Jon Carmichael, 13, Hangs Himself After Years of Bullying at School

• As for you Kmgunaji. He wasn't murdered you ignorant moron. We live in Joshua, Tx. We live in the country, and know how to make knots unlike you. 

• I still can't believe that my friend actually hanged himself. He was fun to be around, and who ever picked on him should just feel sorry for themselves. He and I played football together and even had classes together. He always had a smile on his face as from what i could tell. I still miss Jon Carmichael. we had great times together.                                                                                               

• i was bullied so much that satan always answers my prayers now. so many have died. i think 'carrie' emerges.

• i am always bullied by people who never went to college and also by self-serving pompous asses like cocaine peddlers 'kids'. also by people who cannot frame one sentence in english properly. i just wish them death. i had a bully of a sister much fatter than me. she kept picking on me. one day i attacked. a glass sideboard shattered and her butt was injured with a triangular glass piece. i think satan helped me that day. i always laugh when i think about this. " i really hope jesus will help me forgive".

• i sympathize with your plight. you can pray that someone like 'carrie' emerges at your school and kills all the bullies.

• nobody cares unless they themselves have been bullied

• maybe this kid was murdered by the bullies. how can a 13 year old know how to form the perfect noose for himself? i think he was murdered. ask the pot-bellied fbi to look into it. they are always the last to solve any crime.

• they say los angeles is the city of angels. yeah. angels of satan.

• i am the victim of rape crimes by the telugu community in beaverton oregon. nobody cares. they will one day. the craps are so skinny. i wish i could kill them. maybe wishing helps. then mother nature strikes. no one survives. ha ha ha ha ha.

• they make the earth unbearable for a few people using polarity experiments through a few evil ones and then condemn them when they take their lives.

• cook and cookess should rub each other balls.

• i am still being bullied by iit mumbai classmates. i am almost 50. i have survived some suicide attempts. they still do not let me wear clean clothes. this time i am bullied by old farts in their 70s who are piling on the wrinkles. this kids should have murdered. i regret not having done that. die all of you who caused this. the garbage stuffed him in a trash can. hookers kids did this. you all will never prosper.

• I cryed to much. Lord with the family. ;(

• I agree and I feel sad that this kid had to end his life just to stop all nonsense. As for those kids who bullied, give them pure hell. Sometimes I feel we need to go back to the old times b/c nowadays kids are not brought up with any courtesy or goodness in them. They become spoiled and thus end up hurting other people. Beat them with a belt every single day until they learn that bullying is not tolerated AT ALL and make them feel guilty for the rest ofo their lives for what they have done to the victim. If I were to have kids, the most important thing out of all is to RESPECT everyone regardless of their status.

• bullying is wrong and this is what acting like a little shit and pushing people around leads too. poor kid. god bless

• Please visit a pissed of parents solution www.stopmethod1.com

• bulling is really messed up i went to school with jon he was alwayse happy and nobody ever thought he wud kill himself rip jon

• we love you & miss you jon thomas carmichael <3 you were a great friend to everyone , we all wish we could go back & atleast say ONE last goodbye . but if we could back , we would have stopped this from happening . youve been gone almost a year babyboy <///3 r.i.p. , ily <3

• I don't get what all the hating is about in the comments...People keep on being like "fuck you you have no idea" when we are just expressing our general sadness that this happened to a poor little boy. I understand that those who knew him are greiving and its never easy. But does that mean that the general public cannot express sadness about this terrible occurance.... Bullying is the biggest problem for children and teenagers. Schools need to develop ways to recognise the signs that a kid is being picked on and stop it. At our school, bullying is simply not tollerated and as such kids arent bullied. and if they are, they know to speak up and stop being victimezed. People just need to have compassion for each other and understand that words can do more damage than you can ever imagine.

• non of you no what the fuck u are talking about i went to school with him i am also bullied home school wont help thay can call or text or come to your house and you are to scared not to hang out with them not one of you will ever now what it fells like as kids in this time with phones and thangs it is much worse i hate people who say they no what it felt like or thay are sad he is dead i knew him i am the one that is sad god damn it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

• I am doing a project on bullying i read this story and bursted into tears why do bullies do this i always ask myself i will be honest i have hurt peoples feelings before but never went that far to make them commit suicide these bullies need to realize that we are all humans that have emotions and sometimes those emotions take ove rand make us do things like commit suicide but no one should because he had his whole life ahead of him i hope some bullies read this and notice the horrible things they are doing to people and the universe

