments:
That is incredibly sad. While no one can change what happened in that case, we all can certainly do what we can in our own environments. It is everyone's personal responsibility to make sure it doesn't happen again.
But I think a lot of the inaction stems from fear. People are afraid of stirring the pot and upsetting the status quo. But once one person speaks out, it makes it easier for the next person to say something. So don't be afraid to trail blaze, but also don't take the weight of the world on your shoulders for something you can't control, just endeavor to keep it from happening again.
Hang in there. {{hugs}}
You have always been a champion for those without a voice, it's what I love about you. This is tragic, more tragic is that it probably happens quite often, but society will never take responsibility for what is happening, instead the reports will say, she was depressed or didn't fit in...
We are currently dealing with a bully here... she is T's age. She hasn't targeted T often - because T told her, her opinion didn't matter, but none-the-less, she has been hurtful to her and made her cry several times and T only sees her at church. Those privileged to go to school with her also are getting the brunt of her abuse. And although something has been said to the parents - by several people, their only response is to say that their daughter is not hanging around with the best kids, and is being influenced by them - it's really not her fault... yeah right, she is the bully, not the follower, what do you do... tell the parents they're full of it, that their darling daughter is really a big bully.... not a follower at all.... hmmmm??? And how do you make people see, what they are determined not to?
Wow thank you for sharing. That is horribly tragic. It makes me think even differently about joking or anything EXCEPT being kind!
And there you see why my kids HATE going to church. :/ It all stems to how they are treated by the other kids. Not nearly anything so overt as this poor child had to endure at school, however. That is just unforgivable and beyond my comprehension.
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