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Despite Phoebe Princes’ death bullying still continues

On first anniversary parents say kids still threatened

By
CATHY HAYES,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer
Published Monday, January 17, 2011, 4:20 AM
Updated Monday, January 17, 2011, 4:20 AM

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Phoebe Prince
Phoebe Prince


Read more: Bully writes ‘accomplished’ on Phoebe Prince’s Facebook page on day of death

Read more: DA has no regrets about Phoebe Prince bullying charges

Reports from South Hadley, Massachusetts just days after the first anniversary of the suicide of Phoebe Prince, suggest the situation at South Hadley High School has not improved one iota.

Prince was the victim of a relentless bullying campaign at the hands of her fellow South Hadley students before she took her own life on January 14, 2010. She had emigrated to the U.S. with her family from Ireland to start a new life in Massachusetts.

Despite the passage of a law in Mass. to train school officials in identifying and properly reporting signs of bullying, it would appear things on the ground are much the same.

“I don’t think anything has changed at South Hadley High School,’’ Jennifer Kalvinek, mother of a 16 year-old student at the school, told the Boston Globe.

Kalvinek’s daughter, Payton, has Asperger’s syndrome and has suffered at the hands of her fellow students.

“A boy threw breadsticks at her in the cafeteria,’’ Kalvinek added.. “A lot of people witnessed this. Nothing was done.’’

Kalvinek went on to say that her daughter has informed the school several times that she has suffered abuse, to no avail.

“It’s not just students,’’ continued the concerned mother. “Teachers are encouraging this by their actions or inactions. If a kid is somewhat different, like Payton, it’s hands off.’’

Payton herself revealed to the Boston Globe the extent of the abuse that she has suffered.

“I’ve been called bitch, Satan, everything,’’ she said. “People laugh at me. A boy threatened to beat me up. Teachers put me down and say things about me in front of other students.’’

Jennifer Kalvinek added that her daughter told her about the bullying of Phoebe Prince and she called the school some eight weeks before the Clare teenagers suicide to tell them about her concerns for the Irish girl and for her daughter.

She was told things were under control.

“Every time I called, they said they were on top of it,’’ Kalvinek told the Globe. “Well, they weren’t on top of it with Phoebe, and they’re not on top of it with my daughter.’’

The concerned mother went on to day that her daughter’s grades have plummeted since their move to South Hadley from the nearby town of Ware.

The school did not respond to the Globe’s request for a response, but the worrying signs point to no changes where it really count, in the corridors and classrooms of South Hadley High.

Read more: Bully writes ‘accomplished’ on Phoebe Prince’s Facebook page on day of death

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15 Comments

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sirpeter | Jan 18, 2011, 09:43 PM EST
IrishCanuck..Hang on a second..pugsmom gave her experienced professional opinion. This was his/her professional opinion.You can't say I hope pugsmon that you are not still teaching. I know that I would not send my child to be taught by you. Shame on you.How would you like someone to make that statement to your wife?I didn't agree with everything posted.I still believe there must be some lack of discipline at the school,that's just my unqualified opinion..I have posted quiet a bit on this site and most of it is not my personal opinion,but the opinion of experts..In other words i'm just posting what experts have to say on certain matters.I'm well read..I don't get aggressive until it's something really derogatory and untrue about Ireland or it's history (considering i live here)and I think i'm better placed to give a true account..not MY opinion!! but the opinions of many experts on topics about Ireland. Some agree with my posts..Some don't...But if it's derogatory and anti-Irish or Racist..I'll tear them a new as*hole with colourful language. You are religious and you might not agree with bad language...Speaking in your religious terms..I'm doing the Lords work using 21th Century Internet methods. See you asked for no fight and i didn't give you one.You got my opinion.

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AOBoyle | Jan 18, 2011, 12:58 AM EST
If this lady is saying her daughter is being bullied and suffering severe abuse, and that Phoebe Prince was literally bullied to death at this school, WHY would she leave her daughter in South Hadley High? While I know the problem of bullying needs to be tackled if it were my daughter I wouldn't allow her near South Hadley High if the bullying is as bad as they say it is and nothing is being done about. My daughters well being, health and safety would be far more important than a potential LAW SUIT down the road!

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Parents | Jan 17, 2011, 11:20 PM EST
People don't seem to realize how it works...the teachers up to the super close ranks, no one talks, files are changed, things are backdated and this PR and strategy and manipulation goes into full force and it would be very very difficult for anyone including any parent to prove anything. It is just a giant well oiled machine. It was done at this school as well and without the DA all of the bullies would still be there and this would be long forgotten and everyone back to normal. It was the admin here that showed themselves as real bullies...parents who wanted answers were escorted out of the meeting by police. They quickly got their groupie parents to say good things and influence wherever they could, they started this bully taskforce (busy work) and allowed them more access to the community and more opportunity to manipulate. One teacher was reported as saying that PP more or less deserved what she got. It was a teacher siding with the bullies as they had all along, no one stood up for PP, they were fully aware of what was happening and they chose to ignore it.