• I haven't read through all the comments, so accept my apologies if I am redundant, etc. I'd like to offer my perspective as a parent of a larger than average family, and having children from their mid 20's down to elementary school. (1) Private schools (in our case, a Catholic K-8 school) is NO assurance of anti-bullying behavior. Our various children have gone through this school for the past 20 years; the last several years have been the very worst that I've ever seen at our school for one of our children who is currently in 8th grade. There is one child (if you can call him that - I call him a future sociopath, because that's exactly what he is), who terrorizes not only my son, but also other classmates, as well as kids in younger grades. He has physically punched, shoved, verbally intimidated kids, verbally issued death threats to younger students since he's been at the school for years and nothing is done to him other than an occasional slap on the wrist. This particular principal at our school REFUSES, literally REFUSES to enforce the anti-bullying policy that we have in place. She literally REFUSES to deal with this issue even though parents have been calling and e-mailing her for months about their children being attacked by this same bully. None of us know WHY this is allowed to go on, why this particular kid is so well protected and insulated from consequences for his behavior. My husband and I have come to the conclusion that his parents and grandparents are what you might call "Pillars of the Community", they are people who most likely have some kind of financial endorsement connected to the church and school, thus this kid is given free reign to terrorize. I am at the point where I get a few hours of sleep and the rest of my day is spent in worrying about my child's mental and emotional state due to the non-stop bullying issue. Guess what? Our son IS involved in martial arts and is good at it. He refuses to dole out a physical punishment to this kid because he "doesn't want to get in trouble", yet the bully is immune to getting in trouble even though he bullies not only the kids, but also acts up in class and gets sent to the principal's office on a daily basis. The only thing left to do is either transfer him to our local public school in our small town (which is safe) or homeschool him. The other option is to send a letter to the Pope in Rome (sarcastic) and see if there is a response. For those of you who think that Catholic schools or other private schools are a safe haven from bullying, you will be sadly mistaken. It will ultimately depend on the principal and whether she/he has a spine to enforce the anti-bullying measures that are in place. At this point, I am absolutely disgusted with what goes on, and what has been happening with our child who is in his final year of this school. I am literally at a loss for what is allowed to go on at our school, a school that we pay tuition for and constantly volunteer so that the show can go one (the other parents do this too so I'm not congratulating us or giving us a pat on the back). To the person above who said that there is a bit of "elitist" attitude that is pervasive in some schools; I have to say that you are spot on about that. There is a lot that happens in private schools that gets swept under the rug; this is exactly what is happening at our school right now and it is disgusting to know that it is happening, that it is wrong, and that people are at their wits end on how to handle it.

• It seems to me as long as religion keeps telling youth that they deserve to and will be tortured in Hell for all eternity for being who they are we will never be able to stop bullying. Religious people have to stop misrepresenting God as the great bully in the shy.

• Geez another bullying story! I can make a list of bullying stories I heard on the news or internet. Victoria Lindsay Phoebe Prince Josie Ratley The girls who beat up a 12 year old new girl in Clarksville and video taped it. A 12 year old in Massachusettes who commited suicide. A fifth grader in Stone Mountain,Georgia who commited suicide. The girl with cerebral palsy who father confronted her bullies on the bus. No dealt there's bullying and teasing at every school in the universe, but we should be teaching them not to bully or tease. We should all come together as a community and end bullying instead of waiting around for another tragedy to happen due to bullying.

• Jon was my first love EVER!!! the next day in first period when I found out it happened I screamed!!! I can't believe he's gone. Now everyone thinks that since it's been 4 months it's nothing to worry about. I CRY everytime I hear someone talking to him. CHRIS MONTELONGO I HATE YOUR GUTS!!!!!!!!!! :'(

• I find it ironic that so many girls/ women are posting on behalf of this boy. Given the fact that he was short, you would have automatically discounted him for any kind of romantic relationship because of your extreme prejudice against short guys. If he had stood up to his attackers - as I've done and as I would have recommended - whether with his fists or, in extreme cases, a weapon, you would have labled him as having some mythical "small man syndrome." Moreover, the big a$$holes who treated this boy so disdainfully did so because girls undoubtedly laughed and found the whole thing amusing. The bullying this boy faced was done for your benefit and, as tragic as his death is, at least he's been spared the subtle bullying that almost all short men face as a result of being considered "less than" by women. Pissed off? You bet, but I wouldn't want to be an inch taller! I can do without the prejudice, though. Undoubtedly this boy could have done without it, too.

• I went to school with him he was a good friend and your right we didnt know because he didnt say anything and he always had a smile on his face so shut up

• theres a solution to beating the butt face bullies!! make them go to counsoling!! (if any school faculty member is reading this please try this! IT WILL WORK 96% OF THE TIME!)

• I used to go to the same school as him, but about a month after I moved this happened. I don't even like telling people what school I went to because some of the kids watched the news and heard about it :( He was a pretty cool kid, very popular, and I couldn't see him doing this... It still hurts me and some of his friends... R.I.P. Jon</3

• Jon was my friend, we werent close. but, i love him. I think whoever did this to him, which i think i know, should face some serious consequences. Its terrible what happend, and i dont want it to happen again!</3

• My heart is broken tonight after hearing the news about precious Jon Jon, that was the nickname I called him when I was his pre-k teacher in JISD. I haven't worked there in years so I don't know what happened in the life of this student who forever touched my heart with his joyful spirit. Reflecting on the numerous children I've taught over the years I would have never dreamed this could happen to Jon Jon. My prayers for his parents who adored him will be constant. Words can't describe my feelings of sorrow.

• Schools and parents just are not teaching their children! They can't write, they have no respect for anything or anyone. Look at what this kid Morgan posted? That's sick.

• Some of u dnt kno crap bout the school or the kid I happen to kno him and been in the school and at oneofthe dances I took my friend to cause my mom is a teacher their and he wuz a rlly rlly sweet kid and ciute at tht but I've cried cause it's sad for me and the school is new and not crappy It very pretty it wuz like something million dollars and there is nutin wrong wit public schools they r jus as good as private schools So I wldnt be talkin

• fuck you all. you guys do not know what happened to him john was one of my best friends and he still is he didnt get bullied everyday like them stupid ass reporters like to say he wqas shoved around a little bit. the reason he killed himself is because he had a hard home life. fuck you

• Where are his parents through out all this ordeal,and the communication.As a parent we all know that kids are always a target no matter what.Be involved be an advocate how do you not know this is going on especially knowing your child can potentially be a target.I'd end up in jail for for beating some kids ass for messing with my son before he would even think of suicide!!!!!Believ that...

• Val, You are extremely ignorant if you believe that children can not feel such pain that they must commit suicide...children have the same emotions as adults and know exactly what is going on around them. It insults me that you could actually believe that they dont have feelings too

• I can't understand. If you are an involved parent, wouldn't you know this?

