Hey Randi – bet they won't either. I hope they lady sues. You may not be able to stop the bullying but you can do something about uncaring and lazy administrators.

Unfortunately I have been in this situation before. My 8-year-old son was coming home from school threatening to take his life. We took him to see a counselor right away and informed the school something was going on. The situation got worse even after several talks with the school and he was finally suspended for turning a scissor on the principal. Thankful his father and I make enough money to send him to private school, otherwise he may have been stuck at this school and who knows what may have happened.

I've heard of kids getting teased and stuff like that but a school where there is so much bullying it causes death! That's to much I hope the school, and everyone who ever bullied that kid should be in big trouble.

It's sad that the school let the bullying get to that level where Carl felt the only way out was to kill himself. Once there were threats made against his life the school should have definitely stepped in! I'll be looking forward to your report!

Cindy...Ga.

I am so upset and shocked that the school system would turn their heads over a very important subject. Bullying is serious business. Maybe some good will come out of this situation. My prayers go out to this child's family.

The preceding comments are the most ridiculous comments I have ever heard. "You cannot stop the bullying" – Nonsense! And the 8-year old who pulled scissors on the principal? Sounds like THAT kid needs simply to be locked away.

Don't you even think what you write before posting?

My heart goes out to the that kid and his mother.

It is a clear case of student body harrassment directed toward the child. The school should be sued plain and simple. This case must act as a class case to set the standard for all schools in the United States and globally.

That is horrific! I blame each and every one of the parents of the children that taunted him. Raise your children right!

Hi Randi,
I'd be really interested to see if there's a way to hear from the kids at his school, and maybe even their parents. I often wonder if parents of bullies ever know what their kids are doing at school. But I agree that the administrators are very much to blame, and I hope they call you back.

I am very sad to read about this incident. I think that something needs to be done to the individual students who repeatedly tormented this young child to the point of suicide. My prayers go out to the mother and any other family members.

This is so sad I cant wait to see the story tonight. I am a father of 3 a 11 yr old girl , 3 yr old boy and 1.5 yr old boy. This just makes me sick to my stomach that no one tried to help the mother at all. I know some people will say kids will be kids but if my kid was doing this to someone it would stop right away i would handle that. It just shows you some parents aren't in their kids lives anymore. Not to say the kids that were doing the bullying wasn't good kids or students but I think if the parents was involved and knew that they were saying the things that were being said They probably would have stopped them and little Carl would still be here. keep your head up mama. and parents talk to your kids stay in there business. at all times.

What will it take to bring this problem to the forefront more lives being taken?

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-243610

Joseph – back off buddy. When I said you cannot stop the bullying, I meant that. There will always be bullies. They just change their tactics. Kids don't get into much physical stuff anymore but they are tormented thru facebook and other things. Bullies are slick and subutle. It is about the systematic tearing down of a person not body slamming kids into lockers anyomre. The kids pulling the scissors on the theacher was definately in need of help. Young Carl and others too numerous to name did not threaten anyone. They were indeed bullied to death. Again I hope mom sues the pants off the school DISTRICT. My heart goes out to her and the others parents, family and friends and the kids having to endure this crap.

I do not understand what is wrong with our school system. One would think that in 2009 more could be done. Our children are precious, not to their parents, but to the future of our country. Parents need to look seriously at your children. If your child is having behavior problems, chances are they are having problems in school which can easily turn into bullying or worse. I was bullied once because I am a light-skinned African-American female who has long hair, had both parents in the home, and led a fairly decent life. One day, when I was on crutches, some girls tried to pull my hair and threatened me. I took one of my crutches and commenced to beat the crap out of them. I told them I had had it with their mess and that I was not going to take it anymore. Now I am not suggesting that anyone turn to violence, but it can unintentionally. This was in the 70's, however, these days, you are likely to get shot. Schools need to step up to the plate to make sure that everyone is protected, safe, as well as taught. We trust these people eight hours of their daily lives. If you can't trust the schools, who can you trust?

What sad times we live in. My heart goes out of the family of this young man. I pray that this will be an eye opener for those who bullied him but I doubt that it will phase them. Perhaps now the administrators will listen to the parents when they have an issue concerning their child.

This is what Rev. Mel White was talking about on last night's program. When parents and institutions teach their kids that being gay or "acting gay" is wrong and deserving of punishment, awful kids will dole out their own.

This is a tragedy not unlike that of the murder of Lawrence King.

And just because the mom isn't angry (what?) doesn't mean the rest of us can't get mad. This should never, ever happen.

Such a sad story, and unfortunately I feel that I am hearing more and more about young people commiting suicide. They say that most people about to take their own life will cry out for help before they do it. It is that cry for help that is usually not taken seriously, and it needs to be! I am curious to hear what the school has to say, because if the bullying was so bad that the boy decided to take his own life......how could nothing have been done about it?

It is sad-–and the worst cruelty exist with peer groups and kids---deny it as "children being children,"--but children can be the cruelist.

dont get me wrong this story is sad. but this is on the child. teasing and bullying, and even much worse has always occurred. there's obviously some other physiological issues if an 11 year old is even thinking of killing himself. i got beat up almost every day for a year and a half at school and never thought about ending my life.

I know for a fact most schools turn their heads to bullies, they ingore what some children go through don't want to get involved and then something horrific happens and they act like they couldn't have done anything?

Yes they could indeed start inforcing laws on these brats that are not raised properly, stiff punishments for bullies should be put in place, teachers see this go on!

I was actually hit by a boy in middle school my teacher saw it and did nothing, my Mother went to the principle and he did nothing, finally my Parents went to the School Board and found out this boy who had been bullying all these children in my school had been kicked out of other schools and NEVER should have been allowed in our school, he was kicked out!
But the Principal, the teacher who saw this happen denied it! I had friends my school friends who went forth to tell the board they saw this happen and how many other times they had seen this kid throw desk across the room and hit other children and no one did a thing!

This story just breaks my heart. I have a 10 year old sister and I'm thankful my parents are in a position to make their voice heard if stuff like this happens to her. I especially feel for the mother who had keep taking her son to school knowing he was bullied and was powerless to stop it. That's the worst feeling for any parent. The school administration is definitely at fault and should be sued.

First of all I want to send my thoughts and prayers to the Mother and Family, but for the Kids that are doing this bullying, I feel so so sorry for the kids that are doing this bullying and their parents!!!!!! The parents of these kids bullying are to blame just as well, obviously the child is a reflection of the parent!!!! When a person bullies someone else, its due to the lack of respect the lack of confidence in who they are as an individual!!! Also kids that bully to myself, are a kid who REALLY REALLY has issues with themselves and dont want to deal with it or confront it, so then they pick on other kids so that the spot light is off of them and on someone else!!! This is such a big loss for everyone who knew this young young man!!! Parents need to really really no what is going on with their teenagers and what is on their minds... PLEASE WAKE UP PARENTS PLEASE...

This is sad and despicable. My heart goes out to his family. I am a current graduate student in an Educational Leadership program and the sad truth is that this happens all too frequently. In fact I just wrote a lengthy paper about a student who attempted suicide for this very same reason. And in that case the school administration did nothing as well. As administrators discipline is a main job function and all incidents should be taken seriously. Every single incident that is reported should be properly investigated and addressed. Too often schools are being nonchalant about bullying. (It's a part of life, supposedly.) I wish something could have been done to save this child. And a message to parents everywhere so that you don't have to learn the hard way: Protect your child at all costs. If you have to pick up and move to another school district, another state, another country, to protect your kids then that is what you do. There is no job, home, or amount of money that is more important. If you know your child is being bullied and nothing is being done, take them out of the school immediately and find a place where they will be happy.

Marlaina – GA

Lets not forget that our own first lady was teased and called whitey because she got good grades and behaved herself. Look where she wound up.

I used to teach phys ed at a middle school. One day a new student was introduced in the class. Several weeks later, in the boys locker room, there was a fracas. Some of the bigger boys were attempting to rape the new student–because he "looked gay." The really sad part about it is that the new student was transferred to our school because of an actual rape that he had received at the hands of some bullies at the old school. Bullying is at epidemic proportions.

It is soooo sad that this child took his life.

She repeatedly asked for help? Sue their friggin' arses off.

The big problem is the parents, it is their responsibility to teach these kids respect! They fall short, they don't even care! I have noticed over the years the lack of respect from children!

I blame the parents, they had them they should raise them, my parents taught me respect, I never bullied anyone it is disrespectful, rude and down right mean! And there is NO excuse for it!

It is a horrible feeling to be treated like that and if you all remember when you were young your feelings were hurt very easily and you were very impressionable! These children who are bullied grow up to feel insecure and not worthy, while their bullies grow up to be grown up bullies!!!

I think they should be taught to treat everyone with respect, that is if their parents can find time to teach them anything? It is NOT up to the school to teach Brats manners and respect but I am thinking there should be a class for it since their so called parents obviously don't have time to!

I have a little girl in 1st grade, she wasn't bullied on a daily basis like the story or some of the comments I have read but I have found that the school doesn't react. So sad to hear about this poor child who suffered and hope this school administrators are investigated.

Kara and anyone else, it happens all over, my child WAS IN private (Catholic) school and it happened. My child started there in 6th grade and refused to leave because 3 other new kids had already left and my child said, to leave would have let the kids win! Thank God my child did not harm them self, my child stayed through 8th grade but we removed our other child. The bullied one went to public high school where graduation is this year. It has been a wonderful experience, many wonderful, caring friends. It is sad, that with som many frugal lawsuits and $$$ afraid to be lost in the school systems the administration is afraid to reprimand or expel for this type of behavior. My heart goes out to those who have lost a child through bullying. I work at a private school, second grade and it is so prevalent their in those young childrens' minds, but since I am just a student teacher I am not allowed to reprimand, that is for my teacher I follow. I blame administration AND the parents of a bully, they always refuse their child could do something like that!

The anti-bullying law only protests the administration from being held accountable. Nothing in the act protects the kids. My daughter was attacked with brass knuckles and had 4 witness. The school did nothing about it. It is not just bullying that the administration does nothing about it also straight out assaults.
And this habit of schools and police treating victims like the criminals is another part of the problem.
We as parents need to change the way kids are thinking that bullying, assault and stealing are acceptable. They are not. The schools reprimand someone if they get something stolen they should have not brought it to school. Nonsense they showed poor judgment but the real Crime it that it is not ok to steal.
Teachers ignoring verbal abuse is wrong. One teacher has 2 rules stay in your seat and no put downs. Eliminates most of the problems in a classroom.
I am sorry Mrs. Walker for your tragic lost. I will follow your progress and help network anything you do to help prevent this tragedy from reoccurring.

I like mishan's comments. Often our first reaction is to blame the parents of the children, but I am sure we have all witnessed parents on t.v. confronted with a child's misdeeds and the spectrum of the parent's reaction is either they are shocked or in denial. I recall a young female teen harassed over excerpts from her diary that somehow were spread throughout her school. The teasing and harranging resulted in her committing suicide. Those children that participated in speading the material throughout the school and teasing her were in tears and needed counseling as a result of her suicide. Conflict resolution and respect for differing culture, looks, style, etc. should be in the forefront of any administrator's plan.

