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E-mailTragic suicide of bullied Irish girl in Massachusetts
Published Saturday, January 23, 2010, 9:35 AM
Updated Sunday, January 31, 2010, 10:54 AM
Flowers left at a fence outside Phoebe Prince's home
A teenager from County Clare, Phoebe Prince, took her life on Thursday, January 14, following harassment and bullying by schoolmates. After her death, the bullies defaced the Facebook page that had been set up in her honor, posting malicious comments and images.
The 15-year-old was living with her family, who were on a short-term relocation in the US, and had lived here for just six months. Early this week, Daniel Smith, the principal at her school said, "Phoebe was a smart, charming – and as is the case with many teenagers – complicated young person who truly valued her close friends and her family," the Irish Examiner reported.
Harassment is a major problem at South Hadley High School in Massachusetts. Several children have left the town because of bullying, according to the Examiner.
The extent of the problem was clear in the vandalizing of Prince’s memorial page on Facebook. The site has been closed and all the messages on it have been made private.
Smith said that Prince had been pretty and clever, but said the school had recently intervened because of conflicts with other students relating to dating and relationships. A school dance was due to be held two days after she died.
“Some students made mean-spirited comments to Phoebe in school and on the way home from school, but also through texting and social-networking Web sites,” Smith wrote, according to the Boston Herald. “This insidious, harassing behavior knows no bounds.”
“We will never know the specific reasons why she chose to take her life,” he added. “However, both local and state police investigations are looking into the role that bullying may have played in her decision.”
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Posted by PRSmith on Apr 08, 2010, 01:24 PM EDTEveryDayDad,
You sir are an A_hole. Your arguments regarding Phoebe's actions and the actions of her abusers are outrageous. You hide behind your computer spewing your garbage without the courage to post your name, address and phone number. I would love for you to do that then you will see what the harassment and bullying was like for Phoebe! You spineless jellyfish coward!
Posted by shuvonn on Apr 07, 2010, 11:39 AM EDT
when was suicide deemed to be an * addiction* ????
Posted by IrishMark on Apr 07, 2010, 11:29 AM EDT
EveryDayDad- Once again as with all your posts you have missed the point by a mile! In an earlier post you said you were "ashamed to be Irish."I merely pointed out that i did not want to be associated in the same category (IRISH) as someone who makes comments about this case like "get over it" and "suicide is selfish" Understand now? And what on earth do you mean "suicide, like other addictions and diseases" ? Seems fairly ridiculous to say it`s like an addiction seeing as you can only do it once!!! Also how is it like a disease, can you catch or cure it?
Posted by EveryDayDad on Apr 07, 2010, 04:00 AM EDT
IrishMark - Suicide has nothing to do with being Irish. Suicide, like other addictions and diseases, is racially independent.
Posted by IrishMark on Apr 06, 2010, 12:48 PM EDT
EveryDayDad-I was born reared and live in Ireland.But if you are an Irish Man, then I am ashamed to call myself one!
R.I.P Phoebe
My thoughts and prayers are with the Prince family.
Posted by shuvonn on Apr 06, 2010, 09:02 AM EDT
The schools I am familiar with do NOT have police on site all day, and MOST schools do not, most schools in smaller towns share a liaison officer between all three schools, and do NOT have one on site all day. So you are WRONG about that. And there is NO school that will allow parents to sit all day at the school, NO WHERE it does not happen, EVER not even if you a volunteer ( which I AM). Didn't you just not state the South Hadley district did not have one either?? I have no idea if it did or not but you said ALL schools do and I KNOW for a FACT ( no pissing contest) that you are WRONG about that. You contradict yourself and You come across as arrogant, ignorant of reality and judgmental. I am shocked at your comments EveryDayDad, you have NO idea about children at all if your comments are calling her suicide a selfish act, the human condition particularly of teenagers who are unfortunately growing up in a harder to negotiate society,have NO idea of the long term consequences of their actions... And don't go bible thumping to back up your lame, weak and wrong arguments There before the grace of God go ANY one of us, we have NO idea what might be ahead of us as parents and that goes for YOU too EveryDayDad....
