Showing posts with label Learning from a Tragedy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Learning from a Tragedy. Show all posts
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
A proposal for a South Hadley Coalition to Prevent Suicide
Board member's ouster demanded
Thursday, April 29, 2010
By FRED CONTRADA
SOUTH HADLEY - Turmoil from the April 14 School Committee meeting spilled over to Wednesday night's meeting as a member of the public demanded the ouster of committee member Edward J. Boisselle...
In a related matter, Selectman Robert G. Judge has suggested the establishment of a coalition to prevent suicide. Judge is the board's representative to the School Department's Anti-Bullying Task Force established shortly after Prince's death.
Judge said at Tuesday's Selectboard meeting that such a coalition was recommended by Riverside Community Care, of Needham, and the Behavioral Health Network of Western Massachusetts. Those two groups have been working with the schools and the task force to prevent further suicides.
Judge plans to attend a Massachusetts Department of Public Health conference on suicide prevention in May.
"Anti-bullying policy nearly completed for South Hadley High School" - Click HERE
Posted by abc40 WGGB-TV on April 27, 2010 at 07:45 PM
With 300 people showing up to the first meeting and nearly eight subgroups dealing with school policies, the official anti-bullying policy is nearly complete; Robert Judge, selectman and task force member, discusses the process.
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South Hadley Unveils Draft Of Anti-Bullying Policy
By WBUR NEWS & WIRE SERVICESPublished April 27, 2010 UPDATED 6:32 PM SHARE:
SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. — The South Hadley school administration has unveiled a draft of a new anti-bullying policy.
The draft made public was drawn up by a 31-person task force appointed in February after 15-year-old Phoebe Prince hanged herself following what prosecutors described as “relentless” bullying by fellow students.
The policy would require school staff to report any instances of possible bullying to school administrators.
The Springfield Republican reports that the draft defines bullying as severe or repeated use by other students of written, verbal or electronic communication, or a physical act or gesture. It must cause physical or emotional harm, create a hostile environment, infringe on the person’s rights or disrupt the educational process.
South Hadley Selectman Bob Judge says the task force chose not to require the notification of police, but the town will defer to the anti-bullying bill being finalized on Beacon Hill.
“If it does finally call for that in the final bill, then obviously our policy will be made consistent with that,” Judge said.
Judge says new rules could be in place by next fall, but that changing school culture may take longer.
“We’re trying to get at the behavior of people — young people and adults, frankly — which have been formed over a long period of time,” Judge said. “And it’s going to take a long period of time for people to change their behavior, too.”
Six students are facing charges in connection with Prince’s death.
The task force is scheduled to meet several more times before finalizing the policy.
With 300 people showing up to the first meeting and nearly eight subgroups dealing with school policies, the official anti-bullying policy is nearly complete; Robert Judge, selectman and task force member, discusses the process.
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South Hadley Unveils Draft Of Anti-Bullying Policy
By WBUR NEWS & WIRE SERVICESPublished April 27, 2010 UPDATED 6:32 PM SHARE:
SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. — The South Hadley school administration has unveiled a draft of a new anti-bullying policy.
The draft made public was drawn up by a 31-person task force appointed in February after 15-year-old Phoebe Prince hanged herself following what prosecutors described as “relentless” bullying by fellow students.
The policy would require school staff to report any instances of possible bullying to school administrators.
The Springfield Republican reports that the draft defines bullying as severe or repeated use by other students of written, verbal or electronic communication, or a physical act or gesture. It must cause physical or emotional harm, create a hostile environment, infringe on the person’s rights or disrupt the educational process.
South Hadley Selectman Bob Judge says the task force chose not to require the notification of police, but the town will defer to the anti-bullying bill being finalized on Beacon Hill.
“If it does finally call for that in the final bill, then obviously our policy will be made consistent with that,” Judge said.
Judge says new rules could be in place by next fall, but that changing school culture may take longer.
“We’re trying to get at the behavior of people — young people and adults, frankly — which have been formed over a long period of time,” Judge said. “And it’s going to take a long period of time for people to change their behavior, too.”
Six students are facing charges in connection with Prince’s death.
The task force is scheduled to meet several more times before finalizing the policy.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Task Force website
From: Daniel Brown <dbrown01075@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Mar 10, 2010 at 4:03 PM
Subject: task force website
To:
I have set up the following website to gather documents, links and resources relevant to the work of the anti-bullying task force:
shcitizenship.org
I would appreciate your help in letting your subgroups know about the site. If you have documents, links or suggestions for the site, please send them to me at this email address, or use on the comments feature on the site.
