damn this is sad :(

[TheGimp]

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. - Nine teens have been charged in the "unrelenting" bullying of a teenage girl from Ireland who killed herself after being raped and enduring months of torment by classmates in person and online, a prosecutor said Monday.

Northwestern District Attorney Elizabeth Scheibel said 15-year-old Phoebe Prince of South Hadley was stalked and harassed nearly constantly from September until she killed herself Jan. 14. The freshman had recently moved to western Massachusetts from Ireland.

"The investigation revealed relentless activities directed toward Phoebe to make it impossible for her to stay at school. The bullying for her was intolerable," Scheibel said.

Six teens — four girls and two boys — face charges including assault, violation of civil rights resulting in injury, criminal harassment, disturbance of a school assembly and stalking. In addition the two boys face rape charges. Three other, younger girls face delinquency charges.

Scheibel said the harassment began in September. She said school officials knew about the bullying, but none will face criminal charges.

"The actions of these students were primarily conducted on school grounds during school hours and while school was in session," the prosecutor said.

Scheibel refused to discuss the circumstances of the rape charges.

Family moved away

Prince's family has moved away from the area and could not immediately be located for comment. Scheibel spoke for them at a news conference to announce the charges.

"The Prince family has asked that the public refrain from vigilantism in favor of allowing the judicial system an opportunity to provide a measure of justice for Phoebe," she said.

Some students accused of participating in the bullying have been disciplined by the school and will not be returning to classes.

Scheibel said the case is still under investigation, and there may be additional charges.

The Massachusetts Legislature cited Prince's death and the apparent suicide of 11-year-old Carl Walker-Hoover of Springfield last year when members passed anti-bullying legislation earlier this month.

[TheGimp]

this is still why i will never understand people...two boys rape a poor girl...then she gets teases and bullied for being raped and eventually commits suicide and the school knew about the bullying the whole time and did nothing until she killed herself thats some depressing ignorant shit right fucking there...so a few students that did some bullying that prolly helped push her to suicide only get expelled o.0 and a few face criminal charges...insane just insane

[Hellion]

This is the kind of shit that gives our society and nation a bad name world wide, I am completely disgusted by this,WTF!

[KatRN05]

Reading this shit makes me sick to my stomach. I feel so bad for that girl and her family. How in the fuck do people think it's ok to make fun of someone who was raped? I don't understand it, never will. If these are the people of our future generations, I'd say this world and society are pretty fucked.

Edited March 31, 2010 by KatRN05

[Darkmatter]

Is it just me or has the youth of the world just gotten incrementally more cruel each year? WTF is wrong with these kids? The worst we had to worry about even in bad neighborhoods was getting ass-kicked or robbed. Now it's all fucking bombs , guns, death , and rape.......

[KatRN05]

Is it just me or has the youth of the world just gotten incrementally more cruel each year? WTF is wrong with these kids? The worst we had to worry about even in bad neighborhoods was getting ass-kicked or robbed. Now it's all fucking bombs , guns, death , and rape.......

You know what, I'm gonna blame the parents. Obviously, these kids have too much time on their damn hands to be on the internet and stalking this girl. The parents should be held responsible as well as far as I'm concerned.

Edited March 31, 2010 by KatRN05

[Hellion]

When nothing is done about bullying,it seems to lead to school violence,when someone is cornered the results can be very bad.

[Darkmatter]

You know what, I'm gonna blame the parents. Obviously, these kids have too much time on their damn hands to be on the internet and stalking this girl. The parents should be held responsible as well as far as I'm concerned.

Fuckin A i was just thinking the same thing.

[Msterbeau]

You know what, I'm gonna blame the parents. Obviously, these kids have too much time on their damn hands to be on the internet and stalking this girl. The parents should be held responsible as well as far as I'm concerned.

Parents have been permissive of this for many generations. Probably for many millennium. Certainly some blame lies with parents who tolerate any sort of bullying as "it's just being kids being kids". Bullshit. Early lessons that bullying is wrong, with consequences if they are found to have done it is what kids need. It won't solve everything... there are likely some children who will always ignore and disobey what they're told.

This is really sad. I hope these kids are carrying a boatload of guilt and remorse over this for the rest of their lives...