• It's probably bad that I chuckled at the "garbage can stuffing" line.

• I... this was tragic for our school. If I'd have known he was being bullied I would've done somethin'. Him and I were friends in pre-k thru 4th grade then he went to a different elementery till 7th grade I never saw him again. and this is just a horrible thing for the kids my age to deal with. I went to the funeral. It was a huge funeral so many people. Iwas one of the ones to sit in the way beck so i didnt hear muchh.. then it was time to walk past the casket. when I saw his face I just couldnt bear it any longer and I cried it all out. its like you never know how much you depend on EVERY SINGLE PERSON to be at that school when you wake up in the morning and how stable it is with everyone in our small town. and then this happened.I just HOPE that people can stop doing this. Its never too early for God to call you home but its ALWAYS AWLAYS ALWAYS too early for suicide. My condolences go out to Tammy, Crystal, Kimber, And Skylar. Peace.

• i went to SHELDON HIGH SCHOOL in EUGENE, OREGON. i was bullied relentlessly by older girls. i was beaten, my head was stuck in a used toilet and other things i dont want to mention. the principle at SHELDON HIGH SCHOOL in EUGENE,OREGON did NOTHING. the girls went on to graduate no problem. i ended up having to transfer to another school, away from all my friends, but i never pulled it together after that and i didn't end up graduating. those girls and that principle changed the way my life was supposed to turn out. bullying is A REAL PROBLEM and we have to ENACT TOUGHER LAWS for these HORRIBLE CHILDREN!!!! this boy breaks my heart. hopefully he's finally at peace. if only someone told him that it would eventually end and that he would def get past it. RIP lil buddy.

• Brandi my son dressed in name brand clothes, had a lot of friends. Rode his custom bike to school, always had $5.00 dollars for lunch. He was in a click, but his friends were all different, poor,I mean really poor, black, Mexican, a friend that was 320lb.s, short, two brothers that were half black half Japanese, tall. These kids were all good friends. I have always told my son if you see someone being ganged up on, you had better try and stop it. Our schools in our town have gangs. A kid that was in the 7th grade was pushing a little 6th grade boy down to the ground and would not let him up. My son and one of his friends picked the 7th grader up(my son was in7th)and head first put him in the garbage can. Needless to say I received a phone call my son was suspended for 2 days. What I am trying to say is it doesn't matter if your kid has it all, if their poor different race something has got to give in these schools to stop this bullying.

• I went to Loflin Middle School and I remember that place and the horrid memories. I, like Jon, was a victim of the relentless torture all the years I went to Joshua schools, but middle school was the worst. My husband and I live there now but I'm almost sure I wont be sending my kids to those schools, at least not after elementary school. I know that kids that age can be like no matter where you live but Joshua is so full of "clicks" that it's unreal. If you dont wear expensive brand clothes then you were automatically cast out and picked on. It was ridiculous and the teachers were just as bad. The popular kids in school were always the teachers favorites.

• Wow, Darby that makes too much sense. The teacher comparison puts it into perspective nicely.

• That is real of you to share Sallow Thing. Especially calling it psycological warfare. These kids NEED to see that this stuff stays with a person. I am sorry you did'nt get heard back then when you called out for help. But you ARE heard now. Also helping people in charge (parents, teachers, princible's, bus drivers etc.) see that it is a new time with the same old crime and we need to work on FIXING it. Thanks.

• I also was bullied in school and people think it's no big deal, but it's basically prolonged psychological warfare. It goes on all day, every day, and for many many years. For me I was getting shit from grade school onto high school graduation. It isn't just some "popular girl" calling you a heiffer one day. It's often the entire class. Many times, more than one grade. I was tripped in gym, some boy punched me in the back of the head at lunch. Then I was verbally abused by my father and when I went to my mother for help she flat out told me I deserved it because of my bad attitude. When I told a teacher she said "boys will boys" and the main female instigator was "having a tough life" so I should just let it go. No support. Anywhere. I had to talk myself out of knifing one bully during a passing period. His locker was next to mine and it was just getting unbearable, but I didn't stab him. I didn't kill myself, but still there is permanent damage. I'm hypersensitive to comments now and will drop people from my life without a moment's notice if they hurt me. And unfortunately what I've found in my 33 years of life is that those cliquey douchebags from school don't grow out of it. They just get older.

• Poor Nerd.

• This shit has GOT to stop! What about the parents?! One of the bullies goes on TV, his mother sitting silently next to him, he ADMITS that he picked on poor Jon, but it was all "in good fun", & never hated him. Now this bully's mother is in fear for her asshole son! Sucks about the school system. We're too busy paying professional athletes and celebrities all kinds of cash, while our teachers are getting paid dick, so the only jobs they're willing to take on is sex with our children, or turning the other way when the child needs help. To all you kids out there: don't be pussies like Eric Harris & Dylan Klebold and go on a shooting spree killing all kinds of innocent kids, and not your bullies. All these cunts that give you a hard time will either be behind bars in a few years wasting our tax money, or on the streets begging for our money. Go speak to your counselor or teacher, or whoever. Nothing happens? Go to the police AND media! If schools don't want to do their job, I strongly suggest you turn to others that will light a fire under their asses! Always take names, dates, & times... and to you parents that want to behave like George/Cindy Anthony, (not my child syndrome) we have all kinds of stupid laws that somehow get passed every day, it won't be long before we create a ridiculously dumb ass one to punish worthless parents like you! Get off the couch and do your job as a parent, and BE THERE FOR THEM! KNOW WHAT KIND OF KID YOU HAVE BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE, & SOMEONE ELSE'S KID IS DEAD!