Thanks,
Dan Brown
Date: Wed, Mar 10, 2010 at 4:03 PM
Subject: task force website
To:
I have set up the following website to gather documents, links and resources relevant to the work of the anti-bullying task force:
shcitizenship.org
I would appreciate your help in letting your subgroups know about the site. If you have documents, links or suggestions for the site, please send them to me at this email address, or use on the comments feature on the site.
Thanks,
Dan Brown
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Boston Globe: Anger turns toward staff in bullying case
SOUTH HADLEY — Enraged by revelations that staff members at South Hadley High School knew that Phoebe Prince was the target of withering harassment long before her death, residents and public officials yesterday angrily accused the school system of neglecting vulnerable students and called on top administrators to resign.
“Now we find out they knew all along, and did nothing,’’ said Joe Marois, who runs a local construction company. “People are just bewildered they didn’t step in, and are wondering why they weren’t included with the students in the prosecution.’’
School officials, who had previously asserted they knew little about the bullying until after Prince’s death, said in a statement yesterday that they had removed an “additional small group of students’’ from school — the students were not identified — and upgraded the system for tracking bullying incidents. But officials said nothing to address questions about their role in handling the Prince case.
State Representative John W. Scibak, who represents South Hadley, slammed school officials for their silence, and said the public deserves a full accounting of why administrators didn’t act on the harassment reports.
“I’m looking for answers,’’ he said. “Families have a reasonable expectation that these kinds of complaints will be act ed on, and they are entitled to a full explanation of what transpired. People wanted answers two months ago.’’
The outrage stemmed from new details of a monthslong campaign of verbal abuse and physical threats that Prince endured before hanging herself Jan 14. Those details were released Monday by Northwestern District Attorney Elizabeth Scheibel. She announced charges against nine teenagers in connection with Prince’s death and excoriated school officials for failing to intercede, despite the fact the harassment was known to a number of faculty, staff, and administrators.
Scheibel also said that Prince’s mother had spoken with at least two school staff members about the bullying, which the superintendent of schools, Gus Sayer, had previously denied.
The discrepancy infuriated residents, who criticized school officials for turning a blind eye to Prince’s persecution, then claiming they hardly knew about it.
“They lied to the community,’’ said Darby O’Brien, whose stepdaughter is a senior at South Hadley High School. “They lied about how long it had gone on, and they lied that the mother had never come forward. If they had stepped in, this could have been prevented. But they failed miserably, and I don’t think you can trust them to protect the safety of the students.’’
In the school district’s statement yesterday, Christine Sweklo, assistant superintendent for the South Hadley Public Schools, said that administrators had launched a review of the district’s bullying policies and would begin entering reports of harassment — and the subsequent responses — into an electronic database.
Sayer, who aides said was out of town, the high school principal, and several School Committee members did not return phone calls yesterday.
Many residents exhorted school officials to answer Scheibel’s criticism directly and provide detailed explanations for their actions.
“We are practically begging for answers, and they have none,’’ said Erica Laughlin, a 39-year-old mother of four. “We are absolutely fit to be tied that none of the staff is being held accountable. This has apparently been an issue for a long time, and I still don’t see anyone taking responsibility.’’
Many noted that Sayer told a School Committee meeting in February that it was regrettable Prince’s family didn’t report several incidents to school officials in the weeks prior to her death.
He also told the Globe in January that Prince was primarily harassed online and through text-messages. Scheibel said the harassment was primarily carried on during the school day.
Prince hanged herself in the stairwell outside her family’s apartment shortly after arriving home from school on a day of what Scheibel described as tortuous abuse, some of it witnessed by a teacher who did not alert administrators until after her death.
The teenagers, who include three juveniles, face charges ranging from criminal harassment and civil rights violations to stalking and statutory rape. Relatives of the teenagers who have been charged could not be reached for comment or declined to comment.
Although the Prince issue was not discussed at last night’s Select Board meeting, several board members addressed the matter afterward.
“I guess I would look to the School Committee and the school administration to review the matter further,’’ said board chairman John R. Hine. “The [School] Committee is the authority for running the school department, so this is their area. I certainly hope they make every effort to investigate further that administrators knew what had been going on.’’
Town meeting members Michael Keane and his wife, Kathleen, said they were frustrated that the town officials were silent on the matter during the meeting.
“It’s very disappointing to see no one in our town has the guts to stand up and say anything,’’ said Michael Keane, who has lived in South Hadley since emigrating from Ireland in 1963. “I think the town is still soul-searching.’’
He said the lackluster response by school and town administrators is “embarrassing for the town and it’s embarrassing to us.’’
