Where do we draw the line as a society? What is it with bullying? Will it ever end? These are all questions everyone needs to ask themselves, because this bullying thing is getting way out of hand.
I said I would revisit the bullying ordeal when I wrote the article/blog post on Trent Lehrkamp. Well, here I am, but I didn’t think it would be this soon, and I didn’t think I would write about what I am, which is just absolutely heartbreaking.
I have this new story to tell you. This story is about an eleven-year-old girl, Felicia LoAlbo-Melendez, and a thirteen-year-old boy, Terry Badger III. Felicia was from New Jersey and Terry was from Indiana. States apart, but not strangers to an infliction across this country or even our world today.
Felicia and Terry are victims! Both were victims of bullying and chose to end their lives. They were called names with little done to rectify the situation.
In fact, Felicia took it upon herself, as an eleven-year-old, to send countless emails to the school about bullying. The school was supposed to switch her classroom in January because of the bullying and failed to carry out this simple task.
Terry relayed to his parents how awful the bullying was prompting meetings with school officials. School officials thought they had handled the problem, but they were wrong. Because of Terry there is a new bill that is going to be passed called TB3’s Law in memory of Terry.
So why am I bringing this to light once again? Here I go with my blog of thoughts, because it’s my blog and of course you may chime in as I always welcome open discussion.
Schools, and I know this to be a fact, because I have a seventeen-year-old daughter who is a senior in high school, have blatantly ignored bullying. I have seen the halls from elementary school to high school riddled with posters saying: don’t bully. The school district believes this is their anti-bullying campaign. Do you think this is enough?
Now you and I know there are countless kids in these schools being bullied. We hear about it on the news and I hear about it from my daughter. One of her classmates when they were in middle school, had unfortunately committed suicide. It might have been two, if I recall.
And, here’s the thing, after the students take their own lives, the entire school acts as though they were their best friends.
Why do you suppose that is?
No one wishes to be the guilty party, although everyone ultimately knows who it is, so why downplay it? The damage is already done. The guilty party did their part and now they must live the rest of their lives knowing they played the part of having played a role in someone taking theirs.
But will they, is the question?
They say no one should feel guilty for someone taking their life, but to me, there are certain circumstances and this is one. They bullied, they pushed another child to the point of no return where they didn’t know right from wrong. A child doesn’t know what lies ahead, they will never see these people again; they don’t understand they will grow up and be an adult, have mature friends that don’t judge, have careers, and be happy. These bully’s ruined lives and should be punished and that’s how I see it.
I have made it clear many times in the past and I will now that I would be a hardcore defense attorney, but that does not and I repeat, that does not mean I DO NOT feel justice should not be served. Prosecutions do not have to lead to sentences. They can lead to community service, advocating in this case anti-bullying education and promoting in the schools, spending time with prisoners within the prison system or juvenile detention center so they know what it’s like or a combination of all. Defense attorneys can make all kinds of recommendations for clients.
This is my part right now. I wanted to share my thoughts about the punishment for bullying. I can only hope you understand where I’m coming from.
Enough is enough with kids bullying in school. And these schools allowing kids to get away with the bullying is just plain unacceptable. No child shoul take their own life from bullying. I cannot tell you how much this saddens me and how much I am compelled to do something about this, but I feel it’s best to write about it to get the word out and I need your help. Please, spread the word and maybe someone will help.
It is through your love that bullying will help these kids stop and get these schools to work harder to make it stop, so let’s do this. Let’s Rock!
Help stop bullying by attending a local school board meeting to do something about school bullying or write a letter to your local Congressman.