• I've often wondered how come school administors pretend that they don't see bullying or if they do, how come they pretend that there is *nothing* they can do about it. How about if a teacher was bullying and harassing another teacher? What if the math teacher shoved the english teacher into the locker, after calling her a shitty name? I would imagine there would be consequences. In fact, if one adult hits another adult, well, that's considered assault. Most grown-ups couldn't and wouldn't withstand daily barrages of insults and attacks, but yet we tell young teenagers and kids to deal with it. If I were a teacher or administrator, I would literally have a no-tolerance policy that was strictly enforced. The first instance of a kid bullying another, that kid would invited to take a day off of school, getting a 0 for every class assignment that was assigned that day. A couple of instances like this, kids will get the hint.

• MM in Australia, EVERYONE has the power to do something. In the short run, teachers can intervene more when they see stuff happening, and in the long run, ANYONE who reproduces can take pains to raise children who have been taught how wrong and uncool bullying, shunning, harrassing etc. are. My heart breaks when I look at this kid's picture.

• This makes me want to home school.

• I had a 13 year old daughter that was attack she begged me to not go to the cops. I did as she wished but her life was so much wrost afterwards, I now know I was wrong I should have called the cops. But the schools are like jails now what is wrong with us what can we do to stop this I guess be in the school as parents.

• This is so sad. What is worse is that no one has the power to do anything. These days anyway. When I got bullied at school (thankfully for a very short period) I told my mum after the teacher failed to act. My mum walked down the school corradoor with me trailing behind (10 years old) and confronted the girl that was bullying me. Mum gave her a serve, almost reduced her to tears and then asked the girl if she wanted to continue to pick on me now. I get that it probs wasn't the best way in societies eyes but he'll it worked. I never had any problems since that. In fact after I grew older thebpast become blurry and me and this girl actually grew to be friends, not really worrying about the day mum yelled at her. If only it were that easy these days. Most Likely if a parent did that now they would be charged with assualt or tresspassing. Someone needs to stand up for these kids, action needs to be taken as soon as the bullying begins and this issue needs to be addressed because it's getting out of control.

• Jaden, you are SO not a troll.

• I'm sorry germanwolf that you have had so many problems from so many idiots. I have a 13 yr. old son. Feel good about writing all this! It may help me with my son one day. I will be more aware , thank you! Thank God you have a friend who has talked to you. It's terrible that teachers, principals and parents do not take you seriously. In the school I work at, there is a "code of student conduct". You should have one to. If you still get no results and feel "unsafe" at your school, bring this to their attention, the district, the news. don't give up! I'll pray for you. Good luck!

• If it is one individual, try avoiding him. In my case the bully had matured earlier than me. A year later I outgrew the bully. He did not even look my way; he knew better. I left him alone. In the long term since they are thinking at a more base level than moralistic, become successful. They will be green with envy and they'll eat themselves up inside. Very cold. Germanwolf you have a girlfriend. Do you have a cell phone that can take video? Schools also have many video cameras now-a-days. Problem is I don't know how many days the vidoe feed is backed up. The cameras probably no sound or it would be garbled. The bully would say that you verbally assaulted him which led to his battery of you. The administration could also erase video. Still if you see that they are going to start something, try to draw them into the camera's field of view. Don't be obvious about it. It is like a general choosing the terrain that he wants to fight on and then suckering the opposition to fight there. I am not saying fight; but if they sucker punch on camera that is their own stupidity. You have to be careful. If you block a punch, some people consider that fighting and aggressive. That is moronic but true. Just moesy into the camera's view. Do you have any fiend, who are good with audio visual stuff? I would not run run to the dean or police with just one incident. They could go through the motions and dismiss it. Give them several incidents (3 to 7) to deal with. Present it all at once. This is part of Marine Corps Doctrine. Hit the opposition hard enough an often enough that they can no longer act. Get inside their decision loop. That is a paraphrase and is poorly worded. I can look it up tomorrow. If they harass other kids try to surreptitiously video that as well. Affidavits work as well if they'll stand up and it is going to court. Having other people (victims) is important. That way they can no longer say that it is history between you and the bully or that you brought it on yourself. If you cause the dean or principal too much grief, they might go to a teacher and ask them to alter your grades or start grading you harder. So just consider this. Police are using cameras more to protect themselves from lawsuits. Activists are using them as well to try to prove police brutality. What I am saying is that you can use this method too. Don't edit. Editing would be questioned by a defense lawyer and rightly so. You have to be on best behavior. With enough evidence a lawyer might be tempted to take the case without charging you if they thought the payout was big enough. Suing will problems the school board will be upset if the district takes a hit. You'll see who is related to or friends with who then. Of course if the dean or principal doesn't get along with some of the school board, who knows. Really try to make additional friends. Don't be obsequious about it. Base it on common hobbies or interests. A friendship can have more than one reason. They won't fight for you usually, but them might take the person aside and tell them that they are a real dick. Bullies aren't a 100% bad. Many will care if too many people start shunning them. That will not work for all bullies. It has been proven that different groups of chimps won't fight if the odds are nearly even. They can count and roughly calculate the odds, chimp risk management. If you increase your friendship group from 5 or 10 to 20 or 30, the bully might not risk being marginalized or ostracized. I don't know the type of bully or the particulars. What are the bullies hobbies, passions or interests? Try making friends. For example if you are going to a concert and they like the same group, invite them. Maybe his friends aren't going and he needs a ride. Make damn sure you go in a group. Not just you, your girlfriend and him. Maybe just all guys. It would be like a cold call. They won't expect it. It might cause reconsideration on their part. Asking them to join/visit your church youth group will probably be sneered at. But if you are going on a church sponsored ski trip, that might be different. They might also think you are sucker, no guarantees. It they fly right, forgive them. I've sat through 2 sermons on subjects like this. One was in a Methodist church (I am not a Methodist). The sermon's theme was forgive, but don't forget. It is not required that you be a sucker. In another church the sermon had a them that if a person starts flying right you don't rub their face in past transgressions. It was "go and say no more" about past transgressions. I don't know the particulars. I am not saying invite them for camping or sleep over (you're too old for that anyhow). Don't set yourself up. Trust has to be earned.