Posted by EveryDayDad on Apr 05, 2010, 07:25 PM EDT
Shovoff -
Carry the "Message" not the "Mess."
Get over it. Kids tease other kids. They always have, they always will.
Suicide is the most selfish act one can commit. It says so in the bible.
Have a good day.
Posted by EveryDayDad on Apr 05, 2010, 07:20 PM EDT
I'm not judging anyone here shuvoff. and Im not into pissing contests either. Like I said, ALL middle and high schools in our school district have cops ALL DAY on site as I stated. They interact and work with the kids and diffuse it (or make an arrest) when there is trouble. The goal of which is to deter the level of abuse (verbal and physical) that occurs. Most people who speed down the road slow down when they see a cop. Are you getting the picture here? Perhaps there's and answer there for the district Hadley school is in???
Posted by shuvonn on Apr 05, 2010, 02:31 PM EDT
You are VERY judgmental everydaydad, campus is COLLEGE NOT high school, most high schools only have part time cops on the premises some of the week NOT all of the week. The DA may change their minds about the charges against the staff, the staff MUST have known and obviously the mother was misled by the staff since she did go there several times in order to tackle the problems. YOU are a complete IDIOT if you think that ANY school will let you stay there all day while your kid is at school, it does NOT happen!! The kids committed a MORAL crime, they bullied a girl who make a choice based upon how she felt without considering the long term ramifications of her choice as most children do NOT think of those things. The message of justifying suicide is NOT anything got to do with the bullies being taken to task for their actions and that they CANNOT and SHOULD not bully as people are REAL and feelings are real, the bullies are real brave when they have back up but NONE of them EVIL jerks are brave enough to even go to court...It is not just our job to protect our kids, we should make sure they are NOT bullying others, as well as make sure that they understand their words and deeds have consequences, that is what counts here, you are typical of a parent who thinks their child is perfect and cannot see they may be at fault over this poor child's choice...
Posted by EveryDayDad on Apr 04, 2010, 01:23 PM EDT
IN MY STATE, ALL JMIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE A COP ON CAMPUS ALL DAY TO DETER AND ARREST REAL VIOLENCE. (THEY HAVE THEIR OWN OFFICE AND ARE WEAPONED AND UNIFORMED). FIGHTS AND TEASING CONTINUE JUST LIKE IT WAS IN THE 60'S AND 70'S WHEN I WAS K-12. THIS WORLD, THE ADULTS WHO RUN IT, THE WEB AND MEDIA ARE BROADCASTING "JUSTIFIABLE" VIOLENCE EVERYWHERE. LETS NOT "JUSTIFY" SUICIDE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. WE NEED OUR KIDS TO LIVE. OBVIOUSLY, NONE OF THE KIDS COMMITTED A "REAL CRIME" PRIOR TO PHOEBE TAKING HER LIFE OR THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN ARRESTED. I PROMISE THE STAFF AT HADLEY/ANY SCHOOL WOULD HAVE MADE SURE OF THIS (OBVIOUS BY THE DA'S DECISION NOT TO PERSUE CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST THE STAFF). NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERYONE WANTS TO CONVICT THESE SUPPOSED "BULLY'S" FOR PHOEBE TAKING HER OWN LIFE. WRONG MESSAGE PEOPLE. IM HAPPY THESE UNFORTUNATES WILL GO TO COURT BUT HARDLY SEE A CONVICTION FORTHCOMING AND IF IT DOES, ALL THE BETTER. AS A PARENT, ITS OUR JOB FIRST AND FOREMOST TO PROTECT OUR KIDS. BE IN THEIR DAILY LIFES. VISIT THEIR SCHOOLS, SIT THROUGH A DAY OF SCHOOL. ITS YOUR RIGHT. IF YOU SEE YOUR KID DEPRESSED TALK WITH THEM. SEEK HELP. MAKE CHANGES IF NECESSARY. LETS NOT LOSE ANOTHER KID OR JUSTIFY SUICIDE WHICH IS THE MESSAGE ALL OF THIS IS GIVING. YOU OWE IT TO YOUR KIDS. WE WORK TO HARD TO RAISE THEM TO SET THEM FREE IN THIS WORLD OF HATE AND VIOLENCE.
