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School seeks to stop bullying after Irish student suicide

By
JANE WALSHE,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Sunday, January 24, 2010, 10:49 AM
Updated Saturday, January 30, 2010, 2:39 PM

 

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Students at South Hadley High School hold a vigil for Phoebe Prince.
Students at South Hadley High School hold a vigil for Phoebe Prince.

South Hadley High School has set up a special committee to combat bullying, following the death of 15-year-old Irish girl Phoebe Prince.

The school had been reviewing the problem for 18 months. Now Prince’s suicide makes the issue even more urgent.

“It will be a discussion of the policy and what programs we have to make kids safe,’’ Edward Boiselle, the school committee chairman, told Boston.com. “At the same time, the family has a right to their privacy.’’

At the family’s request, the committee will not discuss Prince’s death.

The Irish teenager took her life on Thursday January 14. At 4.40pm one of her sisters called for medical assistance, and police, fire and an ambulance responded, according to Boston.com. A South Hadley police spokesman said, “It was a hanging, I believe.”

The bullying that afflicted Prince occurred in real life, but its main form was through cellphone text messages, and over the  internet, especially on Facebook.

“The real problem now is the texting stuff and the cyber-bullying,’’ South Hadley School Superintendent Gus A. Sayer told Boston.com. “Some kids can be very mean towards one another using that medium.’’

“Apparently the young woman had been subjected to taunting from her classmates, mostly through the Facebook and text messages, but also in person on at least a couple of occasions,” he added.

The problems seem to have centered on dating and relationship issues. In a letter to parents, school principal Daniel Smith wrote. “School personnel immediately intervened ... and both counseled and provided consequences as the situations required. It is what happened after those incidents were over that is cause for significant concern.’’

When Prince’s loved ones set up a facebook page in her memory it too was vandalized by bullies and has since been taken down. The obituary in a local paper, The Republican, says Prince “touched many lives with her Irish mannerisms and sense of humor.”

“What her family and friends from both sides of the Atlantic grieve in is the loss of the incandescent enthusiasm of a life blossoming. At age 14 the family moved to South Hadley, MA so that Phoebe could experience America and be near family.”
 

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6 Comments

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Posted by MaryDonegal on Mar 31, 2010, 10:29 AM EDT
This will not be settled until those in charge are made to accept the responsibility of this childs death. Bullying was reported by teachers and their concerns were ignored! The superindentent and principal should be removed due to lack of action. Shame on them...
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Posted by mfleming on Feb 04, 2010, 04:00 PM EST
I agree that the schools must enforce a "No Bullying" policy but it has to start in the home. People want the schools to take over the moral teaching of the children but do not allow prayer? Why such a double standard? Time and time again you hear of these parents that want to push the responsibility of teaching moral decency to their children, suing the school and any teacher that "interferes' with their precious bully child. What about a no bullying policy in the home?
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Posted by AmericanReader on Jan 25, 2010, 03:39 PM EST
Another heart breaking story of bullying. Susan Boyle talked about the bullying and beatings she endured 40 years ago at school. Hasn't anything changed in that time, other than the technology? (And yes, parents do need to stay on top of whatever technology they are allowing their child to use) It has to start with the schools and their administration as it has were I live. A strict 'no bullying tolerance' in force and enforced makes a big difference in identifying the bullies and addressing their not-to-be-tolerated actions with their families. It does work; bullies along with their families (which makes the families accountable too), have the choice to knock it off or be removed from the school. Family Counseling for bully is often suggested, as it is a family problem. Counseling by the school staff with the bullied person and family is made available to help the person learn to be empowered in dealing with bullies and how not to become a victim again. No one has the right to diminish another's potential or self esteem for their twisted feeling of having the right to control someone for their amusement. This must not be tolerated at any school anywhere. Parents should not be afraid to meet with school Principals and address the issue and get a satisfactory outcome. If not there, then move up the ladder to the Superintendent, Board of Education, etc. Parents have no idea how much power they have!
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Posted by cabbagehead44 on Jan 25, 2010, 02:09 PM EST
It's really a pity that this girl had no one that she could go to discuss what she was going through! There needs to be better counseling services available to vulnerable young people to turn to so that a situation like this would not result in the tragic loss of a young life. If only she had been able to talk to someone who could truly help her and give her good advice and counselling, this might have been prevented from happening. The public schools are too large and impersonal so that this type of bullying behavior can't be monitored or prevented and the perpetrators can get away with it because of the anonymity of being on the internet. Additionally, this is tragic because this Irish student coming from a different culture didn't have the necessary defenses that American students might have to protect her from such cruel and hateful behavior from others. It's really sad to think that schools have become such hostile places for students to be in today! It's unfortunate that so many Catholic schools are closing and there are no alternative schools for students who don't want to be a hostile environment to attend!
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Posted by Searlit on Jan 25, 2010, 10:35 AM EST
It's heartbreaking. I can't even begin to understand how people can treat their fellow human beings in such a way. The world is so full of hostility, and people need to look within themselves for an answer to this problem. I believe you can only treat another human being in such a hateful way if you are filled with self-hate.
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Posted by bronxjames on Jan 25, 2010, 09:54 AM EST
In my neighborhood we'd get a bunch of our friends and kick the s--t outta the bullies.
 


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