The tragic reality of bullying

On the 14th of January 2010, 15-year-old Phoebe Prince took her own life after being subjecting to months of bullying at South Hadley High School in Massachusetts. Phoebe had moved to the state the previous September from Co Clare. Initially her beauty and accent won over class mates and the attention of a popular senior boy on the football team but the jealously of girls at the school took over. After Phoebe briefly dated the popular boy objects were continuously thrown at her along with chants of “Irish whore”. There were hoards vicious comments on her Facebook page and threatening texts sent to her mobile phone. On January 14, Phoebe was walking home while bullies shouted at her from their car and through a can of red bull at her. This proved to be too much for the 15-year-old and she continued to walk back to her house where she took her own life.
As shocking as this is, the weeks after the suicide revealed more disturbing information. It seemed that most students and a lot of staff at the school were aware of the bullying that was going on. It was common knowledge at the school. You have to wonder how it all ended so horrifically if staff knew about the bullying.
After her death, her Facebook page was swarmed with memorials but one girl who would later be named as one of her bullies wrote “accomplished”. It is absolutely disgusting how this kind of bullying and hatred between teenage girls can take such a drastic end and for the bullies to be glad. We have to remember this all started over things like popularity and boys, how can someone think these are more important than a person’s life?
It emerged that there is a long standing history of bullying in South Hadley High. Students said that it was common for students to be thrown against lockers, beat up and verbally attacked. It was one particular group of girls, now called the “mean girls”, who bullied Phoebe. I just don’t understand how girls can treat other girls like that. Of course arguments and fights are understandable, these things happen but to drive some to the point of not wanting to live anymore and then say “accomplished”, I find it so hard to believe.
Superintendent of South Hadley High School Gus Sayer said that a number of the students involved in the bullying would not be returning to the school but he refused to state whether it was their choice or if they were expelled.
Following this a number of the teenage girls have been charged with violation of civil rights, stalking, criminal harassment and disturbing a school assembly. Also two boys were charged with statutory rape. Although it has been reported that staff at the school were aware of the bullying, no charges have been made against them. I find this ridiculous; after all they were the adults in all this. A week prior to Phoebe’s suicide the school stated that they disciplined two girls for calling Phoebe names in class but on the day of her death students said she was being bullied in class and the teachers present turned a blind eye. I understand they cannot be criminally charged for not doing enough but I do not think they should be still working at the school.
In the end no matter who is charged or who is fired it does not change what happened to Phoebe Prince. It’s tragic for her family to have lost her so young, it’s tragic that she is now used as an example for the horrors of bullying but hopefully bullies will think twice about the consequences their actions may have and hopefully school staff will think twice about turning a blind eye.
JOD