[torn asunder]

to be honest, i think a lot of the problems with today's kids stem from the lack of ability to utilize "corporal punishment" with children anymore. now, in no way am i saying parents should beat their kids, but damnit, a "time-out" is *not* going to get a kid's attention after a certain point. kids now, think their parents are a bunch of wimps they can run roughshod over, because there is never a punishment for their bad behavior. there is no healthy fear of authority anymore.

i'm also not saying that every kid needs it, but i do think that, as bad behavior escalates, punishment should as well. of course, i have no idea where to draw the line on it, legally speaking... spanking? switches? belts? wait...i bet i'm turning some of you on now, aren't i!?

and yes, i realize i don't have kids - i can still have an opinion on the subject.

[Msterbeau]

to be honest, i think a lot of the problems with today's kids stem from the lack of ability to utilize "corporal punishment" with children anymore. now, in no way am i saying parents should beat their kids, but damnit, a "time-out" is *not* going to get a kid's attention after a certain point. kids now, think their parents are a bunch of wimps they can run roughshod over, because there is never a punishment for their bad behavior. there is no healthy fear of authority anymore.

i'm also not saying that every kid needs it, but i do think that, as bad behavior escalates, punishment should as well. of course, i have no idea where to draw the line on it, legally speaking... spanking? switches? belts? wait...i bet i'm turning some of you on now, aren't i!?

and yes, i realize i don't have kids - i can still have an opinion on the subject.

I'm pretty opposed to physical violence of any kind against children. If you've been teaching that violence against others is wrong, and then turn around and smack the kid, what are you teaching them? With my girls... this was an absolute. As they get older, and they asked questions, I've relaxed my stance with their ability to discern between self defense and attacking someone. I think one of the issues is that parents don't make appropriate and significant consequences from an early age. You can't wait on this stuff.

[Onyx]

I think one of the issues is that parents don't make appropriate and significant consequences from an early age. You can't wait on this stuff.

I see this so much, where a parent neglects discipline and paying the child attention (and there is no substitute for attention) when they are small and then tries to make up for it later.

I see so many parents absolutely ignoring small children and failing to give them any type of consistent discipline and then giving them a swat when they finally irritate them enough to make them visible. That isn't discipline. It's just laziness. If they had paid attention to the child in the first place it wouldn't have even been needed.

Nothing you do in teenage years can completely make up for neglect in the first six years when the child's personality is being formed and shaped. It takes time, energy and focus. It wore me out when they were small, but it has paid off later.

[torn asunder]

I'm pretty opposed to physical violence of any kind against children. If you've been teaching that violence against others is wrong, and then turn around and smack the kid, what are you teaching them? With my girls... this was an absolute. As they get older, and they asked questions, I've relaxed my stance with their ability to discern between self defense and attacking someone. I think one of the issues is that parents don't make appropriate and significant consequences from an early age. You can't wait on this stuff.

completely follow your point, and pretty much agree. i think the key point is the "early age" comment, and "appropriate and significant" are good descriptions. however, what do you do when non-contact discipline has no effect? (honestly, what would you do? you can't just give up if non-contact punishment doesn't work, so what could a parent do?)i think one (no more than two) well-placed swat(s) on the butt would not be too extreme. more an attention-getter than a punishment, like "hey, i'm not f**kin around kid, pay attention!". and again, consequences need to be learned early, corporal punishment after they're grown reinforces the wrong idea.

hope that's a little clearer!

[TheGimp]

completely follow your point, and pretty much agree. i think the key point is the "early age" comment, and "appropriate and significant" are good descriptions. however, what do you do when non-contact discipline has no effect? (honestly, what would you do? you can't just give up if non-contact punishment doesn't work, so what could a parent do?)i think one (no more than two) well-placed swat(s) on the butt would not be too extreme. more an attention-getter than a punishment, like "hey, i'm not f**kin around kid, pay attention!". and again, consequences need to be learned early, corporal punishment after they're grown reinforces the wrong idea.

hope that's a little clearer!

[candyman]

completely follow your point, and pretty much agree. i think the key point is the "early age" comment, and "appropriate and significant" are good descriptions. however, what do you do when non-contact discipline has no effect? (honestly, what would you do? you can't just give up if non-contact punishment doesn't work, so what could a parent do?)i think one (no more than two) well-placed swat(s) on the butt would not be too extreme. more an attention-getter than a punishment, like "hey, i'm not f**kin around kid, pay attention!". and again, consequences need to be learned early, corporal punishment after they're grown reinforces the wrong idea.

hope that's a little clearer!

