US boy, 9, killed himself after homophobic bullying
 

A horrid situation that is all too common. The School has since released platitude laden PR statements to cover their own arses but it looks like nothing's going to change. So sick of seeing stories like this and nothing happening as a response to it. Most schools would rather brush bullying under the table rather than deal with it and that attitude costs lives.

Disgraceful

9 years old? That's terrible, so sad.

Omg that's horrific :worry: So young :(

this is so horrible i hate people ugh

People are sickening

Just awful, the poor boy thinking that was his only way out, his poor family not knowing how he was feeling. I hope the parents of his classmates are asking some very tough questions of their children.

:sad:

tragic story and one i worry about.


If kids start getting this sort of abuse on fb or twitter etc, it could lead to them harming themselves.......seemingly 1 in 4 teenagers self harm....which is really upsetting to hear.

It’s all too common and schools are a breeding ground for it,

RIP...

Schools are toxic for LGBT people and this issue needs addressing with full force.

Yup and a lot of the self harm/suicide stats get worse when you add in LGBT victims to the mix since suicide is basically an epidemic for LGBT people.

Despite this though, not much will change. A lot of schools don't want to be known as a place where bullying occurs so they often try to sweep it under the rug or pretend it doesn't happen. While schools place their image and reputation above their students' wellbeing, incidents like this will continue to happen.

Yes its more tough in USA.
Sad story

tragic, and yes self harming is much higher among kids who identify as gay or bi

So heartbreaking. Makes me sick that people especially kids can be so horrible

Keep seeing this on twitter, it's so sad. I only hope this story can be a catalyst for change, and there is some kind of shift in behaviour, otherwise the death was for nothing.

If it did not happen in the school not sure what the school could do?

Colorado
more Hard
than California.

I find it horrifying that a 9 year old could have the concept of suicide. Really depressing news.

Horrendous news. It broke my heart when I read about this.

However, I think it is far too simplistic to blame schools, particularly in a case like this in which constant homophobic attitudes and behaviours are the cause. This is a societal problem, and this is where change and action needs to be taken as a matter of urgency. Yes, of course and without a doubt, schools must play their part, but they cannot resolve deep-rooted issues in society; they basically deal with the fallout.

I think, too often, schools are unfairly blamed and too much is expected of them with very restricted funds, budgets and training. Schools (and teachers) are basically there to teach skills and subjects as outlined by the government on the national curriculum, the results of which they are judged. There is very little time made available for staff in the school day to do anything extra than that, and the first thing cut when budgets are slashed, is any time to work effectively with children who persist in bullying behaviour. And, often with bullies, schools do not get the support of their parents, and without that support the behaviour will be repeated. A detention or a couple of days exclusion will not change the mindset of a bully; in fact, many see an exclusion as some kind of reward as they get a few days off. What other powers do schools have in reality, especially when local authorities do not support any meaningful exclusions, and parents are allowed to appeal.

I think a greater amount of responsibility should fall on parents to prevent bullying behaviour in their children. The truth is, children come into schools with the ideas, attitudes and behaviour that they have learnt is acceptable at home, and they return to that same environment at the end of the day. It is only in the home that these issues can truly be tackled.

Parents need to bring up their children with a focus on good morals, respect for others, compassion, etc, and without prejudiced attitudes. And they must also ensure that they take effective measures to address any unkind, anti-social or bullying behaviour in their children, whether that be verbal, mental, emotional or physical. It is that and the wider society's views which will truly prevent bullying.

^ great post, Garfie

Idk what can be done. I mean kids will bully for whatever reason tbf, being gay just one of many. Remember in my class one guy was bullied for being ginger and another for being a Jehova's Witness, yet another for having a brother with mental health problems. Not to mention that any physical imperfection like crooked teeth or being fat were a big no-no.
Maybe some sort of anonymous reporting service for kids? Idk...

9 year olds shouldnt be concerned about there sexuality at all.

What made him think he was gay? because he was told his was gay because he acted camp?

I think he should have just been a kid and not been encouraged to be obbessessed with his sexuality at such a young age.

such a sad story. 9 is far too young

x2

RIP </3

So horrible.

Somewhat hard to believe at 9 they (his family) didn't notice some sort of issue though... it's not like 9 year olds don't tend hide their feelings that well??... of course that could've also led to his bullying. It's not always just a matter of whether his students were homophobic or not... kids in our society will pick on and flesh out any weakness they can think of in other people as long as they can get away with it... it's a problem with society overall, but I don't think unique to the gay community... I was bullied badly growing up, sometimes over my color, but particularly my short stature... and I didn't consider it to be racism along the lines of outright hatred... it was more that I stood out and so it was easier to isolate me from the rest of the group and reinforce pecking order... of course, I was nerdy and tomboyish to a degree, so that didn't really help either :skull:...

Smaller schools and smaller class sizes also help tremendously with this issue... I was in an Honors program when I was older and it eliminated most of my problem(s). Also group seating where everyone is forced to face each other in a circle... I never experienced much bullying in those programs. Those kids that did bully me, in high school apparently remembered, because I had a few people sign my yearbook as an apology... I think because I didn't really take it to heart so much I made a big deal of it and so a few of my bullies left apologies in my yearbook :skull: It's hilarious in retrospect...

Yeah, but ironically much of that is due to increased awareness on mental health and maybe the internet, how that magnifies virtually everything... when I was young, it wasn't so stigmatized... I think by early-teens, we started to hear about depression much more frequently, about the time the internet started to be more mainstream... interestingly enough..

...great post, Garfie..:love:..I think the thing is as well though...that parents who do bring their children up with a focus on good morals..?...can still have a child who can act in a bullying way...I mean, perfectly loving and caring and attention giving parents etc...but it’s just that they can’t see the bully in their child..in fact it can go the other way in that they can feel that their child is the one who is being bullied and be hostile to the school for not addressing that, in the way in which they’re seeing it...because their child who is obviously their world, will never display that side in their presence ..and is nothing but charming and lovely etc...but yeah, it’s for parents and schools to work together but the parents do have to see the bully in their child for that to even begin and not perceive any other perspective of an incident other than the actuality it was, that can be hard for a school to persuade a parent who may only have perceived their child’s behaviour which would be totally opposite in nature...and some schools do have behaviour officers and school councillors which really do make a difference in the experience I’ve had in the past..but funding, always funding...many schools can’t afford such people in their staffing budgets...and also even with parents and schools working together with serious bullying issues..?...outside resources in social services will probably be needed as well....and cut backs have made it impossible to get that help and support, which may help to prevent these suicides...yeah all so very sad and in today’s world, a little hopeless as well..