I changed schools in the seventh grade and was immediately targeted by the school bullies. What saved me was something that was drilled into my brain over and over again from my mother. She used to tell me "you hit them and hit them so hard that they will never come near you again". I don't condone violence but bullies only understand one thing. A punch in the mouth! I teach my children to hit hard when bullied.

I live around the corner form this school.
It is a shame that it happened. Yes, you can blame the administration to a point. The problem with bullying is it's a tricky thing. I was bullied in my day due to my size. Unless the administration gets names from the person being bullied there is little they can do to stop it.

It can even make things worse for the person being bullied if it's found out he has given the names of his tormentors.

The bulling may then be carried out by friends of the one reported for retaliation. My prayers to the family

I am so sad for this mother and the loss of her beloved son. I too was bullied in school and it went on for years. I was spit on, pushed around, laughed at and picked on relentlessly. Riding the bus to and from school was torture and I would have an upset stomach every morning before I boarded the school bus in knowing what abuse I would suffer that day. All of this abuse was cast upon me all because of the way I looked. I had an overbite and with that came the hurtful names of being called Bugs Bunny. And yes, the Administrators knew! A kid in my class entered an art contest and drew a picture of a rabbit wearing a bow tie and on the bow tie was my name! His picture won first place and was hung in the main hallway on display. Even after the school knew the picture "represented" me, they STILL LET IT HANG ON DISPLAY! I am 35 years old today, and a successful mother and business woman, but I will still always view myself as the child my peers made me out to be.The pain never goes away. As for Carl and his family. I have cried several tears for you today after reading your article. If anyone could have reached out and stopped the abuse of this precious child, he would still be here today, next to his mother instead of watching from above as an angel. Please accept my deepest sympathy in your loss. I too am a Christian, and truly believe your son is in the arms of our Heavenly Father where there is only love, peace and happiness. I am hoping that Carl's story will make a difference in how schools deal with those who bully and those who are being bullied. My prayers are with you. Carl, enjoy your flight on your new angel wings. Love always, Leighanne from Winter Haven Florida.

This goes on all the time because schools don't care, period. They care about money, and that is it. I'm sure many Teachers care about the students, but the higher lever administrators (Principals, etc.) don't give a darn about your kids except for what money they bring in. Nothing will change until we the parents force a change.

Just because you are Christian does not mean you cannot sue the school for negligence. I would. When the children are in school, the schoo staff is responsible for these children's safeguard and wellbeing. The school staff must be held accountable for this tragedy.

I understand fully. My 16 year old son has been bullied and harrassed for the past 2 years by a gang. He is now suspended for finally fighting back, and has never been in a fight at school. The suspension is for long term, and one of the bullies was shot in the head by someone else.

I have a son in the 6th grade and also have a 19 year old. When my oldest son was in middle school he was also teased as a child. It took allot of work to get the right help. But my concern in for both kids the one's who does the bullying and the one that get's bully. What do you to a child who bullies the kids in School? I don’t think suspending them will help the issue. Both kids need to be counsel. When the kid return he is still put back into the School. You can’t kick them out. They have to get the proper help. Maybe a class on bullying once a month. Every year they have an assblely at my Son School on bullying. People are so quick to judge the other when they don’t know everyone life at home. I think the problem is the kid's that are doing the bullying. They need Help ASAP. So by the time they reach Middle School it won’t become a bigger issue. Rather we like it or not we have to be part of the solution...You never know where that bully will be in the next 10-15 years. Can be living next door to us.

As the father of two boys, my heart sinks when reading this story. Here in Canada our school systems have made great progress on the issue of Bullying "Pink shirt day" and the "buddy program" are two examples of taking the right steps early to help prevent the bullying problems. Teachers are empowered to use measures of correction such as time-outs, partial or complete separation from class activility and in the most extreme cases, tossing trouble makers from the school all together. These measures are clearly explained and discussed with parents prior, and we sign off on them. Maybe such programs would help too in the states. God Bless little Carl.

This is a terribly sad story. Bullying is not taken nearly as seriously as it should be by schools and in some cases, the parents of the children who are bullies – the idea that children need to accept the fact that bullying is inevitable and that they just need to learn how to handle it while not addressing the underlying issues which cause a kid to become a bully is simply irresponsible.

Get rid of the bullies, and give them no second chances! They are worthless scum, and in my opinion, they are committing acts of terrorism in the hallways of our public schools. Get rid of these lowlifes, and send them to boot camp on the first bullying offense. There should be no warnings or soft discipline on something serious like bullying, they should be expelled from the school at once and probably be locked up at a youth correctional facility for a while to think about the terrible destruction and depression they are causing to their victims.

My heart and prayers goes out to those families.

I agree that the school is responsible but! where is the responsibility of the parents or guardians of these bullies. We have to take some responsibilities. I know that parents and guardians can not keep their eyes out 24-7 but! again, it's not just the schools responsibility. what's going on at home or at school where a child feels that they have to harm some one with words or physically? we as parents need to try and become more aware of what our child(ren) are doing. I know that it's difficult in these times because of every thing going on; were working going to school and trying to make things better for our families but, why are some of our child(ren) choosing to be bullies? This is not the time to lay blame, we need to know why these child(ren) are doing those types of things to other child(ren), what is it that they fill that their not getting that they have to harm some one to make themselves feel validated.

I'm so sorry for those of you who've lost your child(ren) due to some one bulling them. My prayers are with you and your families.

My profound respect to this brave woman for taking on the school administration. I am now 70 and the bullying I endured in grade school, middle school, and high school almost destroyed me. Anti bullying has to be a K-12 program and directed principally towards atheletes and the adults who coach them. Jock culture can be toxic and vicious and can result in either the suicide of the victim or a horrendously toxic reaction like the Columbine High School tradgedy 10 years ago. Those that survive, like I did, do get over it - to an extent - but the memories never go away.

I think the child funeral should be held at his school and every child should be required to attend. So that it can be served as a reminder that there are consequences to your actions. This is so sad !!! The time will come when we will all have to stand before God and give account of our actions just think, these children can also received the punishment this child chose DEATH.

i feel that it was so wrong, there should be school that have bullying programs. No help cause this boy to lose his life. Kids can be so cruel

I'm a former school board member from Richmond, Va. and this bullying issue has got to stop. School official can no longer turn their heads the other way. This is not a boys will be boys situation-this is about life and death. I hope the parent sues the school division and becomes an advocate against such behavior in her local school division. Shame on the school division in question-may "GOD" have mercy on their souls!!!!

What happen to the days when kids were resileant to such things like bullying? Kids are cruel my nature, that is a given... I'm sure a large percentage of us have experience bullying in schools, but to commit suicide, never thought children could be pushed to the brink of death.

I say there is a chain of responsibility and the majority of it should fall on the parents of the children who are the bullies not the administration and here's why. You could discipline a bully by giving detention, suspension or expulsion BUT that child will still be a bully unless faced with a life altering experience that will help them amend there ways.

Parents need to be more vigilant and seek out the names of the parents of the bully children involved, seek law enforcement and go several steps ahead of the immediate school administration and go to the powers that be on the school district board of education.

My nephew was bullied and threatened in middle school, and his mom removed him from the school and relocated him to a safe school. Parents should be resourceful and make any sacrifice to protect their child from a hostile environment. It is not toughening the child to leave them there; it's dangerous to their self-esteem, overall health, and their very life. There should be no-tolerance laws against bullying–punishable by expulsion from school for kids, and termination for adults in the workplace. People turn to murder because of bullying; everyone has a snapping point.

I can't believe that this situation got this out of hand. I mean how does a school let this go on? if that was my child the school would have help to pay I'm infuriated at the whole situation. And the fact that these were elementary school kids doesent make a differnce I would do all that I could to make sure they got some kind of punishment. And what does that say about the parents they need to clean it up and fast

this realy hit home i have benn in the same circumstances and although i have not taken my life it has caused me to tremendusly hurt myself physicly and mentaly. I now go to therapy 3 times a week and have been diagnossed with numerous mental illnesses. I think the schools realy need to begain to take bulling seriously. It is NO JOKE!

I have four children under the age of 14 and I could never even imagine finding one of my children like this woman found her son. My prayers go out to her. The really sad part is to realize how desperate and alone this boy must have felt. There needs to be action taken on this case. Our law enforcement needs to investigate the school and get down to the bottom of this. The administrators that were informed of the situation and the kids responsible for the torture of this boy need to be dealt with to send a message to our communities that this kind of cruelty is not going to be tolerated. I myself was bullied as a child and would literally get so nervous sometimes while waiting on the school bus in the mornings that I would throw up. Too many children have to deal with these same issues everyday-it needs to be addressed more than it is.

I am so sorry this happend to your son but parents need to take full responabilites for there kids action. now a days the parents are more ingorant than the kids. there was no reason this young boy should have hung himself all because mineless kids and mineless parents. GOD BLESS!!!!! GET IT TOGETHER PARENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!

bless this family. God save our children, please.

Bullying in schools, is as old as school education its self. i guess there are few people who will say they never noticed it during their school time.

Can we really stop or prevent this? How much has school administration helped with this?

My suggestion is, as a parent, how to you train your child to develop a 'thick' skin against bullies, or stand up to them? Look, life is tough, and only the tough survive. I will teach my child how to stand up to them, so he learns to stand up to difficult situations in life. There are bullies everywhere – school, homes even in work places. How you learn to handle this early, so you survive in the 'jungle' called 'life'.

My views, and its personal.........

same for me iwas bullied and got death threats from girls everyday schools nevr did anything when boys would run pass me and pull my hair and at least once a week a group of boys would say they going to rip my clothes off and rape me it got so bad my 7 grade year i took my mothers gun to school i was so afraid of what they would do to me i took it to school for a week for some reason i think they knew because after that i was never harassed again back then there was no such thing as sexual harassment i feel so bad for that child i know what it feels like this may sound a bit harsh but when ever it got to bad i would tell my mother and she would say you don't have to go to school today, I WOULD HAVE TAKEN MY CHILD OUT OF THAT SCHOOL

My heart sank after reading this very sad story. I too know of this problem personally. For I too was taunted when some 45 years ago. I was fortunate to have loving parents and mentoring neighbors. Our schools leadership need to be accountable for teaching tolerance, ensuring equal rights and child protections as well as the best education for all our children.

I am not sure the path for this young person's life, but the lack of concern from a public or private teaching environment can not be tolerated.

Life is a blessing...
I pray for the mother and that young child. I pray for our leaders and our citizens to take action for our nation to ensure equal rights for all is the American standard in our country.

I will pause now in silence to mourn another young soul taken away to early in life...

11 was about the same age that I began hearing the anti-gay threats. I was suicidal for the next ten years – it completely destroyed my sense of worth during adolescence, my sense of stability, because I changed schools too (that made no difference), and definitely my sense of feeling safe – meaning feeling safe to be myself!

My school counselor told me that if I was being harassed for being gay then I needed to figure out how to act differently in order to end it. Even though that's an inexcusable thing to tell a child, if I were to act 'differently', it was too late. They already knew about me. Acting 'like them' probably would have made it worse because they would have been able to see that I was grasping at straws to find a way to be left alone.

