Stop Bullycide - save a life

Bullying: The 34 we lost in 2010 to Bullycide

Bully Bullying Cyberbullying Bullycide – These four words continue to appear with ever greater frequency in the lexicon of the modern American family. We hear these words on the evening news, in our newspapers, and online in all forums. We live in 2011, but to see how we treat one and other from afar, you’d think perhaps the calendar had rolled back a few centuries. You see – individuals be they young or not-so-young are bullied both at school and at work. The tragedy is, our youth of today, by and large are not prepared for today’s always-on world, even though they live it 24/7. The fact that in 2010 we lost 34 children where bullying was a principal issue in their decision to end their lives speaks volumes. There were 33 who committed suicide. Then there was one young man who was killed while trying to extricate his sibling from two bullies who were pummeling his sibling, he was shot and killed. Each of them has a story, I share these…

ABA resolution addressing Bullying and Cyberbullying

Kudos to the American Bar Association (ABA) for amending and adopting their resolution 107A which urges “… federal, state, tribal, territorial, and local officials, to prevent and remediate the existence and dangers of bullying, including cyberbullying and youth-to-youth sexual and physical harassment.” In my view this is very much a step in the right direction…

Every day is worth living

If we are able to collectively work together, we can save a life, we can save many lives and in doing so we will demonstrate to the children, every day is worth living.

Bullycide: How many are too many?

… in 2010, by my count, 30 children ranging in age from 9-19 took their own lives as they were unable to cope with the bullying which they were being subjected. These families who lost their child …

Jon Carmichael – Age 13

Jon Carmichael was a 13-year-old eighth grade student from Joshua, Texas who took his own life in late March 2010. Jon hung himself in his parents barn. He had been bullied at school.

Kimberly Linczeski – Age 12

Kimberly Linczeski was a 12-year-old sixth grader who attended Ontonagon Area Junior-Senior High School in Ontonagon village, Michigan. She took her own life on 3 March 2010.

Montana Lance – Age 9

Montana Lance was a nine-year old fourth grader when he took his life in the nurses station restroom at Stewart Creek elementary school in The Colony, Texas in January 2010.

Ernest Fuller – Age 12

Ernest Fuller was a 12-year-old sixth grader who attended Dunbar Middle School in Lynchburg, Virginia. He took his own life in January 2010.

Phoebe Prince – Age 15

Phoebe Prince was a 15-year-old student at South Hadley High School, located in South Hadley, Massachusetts.  Phoebe was bullied over a period of six months.  She took her own life on 14 January 2010.       The District Attorney brought criminal charges against six teens, in connection with Phoebe’s death.  The District Attorney described Phoebe’s last day, “It appears Phoebe’s death followed a …