• okay, i am trolling :/ john, i wanted to answer the question you posed. the prick that was tormenting you was at fault. the teacher was at fault for either not recognizing or acknowledging what was going on. further if said teacher was told what was going on, they were negligent and at fault for not putting a stop to it, via reprimand for prick. thirdly, the principal was at fault. it takes two to fight and he wanted to kick you out. did he not ask what happened? he just made his judgment from what criteria? not that it matters, because apparently he didn't get the entire scenario from you, or he may have reacted differently. the bottom line is he reacted instead of being proactive as the teacher should have been. i'm sorry for your experiences with that. once upon a time, people used to look up to teachers and principals and respected them. they were worthy of that. i know there are still some good teachers and principals, but sounds like you got a bad lot. unfortunately sounds like a lot of kids are getting bad lots of people. we mandated ourselves into this by not allowing teachers to reach out to kids for a hug or pat on the back, to smack em with a paddle when they need it, to befriend them, all because there are people that have perverted their positions as leaders in schools. unfortunately we will probably try and mandate our way out of the current mess and create an even bigger problem in the future.

• germanwolf, revenge is a dish best served cold. think on that for a while. Smart you are, focus on the important things. Your girlfriend, computers (keep it positive) and whatever else interests you. I don't understand your parents take on the situation. I'm in my fifties, but I don't feel that far removed from your generation. I don't think "bucking up" is the answer, there has to be a more creative way to deal with the fuckwads. keep thinking about it, i know you can come up with something that will resolve this. wow! john, i am very impressed with your vocabulary! most excellent! you and germanwolf give me hope for your generation. i read these stories every day and it tends to taint and color my world differently. i'm so glad you decided to post. do you have any alternates for germanwolf other than self defense? his parents aren't really pleased with him for that form of defense. i really like your thought process and how you related it. keep in touch on these stories, i'd like to hear more of your take on them. nick, i brought that case up simply because i didn't want germanwolf to carry in two stories about suicide only. he needs to take another example of how far bullying seems to be taken these days. i'm a tad bit emotional for josie right now, as it looks like she likely won't make it. however, had germanwolf taken my advice and carried just those two stories to the principal, they would want him to get psych help, and that isn't what he needs. he needs back up from the adults in his world, and he hasn't been able to get anywhere with them. if he shows those three articles, maybe the dipshits will learn by rote and get the job done without getting themselves in trouble for ignoring matter at hand. well done germanwolf and john, i'm proud of you both.

• Jaden, you were doing so well until you brought the Treacy case into here and added the "Josie got her head bashed in by a bully" bit. We still don't know who was saying exactly what to whom there. As for this case...bleh. Just goes to show that suicide IS something that needs to be better explained to children and for fuck's sake, there needs to be *some* form of support system out there for the bullied/depressed children.

• A bully use to hit me every few minutes in class. He sat behind me and would walk up when I wasn't paying attention and sucker punched me. The teacher would see him walking toward me, walking away from me & sometimes hitting me. If caught he would desist. He would try a few minutes later. The teacher said alternately that I was 1/2 the problem or I brought it on myself. I had a friend, who said he couldn't fight my fights, because he would not always be there. He said I should take up martial arts. I did. One day after class I confronted the kid & we fought (before taking up martial arts). The teacher broke up the fight, decisively. My parents were called in by the principal and he threatened to kick me out. The end result the bully did not pick on me anymore. He then started pick on another kid. I did not have subsequent problems with other students. So I ask the "DEAR READERS", who was at fault? If you are a teacher, do not respond. You will obviously get the answer wrong; you have been mis-educated and are just a tool now. The other kid wasn't bullied for long, because one of his friends read the bully the riot act. I on the other hand was invited to join the bully and a dozen or so of his friends to a fight off the school grounds. I declined. I think many lawyers are ruining the country. However, I would urge parents to sue not only the family of the bully in a civil suit, but also the principal, the dean and select teachers as well. See if they become braver or more erudite. All said I have great sympathy for some school shooters. There are better ways to resolve the conflicts, but I still have have sympathy for them. You can take every gun away and people will just resort to poison, baseball bats or other things. A kid was killed in my neighborhood, when I was in grade school, by a baseball bat. I guess gun control works. The only way to have a civil society is for people to treat each other civilly. Proscription won't work. Robert Heinlein once said that Courtesy is the lubricant of society (paraphrase). He wrote a whole story about it. I believe it. But if you keep getting shafted, you don't care. It is 100% mutual reciprocity. They don't care about you: you don't care about them.

• yea, i didnt say id do it but i have thought about suicide, luckily my gf has changed that view, now if im pissed i either talk to her or throw myself into working on computers/.... yea i might just print these articles out and show the principle... i have gotten my revenge in the view of sticking viruses in some of the kids computers but that hasnt really helped because 1. they dont know who did that to their computers.. x_x and theres roughly 14+ kids who bullied me, all started back in 5th grade in a really stupid way, some kid wanted me to join his gang, i said no and then he started assaulting me and he went after me with a pencil and they had to have two teachers hold him back, and i cryed. soon he told his friends who told their friends, the thing that sucks is, as of last week the kid who this all started with was released from prison (or what i dont kno why he was in prison) and its getting worse... and ha if the only solution my counselors give is mental hospitals.. last time i told a teacher my true feelings on bullying how i hated it and that i cut (dont anymore) i was put in a "intense therapy"... and yea my parents are well into their fifties.. my dads solution is "live up to it" because he got stabbed in school and the office wouldnt send him home... so my parents philosphy is just live with it... but i am saving all the texts and facebook messages (oh yea it is online too) but for me lawful revenge doesnt seem fair if you get what i mean.... oh id love to get phsically involved but i wouldnt dare... i dont wanna end up in jail or worse, i have someone who loves me and dont wanna lose her..

