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Home Page > News > Tragic death of Phoebe Prince hastens need for bullying legislation

Tragic death of Phoebe Prince hastens need for bullying legislation

JANE WALSHE,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 10:59 AM

Updated Sunday, January 31, 2010, 11:18 AM

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24 Comments

Tragedy: County Clare teenager Phoebe Prince

News / Tragic suicide of bullied Irish girl in Massachusetts / Click here

News / School failures blamed in bullying of Phoebe Prince / Click here

The tragic suicide of County Clare teenager Phoebe Prince in South Hadley, Massachusetts has upped the pressure to hasten the state legislative process to bring in a law to prevent this happening in the future.

The teenager and her family moved to America recently and Phoebe attended South Hadley High School in Massachusetts.

The Irish girl was so affected by the harassment and bullying she received from her schoolmates that she took her own life on January 14.

“What happened in South Hadley underscores the importance of stopping bullying as rapidly as possible, so it does not spiral out of control,’’ said co chairwoman of the Joint Committee on Education and Boston Democratic Representative Martha M. Walz (D) on www.boston.com

There is a bill being drafted, and it is expected that in view of recent events that it will receive a high priority ay the next meeting of the Joint Education Committee.

It appears Prince was subjected to bullying via text messaging and throught the social networking website Facebook. Online harassment, or cyberbullying, is a difficult form of harassment to legislate, as it may not occur within the confines of school property.

“It’s very clear we need to address cyberbullying,’’ said Walz. “It’s part of school culture, even if it doesn’t happen within the four walls of a school building.’’

Nster.com

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KristiFuller | Apr 01, 2010, 03:34 PM EDT

Just because someone is willing to admit that the US is "less than perfect" does not mean that they need to leave. The best way to improve is to admit fault and to try to do better. Secondly, less educated, look at the test scores of our students. Yes, we do have some very highly educated people here that greatly contribute to the world but we also could greatly improve our public schools. My husband is teacher and it was not uncommon for me to look at paragraphs that his 12th grade students wrote and think "how did they even pass sixth grade". So calling someone unpatriot or that they need to leave America for admitting that America is less than perfect is a big part of the reason that America will continue to not improve itself in many areas that it could.

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dg.txcop | Jan 30, 2010, 09:05 AM EST

This was a tragic thing that happened and it is always very sad when a young person takes their own life, no matter the reason. These things occur all over the world, not just in the U.S. For those of you who say that Americans are the least educated,then why for the past decade has Ireland and other European countries been recruiting U.S. Engineers, Doctors and other professionals to move and work in their countries. Maybe these countries no something you do not. And finally if you do not like the U.S. move out! Go to where ever you think is so much better, no one will stop you!

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McNabb1966 | Jan 29, 2010, 09:04 PM EST

@jjtakala... "First I have to say that I am totally ashamed to call myself an American!".... Don't use this tragedy to spew your Maoist anti-American rhetoric. Your hatred and "shame" has nothing to do with this horrible incident. You hate America, period.

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Sungold | Jan 29, 2010, 05:43 AM EST

What a terrible thing to happen...I am so sorry for her family. Rep. Walz says something needs to be done about bullying "so it does not spiral out of control". Wake up, Ms. Walz; it already is out of control. A young girl has taken her life to escape the cruel treatment, and she is not the first one.

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Bosox04 | Jan 28, 2010, 08:48 PM EST

jjtakala, crawl out of your rock every now and venture out of the US... there are indeed boorish people around the world. Keep ASSuming this is an American problem, but you are sadly mistaken. Once again, RIP, Phoebe. My heart goes out to your family.

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jjtakala | Jan 28, 2010, 08:09 PM EST

even though jorma juhani takala was born in america he may as well have been born in Russia, or in some third world country because he received the same treatment as Phobe Prince in school, in the work place, out on the street it didn't matter where, because he was different had a different name a different accent anything different is strange. Perhaps in some corners of this country it is as you say, But where I have been and what I have seen, It's very simply not a happy place! I followed a story once about a woman who pimped her two yr old daughter to men on the Internet, Here.... In America. It is what you make of it, But sometimes it's made for you as well!

