The lesson Phoebe Prince taught us: Words can kill

I am crying reading this. My heart hurts. We have lost hope, love, and a better world as a result of Phoebe's death. I feel her desperation and pain. I wish she could have gotten help, counseling, or left the school. Where were her parents when she was so vulnerable, didn't they have any idea??? I am SO sorry this happened.

When I first read about Phoebe, I was, and still am, very upset. I believe these students should be punished and not just a slap on the wrist. Their parents should be punished as well. They raised these monsters. My oldest son was bullied in middle school because he was small for his age and we were not "townies". I talked to his teachers about kids kicking his back pack out from under his seat while in class. Their answer that that is what kids do. I spoke to the principal. He was insulted that I implied that his kids weren't nice kids. He said that he can take his students anywhere and all he has to do is threaten them to act nice. What a crock! We did put our son in a private school and the town was insulted that we took him out of their wonderful school. Very few of the townies move anywhere else to live. They're afraid that they won't get along and that they will be treated nasty. The administration and teachers should be held accountable. Of course they are going to deny that they knew anything about the bullying. They are covering their own asses. Unfortunately they will probably get slapped on their wrists and they will move on. I don't know how they can sleep at night. Phoebe is with God now and at peace. The bullies, their parents, administrators, and teachers have their judgement day.

When I was a schoolboy, I got a lot of stick in the schoolyard for being one the best footballers playing for the school. The taunting did bother me, almost made me stop playing sports but my father said those words to me “Sticks and stones may break your bones but words will never hurt you”. For me, his advice was right, I got stuck back in and went on to win many medals – the first, despite being captain of the losing side in a final, was for ‘Best Player of the Tournament”. I received a standing ovation from my classmates’ then and I remember bursting into tears at their appreciation! That first medal is still my most treasured although I have quite a few league and championship medals in my collection. Tragically for Phoebe, God rest her, the advice might never have worked but it should for most. One should think that what others think of you is not your problem, it’s theirs.

A bible verse comes to mind. Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue... I believe the best advice for parents to help your teen through this transition from child to adult, would be to live your lives as an example for your children. They may not admit it, but, they are watching you very close. Stay in there with them supporting them every step of the way. Learning how you respond and act to negative situations teaches them how to handle problems in their own life. When out of control kids at school bully; what they say and do, effect us, we all remember them in our lives. What makes the difference, are the adults that were there for us in our corner. I have two children in college, it was my mission to be there for them. This case with Phoebe, hits all of us parents hard. May the picture of her young smile and eyes of hope represent all of the children who need a helping hand from us adults.

auto117584 Are you an internet troll? Your comments no longer have an impact, we know what you are trying to do. Go live your life in a more positive light.

"Sticks and stones can break my bones, but names will never hurt me." It's important for parents to teach their kids that what the kid thinks about himself is what's important, not what others think. Knowing one's own truth is essential. Too bad Phoebe didn't have parents who were doing their job.

Words have the power to shape us and define who we become and it is often the negative words that we remember most. Words can't harm Phoebe Prince any more-she is at peace but if we learn nothing else from her story we must learn that words have impact and we must teach ourselves and each other to use them wisely.

I should also say....in this picture of Phoebe, she looks so much to me like my own teen daughter, Molly, that it's heartbreaking to look at.

Good piece, April. Irish Central has had some of the best articles about Phoebe Prince. Thank you.

It's a terrible shame that some kids can be so cruel. It's always been like that as I remember back in school. It's just heart breaking that this poor child took her life because of ignorant kids.