Posted by EveryDayDad on Apr 04, 2010, 01:20 PM EDT
IN RESPONSE TO MICHEAL COLLINS - When it comes to protecting/HELPING my kids IN EXTREME CONDITIONS, AS A PARENT I AM IT. PERIOD. IF I HAVE TO SIT IN SCHOOL WITH MY KIDS, I DO IT. I PULLED MY KIDS OUT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL LAST YEAR BECAUSE THEY JOINED A MOTOCROSS RACE TEAM. NOT FOR DISCPLINE, NOT BECAUSE THE SCHOOL HAD PROBLEMS. THEY ARE BACK IN PUBLIC SCHOOL AND YES ITS A HARSH ENVIRONMENT BUT LOOK AT THE WORLD WE ADULTS HAVE CREATED. MURDER, CORRUPTION, and sensless WARS EVERYWHERE. VIOLENCE AND SEX ON TV EVERYWHERE. I LIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTRY I NEVER HEARD OF PHOEBE BEFORE. EVERY SUICIDE IS A MAJOR TRAGEDY. WHAT SUICIDE DOESNT HAVE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS? WHAT IM HEARING FROM MOST HERE IS DELIVERING A DANGEROUS MESSAGE TO KIDS EVERYWHERE, "THAT SUICIDE IS JUSTIFIABLE UNDER SOME CONDITIONS." I REFUSE TO ACCEPT AND WILL ARGUE THAT TO THE END WITH MY OWN KIDS. LETS KEEP IT REAL AND KEEP OUR KIDS ALIVE PEOPLE. DONT JUSTIFY SUICIDE IN ANY WAY. SEEK HELP, CHANGE THEIR ENVIRONMENTS. WE WILL JUST LOSE MORE KIDS TO SUICIDE. KNOW YOUR KIDS ENVIRONMENT (GO TO SCHOOL ONCE IN A WHILE - ITS YOUR RIGHT) IF ITS NOT HEALTHY FOR THEM - MAKE A A CHANGE!!!. LIFE IS NOT A JOHN MAYER SONG, QUIT "WAITING ON THE WORLD TO CHANGE." IT'S GETTING WORSE. ITS AMAZING HOW A BULLY'S ATTITUDE CHANGES WHEN THEY SEE A PARENT WITH THEIR CHILD AT SCHOOL. TRY IT ONCE AND SEE. AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE. I DO HOPE THESE BULLYS GET IN TROUBLE AND DELIVER A STRONG MESSAGE THAT BULLYING IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. WE THE ADULTS HAVE CREATED A CRUEL WORLD WITH SENSLESS KILLING AND WARS. WATCH TV, NOTHING BUT SEX AND VIOLENCE - EVEN THE CARTOONS. PARENTS NEED TO HAVE LESS FEAR AND LESS FAITH AND NOT BE AFRAID TO TAKE ACTION AND GET INVOLVED. GO TO SCHOOL WITH YOUR KID ONCE IN A WHILE. LET THE BULLYS KNOW YOUR KIDS HAS A SOLID LOVING PARENT BEHIND THEM. I JUST HOPE MY KIDS NEVER TAKE THEIR LIFE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. SUICIDE IS A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO A TEMPORARY PROBLEM.
Posted by ilovejoey420 on Apr 04, 2010, 12:01 AM EDT
everydaydad....I'm pretty sure that if that was your daughter, you would be singing a totally different song...
Posted by michealcollins on Apr 02, 2010, 10:32 PM EDT
In response to Everydaydad, if the administration and teachers had have been doing their jobs, this would have been avoided. To turn this around and blame the mother is beyond comprehension. Are you a friend of one of the accused? Furthermore, bullying doesn't mean physical force being applied. Verbal abuse is as bad as being physically abused. "These kids accused should be let off"? Where is the logic in that? So they are not to be held responsible? Talk about lecturing on bad choices. You have made several here. Im ashamed to be Irish?????? Sorry I don't follow the logic here either. By the way having been born and raised in Belfast before immigrating, I've had some experience with bullies and their words hurt just as much as their fists, boots and rifle butts.