This might seem trivial but not to someone who is still a minor and in the school system. You can't just move or really do anything about it. It also is a deep violation of your sexual self that is NEVER talked about with boys. We teach girls about many of these things early on in order to stay safe, but rarely do we do this with boys and certainly not in case he might be gay. As long as we have these 'religious' groups marching around picketing funerals of gay men, as long as we have as many people laughing at the 'ick' factor of gay people; as long as gay and lesbian people are despised for existing, this will continue. Kids who victimize other kids are learning this from someone, and unfortunately the people who are raising them are the ones who never read these messages. Carl's mom has a lot of feelings to go through and I hope she has some good friends to talk to – who know how to listen – and give her time.

Our district has some pretty strict anti-bullying programs in place. There is a zero tolerance policy, and it is taken very seriously. Our present school leadership understands how fragile some kids are, and how susceptible they can be to verbal and physical bullying. Aspergers kids are very vulnerable to bullying and often end up in trouble because of the manipulations of other kids. "Go hit Bobby on the back. He likes that and said he'd be your friend if you do it." So the ASD kid does exactly that by virtue of their cognitive disability, and we have a very complicated situation to sort out. Who was really the bully here? I say the instigator. The ASD child and the one who was hit are both victims. Teens are subject to text message and social website bullying. There is not one magic bullet solution to bullying. It's not as simple as saying "kids should toughen up and deal with the real world" or "the school is to blame." Schools have very little recourse anymore. Stay plugged into your kids so you can pick up on those little changes that mean something isn't right. Be there for them, be open to talking about everything without preaching or putting down. Keep your kids engaged in activities so those bullying individuals aren't their whole world and the kid can have respite and gain perspective. It's not just one person's job to neutralize bullying.

Pride!.Too much of a pride.The people who responsible for the school should be responsible for all the bad thing that happen at school.They cover up alof things that happen at school.

This is a very disturbing situation. My niece is going through a simular situation she stabbed another student who has been bulling her for a while now. The girl is alive... thank God. Had the school got involved then this may not have happened. I think as a parent we need to step away from the schools SOMTIMES and take a visit to these kids parents homes & have a talk. I had an altercation with my daughters bully in the mall & I let that girl have it!!! She did not mess with my daughter again!! SOMETIMES you have to do that.

The kids that do the bullying are usually cowards themselves. They often feel inadequate and find someone to pick on and harass. Schools have traditionally looked the other way when it comes to bullying. I know that there was faculty that CHOSE not to get involved. Schools better start getting it through their thick skulls that they need to be more vigilant and address these problems immediately. I remember some of my teachers at my highschool here in Philly, and many of them looked the other way, were too lazy to get involved and most of all thought it was kind of a joke. Many of them told me that I was never going to amount to anything. I laugh when I think about that, because I am doing well and very happy. That school is gonna pay up some bucks, and they should!

I am outraged that the school did nothing – the bullies should have been called into the office one by one and then the parents of each bully should have been called to the school – the parents should have disciplined their childreb accordingly – There are so many parents who are not raising their children – the children are raising themselves...

After that, if the bullying continued, each bully should have been suspended...the school is 100% at fault for Carl's death – there should have been a disciplinary plan put into place to reprimand these children – we send our children to school to learn, not to be hazed or harrassed...

May Carl Rest in Peace...

This is horrifying how dare these kids taunt and bully another one of their peers. How do they feel now? Unfortuntely they will pay for this childs death because they know better. The school should be sued for neglegence!!! The mother called once a week, yet her son is now dead? YES SUE THE SCHOOL. Why couldn't these "bullies' be stopped? Why did the parents of those children not stop their children from hell stop them from bullying? Were these little demons even brought forward ? The parents are at fault for raising such human beings those children should be held accountable and made an example of for other "bullies" I say put them in a juvenile home for a while and call it negligent homicide or negligent murder that is what they did to this precious little boy and others like him the "bullies" killed him. They should pay for this now not when they meet their maker. Someone please take a thick leather strap to their butts first then send them to a dentention center. SOMEONE TEACH THESE KIDS A LESSON SO THIS WILL STOP.

I sympathize totally with the parents, but I doubt the school could do much w/o the support of the parents of the bullies, which sadly they are unlikely to get. I get tired of every organization from churches, to schools, to sports leaders taking the blame for parents who are so busy chasing the all mighty dollar so they can have what neighbors have instead of settling for a less affluent lifestyle and putting their children first in their homes – not all the toys they buy.IT IS TIME PARENTS TOOK THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TEACHING CHILDREN KINDNESS, GOOD SOLID MORALS AND VALUES IN THE HOME – BUT HOW THEY TEACH CHILDREN WHAT THEY DON'T HAVE THEMSELVES???????

It's not about being a christian if you want to sue or not. I believed that she prefer that way simply because it's her choice. Things happen for a reason, we may or may not know why. We are all accountable in what we or we're going to do neither bad or good in the end. I don't think they can just get away with it. Someone above is looking

I have a very fragile seven year old boy, fragile in terms of strength, looks and emotion. I haven't allowed him to set foot in a school, and I won't until I think he's got enough armor on that he can handle it. Right now he is entirely too vulnerable, so he gets his social interactions through the neighborhood kids, soccer practice, Boy Scouts, and few GT classes he's signed up. The rest of the time he takes online classes.

By the time I hit junior high school, I was a secret cutter. To this day, my parents do not know this, they have no idea the extent to which I was tormented daily.

I will never allow a child of mine to suffer like this as long as I draw breath. There are alternatives to the almighty priesthood of School. Find them. Use them.

that is terrible..the teachers should have had a better look over those kids getting out of hand..thats very sad and should never happen!

Yes a very sad story, but there are a lot of factors at play when it comes to blame. These days the schools have a no tolerance policy for bullying. My 11 year old has had to deal with this in elementary school and now middle school. He is Vietnamese/American. So he often gets racially bullied by the full spectrum of races of children. He however has the confidence and smarts to know not only how to deal with it but also the confidence to come to me and or his father to talk about what is happening to him. If that poor kids parents sugar coat his problem or send him off to do activities to take the place of parent interaction, don't talk to the child enough to find out as much information as possible and don't act on the problem by going right to the school, the source and stay on top of them, find the kids who are causing the problem and have them reprimanded and punished, this kind of thing is going to happen more and more. Parents have the responsibility to be concerned everyday for what is going on in their kids lives. To ask questions constantly, ask how their kids feel about what is happening in their lives, what they need and act accordingly. Kids don't owe their parents jack, parents owe their kids protection and knowledge of how to be able to survive. It's that simple.

This story saddens me greatly. the large issue is typically bullies are bullied by someone else, usually in their family which makes it hard to find a consoling ear from bullies caretakers... this is not in all cases, but many many of them. I do think the school should be sued and the parents of the bully should also be held accountable.

There is a reason America is so far behind the rest of the world in academics/behavor. It starts at home with parents that are breeding parasites to society (thats what these bullies are). School has become a hangout a fashion show or TV drama. The importance for being there has been lost. Teachers turn a blind eye, parents don't care, school is the "baby sitter". The frightening thing is that these stupid people are producing offspring at alarming rates. Therfore more bullies. If teachers and parents really took an interest in seeing children excell as humans/scholars than bulling would not occur there would be no time or tolerance for it. Instead these leaches to society sue the school for their child being disiplined to "harshly". Look at those kids that started the fight in the bus, the parents instead of punishing there children complained that the school had unfairly singled them out, and that there children (pieces of garbage genetic mutants) were good kids.
Until parents step up as role models this will continue and it's sad.

first off my heart goes out the the mother of that child. What's sad about this, if the young man had channeled his anger outward we wouldn't feel the same sympathy for he and his family. Not all, but a number of school shootings are a direct result of kids bullying others. This is truly sad, that his innocence was shattered to that degree. Too bad the airing of this story is on late, this is something that Parents need to watch with their children.

I don't think it is necessarily that administrators are lazy or they don't care, it's that there are procedures you must take. You have to interview everyone and anyone that has information about the things that go on.
We live in a society that everyone sues if they don't get their way or if they are upset etc. This plays a big roll in schools. If you don't do enough you get sued, you do too much...sued. Even if you have witnesses or the student that is actually being bullied or even if you, the teacher/ administrator/ counselor etc. have seen someone bullying someone else, you will have a chance to be sued by bully's parents. The bully's parents will say that their child is being singled out or someone told them to do it. Trust me I have seen it first hand.

It is sad when people need help and their voice is not heard.

Many school administrators are just as guilty as these children. The bullying and pecking order on many school campuses is tolerated or ignored–not as policy, but by administrators turning their backs to the problem. Quite often, the parents share in the blame, by encouraging their kids to bully other students; this is another cause of the problem.

Anyone caught bullying should be expelled, be it high-school star quarterback or head cheerleader! If we do not insist that our children behave properly to their fellow students, how can this cycle of bulling ever end. It won't, until school administrators establish a code of ethics that is not just an ideal, but rules not to be ignored. The death of this 11 year-old is likely the result of lack of supervision or looking the other way, which happens way too often.

Joseph – you sound like you did the bullying.

lock the kid up?

Sadly, parents have have kids who bully, ALWAYS say "no, not my little Jimmy/John or sue"..

Was that kid's stress just his imagination?

If the boy that was bullied, went to school one day, and beat up his bullies, you can bet the parents would be crying to the principle.

It is very sad that a little boy would take his life, all because of stupid little kids who bully. I say put their parents in jail for NOT stopping their kids behavior.

To aronnov-I don't think I got you "wrong" but just right. How dare you blame the child for committing suicide!!!! That's the most insensitive comment that you could have ever made and I hope this child's family/friends don't read it. Obviously you know very little about bullying in the 21st century. Kids are brutal. You should be asking what's wrong with the school administration in this case that they didn't take care of this matter before it reached this level. Bulllying is not an easy matter to deal with. Bullies are the ones that most likely suffer from some psychological/behavioral issues-not the victims. Bravo for your resilience when you were a kid being bullied. Just remember all kids are made of resilient stuff. Do your homework. There's a lot of information out there about bullying.

That's so sad. Between the parents & the social workers at the school something should have been done, bc he cried out for help. This didn't need to happen. However, he should have been in counseling.

Correction-all kids are not made of resilent stuff!

How can she sue the school? It's not their fault the child cannot deal with being called some names, to an extent. The administrators should've stepped in at one time during the namecalling, but shouldn't be sued. It should be the parent to try and resolve the problem, in my school days I would always hear unkind words being tossed around to me. I learned how to deal with it and make something out of it, and let it not affect me, because of my parents to help guide me through some troubled school years. In the end I see an innocent public school, and a greedy mother trying to make a profit off her son's tragic death.

It's bad enough that these bullies terrorize students while they're young, but when teachers/parents look the other way, these kids grow up to be the bullies in our world. It would be nice if parents would teach their children respect, but I'm sure a lot of those parents were bullies themselves.

Schools should have no tolerance for this. I graduated only about 6 years ago, and I vividly remember teachers being so desperate to be well liked by the students (and sometimes even scared of the kids) they would allow ANYTHING to be said in their classroom. I've seen gay bashing situations as a teacher watches where I had to intervene! As a student that was not my responsibility to spend my day policing the school, and if I have kids I certainly don't want them to waste their day bearing that weight.