I know parents that still spank their kids when the message doesn't get through...they have some of the most well behaved kids in the neighborhood. I don't really think you can put a number on spankings it just seems weird. Even though these are kids we are talking about I am getting sick of the fact that none of them have any fear of consequences now. I see kids doing stupid shit to someones property I am not gonna say anything, again, because they don't stop when you tell them to...they just throw rocks at your car now...and swear ALOT.

I don't blame the lack of physical discipline on the fall of children but I think it ranks up there. Talk and non-physical punishment can only go so far with any age group and with both sexes...after that you go with the age old currency of blood...not actually drawing blood but still.

[taysteewonderbunny]

I know parents that still spank their kids when the message doesn't get through...they have some of the most well behaved kids in the neighborhood. I don't really think you can put a number on spankings it just seems weird. Even though these are kids we are talking about I am getting sick of the fact that none of them have any fear of consequences now. I see kids doing stupid shit to someones property I am not gonna say anything, again, because they don't stop when you tell them to...they just throw rocks at your car now...and swear ALOT.

I don't blame the lack of physical discipline on the fall of children but I think it ranks up there. Talk and non-physical punishment can only go so far with any age group and with both sexes...after that you go with the age old currency of blood...not actually drawing blood but still.

I don't think it's either the scarcity of spankings or the leniency of non-physical punishment that is the problem here. I think the problem comes from

a) parental inattention--too many parents don't pay close enough attention to what their kids are doing, especially in regards to how they interact with peers,

b) lack of CONSISTENCY from parents and other guardians--it's not going to matter what DAD says two days per week if the child is at Grandma's five days a week and at Mom's the rest of the time where different rules entirely apply,

and c) the vilification of non-parental authorities--if teachers and neighbors have to worry about a lawsuit for reprimanding your child for his or her misbehavior, the child gets the wrong message: "my parents condone my ill behavior."

Lastly, too many adults treat each other poorly or fail to come to the aid of those who are being mistreated. Their children are watching. What their parents do, they learn is acceptable.

[Msterbeau]

I don't think it's either the scarcity of spankings or the leniency of non-physical punishment that is the problem here. I think the problem comes from

a) parental inattention--too many parents don't pay close enough attention to what their kids are doing, especially in regards to how they interact with peers,

b) lack of CONSISTENCY from parents and other guardians--it's not going to matter what DAD says two days per week if the child is at Grandma's five days a week and at Mom's the rest of the time where different rules entirely apply,

and c) the vilification of non-parental authorities--if teachers and neighbors have to worry about a lawsuit for reprimanding your child for his or her misbehavior, the child gets the wrong message: "my parents condone my ill behavior."

Lastly, too many adults treat each other poorly or fail to come to the aid of those who are being mistreated. Their children are watching. What their parents do, they learn is acceptable.

+3 bazillion

[candyman]

I don't think it's either the scarcity of spankings or the leniency of non-physical punishment that is the problem here. I think the problem comes from

a) parental inattention--too many parents don't pay close enough attention to what their kids are doing, especially in regards to how they interact with peers,

b) lack of CONSISTENCY from parents and other guardians--it's not going to matter what DAD says two days per week if the child is at Grandma's five days a week and at Mom's the rest of the time where different rules entirely apply,

and c) the vilification of non-parental authorities--if teachers and neighbors have to worry about a lawsuit for reprimanding your child for his or her misbehavior, the child gets the wrong message: "my parents condone my ill behavior."

Lastly, too many adults treat each other poorly or fail to come to the aid of those who are being mistreated. Their children are watching. What their parents do, they learn is acceptable.

Thats why I didn't put the full blame of the situation on the lack of spankings...

Yes the rest of these points make sense...I worked at a daycare for a while and could not stand the fact that an 8 year old could swear like a sailor, smack some other kid on the head with a metal truck, and all we can say is "please stop".

It is a combination of many things in this case...as it is with almost any other case dealing with badly behaved children. So many things that parents would do to teach their kids, which is their business, has become taboo for whatever reason. Saying that you discipline your children often draws the same response from people that you get when you say the word "profit" in association with your business or one that you are linked to...people have made the word evil and just assume that you are taking money from the poor or are beating your children with a bat and are forcing them into certain beliefs.

[TheGimp]

more news on this case

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36263424/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

[KatRN05]

I think the school was well aware of the bullying going on and did nothing to stop it.