• Never been bullied,Luckily. I just hope all kids realize that words wil never hurt you so just give the bird to the haters and if they put there hands on you you have to ask for help. To the bullies: Since you think your so tough and hard how bout messing with someone who it might actually be a fair fight? vaginas...

• germanwolf, Please don't even think about killing yourself. You are a Great person and people that don't even know you, love you. You didn't say how many kids were bullying you? Do you have very many friends that you can always hang around with? Could you have a heart to heart talk with your parents and tell them how bad school is for you with THESE kids? I would tell the teachers and principle what is going on in detail and explain to them, " now that I( germanwolf,) have told you (teachers, principle)AGAIN about the bullying, when you talk to them(bullies) they will come after me even worse." I need your(teachers, principle) help I can't take it anymore. PLEASE get your parents involved to go to the school and talk to them about how bad the situation is for you. Make sure that everyone knows that you are being PHYSICALLY ASSULTED. If none of that works and these kids hit you again NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE AT THE TIME IT IS HAPPENING CALL 911 AND HAVE THEM ARRESTED FOR ASSULT AND BATTERY!!!!!!!!

• &#64;Steph: Have you ever been bullied before? If not, maybe that's why you can't really empathize with this story, and then I don't blame your comment.

• i'm usually the person to stick up for the bullied. But some of these kids need to grow a pair! Ad the kid in this article looks mad wimpy,parents should have stepped in or teachers or something.

• oops not trolling, i swear... germanwolf, if you take print outs of this story, also print out the story about wayne treacy and josie who is in the hospital now from having her head bashed in by a bully. i don't want them to think you are threatening suicide by showing just these two stories. it's the bullying that is the root problem here, and suicide and death are both terrible and unwarranted outcomes.

• im 14....bud...dont know about bullying tho..im a 290 lb linemen lol

• Of course it seems childish to you, Steph. You're older and rational. This was a 13 year old kid.

• I don't know if this is bad but i agree wit LOL@this story a little...I mean really...like cmon

• &#64; LOL@this story: He was a kid that perished because of a bunch of snot nosed shits teasing him and a school system/parents who didn't care. I can't wait to see how you get flamed on here.

• Deutchhund (GermanWolf, people of all ages and everywhere in the world are cruel. here is the really awesome thing, some people are smart and don't result to such barbaric behavior. i notice that you are extremely intelligent by what you've posted. you are one smart kid. you need to outsmart them. how? i'm not sure, but i'll think on it for you and i hope others here will chime in with some good ideas too. you are way too smart to consider killing yourself. i don't know what you like to study, but i hope it's science, and i hope you're the guy that will cure cancer or aids or any of the debilitating diseases we are faced with. if you're good with your hands, then i hope you can do something really cool in your life like build a race car that out performs all others. again, i don't know what interests you, but put your knowledge and your energy and efforts there. you will turn out to be one hell of a good man...if not for this current girlfriend, then for some lucky woman. and your kids should you have them will be even luckier to have a man in their life that knows pain and compassion. i don't blame you for fighting those kids, but honestly, i don't want to read about you on this site. again, you're smart...smarter than resorting to childish and self centered behavior like them. here's an idea that might help. print out the article about this boy and phoebe and take that to your principal/administrators. tell them they don't want to read their names in the paper and that they need to stand up and do the right thing on your behalf. lastly, sorry i've been rambling. put the cigs down! take up some form of exercise instead. seriously it gets your endorphins going when you exercise, you'll feel better instantly. cigs will kill ya and slow you down. they're just not worth it and they're too damned expensive. i'd hug you and get all mushy like that if i could. you sound like a cool kid, so keep your head cool too. you got a lot going for you, now use your brain to channel it in the right way. let us know how things are going for you, k?

• Wow, germanwolf, I'm so sorry for you. I wish there was something I could do to help, or that there was a suggestion I could make that you haven't already heard. The only thing that comes to mind is getting the law involved; start documenting the attacks and create a case against your tormentors. Record verbal attacks, keep things like texts and emails, and try to catch the bastards in the act. Maybe check online to see if there is a local parents/student group that offer support. I hope that this crap becomes nothing more than a distant memory for you in the future, and that you find a way to hang in there. You're not alone, that's all I can say (and I'm glad you have your girlfriend to make it easier, too).

• I hate seeing this. I know teachers have enouph to deal with, but you can't even begin to have kids bieng able to learn with all these emotions going on from bieng bullied and having to face it every day. It never ends for them. What makes kids or people want to break other people? SCHOOLS need to start taking this way more serious. Also the parents at home if they get warning signs that thier kid is a bully or is bieng bullied.DO SOMETHING!

• Home education is a REAL solution to these problems that parents can take on themselves. Single parents? Maybe not. But a two parent family, reducing expenses to one income or changing shifts around to offer an education to their child is a real possiblity and solves so much of this. (For those who think home education is isolation, you are clearly not informed on this alternative to public and private school--I'm a homeschooling mom of many and we are very busy in our community and do many things with other homeschooling families, including serving at nursing homes and volunteering to help those who are ill or retired). To those who offer the "S" word to homeschoolers, well the response to that is easy: If socializing means putting kids in a classroom where they will have to share one teacher to 23 or more kids, and where discipline is no longer allowed, where a bully might frighten your child into suicide (not to mention where kids learn all curse words and horrid behavior/disrespect), then I don't want my child "socialized" at all! This poor little boy saw no alternative. How sad this is....public and private schools are not what they used to be. The only solution that works is to home school...which is perfectly legal in all 50 states.