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Irisheyes41 | Jan 28, 2010, 01:37 PM EST

Please check out the link to this article...scroll down! http://digg.com/tech_news/15_Year_Old_Girl_Commits_Suicide_After_Cyber_Bullying?t=30698973

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Bosox04 | Jan 28, 2010, 01:35 PM EST

Once again, I am going to stick to the topic of the article instead of using it as a petty excuse to attack others. Going by the way some of the "adults" on here are hurling insults and making broad statements, it's no wonder that youths around the world are treating each other with such brutality. A young girl's life has ended well before her time. Focus on that instead of trying to use a tragedy as an excuse to attack others. My heart is absolutely breaking as I think about this beautiful child and the family she left behind. My sincerest condolences to Phoebe's loved ones.

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SailorBill | Jan 28, 2010, 01:25 PM EST

To Both Mike Joyce and JeffPrager, Americans are the least educated among global societies? Really? Are these the same global societies who riot every time their soccer team loses a match? As far as the decadent capitalist mentality goes Comrade Prager, we are and will always be a capitalist society, if you prefer a more socialist society why not move south of the border to the land of Ugo, you might like it better there, oh wait, you might not want to try and criticize his country and/or run a for profit company (such as your magazine) as it might not go well for you if you do. Although we have poor and homeless in the U.S., there are programs they can go to for help. As far as free health care goes, no one deserves a free ride, just an affordable one. True health care reform needs to work on lower medical costs NOT providing a government option. I was born and raised in the U.S. and have traveled extensively around the globe, as well as living overseas for a time, and I would not want to live anywhere but here, thank you very much. If you don't like it here, there are borders in four directions, pick one and leave, or stay and enjoy the same freedoms the rest of us do. Your choice, isn't it nice to have freedom of choice?

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JeffPrager | Jan 28, 2010, 01:08 PM EST

Mplass88, read the history of the CIA. Americans give dollars so they can justify the havoc, chaos, murder and mayhem that their government creates globally. You have a very narrow perspective of American history and the social, economic and political distinctions that make America America.

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JeffPrager | Jan 28, 2010, 12:59 PM EST

Mike Joyce is correct. Americans are the least educated among global societies. They are perpetually bombarded with a decadent Capitalist mentality with Fascist principles supporting it by a thoroughly complicit mainstream press and what's truly sad is that few Americans recognize the false paradigm that makes up their lives. That Mike Joyce does speaks only to his having lived in other countries. Jeff Prager Founder & Publisher - Retired Senior Magazine

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Bosox04 | Jan 28, 2010, 12:33 PM EST

jjtakala, in what other countries have you lived? As I stated in a previous post, I received much of the same treatment that Phoebe did while living abroad. Unfortunately, there are evil people everywhere. Don't paint an entire nation with such a broad brush.

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jjtakala | Jan 28, 2010, 12:27 PM EST

tommyFromClare, I was born in this country, I suffered the same thing that Phobe Prince endured in her short time here, I felt the same overwhemling feelings as she and it had built the steadfast stance that I have, I can not go anywhere, I have no way to get out, or else I certainly would. The issue with Phobe was more the abuse she suffered on a daily basis which was more personal, The online abuse only added to her getting spit on, kicked, verbally abused and punished by the mean girls in her school. Because she smarter, prettier and cuter than the other girls. This is how America is in general. People are cruel, heartless, thoughtless and they think this sort of behavior is acceptable, it simply is not!

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Celtics10 | Jan 28, 2010, 11:51 AM EST

Mike Joyce; You should be ashamed for taking this opportunity to rant & rave against America. My only hope is that you are some undereducated youth who will soon look back on this and pray that there is a God to forgive you. If you are an adult, that is just embarrassing.

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safekids | Jan 28, 2010, 11:34 AM EST

A family suffers for a lifetime, a community grieves I was very saddened as I learned about yet another suicide due to cyber bullies. My heart goes out to Phoebe Prince’s family. Safewave.org. a web site that does something to stop the torment of cyber bullies is a free & secure internet safe haven for children ages 5-18. SafeWave™ incorporates age and Identity verification registration that sets it apart from other “safe” web sites for children. Debbie Johnston the author of Florida's Jeff's Law, which was inspired by her own son's suicide due to cyber bullying, has become an active supporter of Safewave's iLAND5™ and has stated ” she is thankful for a safer internet environment. it is imperative that a safer Network like iLAND5™, with a conscience, is available for all our children”. Cyber bullying has consequences, for both the bully and victim, including: missed school days, anxiety, depression, lowered self esteem higher rates of illness. Bullies grow up and become bigger bullies. To learn more about what you can do please click this link Safewave.org. We must work together to stop cyber bullying.

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