[taysteewonderbunny]

^ I think you are probably correct. Given my experience with Grosse Pointe South, administrators are loathe to step into youth disputes, first because they would rather believe they didn't happen at all, second because they aren't sure what to do with them, and third because they fear litigation from the parents of both parties. In the cases of both (a) my concerns in which a schizophrenic friend of mine had a psychotic break and threatened my life, and (b) my brother's having been the target of homophobic violence because I was thought to be a lesbian, the administrators did nothing. Fortunately, no further violence occurred, but the administrators did not know that would be the case. They just put their heads in the sand and hoped it would all blow over.

(No, I don't have many fond high school memories.)

[KatRN05]

^ I think you are probably correct. Given my experience with Grosse Pointe South, administrators are loathe to step into youth disputes, first because they would rather believe they didn't happen at all, second because they aren't sure what to do with them, and third because they fear litigation from the parents of both parties. In the cases of both (a) my concerns in which a schizophrenic friend of mine had a psychotic break and threatened my life, and (b) my brother's having been the target of homophobic violence because I was thought to be a lesbian, the administrators did nothing. Fortunately, no further violence occurred, but the administrators did not know that would be the case. They just put their heads in the sand and hoped it would all blow over.

(No, I don't have many fond high school memories.)

I don't have many fond memories either. I went to a Catholic school from 2-5 grade. I got teased because I was from River Rouge and everyone thought I was poor because apparently every student that went to said Catholic school came from a rich family. I remember my 2nd grade teacher had a little bridal shower and invited all the girls she taught in her class, she had it at one of my classmate's parents' house and the moms ignored my mom. Snotty bitches. Then my mom and dad moved me to a public school in River Rouge and I got bullied relentlessly. The school administrators did nothing. In fact, there were a bunch of students that started throwing food at me during lunch and when I defended myself, I got in trouble/suspended even though the principle knew I was being bullied on a daily basis.

I could go into a whole slew of bad memores from junior high like when a girl in my class would try to push me down the stairs on our way to classes every day because she thought I stuffed my bra (this is totally for real), but there is so many to list and I hate rehashing them. But I agree, school administrators are afraid to get involved because of any possible litigation or they are just plain scared to step in and stop it. They need to step in when it gets to the point that a kid is getting beat up and verbally assaulted on a daily basis. I don't know how they don't realize how much bullying affects one's life but it does. Look at Columbine. Those kids were teased because they were different and didn't fit in, they went ballistic and the rest is history. Look at this girl, she was teased and bullied every single day and she kills herself. Administrators need to stop being so scared to stop this shit.

Edited April 10, 2010 by KatRN05

[jynxxxedangel]

this is still why i will never understand people...two boys rape a poor girl...then she gets teases and bullied for being raped and eventually commits suicide and the school knew about the bullying the whole time and did nothing until she killed herself thats some depressing ignorant shit right fucking there...so a few students that did some bullying that prolly helped push her to suicide only get expelled o.0 and a few face criminal charges...insane just insane

Something similar happened to me, when I was in high school. A guy raped me at a party, while I was passed out in an upstairs bedroom; and his girlfriend, who happened to be the toughest girl in school (and all of her friends), found out that there had been some kind of sexual contact, and bullied me MERCILESSLY. I got called "slut," had numerous rumours spread about my reputation, slammed into lockers, bodychecked for no reason in the hallways, cornered on the roads while walking to and from the bus stop, etc. I fought my way in and out of school, every day, for my entire freshman and sophomore years. She didn't want to hear anything about her boyfriend being a fucking rapist, who took advantage of a drunk girl at a party. The bullying didn't stop, until I finally met up with her at a playground and fought her. I didn't win, but I didn't lose, either. I wouldn't stay down, and she got tired of fighting me. She and her crew never bothered me again, after that.

I can totally relate to the pain and abuse that Phoebe went through, and I feel for this poor little girl's family.

Edited April 10, 2010 by jynxxxedangel

[Guest Megalicious]

Lastly, too many adults treat each other poorly or fail to come to the aid of those who are being mistreated. Their children are watching. What their parents do, they learn is acceptable.

Out of all the points you brought up (and they were all excellent) this, I believe, is the most important. As parents, we have the most influence over our child's development on EVERY level. This is what really pisses me off when parents put ALL the blame on teachers for their child's inability to read/write/do basic math - but that is a different issue all together.

Yes, it is indeed, incredibly sad.

[KatRN05]

Out of all the points you brought up (and they were all excellent) this, I believe, is the most important. As parents, we have the most influence over our child's development on EVERY level. This is what really pisses me off when parents put ALL the blame on teachers for their child's inability to read/write/do basic math - but that is a different issue all together.

Yes, it is indeed, incredibly sad.

So true.