Phoebe Prince’s dad talks of epidemic of bullying in Irish schools

I find it unbelievable that anyone can think that bullying is an American thing. I work with a woman in her late 50s who moved to Ireland at 16 and has terrible memories to this day of the horrible bullying at the hands of her Irish classmates. There are many anti-bullying programs is the US. As for Catholic school of years ago -the teachers in Ireland and the US were some of the worst bullies.

Any society which lives under the yoke of a free-for-all open market economy, where competition is elevated to the status of ideal, is bound to have bullies at all levels. As a gentle soul from rural Ireland in urban America, the culture shock was probably too much. RIP Phoebe! Be well soon, Jeremy!

VERY WELL SAID -Washwoman!

cillowen, you've of course tried to make this some result the American version of Irish nationalism and the partition of Ireland when it has and had absolutely nothing to do with that whatsoever. Well before Northern Ireland was established the Catholic Church in Ireland were bullies and intimidators of the children of Ireland.

Murph - I agree. Bullies are everywhere for so many reasons. Kids are not afraid of anyone & that makes them bold as brass. Parents respond with lawsuits when schools officials try to discipline bad actors. If a neighbor sees a kid misbehaving & yells at the little darling, the parents go after the neighbor. Many parents are teaching their kids that that bad behavior ought to be rewarded. The kids that bully often grow up to be the bully you encounter at work or at the store. We have to teach our children that this behavior is unacceptable and will be punished. We have to pray that they allow God's grace to fill their hearts.

washwoman-agree with all you say,your kids in Catholic school-most aren't all I said was if one Our Father stopped one bully,that's a start!

PhlutiePhan, the religious in Irish schools are the most notorious bullies of all. Helpless children demeaned, laughed at, belittled, and suffering corporal punishment. They bullied children for their parents deeds or lack thereof as well. Children captive in an entrenched Catholic school system with no alternatives. They also deliberately didn't teach children so they'd be ill equipped for life. Ireland will be well rid of them in the school system.

Murph, my children attended Catholic schools in Chicago and were bullied incesently. Teaching religion everyday doesn't stop bullies. I believe Catholic schools are less inclined to admit to bullying problems and are ill equipped to put anti-bullying programs in place. They simply don't have the resources or the larger view of the problem. Children that are bullies are often bullied at home by their parents. Children bully to amuse and entertain their friends. Children bully for power and control. When other children stand up and say STOP to a bully, bullying diminishes. Adults need to call out the bad behavior. Local police often have a huge inmpact in reducing bullying by speaking at shcools and letting kids know that this behavior is simply wrong and will not be tolerated.

But if the Our Father stops but one bully ,it is well worth it.

I'm afraid bullying in school is an international problem. I was a victim of it in one US public elementary school I attended, but was fortunate that it wasn't a problem elsewhere. It is wrong to think it is an import from the USA to Ireland. I suspect it's been a problem in Ireland at some schools for decades. BTW, I am over 60 and God was still in the schools when I was bullied. Praying the Our Father doesn't amount to much if the bully isn't paying attention to the words.

Since Ireland is following the lead of America in throwing God out of the public schools, this is no surprise. The pedophile scandal in Ireland was a direct export from American trained clergy in general and from Boston in particular.