Comments on: Mother of boy who committed suicide after gay bullying urges Congress to take action

By: Jon Borger

Jon Borger — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:18:15 +0000

I think the headline used should say 'anti-gay' bullying.

By: jonnielondon

jonnielondon — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:14:34 +0000

Charlene, none of my students use homophobic slurs around me. However, kids in my GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) still get taunted and teased. We've held assemblies, put up posters, my colleagues even have posters in every classroom, but we still hear that crap. The problem is administrators (at the highest levels) need to deal with this harassment and bullying more seriously with more severe consequences…and parents need to step in more (unlike this case). The effects of homophobic bullying on many students are devastating, and sadly in this case very tragic.

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By: Charlene

Charlene — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:38:56 +0000

Tragic! The point is though if a teacher is confident enough to tackle the subject some good will come of it. My colleague's partner is a teacher & he had the talk about using the word gay in a derogatory manner & now the kids don't use the word in front of him. They probably still use it against each other but they know they have 1 teacher who disapproves of it – this may be enough for 1 child to confide in him – lets hope so.

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By: Bentham

Bentham — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:26:09 +0000

Ty:

You are so right. The other kids in the class know who the bullies are; so do the teachers.

Detectives have gone to much greater lengths to find murdering bullies. Mobs of cruel children needs 1) therapy, 2) punishment; and their parents also need a good session or two with a psychiatrist.

This is a heart-wrenching tragedy. Infuriates me.

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By: Mihangel apYrs

Mihangel apYrs — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:14:29 +0000

theotherone (from another thread) would probably say he ought to have toughened up and dealt with it. After all despite the fact HE WS ONLY A CHILD he ought to have the resiliance to deal with it

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By: Ty

Ty — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:49:26 +0000

Find the murderers, lie-detector the entire school if you have to, expel them and then take legal action against them. Jailtime (or equivalent for those underage) would be the perfect justice for these animals. Kids also learn from their parents so justice would be even sweeter if you chucked the parents in with their children.

Some might say this is a little extreme but I say, and what, suicide isn't?

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By: Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin Pie — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:47:54 +0000

This is what total freedom of speech gets you. Is the fact that these bullies were allowed to say whatever the hell they wanted a good sign for a free country? This little boy didn't sound very free. People need a safe and nurturing environment more than anything – that should take precedence over all else.

Also, that guidance counsellor sounds eminently misguided. Isn't it obvious that grading the behaviour of a victim further victimises them? I've seen this sort of cowardice – the bullies hassle the child, but not the teacher. The child then causes a problem for the teacher, who is too much of a craven layabout to tackle the real problem, and so takes the easy way out by blaming the victim.

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