I am a parent of a daughter that was bullied in jr high school, being the new girl, and it carried over into hs. Again the school system/school board would not do anything. My daughter had gone to the administration that very morning and was sent back to class and was told to 'come back when something actually happened'....4 girls surrounded my daughter in the bathroom between classes and would not let her leave (pushing her and shoving her etc.)

By the grace and mercy of GOD my oldest daughter was found by one of my other daughters friends and went in the restroom to break it up and both of MY daughters got suspened. The prinicipal nor none of the administration would meet w/me. I was informed that since my eldest daughter was 18 (she was a senior) there was a possiblity that charges may have been brought against her for the other girls we 14 & 15. After meeting w/the parents (after several attempts to contact the school board/school administration)....it made perfect sense why the children were the way they were (apples really don't fall far from the tree).....Long story short....we eventually moved.

Dear Randi

My heart breaks so much in sadness whenever someone is made fun of and picked on .It shows the difference between laughing with someone or at them. I know what it is like to be bullied and picked for every little thing not fitting in not dressing like everyone else and not saying the right words to fit into a group just so they will be your "friend". With so called friends who needs enemies. When teachers who do nothing to help they are supoosed to be role models and adults to teach what's right and wrong . This is what's wrong with the world today everything is falling apart beacause of human beahviour.

Please tell me when will everyone CARE again?

Michelle D.

Kids and schools will never learn bullying is serious. I'm sure everyone remembers a 10 year anniversery of a little thing called Columbine. It's such a shame no one has learned anything from that tragic event, not only do we now have kids shooting up schools cause they were bullied, we have a sixth grader killing himself. I can't even explain the deep sadness I feel for this child and his family. My prayers are with them. Someone needs to step up and put an end to bullying.

I am so sorry for your loss. this has got to be the most heart wrenching story I have ever heard. The school system in my area isn't any better and I am scared to death! My daughter is 11 yrs. old, very pretty, honor roll student but very christain which usually doesn't fit in w/the social clicks. She could care less about the "girly click" thing but I do worry about when that "certain" boy is going to like her more than the cheerleader or any other girl! You are in our prayers, God Bless You.

To this greiving mother today from a surviving suicide victims mother of thirteen years, just believe that your child will never leave you ................EVER. Open your heart to know that , because your going to need help for the rest of your life to just get out of bed on certian days, to push forward and be strong when you think you can't , and who do think is REALLY going to help you do that. Noone except your child.
Don't listen to things from moron that don"t know what the hell they are talking about. You have the right person on your side because your a Christian.Just remember ,No one knows what its like until they walk a day in your shoes.
Peace to you and yours

They need to have video surveillance in school for proof. They also need to have security in schools along with teacher aids who help the teacher as well as monitor the halls between classes. Why do we scrimp on the funding for the education of the future of our country! If you do not feel safe you are not able to learn!

This has hit home. My son is in 6th grade and the same is going on with him. today he has 9 bruses on his body. being made fun of because of his teeth, his studdering, being asked if he sucks penis in the shower room while others are imulating sexual intercourse. His pe teacher calling him an ass _ _ le. he has become depressed and actually we just began coulsuling yesterday. he is a slow learner but otherwise fine. No child in the USA shold have to put up with this. 6 yrs ago in this very shower room one of our school children was assulted with fluids from other boys bodies. Everything hushed no courts involved theirfore no mesures being put in place to deter such actions in the future. I have written the state Board, the School board, Spoke with the principlein excess of 30 times including letters. All a waist of time. I cant get my son to and froma privite school otherwise I would. Im a single father and have found this to be a common problem throughout the us. Funny thing is is the same things were to be done outside the school to our children arrest would be made for assult. For 6 months I have told the school hes tired of getting abused that he now wants to fight back. He was just suspended last thursday for fighting. Someone was chocking him and he faught back. Go Figure. Hey schools its simple...its called SUPERVISION and ACCOUNTIBILITY.

My sincere condolences go out to the family. There is nothing more painful than losing a child.
It IS in fact the school's responsibility to take care of her son; from the moment he stepped foot on that premises until the moment he left. She was entrusting them with her son. I feel all schools need to abide by their rule book on a consistent basis. If a child breaks the rules, then they should be reprimanded accordingly. Though the kids may be at fault, the administration at that school is at fault as well. If she had to call once a week, then obviously there was more to the story. I wonder what, if anything was done in an effort to deter the taunting.
I think all children are taunted and bullied at some point, but when it goes on for MONTHS without ceasing, then someone needs to step up to the bat and make some things happen. Now it’s too late for the coulda, woulda, shouldas. The child is gone and his mother has to continue to fight a fight that should have ended a long time ago.

This is a sad story. all the people saying bullying is normal and this kid still shouldn't have taken his life don't know the half about what goes on in shools now. There are rapes on campus,there are gangs that don't fear the law anymore. All people are not built the same. I am not proud of it but i have been to prison twice,and served over 15 years altogether and if this happened to my kid I would rather take him out than put on fake stuff about being tough. You can stand up to some situations but only a fool thinks they can stand to everyone. Each and every one of us has backed down before. That's just the way it is. School is a place of learning not for fighting and bullying. No wonder the japanese and other countries are miles ahead of us. While we're over here bullying eachother they are doing what kids are supposed to in school,and that's learn. I can't lie though if my child had committed suicide because someone was bullying him,i would more than likely have my third strike by now,because the people responsible would have to feel the same pain I was feeling...

Sad to learn that a young life is now forever gone due to negligence. I am a staff member in a public school in Michigan & I must say bullying is one of those things that it is immediately confronted....no way...no how is that going to be tolerated at all. We are in your face about it. The minute it is observed/verified by staff the student is brought in and confronted to the highest degree possible and often the parents are called for a meeting to be aware of the problem and work with them as a team to make certain that it does not become a pattern because otherwise the school will take extreme measures against the bullying student to make it stop. It is unacceptable for any school (private or public) to allow or tolerate any degree of bullying. It is paramount to tackle the problem head on and right away..... no leeway to no one. My prayers and thoughs for this family in this time.

i would like to respond to Patrick F: I do not believe for one minute that this is a greedy mother. Maybe she feels that the school should have taken disciplinary action against the children who were bullying, they should have done/tried SOMETHING. This young boy felt he had nowhere to go. Have you ever been bullied or been a bully? Parent's can only do so much, this bullying was "endless", mainly b/c the school didn't do their job where discipline is concerned.

My daughter was bullied at her Middle School. After several attempts dealing with the school, she was pulled out. It is horrible as a parent to have your child talk about suicide.

We need to put a national spotlight on "bullying" and hopefully bring a touch of humanity into our culture and community [especially in the schools] where we would all look out for each other and drastically stop such inhumane behavior.

They tortured me from second grade until my sophomore year (I left). They tortured my daughter from fifth grade until she left after middle school telling me "If I have to go through in high school what I did in middle school, I WILL kill myself. Take me seriously." I took her completely out of school, she got her GED and went straight to a 4 year college. If I see my grandchildren EVER go through this–if I start to see the light of self-confidence die out of their eyes the way it died from my daughter's, heads will roll. I am middle-aged, I am Grandmother Bear and I KNOW how to make noise. And any administrator who is too indifferent to be bothered to protect my grandchildren from bullying had best be braced for that.

The State of Massachusetts should revoke New Leaderships charter. They, as educators, have sent a clear message that their philosophy and vision in education is based on intolerance and an indifference toward diversity. Bigotry is not inherent, it is taught. The parents who chose to send their children to this school will almost certainly be at the forefront of efforts to castigate and prohibit equal treatment and respect for those in the gay and lesbian community. They will use scripture as an excuse to teach their children intolerance and I would imagine be quietly congratulating themselves and their progeny for a job well done.

Why do you all think I homeschool my child?
Because I was bullied, and my three oldest children were bullied in school too.
I was damned if I was going to let it happen to my fourth child. It took me a long time to discover the empowerment of homeschooling. Instituional schooling is designed for children to be bullies. Because you've got kids raising kids, all day long, for twelve years straight. What do you think is going to happen when you leave kids in that kind of environment for twelve years straight. Smarten up America, and homeschool your children. Its the only way.
Trygve

School administrators as well as parents need to step up and address this very serious matter. Failure to do so may result in further suicides or worse – another Columbine. On a side note – I was bullied from the 1st grade straight through the 8th grade. It was horrible. It was always the same four girls. All I ever wanted to do was to be their friend and all they did was torture me. It is a horrible feeling. I'm going to be 52 in June but I look like I'm 35. I am told that I am a beautiful woman. However, I never believe it, for all I think of is the harsh names I was called. Sometimes I still get nigtmares. I believe in Krama. Every once in a while I wonder where those girls are now and how their lives turned out. I just hope that if they had childern, that they did not pass this ugly trait onto them.

my middle kid at 11 years old was constantly bullied and it became a problem for him (I don't mind the boys will be boys argument but there are limits, when one is suffering from it the limit has been passed).
so i waited for my child out of school and asked him to show me the bullies, he didn't want to but i told him to trust me.
Then i confronted them and told them i was going to talk to their parents and if their parents were not responsive I was going to sue them to death, they would' have loved it!
So some of these kids told my kid he was a snitch and he was going to go to his dad and all those things, but it ended there and in the end it turns out bullies have no friends really so my kid was befriended by a much "healthier" group of kids. I hated to "intrude" in kids situations but i think it's a parents responsibility to stand for your child.
I have also to say that the bullies weren't thugs or anything, just bullies. my condolences to the mom but i wonder if she shouldn't have confronted his kid's tormentors after having seen the school wasn't doing anything.

"The minute it is observed/verified by staff the student is brought in and confronted to the highest degree possible and often the parents are called for a meeting to be aware of the problem and work with them as a team to make certain that it does not become a pattern because otherwise the school will take extreme measures against the bullying student to make it stop. " There in lies the rub. For the most part the bullies are slick and subtle. Chances of catching them are slim. Kundos to you for at least tryiing. Question, what do you do when a parent repeatedly comes to you about abuse their child is recieving but is unverifable?

This incident should have never happened. Our children are sent to school to learn how to become productive and useful individuals; who contribute to society. I believe that schools and administrators should be held accountable for such actions. They knew what was happening and did nothing. They should be fired and charges of cruelty and neglect should be bought against them and the kids that caused this and their families. Children are not born mean. It is a learned behavior and I believe it begins at home.
My thoughts and prayers go out to this mother and her family and may this sweet child rest in peace.

I was bullied in Elementary school back in the early 80s. It was awful and sometimes it even involved teachers looking to get a good laugh.
I realize now that things have gotten much worse. Text messaging, and the internet... there are so many ways for these bullies, or kids who so desperately need attention, can hurt their victims. Either by posting untrue information or pictures.. I can totally sympathize with these kids. Something needs to be done! Even if the worst case scenario like this one doesn't play out, this abuse stays with you well into adulthood. It effects everything from confidence to self worth. Something obviously needs to be done about this problem! Kids should not be made to feel like there is no other choice. Teachers make so much money for what 9 months of actual work? Plus Holiday breaks... what are they doing in that time they are off? How about training them to deal with situations like this.

Carl should not have died, but he had reached his breaking point. I believe every school should have a mediator/counselor team, which offers bullies and children being bullied the opportunity to sit together and work out their animosities toward one another. If the bully does not cooperate, then expulsion with mandatory professional psychological counseling should be in order. If they do not seek help, as they grow, their psychological battering grows into physical battering and puts us all at risk of being killed by some madman or woman. The solution lies within the school system, as well as at home. My thoughts and prayers are with Carl's family and all who suffer through bullying.