• and if im not mistaking here that is two kids in texas this year alone, the other i believe was 9 yrs old outside of Dallas. went into nurses office and hanged himself while he was alone......... we have all been bullied at one time or another but we lived to see another day....and i dont have kids and i am 39, but it just breaks my heart to see this kinda stuff happening, i mean kids are kids and will be kids and it makes me wonder what is exactly going on inside the heads of kids no children these days

• Hey germanwolf-I am sorry to hear this is happening to you. I am even sorrier that your parents don't seem to be supporting you, is there a counselor at your school that you can talk to about this?

• i know where he and phoebe are coming from. I am constantly bullied in school and know exactly what its like, ive been physically bullied and harrassed and everyone at school stares and points at me in the hallways in school.. people are wrong, it actually gets worse in high school. Ive had kids pick on me and upon ignoring them, they dont stop they PHYSICALLY bully me. so I can understand where he comes from. Ive tooken to smoking to releave the pain... people have a difficult time understanding how kids can kill themselves over "simple bullying"... trust me, it wears you down. Hell if it werent for my girlfriend i would have killed myself long ago.. this is just sickening to hear about these kids dieing and it makes me cry. i know where they are coming from and ive wanted to die too but i still cry. The principals and faculty in my school have done nothing to stop it either, ive told my principal countless times and it gets worse when i tell him... oh yes ive tried fighting back but i got suspended for 3 weeks for fighting back and knocking a kid out.. my parents blame me, telling mei should have just ignored it.. I FUCKING CANT! people who are constantly bullied should be able to fight back.

• I am with Carri on this one. Where are the parents and staff at school? Although I have never personally known someone who committed suicide, I would think there are warning signs. Why aren't the adults stepping in to protect these children?? That is our JOB as adults who either have children, or choose to work with them.

• John, although humans are part of the animal kingdom, we do have the ability to reason and use logic. We're supposed to be better than animals (although at times, that's damn near impossible to tell!) This trend is distressing at best. How can it be stopped? What can we all do to keep things like this from happening?

• Causes of bullying? - Establishing a pecking order all animals do this. - People get off on violence; recently proven by psychologists. Some people definitely get off on violence more than others. What do teachers learn about this in teacher education? I would like to know. If the inmates are running the asylum, then the teachers by definition are NOT. What are we paying for?

• So many stories. I also heard on about Phoebe and how she did the same thing. I think it is horrible how the bullies be so mean to the kids and cause them to do really sad things that can effect them, their family, and the people around them. People should think about what they are doing before they do it. Because first the bullies should think about what they are doing because it can cause the other person to commit suicide and hurt them and/or the person they are bullying. Also to the person who is being bullyed, first,try and ignore it if that is not good enough for the bully to stop, try to deal with it themselves and if that does not work, tell some one, if that person does not listen, you need to go to some one in a higher authority than the person you just told. Again i get mad when i hear these stories about people killing themselves because of bullys. If you are a bully, you need to stop. That can cause serious damage to the person you are bullying. Such as the phoebe story and the John story

• dont know who im more disgusted at the low life bullies who are so pathetic they cant leave an innocent boy alone the ridiculously useless staff that stood around and watched or the mother who let him continue attending a school where he was being bullied. poor child. atleast now hes in a better place where no harm will reach him

• Another child dead by suicide, a victim of bullying and another case where school staff knew about it and did nothing... This is a trend I want to see stopped NOW. Ugh, how awful... my heart is breaking for this boy's family. What a beautiful little boy.

• What a sad situation for that little boy to be feeling so hopeless that he can't bear the thought of going through life even one more day. My biggest question is how could these children be feeling so isolated from their parents that they can't go to them for some love and support? I am so bewildered by this.

• If that's his picture.... How tragic... What a cute young man. Why are the thoughts of suicide even in these kids minds??? They are way too young to know that much hurt, and way too young to contemplate that.. I'm just heart broken at all of these stories. I have 12 and 15 year old siblings.. And I would be so hurt to know that they were bullied that much or pushed to suicide. I hope that he gets as much coverage as Phoebe Prince. He deserves it, but it seems young girls tend to get more media coverage than young men because boys are "expected" to play like that.

• Parents DO NOT have to subject their kids to this crap on a daily basis...I went through this when my daughter was in high school-they had to change schools for 1 year and she ended up at a zoo of a school, kids were jumping out the second story windows and cutting class. I got her a doctor's note that her back was bothering her she couldn't attend daily. The PUBLIC school sent her work home and a teacher came on Fridays to test her. That was the only way she was going to get through that year. There are ways around sending your kid into that every day. That is what a parent does PROTECT THEIR CHILD!!!

• I agree with Jadensmokes and Y. I don't believe kids have as much of a support network like 30 or more years ago. They frequently have 1 sibling or none. Mom is not home. Schools are larger and are not community schools as in the past. From high school I remember a boy who was about 5', which was remarkable since his sister was a big girl. People just didn't pick on him. It wasn't cool. There were about 20 to 30 people in grade. Everyone knew each other. In a school of 2,000 his chances would be worse. It depends on the school. Too many teachers cannot enforce any discipline. The principal doesn't back them up or they're apathetic or scared. Their was a story from England where teachers refused to help a 5 year old down from a tree. A passerby helped the boy and now the school is going after the samaritan. The teachers script was to stand back and OBSERVE. Presumably they called the fire department.