Posted by EveryDayDad on Apr 02, 2010, 07:49 PM EDT
And with all the hate being spilled here, Im ashamed to be Irish!!!
Posted by EveryDayDad on Apr 02, 2010, 07:48 PM EDT
Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Phoebe's Mom was aware of the harassment and that it was growing. Why would you continue to take your child to such an environment. They had choices. They could have home-schooled, changed schools, the choices are limitless. God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change (other kids bullying), the power to change the things I can (home or other school) and the wisdom to know the difference (well, they missed this one all together and now it's too late). A sad sad tragedy. Phoebe made a bad choice that cost her her life. If Phoebe had more support and action-based involvement from her parents her death may have avoided. Teasing and getting teased or "Bullied" which to me involved physical force is a part of growing up just like losing a job, a wife or other significant loss. These kids accused should be let off. They will not forget that society is pointing the finger at them. This could lead to more suicides if it continues. Nothing's going to bring Phoebe back and she did kill herself alone. Bad choice Phoebe. If anything, I think her parents should be charged with child endangerment resulting in death for continuing to force Phoebe to go to that school. School is not daycare people, its a learning environment. If your kids not in an environment they can learn in, change it! Don't use public schools as your baby sitter so you can sit home on the couch or make what (money???) and blame everyone else. Lessons learned everywhere on this one. Alot of good those do Phoebe now. Rest in Peace.
Posted by GirlMom on Apr 02, 2010, 06:40 PM EDT
P.S. Sorry for the typos.
Posted by GirlMom on Apr 02, 2010, 06:39 PM EDT
These heartles, cruel, twisted cowards should be thrown in jail. Maybe then they'd understand how it feels to be trapped - like innocent Phoebe must have felt. The school officials and parents are also guilty. I too am embarrassed to be from Massachusetts and am devastad for Phoebe, her family, friends and country. THIS. MUST. STOP.
Posted by Liamkeyes on Apr 02, 2010, 04:58 PM EDT
Please be advised that South Hadley is 100 Miles down the Pike from Boston. Although an incident like this is apt to take place in any American Town.
Posted by michealcollins on Apr 02, 2010, 11:36 AM EDT
sorry mistyped the wrong name. I meant Mr Sayer instead of Mr Sayles. My bad.
Posted by michealcollins on Apr 02, 2010, 11:24 AM EDT
So the question is, what are we as a society going to do about it? It is time to step up and demand that people be held accountable for their actions. In a previous post, I said that this goes on too much. This is not a problem for Massachusetts. It is an American problem. In the late 19th Century Justice Olver Wendell Holmes coined the phrase pragmatic juris prudence, meaning that each generation needs to look at the laws of the land, and those that no longer work needed to be replaced with new laws. That time has no arrived because stories like this are becoming too common. New laws are needed to protect students like Phoebe. Schools are no longer being run by administrators or teachers. Students are not being held accountable and know no fear. Otherwise, do you thing students would have been so brazen? This leads to another point. I watched Mr Sayles interview last night on AC 360, and I was not impressed. And this is part of the problem today. Look who are operating our schools? They are not the best and the brightest. You can get away with a lot, and I would be interested to see what else is uncovered in Mr. Sayles school district. Parents are not parenting!!!!!!! The children and parents who drove this poor girl into committing suicide need to be held accountable, but we ourselfs as a society are as guilty because of our apathy.