I agree with the folks who have posted that there are other alternatives to public school. I also agree that the bullies themselves are hurting and that is why they are striking out at other children. They need counseling.

I also agree that the parents of the bullies should be held accountable. They are not involved enough in their kid's lives!!! Either that or they are abusers themselves and need to be held accountable for that!!!

I agree that parents who discover that their children are suffering should do WHATEVER it takes to help their child. No job or nice house can fill the void if you lose your child! Quit your job and homeschool your child. Move away. Deal with having less so that your child can be put in a safe, alternative school. Whatever it takes, do it.

I was the vicitm of terrible bullying when I was in middle school. I was bullied because I chose to live a devout, chaste, life. I chose not to wear make-up, date, or wear the provocative styles that were popular because I felt that I was too young!!! (and I was!!!) And no, this was not something forced on me by my parents. It was something I chose for myself. I was outspoken in my belief in Jesus Christ, but I did not try to "convert" anybody or force my beliefs on anyone else. Because of these choices, I was targeted for abuse by bullies.

My parents chose to quit their jobs and move to a town of 500 people in Eastern Oregon, to get me out of the middle school I was attending in Gresham, Oregon. Unfortunately, the abuse continued in the new school I attended. My mother again quit her job and pulled both my brother and me out of school. We were homschooled the rest of our school years. Because of my parent's loving involvment, I am alive, well, and emotionally healthy!

I am sorry to hear about the young boy my prayers go to the parents. My grandson went thought the same thing. He tryed to hang his self at school. The day it happened I was out of town, received a call, she telling me what happened. He was told never to hit a girl. This girl kept picking at him. the more he told his teacher, the more his teacher sent him to the office. He went to the school principal, teacher and other staff, with no help. My daughter went to the school. They sent him to counseling but nothing happen to the girl. Since that time my grandson has went from one school to another. My grandson at the time was 9/10 yrs. old.

As I read through other peoples comments there were some valid points made. There is always going to bullying in the school system. But there comes a point in time where the school should really step in. Its hard for parents who aren't in school to say oh it's life, it's what happens. You'll be out in a couple years. Well sometimes parents dont know the extent to the bullying. Parents can raise their child to be strong against this stuff. But it is still going to hurt their child everyday.
This boy felt like it was the only way out. I think that is a huge eye opener to the extent of it. The mother called the school at least 2x times a week. Someone should have confronted the students. And the fact that now they are not answering any of her phone calls. Thats just low. She just lost her son! They should at least have the sympathy to express there concern. When parents say stuff like its life. Thats what makes kids feel like its not worth living. No one is going to help them. I dont know, I just believe that the school should at least come face to face with the situation. There are probably so many other kids who are facing the same giant today, but are just to scared to say anything. Thats just a little bit about what I think.

I remember Anderson doing a piece on this issue about a year or two ago. It is sickening now as it was then. Bullying will always exist unless there are serious consequences to the offender; that's the bottom line. Schools should have a no-tolerance policy on bullying and be allowed to mete out punishments when appropriate, parents should do their job disciplining their children, and kids who are bullied should have a way out of this awful situation. They should be able to get the help they need from the adults who are supposed to look after them: their parents, their school, etc. I would not want to be a kid growing up in this day and age.

Lilibeth
Edmonds, Washington

As a young man I know what its liked to be bullied and teased, but my parents sat down and drilled it in to my head that suicide is not an option. God, and self-respect should be taught as soon as possible. I came from a rough background, suicide came to mind a few times. My parents instilled me with a sense of honor, so I would not take the cowards way out. And maybe suppressing anger isn't such a good idea, I would have liked to have heard that he stood up for himself.

Ok now as for blame... stop. It won't help him now. As a part of the human race, we need to practice mutual respect and acceptance of one another.

nobody will ever understand how the boy,s mother is feeling now. One thing that is sure is that the fact that she is the only one who knows how deep her wound is. Though she is trying to hold back on what she is going through, we all know things are not well with her, especially losing a child in a tragic situation as this. I would like to appeal to all stakeholders who can, to help bring justice by taking appropriate actions against all those involved. Both the STUDENTS, body and the SCHOOLS, ADMINISTRATION. ITS A PASSIONATE APPEAL.

This is very sad...some people are fortunate to have never been a VICTIM of bullying, but it is real. I have had the complete displeasure of being the subject of this type of mental violence. I heard a story several years ago of a friend's family member. He was a strong student with a bright future ahead of him. There was another young man who bullied him for years. When the two young men got into high school, they took an interest in the same young lady. She chose to date the boy (not the bully). This infuriated the bully and he started to physically assault the boy until one day the young man took his father's shot gun to school. The bully, as was his protocol, began to shove the boy and taunt him...the kid went to the car, got the shot gun and killed the guy right there. He is now serving a life sentence...bullying will never end well. If there is no intervention, there is escalation. RAISE YOUR KIDS to respect themselves and others.

This story reminded me of what Tom Cruise said in one of his interviews. He was, too, bullied when he was young and what he did was to fight back and the bullying kid never touched him again. Maybe the parents need to teach their kids some karate kicks to learn to protect themselves. It may sound bad for getting into a fight but I do believe you need to stand up and fight for yourself when needed. You the parents need to toughen up your kids. I was also bullied when I was in middle school. I was a tiny and extremely skinny girl and the boys at school would kick me and pull my hair. It was terrible. I learned to be as tough as them and eventually fought back. I sent one of the boys straight to the hospital ...

This is so sad!!! I was bullied in schoool alot and it was horrible i couldn't stand it i even tried suicied several times. It started when i was in the first grade and just got worst til i quite school in the ninth grade, It really upsets me beacuse i have a daughter in the 4th grade and shes 11 years old. Theres been a couple of times where shes been therated to be killed and it breakes my heart to know your kid isnt safe in school. One day she came home and told me about it and i asked her if she told the teacher and she said yes and ALL the teacher told my daughter was she was sickin and tired of hearing kids threathing to kill each other so why dont they just go and do it what the hell is that to say to a 11 year old. I went to the scool and they wouldnt do any thing so i went to the board of education and they wouldnt do anything. I even went to the news paper and they said they couldnt help me. I thought the schools was suppose to be there to protect your children. And for a teacher to say that and get away with it makes me sick. Something needs to be done to these children that are bulling and the teachers and the school that wont do anything! My heart goes out to that boys family may justice be done!!!!

It's sad that in this day and time we still have bullies. In my daughter's school, they have the "bully box", a student can drop a name of someone that's bullying other students. The school is making an attempt to solve the bully problem, but, in my opinion, the administration sometimes DO turn their heads and say " it's not my problem, I don't get pay enough for this"!
Parents are responsible for their children's behavior and if the kids see the parents acting wild and foolish, why shouldn't they act the same way?
To the mother, stay strong, and I hope you find the answers you're looking for. Nothing they can say nor do will bring your precious son back, but maybe you can get a sense of relief that you were doing the rights to prevent this sad event.

I was bullied mercilessly from 3rd grade until I left the system for High School. my parents and I brought it to the attention of the school administrators repeatedly over the years, my problems were met with apathetic sympathy or outright derision, that is, when teachers weren't joining in. My third grade teacher told me (in front of the class) that I was a "weird child". My fifth grade teacher would single me and several others out for abusive tirades, calling us stupid and worse. My classmates (in my opinion) were emboldened by the teachers hostility and apathy, so I was chased by small gangs hurling insults, fists, had gum firmly embedded in my hair. I contemplated suicide, brought knives to school to threaten my bullies with, its a miracle nobody else got hurt. I escaped with incredibly low self-esteem, drinking problems, a GED, and an abusive relationship that almost got me killed. Its taken me to the age of thirty to repair the damage that my elementary school did to me. I am now working on a graduate degree in psychology, a study that has convinced me that what happened to me was completely unecessary. You know several of my old bullies have come an apologized to me since, congratulating me on my resilience and commenting that they always admired my ability to be hurt by them. Because thats what they'd like to think about themselves and what they did, that it wasn't so bad, otherwise the guilt might weigh heavier on their consciences.

No matter what the sadists who think that this is an important developmental stage say, people do better when they learn not to bully, people do better when they are not bullied. Thats all there is to it.

And if this ever happens to one of my children I can guarantee you I will be that school's worst nightmare. Hell hath no fury....

It appalls me that all this hate is against kids who "look gay" or "act gay". It's the hate that parents and society teach! Still think it's okay to treat ANYONE like a second class citizen or lesser person? The kids recognize this and use it. Shame on us as a society. In particular, shame on those religions that foster this "better than (some group)" attitude.

This is such a sad case. Previous comments made reference to public schools vs a private school. Bullying exists in private and public sector. Get your head out of the sand, Kara Jackson .
My son was in a private Jesuit all male HS in Ct. A student in his class was bullied so bad that he luckily just walked out of the building one day and called home for a ride home and said he did not ever want to go back. This is after repeated attempts by the parents speaking with the Dean who at one point..."boys will be boys!!" and " your son has to learn to stick up for himself! That administrator should be fired especially after a recent suicide of another student the year before. I cann't say it was bec of bullying but there is lack of training and sensitivity going on in a $16,000 a year PRIVATE day school. In this specific school drawing Penis's all over the place ie.. boys book bags as graffiti is looked as funny. Well it just was repeated in our PUBLIC middle school. No tolerence policy there but guess where the younger boys learned it ?!!
Recently in the same town they had a mandatory sophmore class seminar on bullying in the PUBLIC school. Times are different and it has drastically and quickly gotten worse in the last 4 years because of technology.

Please say a prayer for Carl and the whole Walker family right now!

To the Walker family I am deply saddened to hear this. It just broke my heart. My prayers go out to your family. I pray in time God will heal your wounds. I can't imagine what you are going through. I myself was teased in high school, and its not a good feeling in return I did the same to other students. The administrators at his school need to be ashamed we need to quit taking things so lightly. You never know what can happen in today's society. Was'nt columbine clue enough how bullying can lead to tragic endings. God is an awesome God you will get through this with time. My love and condolences to you and your family.

Kim
St.Louis,Missouri

I agree that school officials should treat these incidents as if it were their kids in these situations and do everything in their power to reslove these issues, but I also think that as parents and I'm in no way attempting to say that this mother didn't take every measure necessary, many times all we can do is show our kids as much love and communicate with them as much as possible so that we continue to build their self-esteem in an attmept to allow them to be as strong as possible under the pressure and criticism of peers. We all should do our part in teaching our kids simple values such as kindness and consideration so that they are not the little predetors out there taunting other kids. And lastly try to make sure that they can talk to you about anything and value your opinion more than anyone else's in hopes that their is open dialogue in your relationship so that those comments can roll off more easily.

May God Bless and comfort this Mom and may this incident provide an opportunity to allow us all the sit and speak to our kids ASAP. Allow them to watch this interview with you tonight. Let them know that this is real and that they can easily be in this very situation simply because someone doesn't like their mannerism or what they are wearing.

