So now the parents of South Hadley High School students are demanding that school administrators and faculty should be brought up on charges because they did not stop the bullying of Phoebe Prince, who committed suicide January 14, 2010.
Sitting aside that fact that Phoebe Prince made her own decision that day. Albeit, I think it was the wrong one, she still had a choice. Now, that being said, the egregious behaviors of her classmates certainly influenced her and should NOT be ignored.
However, where were the parents, is my question. Why weren’t her parents involved, and talking her through this difficult situation? Why weren’t the bullying students’ parents involved, and stopping their own children from behaving poorly? Why is it all on the school? Schools have their hands full, dealing with shootings, aggressive students, and illegal substances and sex…not to mention, EDUCATING OUR KIDS. Now we want them to be police and judge and jury as well? What the hell, people? As if she’s the only student who ever got bullied and the administration and faculty just ignored it because they condoned it? Please. Rather the staff in our schools are overworked and asked to perform might feats, in a world where people are shooting each other over a bad day.
We need to stop passing the blame, and sit it square where it belongs: in our own laps. Phoebe Prince had a choice the day she chose to hang herself…and so did the kids who bullied her every day for three months…and so did the parents who chose not to be involved in their kids lives: on their facebook pages, checking in on them when they are with their friends and keeping in contact with the school about their children’s behaviors. We’re raising monsters, and trying to force others to tame them. That’s ain’t how it works.
Posted by williek on March 30, 2010 at 4:46 pm
It is worse than that. The same parents that want the schools to take responsibility scream their heads off if the school tries to use any sort of disciplinary measure or maintain academic standards. Their little darling never deserves a reprimand or anything less than an A. Many schools themselves are hell-holes of violence, and nothing is done about it. And suburban schools with 12 valedictorians? Where are the standards?