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IrishCanuck | Jan 17, 2011, 07:36 PM EST
sirpeter you are telling me to have a bit respect and stop acting the idiot, now there is some kind of hypocracy from some one who has spouted much crap on here and that is not just coming from me but from others on here. I don't want to get into a fight with you bud. My wife is a teacher and knows what she is talking about. One thing I will agree with you on is the BRATS the teachers have to put up with, but the parents and the bleeding hearts take out corporal punishment and the Bible out of the schools and this is what happens. You know I'm right.

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sirpeter | Jan 17, 2011, 02:37 PM EST
IrishCanuck...Have a bit of respect and stop acting the idiot at your age.pugsmom is a teacher and he/she makes a bit of sense to me.pugsmom post was below mine and for some reason i didn't see it. I am certainly going to take more notice of a teachers point of view faster then some of the crap posted here.There does seem that MAYBE there is a problem at that school,but it not easy with the brats these days..Dealing with the parents is also a nightmare from what i hear from teachers.She said "Teachers put me down in front of other students" Been reprimanded or been told what is correct is not been put down.What do the little brats want..private counseling sessions.

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IrishCanuck | Jan 17, 2011, 02:02 PM EST
Pugsmon just another teacher trying to cover up and being ignorant. My wife is a teacher and has been for many years and she said that there is no way that the teachers could not see or hear these monsters bullying poor Phoebe unless they chose to not see or hear. So don't go on with the crap that you are saying, just admit that the teachers at Hadley just chose not to see or hear this and looks and sounds like they are choosing to look the other way still. The teachers and Administrators at Hadley should all be removed and have their teacher licences removed. I hope pugsmon that you are not still teaching. I know that I would not send my child to be taught by you. Shame on you.

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supercare | Jan 17, 2011, 01:56 PM EST
This is for Pugsmon, times have changed what was ignored 36 years ago, can't be ignored now. I grant you there are some good teachers, but those are outweighed by bad ones that are just in it for the pension plus job security.

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dv727dv | Jan 17, 2011, 01:17 PM EST
Hey, pugsmon, just because your union says its so doesn't mean it is. Hopefully, in your 36 years of teaching, you were occupied with instructing students and making sure YOUR classroom was orderly as opposed to "not hearing of or witnessing" what your Union Brothers and Sisters did or did not do. It's been a long time since I was a student, by I witnessed it and heard of it. Not all the world may have an education degree, but very few of us are so stupid as to believe teachers are perfect, especially in the armpit of New England referred to as South Hadley. BTW, "Dr." Sayer called--wants to make good on the dinner he owes you.

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supercare | Jan 17, 2011, 01:00 PM EST
I think that unfortunately school systems in general do not want to admit that there is a problem. We had the same problem where we live and nothing got done. Finally my husband and I hired an attorney then things changed.

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Parents | Jan 17, 2011, 11:49 AM EST
The post by "pugsmom" is all part of the problem...this teacher is speaking for hundreds of thousands of other teachers who she has never even met but she knows ea and every one is perfect!!! Like the rest of the world and every other profession there are all kinds of teachers from excellent to harmful, that is just a fact. To make such a statement is arrogant and ignorant and just not true.

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IrishCanuck | Jan 17, 2011, 11:46 AM EST
Why dosen't this surprise me? These are the same teachers and Administrators that claimed that they didn't know this was going on and it looks like they are still turning a blind eye. When are they going to wake up to the fact that they and the parents have rotten kids going to that school. Wake up Hadley before there is another Phoebe Prince insident. Geez!!!!!

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mkjudge | Jan 17, 2011, 11:22 AM EST
Borefield...Gov. Christie is New Jersey's public servant, not Massachusetts...but I do agree with you, if my child was bullied to that extreme I would involve the police and hire a lawyer.

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borefield | Jan 17, 2011, 11:16 AM EST
Where is Law Enforcement?, I think that district needs Gov. Christie to hold school officials and Law Enforcement accountable. If what is being reported is true, it's a disgraceful and scary situation. The parents that are involved and the ones who are concerned should continue to speak out, eventually someone will listen.

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sirpeter | Jan 17, 2011, 10:37 AM EST
Sounds like the teachers are not taking things in hand and neglecting their duty.

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pugsmom | Jan 17, 2011, 10:14 AM EST
I taught in high school for 36 years, so to the comment that "teachers put me down in front of everyone," is pure fiction! Teachers do everything in their power to encourage and help every student, so to this girl and her mother I say, "Get over your own dramatics!" Of course there are instances of bullying gone unnoticed....just walk through a hallway or lunch room when you may have 500 students crowding about! The ordinary citizen off the street, and in MANY cases, parents, are overwhelmed and intimidated by the crush of all those student bodies! Never, in all my years of teaching, did I hear of, nor did I witness, any action or INaction by teachers that encouraged bullying! Here is a classic example of someone looking for a scapegoat, and getting press on it!!

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