Read,
Dumbing Us Down by John Taylor Gatto
The Twelve Year Sentence by William F. Rickenbacker
Child Abuse in the Classroom by Phyllis Schlafly
The Teenage Liberation Handbook by Grace Llewellyn

Dearest America
We've all been duped by institutional schooling, which has nothing to do with education, and everything to do with corporate power wanting us to be better consumers. This brainwashing of us believing institutional schooling is the only way a child can be properly educated, goes way back to the industrial revolution.
Read as much as you can about homeschooling. Liberate yourself and your children, and take charge of your children's education yourself. I believe homeschooling/self educating/appreticeships, are the most loving and empowering things we can do for our children.
Trygve

Bullying is a problem but it is also a fact of life. Children bully other children. Methods are different and reactions are differeny in 2009. In the small school I teach in bullying laws are only applied when they are beneficial in getting rid of a student. Many times I have gone to my administrator to report bullying and nothing happens. It appears as though the rules are bent for children the school knows and likes. The woman in the story should sue if problems were reported and nothing was done.

Don't blame the school system, blame the parents of the bullies!!! It all starts at home! If the parents of a bully can't control their child, what is the school system suppose to do? The school system is there to teach academics, not to teach children the manners that should have been taught from birth by the parents. So many people confuse the school system as a parent! The mother of that poor liitle boy should sue the parents of the bullies!

Umm.. how about taking your kid out of the school???!?

I hope that this also brings to light other forms of bullying– i.e. cyberbullying. Also, we have given schools and teachers mixed messages with regards to discipline in the schools. This is not to forgive the transgressions of this school's administration in this case as the school failed this young man.

As a teacher I see bullying all too often. Schools say that there is zero tolerance for this kind of thing but that is not so. We have programs in place but in my mind they do not do the job. A smiley face on a piece of paper just does not cut it for me. Were I the mother I would sue..maybe then school boards would have more concrete measures put into place to stop this.

Mrs. Walker, you are in my prayers. This is a tragedy that should not have been. Our society glorifies the aggressive, dominant behavior found in the music and movies, but shuns the responsible, respectful behavior you've spent so long pouring into your son. The responsibility for our children rest with the parents and those that we entrust in their care. The administrators of schools are in a tight situation; the kids now have access to guns and no one wants to be targeted, either way. What do you say to the parents of the bullies? They're more likely to be just as unstable as their children, if not more (children mimic the actions around them). The effects of mockery and bullying take a long time to heal, but as a Christian, we have hope. Thank-you for sharing your loss with us that something may be done about it.

Both my younger daughters have been bullied and threatened at school. We are more fortunate though than some because when we complained the school did something immediately. I don't know what was said to the boys and girls doing the bullying and the threats, but they stopped immediately. The principal also affirmed to my daughters that at any time they felt scared that they were in danger from another student to come to him immediately. So far they haven't had to do that but they know they have backup at school now in case they need it. I wish all schools were as receptive to assisting the students as this school has been to my daughters.

My 12 year old daughter who suffers from Asperger's Syndrome (High functioning autism) was suffered and physcially assaulted on the bus. She was called stupid and retarded on a daily basis. The kids even threatened to put it on youtube. I complained to the school to no avail. I have friends in the media and was able to get the story out to the public. There is now an aide on the bus and the taunting has ceased slightly. I was terrified that my daughter would try to harm herself. She spoke about it often. I am now getting her much needed help, but will ultimately have to put her in another school. My heart goes out to the mother. Her son will not die in vain.

@abc, i don't know about california but in florida/my county it is policy and taken very very seriously. I gotta say, my son had some serious problems on the bus his first year (6th grade) in middle school. as scared and as overwhelmed as being in a new school with new kids and first year riding a bus, bullying on top of it all, the pressure was harsh. he had been pushed and rushed and knocked around and had stuff thrown at him hit him in the head by some kid he didn't even know but the kid had bullied him more than once before that, i had to take him to the doctor to make sure he was ok ,he had minor head trama, the report went to school the next day, we his father and i both went, spoke to a number of people including the school police who was a real cop not a rent a cop, we all came up with a plan together and by my son pointing the little creep out to the cop. they nailed the kid who hit him in the back of the head. It is not the administrations responsibility to monitor each and every student, that is impossible with the number of children they have to deal with in a day it's just not possible. The parents have to interact with their kids on a daily basis and take action with the school. You can't expect the school to be able to solve every childs security problems. Every parent is responsible for their child. Every parent is responsible to find out what is happening with their child and to take action to stop whatever harm or insecurity, by being a responsible thinking authority. I'll tell you what, it was to hard to have my kid and I'll be damned if some little punk is going to do anything to damage my kid. it's the way parents have to look at it. If you don't stand up for your kids no one will.

I feel grief for the family and will be praying for them, but I do not think suing is the way to go. While it is the school's responsiblity to decrease the bullying, it will still hapen.

As a parent you can only control so much. We must empower our kids to fend off bullies, role play, talk it over, show them what reactions bring on bigger reactions and what reactions bring on fewer reactions. Also discussing with counselors every step of the way. The school needs to find a way to squash the bullying.

I am saddend and scared upon reading this. I am going through a situation with my 6 yr old son. He is in 1st grade and has came home about kids talking about him. I was getting calls from the school, let him speak with the counselor but it was not getting better. He has told me he hates his school, and want to leave. But I am scared that he is missing out on a good school due to not handling kids will be kids issues. I worked with the principal and we have moved him to another class, and so far school has been better but if there is a problem again, i will demand that the school suspend and talk to the student body about bullying, because we don't want to see this happen to anyone else's child, especially not mine.

This is an all too common situation. We have a fifth grade son who was bullied by the son of one of the schools' teachers. Since the bully was the child of a teacher, the other teachers and administrators were very careful to try not to offend this teacher, dragging their feet to do anything at all. We had to take the issue to the school superintendent, but never felt that it was handled well. Definitely makes us not trust the school/administration/district with our kids.

This is the most horrible story that I have heard. It made me sick to my stomach. I cannot believe that no one could help. Is it that they couldn't help or they just brushed it under the rug, as though is was no big deal???! It is always a big deal to the person on the receiving end of the bullying and taunting. The children that were bullying should absolutely be held responsible for their actions. The administration needs to do something to help so this doesn't happen again. Unfortunately, it happens more than we know. The stories of children so young and innocent see no other way out but to take their own life.

I was bullied in High School..Just because I was too tall. I now have children of my own and one thing I will remember to tell my children is that once high school graduation is over, you will NEVER have to see those people again. They will become faint memories of the idiots you went to school with. And what are the parents doing about these kids. Parents are not involved as much as they should be. I know if my kids teacher told me that my kid was bullying someone at school, I would immdeiately work my child to tell them how in appropriate it is to pick on someone. School officials – what are you doing to inform parents about this? Teachers – is there anything you can do to give parents a heads up to both the parents of the bully and the kids being bullied? These kids will be running this country one day. Everyone needs to wise up and do the right thing. It's hard work but we all have to do this together. I feel horrible for this childs mother. She has to live the rest of her life knowing one of her children is dead..and from some kid picking on her son. Horrible!!!

To the parents of children that have been told they were bullies – get involved and do something for your kids – they are relying on you to teach them. Stop working 90 hour weeks, stop hanging out with your friends all the time, stop ignoring them and pay attention to them!!! Kids need their parents – you made them, now it's time to take care of them.

And for an ignorant person that says that bullying happens and it's just part of growing up, would you feel the same if it was you visiting your childs tombstone on their birthday and christmas? I think not. I am truely PO'ed and the laziness parents have about raising their children..It's like they don't care anymore.

Joe
Pennsylvania

I am so sorry for the mother and the son that it had to come to this. I am speaking from experience of when things get so bad that the only way one can see out of it is to end his/her life. I dealt with bullies in elementary schools this way. And this was in the 70's so the bullies aren't going away we just have to teach our kids how to deal with them. My sister and I were transferred from St. Peter Claver in New Orleans and if you think public schools are bad with bullying, Catholic Schools are bad. Once there, I asked around to find out who the school's bully was and approached her,oddly enough, her name was also Phyllis. We fought, (3rd Grade)and I never had a problem the rest of the year and neither did any other student. This girl later in life was murdered by a boyfriend. I believe the bullying starts at home and are being bullied by their parents or see it in a home environment relationship. As I attended different schools, I did the same thing and the sad thing is there was always a bully there, waiting. Today, I do the same thing, only now I use my intelligence to deal with them and keep physical stuff in reserve just in case. Parents don't just call the school, go there and demand answers or pull your child out. A senseless death. But I think there's more to the story and the type of bullying added to a possible lifestyle pressure. I don't know. Very sad.

sorry about the kid

When I was about seven, I was living an adolescent life of constant, daily bullying and taunting. And then I had to come home at the end of each humiliating day to arguing parents. One day I was crossing the busy street near my Harlem home. A Cadillac sedan was hurtling toward me and, briefly, I considered stepping into its path.
To simply accept school bullying as a fact of life is to turn an apathetic eye. It leads not only to suicide, as in this child's case, but to school shootings. Parents, listen to your children and get involved in the fight against school violence and taunting.

The whole situation is extremely sad for all of the children involved. I have three children, one in 6th grade, and I would like to think that the school administration, teachers, etc would listen to children and react appropriately to reports of bullying. I am sorry for the mother of this child, of course we don't know the whole situation.

I also have to make another comment, I read several other comments before I decided to add mine, and I am shocked at the number of misspelled words, incorrect use of words, and incorrect form of words being used in the comments. I understand everyone makes a typo sometimes but good grief!!!

I am heart broken for this mother. She did everything right, and still she is burying her 11 year old son.

What a sad ending to a very old story. Children as well as grown adults have and continue to be bullied, in the work place on the play ground. Anywhere there is a miserable person needing to feed his or her insecurities, you will find a bully. Which is why I believe these children learn it at home. Children mimick what they see and hear, and sadly they hear it from their own parents. The parent of a bully will be the first to tell you, his kid didnt do it, or the kid they bullied deserved it. They wont take ownership nor will they admit it, why because they are probably doing the same thing at home, to either their neighbor, co worker, spouse or child.

The schools will never take ownership for the bullying that occurs on their watch, they dont want to be held responsible, nor do they really want to hear it. All I heard when my child was being bullied was :"kids will be kids". My middle school daughter was bitten by a classmate who had been bullying her for months. My daughter was suspended, because she kicked the girl to get away. The other girl was suspended as well but was allowed to return only to do it again to another unsuspecting student, to which the school said to the bitter, "now you need to pull yourself together, you need to find other methods of getting your anger out". WHAT?

Ann I agree with you, public or private, bullies are everywhere!

PARENTS, WAKE UP! If your child is being bullied and you cannot resolve it through the normal channels, then by all means take your child out of that school! DO NOT return them to a place where they are tormented day after day.

Some people have said change schools; yes, if that will work for your child; however, please do not think that changing school is always the answer and do not give up and just let the child continue to be taunted at the same school.

Do you realize that if your child refuses to go to school, the county you live in will send teachers out to your home to teach your child??! I believe that will get the attention of the school administrator and Board of Education!

Are you afraid not to send your child to school, fearing they won't be normal if they don't get that "normal" socialization! Well, that is purely fiction! Take your child out of that school and let him/her home-school if necessary until you can find another system that works for him or her.