Posted by RobertB on Apr 02, 2010, 09:22 AM EDT
Honestly, this makes me ashamed to be an American. I can understand to a certain extent what Phoebe went through; as a teen, I moved to Massachusetts with my family and encountered some of the same type of behaviour on the part of other students there. I was spit on, assaulted and even had someone try to set fire to me in the school library! That was thirty years ago, and it's obvious the situation there hasn't improved. I now live in Missouri, and we had another teen suicide not too long ago which was attributed to cyberbullying instigated in large part by the mother of one of the teens involved, which demonstrates the dark side of internet access: tormenting others anonymously without fear of reprisal. That family eventually had to leave town because of the harrassment by their neighbors after the facts did become known; perhaps something similar will happen in South Hadley. I pray justice is done for this poor girl, and my heart goes out to her and her family during their ordeal. I feel America owes an apology to Phoebe, her family and Ireland as a whole for this travesty.
Posted by katieusau2fan on Apr 02, 2010, 08:55 AM EDT
I too was bullied in school in Massachusetts as a child in the 60's, thank God there was no internet then or I may have ended up the same way.
Posted by FromAsia on Apr 01, 2010, 06:20 PM EDT
Vandalizing of Prince’s memorial page on Facebook is too much.
Posted by Liamkeyes on Apr 01, 2010, 04:52 PM EDT
The Fact that he is the quarterback on the School Team is telling. "Jocks" are cut a lot more slack than other students. However just because he's a High School Quarterback in a backwater town does'nt give him any right to bully girls or boys. He sounds like the epitome of a spoiled brat.
Posted by KristiFuller on Apr 01, 2010, 03:23 PM EDT
The parents of the bullying children need to be prosecuted for manslaughter at a minimum. From now on parents who raise children with the conscience equivelent to that of a Nazi deserve to be punished. Then we will see if people will start taking more concern in regards to their child's character. This country is full of parents who raise their kids to worship themselves. It is basically the mentality of "keeping up with the Jones" and screw someone else if it means that you can get ahead. I am disgusted and appalled by this. Another major problem with bullying in the schools is that the school districts have very little power in terms of kicking kids out of the district. This is why my kids will be in private schools even if it means not being able to own a home or nice cars. Not that private schools are perfect but at least the kids do get taught the value of caring about someone else besides themselves and the school has the power to expell any child that they want from their school. I think that these two things can help to prevent tragedies like this from happening. This family is in my prayers.
Posted by sailmaker on Apr 01, 2010, 02:39 PM EDT
A breathtaking, heart-wrenching tragedy. At least there is a wide, cold ocean between this beautiful child's resting place and her tormentors. This Irish-American is ashamed and humiliated because of what happened while Phoebe was in our care. We are better people, God willing. Our prayers are with Phoebe, and with her family.
Posted by EricSimmons on Apr 01, 2010, 12:17 AM EDT
TWW is fully commiting to the "STOP CYBER-BULLYING" initiative in memory of Phoebe Prince. Read my blog and show your support by forwarding it to everyone you know. Spread the message & STOP the Cyber-bullying here: http://www.topworldwebsite.com/blog/twweditorsblog/3594
Posted by queensmarg on Mar 31, 2010, 10:05 AM EDT
I think this is a tragic case of another child unable to deal with adult situations like dating and the relentless pressure to be "popular" and part of the right clique. Facebook, Twitter and all these so called "social" websites make it so easy to hurt people without having to face them. Parents really need to moniter their kids use of these sites and think hard about allowing them to use them. Just because "everybody is doing it" doesn't make it right and WE as parents need to guide our children and not worry so much about being their friends and realize that saying NO is part of parenting and that kids need limits.
I pray for this poor girls family and the families of the bullies, how horrible to know your child is capable of being so mean and hurtful.
Posted by herself11 on Feb 16, 2010, 04:04 PM EST
I talked to the mother of the bully and it changed NOTHING
Posted by Christisall on Feb 12, 2010, 10:37 AM EST
School officials need to take bullying seriously. At my school, reports are made to the administration who further reports to the supt. and then the police are called in. parents are notified. Parents are the real problem because they think their little girl or boy would never do wrong and these parents defend their heartless brats. I was bullied and had no help. My daughter was bullied, too, as my son was while school officials sat by doing nothing and offering no help. Sometimes, parents of bullied children need to take matters into their own hands if it means getting justice for their helpless children. My husband went to the home of the bully boy; it changed everything.
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