• I agree with Jadensmokes and Y. I don't believe kids have as much of a support network like 30 or more years ago. They frequently have 1 sibling or none. Mom is not home. Schools are larger and are not community schools as in the past. From high school I remember a boy who was about 5', which was remarkable since his sister was a big girl. People just didn't pick on him. It wasn't cool. There were about 20 to 30 people in grade. Everyone knew each other. In a school of 2,000 his chances would be worse. It depends on the school. Too many teachers cannot enforce any discipline. The principal doesn't back them up or they're apathetic or scared. Their was a story from England where teachers refused to help a 5 year old down from a tree. A passerby helped the boy and now the school is going after the samaritan. The teachers script was to stand back and OBSERVE. Presumably they called the fire department.

• &#64; Hannah.....You know, I am a victim of bring bullied, when I asked for help and told my Mom, all anyone told me was, "Just walk away from the situation"....REALLY?! The more I walked away, the more I got teased, pushed, etc.... it's not a good feeling to go to the people who you think you can trust and ask for help and no one does a damn thing. Funny thing is now, these kids from back then, are suddenly contacting me, they feel horrible and I have had some apologize...but it took 25 yrs for them to say something. And you know, it did make me feel better, even at the age I am at now. :o) These days, people need to really REALLY listen to these kids and what they are going through and try to help.

• I went to Catholic school and was tormented and teased enough that the thought of suicide definitely crossed my mind a time or three, but fortunately I had other influences in my life to balance out the misery at school--my parents, teachers, and other relatives who convinced me that I was not the lowly scum the other kids wanted me to feel that I was, and that things would change over time. Indeed they did in high school and better still in college. Those years from 6th to 8th grade are the absolute worst.

• This isn't new, and it's not only a public school problem. I went to a private school in the 70s, I was the "fat kid", and I was bullied too. It was mostly psychological stuff and intimidation and threats, so at least I was never really beaten up. I never told my folks, never considered suicide or anything like that, but looking back on it, I know that I was anxious and depressed because of it - on and off for a couple of years. It only ended when I grew out of being the fat kid.

• I think this is the worst one because the teachers and parents actually admit that they knew what was going on, unlike some of the other recent cases. And no one with authority did anything to help. I agree with Jaden about reminding children how much they are loved, because the classrooms are cruel these days (I know this first hand) and no one else is going to say it for you.

• <i>Georgia D said: why can't the parents take the kids out of these crappy public schools and home school them or get them into a private school. I wouldn't let my kid go through that.</i> Unfortunately not everyone can afford to home school their children or send them to a private institution so their only recourse is the public school system. As far as adults stepping in to do something I can only speculate on the possible reasons: apathy, fear of reprisal from parents of the bullies or some other ridiculous PC BS reason. My heart goes out to this family and I do sincerely hope that some sort of ychange is made so children will once again be punished for bullying. Too many children now face no consequences for their actions. In my opinion, it all comes down to <b>lack of parenting, respect and discipline.</b> I can count on one hand the number of times I was spanked. My parents made me aware of my behavior and the consequences of repeating it. Although it won't bring their son back, I hope the family pursues this matter until they feel justice has been served. I'm thinking some sort of anti-bullying law needs to be passed...

• sometimes those who were bullied in school. after school turn cold shoulders on those who either bullied or did nothing to stop it. and those who were the bullies or saw it and did nothing wonder why they are now getting the cold shoulder from the one bullied. after a while. the one that was bullied. can no longer remember anything good about their class mates. just the bad stuff. and has learned the best way to trust in their case. is NEVER trust anyone ever again. For all you are gonna get out of trying to trust others. is asking to be hurt very badly.

• Either the child kills himself or herself, or he or she expresses the anger outwards and slaughters a bunch of his classmates. This shit just has to stop.

• Private schools are no better. They have even a more elitist attitude towards their peers than in public schools. We can't isolate a child to keep them from harm, as in home schooling. Better yet to arm them with good self esteem and self worth by outwardly showing more love to our kids. Reinforce in them their abilities to succeed by helping them set and achieve goals. Praise them when they do something worth praise. Above all, let them know how much they mean to their family, and reinforce daily that no matter what, they are loved. These are all things intricate to a young person developing love and respect for themselves. I don't have children, but if I did, I would make it a point to sit down this very night and tell them how much they are loved, how important, even at their young age, that they are, and hug them up real tightly. If you have children, I hope that each of you are capable and will do this.

• This is so sad. I was bullied in school and thought of killing myself several times. I can understand the mind frame of these children and I feel for them. It's a horrible feeling when you are young and it seems like the whole world is against you. I wish he could've had a support system to help him understand that it will get better. I hate people who bully. I still have emotional scars from back then.

• Don't forget 7-Year-Old Gabriel Myers, different circumstances, but still tragic. He was SEVEN, and killed himself. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20000546-504083.html

• why can't the parents take the kids out of these crappy public schools and home school them or get them into a private school. I wouldn't let my kid go through that.

• Clearly, someone should have stepped in to help this tortured kid. It seems nowadays everyone is a bully - particularly in cyberspace. As parents, we must teach our children how to overcome life's setbacks. My heart aches that this 13 y/o was in such agony that his only escape was to end his life. Something must be done to end this. One kid killing him/her self over being bullied is one too many.

• Ugh, I feel like I'm reading so many of these stories these days and the kids just keep getting younger and younger! He was 13!! Phoebe was 15! Its really too bad that these kids felt like they had no other way out. I hope more details come out to incriminate someone and give us more of an insight into this poor kid's mind.

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