Home-schooling may seem strange if you've been indoctrinated to believe that children can't thrive unless they are in a public school, but nothing could be further from the truth. At least these children are ALIVE! They learn to be independent thinkers and are very smart and well-educated because they don't have all the negative distractions of the public school system.

If you have a great school count yourself a very lucky parent. However, do not be blinded by the many types of harm that can befall your child in school. Consider not only bullies but the strong influence of drugs and negative behavior. Many kids are on the edge of harming others, but they are rarely identified.

I tell you, I worry so much about this! I have a 13 year old son that is in the same situation, and small towns are NO exception; I think it's actually worst. We live in a small town and my son has suffered bullying since he was 10. We have been through the death threats, the suicidal thoughts and everything. What sickens me is..... WHAT THE H-E (double hockey sticks) ARE THESE PARENTS TEACHING THEIR CHILDREN????? Why do they think it is ok to treat other human beings this way? And moreover, do the administrators even call the bully's parents?

I have found that going to the front door of these children is sometimes the best solution. Reach past the school now! Go to the school board meetings! File police reports and keep written records of everything.

Another thing that I found out is that the "No Child Left Behind Act" has a provision in some cases, where reports of bullying must be sent to the state. However, this is only required if there is a "write up." Demand the report in writing. This will help to get the cause in front of the government.

Parents, teach your children some respect! Godspeed to this young child and his mother. My heart aches for her; it truely does.

My son is bullied by another boy at school all the time. Both are in the 7th grade. This boy has threatened to kill not only my son, but my son's girlfriend and has assaulted them both by throwing rocks at them. My husband is a Sheriff's Deputy and police reports have been filed and charged brought up against this child, yet he still remains in the same school with my son. My son's girlfriend's parents refuse to send her back to school with this bullying child and they are now home schooling her. My husband and I both have been to school and talked to the the principal and assistant principal and yet nothing is done with this kid. What are the next steps? The Sheriff's Deputy that took the report and filed the charges on the boy has even notified the School Superintendent. Still nothing. It's a shame that we as parents do all we can to protect our children and things like this happen to them that seems like it is out of our reach to help them. I feel helpless. What do I do next? Where do I turn? I want my son to have a memorable childhood, but not like this!

No, bullying is not "just a part of growing up." Unless you happen to be a bully or a victim of same. Notice most bullies hang in groups. That's because they're cowards. Notice most bullies have parents who defend them. That's because their parents are cowards too.

I hope this lady sues and get millions and millions of dollars, but most of all, I hope every single teacher, every staff person, every administrator in that school gets fired and never attains their position again. I hope every bully who participated gets their karma in plenty of time for the rest of us to hear about it – they are truly ugly people. And I hope every person who knew what was happening and did nothing receives like in return.

I am so sorry for the pain this child endured and the pain this family will always live with. As the parent of a child that was bullied, I can tell you that the bullies tend to be the popular kids. As such, administrators and teachers tend to look the other way. I was accused of being an overly involved parent and that I should let my son try to figure it out on his own.

I live in Springfield, MA and this death has affected us all in so many ways. What is even worse that what has been reported here is that the child being bullied was forced to have lunch with the bully as punishment to the bully!

My heart goes out to this mother and her family. My son was also bullied and it escalated to the point of physical harm. He was punched in the head so hard his ear drum ruptured. He retaliated and broke his hand defending himself. This was in a parochial school. We repeatedly contacted the school administration and while they listened, it obviously was never addressed properly. In the end, they tried to blame my son for this repeated abuse. Said he did not fit in. My only regret is that I did not voice my disgust more loudly. We were fortunate enough to have been able to take him out of that situation in school, but the scars remain. It is incredible to me that as adults we would not dream of tolerating constant harrassment – can you imagine going to work everyday and dealing with this kind of behavior. Why aren't our kids protected the same way adults are? My prayers are with every family who deals with this and to the kids – it does get better – it is not hopeless.

Bullying has been around since the beginning of time. The only difference now is that our children have invented new ways of bullying without leaving outward scars. I remember this one commercial that played for some time stating the only way to know what a child is doing is to constantly ask those additional questions, open communication with the school / teachers open and not blaming others for your child's shortcomings, (discpline, grades, attitude,character, etc.). As someone earlier stated, there may have been other issues but we must realize every person is an individual and may not be as strong as others which goes to say that there may not have been other issues either.
At 11 years of age, a CHILD is not expected to exude the maturity and strength of an adult or older adolescent in handling bad behavior / attitudes , threats of bodily harm from others and lack of adult intervention when an issue is brought to their attention.
My prayers go out to Ms Walker and I hope that through Carl's tradegy, this epidemic will be brought to the forefront that it does take a COMMUNITY to raise a child in order for our children to become caring adults as our parents and extended parents raised us.
We can be MAD and SADDEN at the same time from this unnecessary tradegy; take that energy from being MAD and turn it into something POSITIVE...SPEAK OUT and LET OUR VOICES BE HEARD

The schools don't care. They pay "lip service" to the idea of stopping bullying. but they do not seriously care. They (and by "they" I mean the unions, politicians and business people that run and make money off of the school system) do seriously care about teacher/employee retirement packages, teacher/employee healthcare, new building construction, etc.. There are some teachers who sincerely care about the well being of their students, but they are fighting a losing battle with the system. If a child has enough problems they end up sent to another institution/organization that can make even more money off of them providing rehabilitation (see recent Pennsylvania case of two corrupt Judges sending juveniles to private lock-up facilities for kickbacks). The school voucher program is the only way to force the schools into accountability by giving regular students and parents a choice, and that is why the uniouns and politicians fight so hard against school vouchers.

I remember receiving a call from a parent of a child my son was teasing on the school bus. I was very surprised that my "no problem" son was a problem. I told the parent I would take care of it and if continued to be a problem please call me again. I made it clear to my son that his behavior would NOT be tolerated by ME. And not to try to intimidate the kid he was teasing because I had other ways of finding out what was going on. It HAD TO STOP NOW. I did follow up and monitored my son to make sure it stopped. I did not assume, I made sure. Parents need take responsilbility for how they raise their children. We aren't the only influences in their lives but we are the best control over their behavior.

I keep going back to his beautiful picture. What a shame. What a loss to mankind..after reading what his mom said about him..church, Boy Scouts, football..what a wonderful young man he was. One can not but imagine what he could have offered this world. In her pain..may his mom know that she did good by him. Shame on the parents who are raising those bullies. I wonder what their kids do with their free time? I hope that word gets out what their names are..I'm talking about all responsible..the parents, the bullies and the school officials that the mom kept asking for help..so that when people look at them they can tell them to their face "Shame on you!".
Young Carl...may you rest in peace. You are in a better place! God is holding you in his arms.

Bullying is about power. It's about finding a perceived weakness and berating the person for it until he or she breaks down. It's a form of abuse. Any school that allows it should have serious consequences from their districts, the state, the feds, and most importantly, the courts. Since lawsuits seem to be the only thing some administrators and others in this world understand, sue. Press charges against the kid doing the bullying. Sue his or her parents, too. Sue the school and the employees who did nothing about it. And maybe if districts and people lose enough financially, they will stop the insanity.

We have a serious problem in our nation of being cruel and oftentimes downright inhumane to those who aren't like us. My baby cousin blew his brains out at 19 because he was gay and could not accept it. Society and his faith made it wrong to be who God made him. It's sad. My older cousin is also gay. I knew it growing up. We all did. None of us tried to stop the damage from teasing at school, from verbal assaults at home, from society in general because he was different. Even now, he is HIV+, having some pretty serious complications, and his own mother and our other relatives still refuse to accept who he is. I finally made amends to him. I lost out on him for all those years. Funny thing is he loved me in spite of me even when I was such an ass to him. Hatred in the name of God or superiority or just plain stupidity makes no sense to me anymore. Neither does what happened to this boy in your story.

please folks stop it!!!!!!!! the best way to stop bullies is to kick some butt !!! stand up for yourself. it worked for me and many others. it was a turning point in my life. and never again did i get pushed around. yes i feel for the mother. but where's the dad. to many woman are being forced to raise boys without a dad. and whats happening is boys are looking at life thru the eyes of a female and not a man. if that was my son (and so what if the boy is gay) teach him to defend himself.

I'm of 2 minds on this (and many other) subjects. While this is a tragic story, I believe that our country has blurred the lines of responsibility. Teachers and Schools are here to educate our children on subjects such as History, Maths, Literature, etc, not to teach morality of any kind.

Morality, manners, and common sense are the responsibility of parents/guardians and them alone. It is my opinion that when your child is being bullied, you should contact that child's parents about their behavior AND you should talk to you child about how to handle being bullied. Let's face it, bullying IS a fact of life, whether as a child or an adult. If you don't learn how to correctly and effectively respond to bullying as a child, it will be much more difficult as an adult.

On the other hand, if his teachers knew about what was going on, especially if they had noted the obvious depression this child had, they do need to communicate that to the parents of ALL of the involved children. A hostile environment is not conducive to learning.

Parents...take the necessary time to engage and communicate EVERY DAY with your kids. Heaven forbid we share a meal or two with them and just talk. Ask them how their day was or what they have planned. Ask them who they play with on the playground. You will learn a TON about their lives and what's important to them. You will learn about the social fabric of their world. They will be excited and strengthened to know you care about THEIR lives. This will build a strong bond for now and the future.

What does this have to do with bullying...everything. By communicating you will know what's going on in their lives, then you'll know what to do. Your kids will not feel alone in the world. In fact, they will be more confident knowing that you "have their back."

If you kid is being bullied, don't hesitate to contact teachers, principals, school administraters, parents of bullies, other parents, law enforcement. It's that simple. Your kid's health is paramount to anything else you have going on. Don't be proud!

I can't stop crying about this poor, sweet, young man. When will we realize that fear and homophobia create these terrible tragedies? Why are we so slow to embrace our differences and teach our children to respect and love one another? It seems so simple. This little boy, gay or not, should never, ever have been treated with such little respect and humanity- no child should ever be treated this way. Children are not born racist or homophobic or intolerant- adults teach it. We all need to take a good look at ourselves and make sure we are doing everything we can to treat our friends, neighbors, loved ones, and strangers with dignity and kindness.

Bullying is a big problem in today's society and schools- I think that bullying has always been around- but it is worse today and far more cruel than in the 60's and 70's- Teachers need to be aware and spend time creating a community in their classrooms and a climate of acceptance of differences- and also the idea that bullying will not be tolerated. I think teachers also need to have more training and a better understanding in this area- they are called upon to do so much these days and really never get instruction or training in this area. It is all well and good to say that parents need to teach kids to be tough- but you can't really change the personality/sensitivity level of certain children- and we cannot assume that all parents will take on this responsibility when we cannot even get some parents to make sure that their child does their homework. Schools need to make this part of the professional development of their teachers so that teachers can recognize it and do things in their classroom to create a community that is accepting of differences and stands up for the rights of others.

Coming from a teachers aspect, I think it would be horrible to lose a student, I don't even want to think if I lost a child. I agree the typical bully now is not the huge student, it is often the popular child. These students are not physical with their peers, but they are more emotional abuser. These bullies are the hardest to pick out b/c they often do everything behind your back or when you are out of the room.

This is why it is so important to tell your students/ children if they see another students getting bullied or if they themselves are being bullied that it's okay to tell someone. They are not tattling on kids. The best solution is prevention and intervention.

Keep your eyes open. The bully is most often the unlikely child/ student.

I didn't read all of the comments and this may have been stated, but let's not put all of the blame on the schools. They have enough to deal with trying to teach the bullies. Let's start at the beginning. Mama and Daddy. What a child learns at home is what he/she acts out in public. The parents may have been bullies or there could be domestic violence in the homes of these bullies. If all they have been taught at home that bullying is the only way to get what you want, that's what they are inclined to do.

Im 13 and i think it is just wrong for kids to that to someone. When i was younger i used to get bullied, and i had to put up with it. But when the school system dosnt do anything and it goes that far, something is wrong with all the ADULTS working there. I hate bullying and what he thought he had to do went that far I think that the teachers should ask each and everyone of those students if they ever bullied him or anyone. and focus on the kids that are easy to profile. I feel extremly bad for what the mother must be going through and i give you the best of wishes. And make sure that school knows what to do after you win that case.

Im 13 and i think it is just wrong for kids to that to someone. When i was younger i used to get bullied, and i had to put up with it. But when the school system dosnt do anything and it goes that far, something is wrong with all the ADULTS working there. I hate bullying and what he thought he had to do went that far I think that the teachers should ask each and everyone of those students if they ever bullied him or anyone. and focus on the kids that are easy to profile. I feel extremly bad for what the mother must be going through and i give you the best of wishes. And make sure that school knows what to do after you win that case.

I'm sorry, I don;t mean to seem insensitive, but I was bullied almost my whole life. Up to the age of 18 at least was the worst part of it. Has it gotten so bad that our kids can't handle losing, can't handle bad news without grief counseling, and now can't handle bullies. What have we gotten to. We have turned so soft it's embarassing.

It is everyone's responsibility to ensure the safety of our children, if my child was to be hurt by another and I was not able to help but somebody else could in my place I would be very grateful and thankful and would immediately do something about the situation. We must always protect children even if not our own. Everybody and anybody who know's of somebody being harmed and turned there cheek the other way shame on you all!!

Actually Marty , you can preach and preach to your children all day at home. But when they are at school they are on their own. they make their own decisions when the parents are away. now yes you are suppsed to teach children right from wrong, at the same time the school system and the parents should be a partnership. If the school does not take actions such as informng parents when their child is being bullied or bullying some one else than its impossible to correct the problem. We are dealing with children here. We were all children once upon a time and I know I didnt always listen to my parents. so you have to remeber children have not changed times have. The school should have informed the parents of the bullies of their behavior, so they could've been given a chance to handle it before it came to this.

No, the son make that decision to kill himself...He had other options then to commit suicide...The school could have done thing different and also the mother...Did she talk to her son about suicide? Did she see signs of depression in her son? If yes, did she seek medical help? I understand the mother is hurting right now and want someone to blame but suing the school is not the answer. The child could be held for any abuse but not for the her son suicide...Again, he make that decision to commit that act...If the son had enough self love, no matter what ANYONE saying about him suicide would never to an option...

My cousins and I grew up in a small town in southern Vermont and being french canadian we were teased and tormented by certain kids in school. While walking home after school we had rocks thrown at us and we were spit on and called names. I used to wonder why since we didn't look any different than the other kids, we all spoke english and dressed the same etc. One day I walked into the school and some boys were dangling a snake around the head of my oldest cousin and they were spitting in her hair. She was sitting in her desk with her head down in her arms and not fighting them off. She was outnumbered and it would have done no good for her to try. Thankfully my presense was enough to make them stop. Anyway... that was years ago, and we all survived. The lessons though, have lasted a lifetime. It taught me not to judge others because they were different, whether they had different beliefs or different skin color etc. I taught my daughters the same lessons and I never heard a disparging remark from either one of them because of someone's different beliefs or color etc. I feel so sorry for kids in this situation, mostly because I can relate to their sorrow. When I see the kids I grew up with as adults they are no better than me and have done nothing really grand with their lives I still wonder about why people treat others with so little respect. I know the teasing is done out of view of others so even with the authorities making laws or "talking" to the tormenters I just don't think it would help. It begins long before that and if it hasn't been delt with I am not sure what can be done. You can't escort everyone all the time. If my child were being bullied I wouldn't leave them alone from the time they leave my door till they go through the school doors. And I would be there to pick the up after school as well. And there is also the option of home schooling. If you can live through it all you will be able see that these bullies are the ones with the problems and are no better than you.

All the blame, can not fall on the school's shoulders. I agree with alot of others who are saying that parents, need to be held responsible for their children's actions. I thinl alot of the blame lies with them. If their child is acting out, or bullying someone, then they need to take steps to help stop this. If not, then they should be taken to court, and charged with whatever wrong their child is doing. And, why is it necessary, no matter what the blog is about, for some to bring one of The Obamas into the mix? This has nothing to do what so ever with them.

Firstly, my heart goes out to the Walker family – no one should have to live to see their child die.

To the issue of bullying – it is normal that in every group of kids, there are one or two bullies. However, we need to take the attention off the children and look at soceity as a whole. When you have parents that cannot discipline their kids at home, and schools that cannot discipline kids that act out of order, you inevitably end up with kids that think they can get away with anything.

I grew up in an African country. In my country, we have a saying, "it takes a village to raise a child". This means every adult has a role to play in rearing a child. From the biological parents to the teacher – these adult figures must exercise their right to steer a child’s life in the correct direction, and this includes being able to discipline the kids in a school setting. I was cained daily for the several offenses i committed and no, i did not grow up to be an angry kid, nor did any of my friends. American society has taken away to right of adults to aid in the upbringing of the communities children by revoking their right to discipline these unruly kids!!!!!!!!!

I find it interesting that 95% of these posts blame the school system, administers, and teachers. None of us know every detail about the situation and as much as some would like to believe that the kids being harassed in some of these types of situations are innocent there are always TWO sides to the story, we are only hearing one.

Put yourself in the shoes of anyone in the school system for a split second and you might get another view...you get paid in most states a very minimal salary at best and then are (according to some of you) supposedly responsible for being a mom, dad, friend, mentor, disciplinary figure, nurse, counselor, and of course teacher (since that is what you are being paid to do by the way). Don't think that you can just drop your kids off at school and then do nothing but talk on your cell phone in the car on the way home from school, try talking to your kids first...you'll learn a lot!

Yes I would agree that a teacher or administrator should be of assistance and have training for cases such as this and always try to do what is right but when a typical public school has thousands of students taking classes not only in the building but on the school grounds in make shift classrooms, we can't then expect our teaches to see, understand, and follow through on everything that goes on in those rooms and hallways. The minute the teacher suggests that someone is bullying and harrassing others and is wrong there will be another lawsuit and will be said to be "picking on the poor kid".

What happened to that young boy is terrible and there are many people to blame. But thinking sueing the system and possibly ruining the life of a teacher/administrator is going to make it right is very wrong, the money they "win" is then not in the very place that this whole situation started...the school....less training, less help, and less caring.

It is always easier to blame others to make yourself feel better but at the end of the day it doesn't change the outcome of this situation. We can only look towards the future, strive for change, and be involved parents.

God Bless the boys family and the school system, I'm sure they are all mourning the loss and looking for ways to prevent it from happening again....but it will, and by choice or not we all allow it to happen.

No matter where we leave our children, school, babysitter, daycare, etc. We expect the elders to watch over them. To, "deal-with" whatever that child may need. If, the school neglectes to pay attention, they lack much more than communication. To allow any one to bully someone this much is, unacceptable!!!!! The staff needs more training in self-confidence. They can stop this from occuring. Maybe there should be guard's placed in every schools hall-way.

@Tracey E. I think your next step would be to file charges against the parents of the bully if the school has done all they can. Take the parents to court and let the judge decide the fate of the kid and his parents if they can't control him. Also, I have to say to fellow parents at wits end, you don't have to take your children out of school because of the bully's. I was told this by my son's guidance counselor who helped in apprehending my son's bully. He said if your child is the victim they have every right to stay in school or on the bus. It is the bully who must leave, be taken out and be void of the benefits of an education and getting to ride on the bus. The bully's are to be punished for their actions. The victim is not the one who's suppose to leave or be punished or banned.

I am not a typical blogger, I might have even spelled blog wrong, but I want to applaud Kweku's insights and comments. Right on Kweku, we all need to pitch in. See a wrong, set a wrong.

I have taught children for over 30 years and each semester when the new year begins, I stand before my class and let them know the rules and the consequences of breaking them. I let them know that if they respect me, I will respect them. I also instill within them that it is wrong to disrespect their classmates, their friends and families. They are told that my door is always open to them for counseling and that what is said between me and them will never leave the room. But should someone taunt another child with the intent to hurt whether mentally or physically I will make it my mission to have them removed from the class, the school and inform the police department. There is a zero level of tolerance when it comes to any kind of abuse. Far too long, the schools have had their hands tied and it is time for the parents to mind their children. Where is your ten, eleven or twelve year old at 9:00 p.m. at night? Is he in his room getting ready for bed or is he out walking on the street because he thinks you are not his boss. Please people, raise your children and teach them it is wrong to taunt, fight, and yes, even kill. No matter how much they hate you for making them do the right thing, stick to your guns because one day what has happened to this eleven year old might come knocking on your door. Let's stop the hate and anger now!

Hi, Randi!

So sad story! Poor mother!
The pain of losing a son must be immeasurable, especially in such a situation.

Most schools deny that bullying happens in their classrooms. They say this is the age thing, which colleagues are only kidding; the students can't take seriously the joke in bad taste.

The big problem is that among the victims of bullying prevail the "law of silence" due to lack of support and understanding when they complain to the adults (at school or home), fear of retaliation from abusers; shame of being exposed to colleagues as incompetent and weak, fear the reactions of family members, etc..

See you later

It is indeed important to make sure that we are paying attention to children being bullied. But, we need to also make sure that we are paying attention to the bullies too. This statement is meant directly for parents of bullies.

There are a number of reason kids bully. Often, it's because they have a feeling of entitlement that was bestowed on them by their parents. RED FLAG!

Also, those bullies may be being bullied by an older child, sibling, parent, or a parent's "friend".

The other thing is for parent's to STOP being a child's friend. You are their parent and you need to explain to them that you are there to help them through any issue. With my mother, I knew she would spank me any time I did something wrong but even more important, I knew she would fight on my behalf any and all the time.

I feel nothing but sorrow. For the family of Carl, for the bullies that if they have any sense of humanity will feel some sense of guilt right now and who probably haven't been taught any better. But most of all, I have so many emotions and hurt for Carl.

To want to take your own life you have to hurt beyond anyone's ability to reasonably understand it. A hurt so bad that you have to take yourself outside of this world in order to go through with it. For this little boy at such a young age with so few memories to cause pain...I just have one question,

WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON WITH THE YOUTH TODAY?

There's bullying, sexting, internet bullying...etc. Come on and it just gets worse. And, the lack of support from the education institutions in this case and reduction of funds just makes this worse.

This hit me and I had to write something...thx for listening.

Randi, thank you for blogging on such an important topic and thanks to Jack Gray for tweeting the link. This broke my heart. That was a little baby. When will this discrimination end?