Select Board member Robert G. Judge declined to give his thoughts on the indictment of the students or on the accountability of school administrators. “I have no reason to second guess the DA. I just don’t know enough’’ about the situation, he said. “I know people are very interested in the indictments and if the school knew more, but I’m more interested in how to prevent this from happening again.’’
Several bullying specialists said the multiple harassment reports should have put staff members on high alert.
“Once it happens more than once, a red flag should go up,’’ said Elizabeth Englander, who directs the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center. “There has to be communication and standardized procedures so cases like this don’t fall through the cracks, and that’s what appears to have happened here.’’
Specialists said the school’s poor response is not unusual and highlights the need for mandated reporting laws and training on bullying prevention. But others said the severity of the harassment leveled at Prince, and the number of students involved, suggested a systemic, deep-rooted problem.
“If you have nine kids who are charged, it’s a culture,’’ said Elizabeth Stassinos, criminal justice professor at Westfield State College. “There’s . . . permission from everyone involved. This happened right in front of them.’’
Others said the accused teenagers’ parents deserve blame.
“It starts at home,’’ said Janna Darrow-Rioux, who has a son at the high school and has been involved in antibullying efforts. “I don’t blame the school. I think they did as much as they could during a very difficult situation. People often look for an established organization to blame rather than individuals.’’
At the Crack of Dawn restaurant, which was abuzz over a case that has thrust a small town into a harsh public limelight, people said the town is ill-at-ease with the growing scrutiny.
“This happens in other areas, not here,’’ said Shaun Moran, 44, who works at the restaurant. “They’re embarrassed by the whole situation.’’
For a town that had just begun to recover from the shock and grief of Prince’s death, the severity of the charges sent many residents reeling.
“Everyone was taken aback by this,’’ said Paul Beecher, the town administrator. “I don’t think anyone knew the extent of it. It has reopened, I suspect, wounds that started to heal.’’
“Now we find out they knew all along, and did nothing,’’ said Joe Marois, who runs a local construction company. “People are just bewildered they didn’t step in, and are wondering why they weren’t included with the students in the prosecution.’’
School officials, who had previously asserted they knew little about the bullying until after Prince’s death, said in a statement yesterday that they had removed an “additional small group of students’’ from school — the students were not identified — and upgraded the system for tracking bullying incidents. But officials said nothing to address questions about their role in handling the Prince case.
State Representative John W. Scibak, who represents South Hadley, slammed school officials for their silence, and said the public deserves a full accounting of why administrators didn’t act on the harassment reports.
“I’m looking for answers,’’ he said. “Families have a reasonable expectation that these kinds of complaints will be act ed on, and they are entitled to a full explanation of what transpired. People wanted answers two months ago.’’
The outrage stemmed from new details of a monthslong campaign of verbal abuse and physical threats that Prince endured before hanging herself Jan 14. Those details were released Monday by Northwestern District Attorney Elizabeth Scheibel. She announced charges against nine teenagers in connection with Prince’s death and excoriated school officials for failing to intercede, despite the fact the harassment was known to a number of faculty, staff, and administrators.
Scheibel also said that Prince’s mother had spoken with at least two school staff members about the bullying, which the superintendent of schools, Gus Sayer, had previously denied.
The discrepancy infuriated residents, who criticized school officials for turning a blind eye to Prince’s persecution, then claiming they hardly knew about it.
“They lied to the community,’’ said Darby O’Brien, whose stepdaughter is a senior at South Hadley High School. “They lied about how long it had gone on, and they lied that the mother had never come forward. If they had stepped in, this could have been prevented. But they failed miserably, and I don’t think you can trust them to protect the safety of the students.’’
In the school district’s statement yesterday, Christine Sweklo, assistant superintendent for the South Hadley Public Schools, said that administrators had launched a review of the district’s bullying policies and would begin entering reports of harassment — and the subsequent responses — into an electronic database.
Sayer, who aides said was out of town, the high school principal, and several School Committee members did not return phone calls yesterday.
Many residents exhorted school officials to answer Scheibel’s criticism directly and provide detailed explanations for their actions.
“We are practically begging for answers, and they have none,’’ said Erica Laughlin, a 39-year-old mother of four. “We are absolutely fit to be tied that none of the staff is being held accountable. This has apparently been an issue for a long time, and I still don’t see anyone taking responsibility.’’
Many noted that Sayer told a School Committee meeting in February that it was regrettable Prince’s family didn’t report several incidents to school officials in the weeks prior to her death.
He also told the Globe in January that Prince was primarily harassed online and through text-messages. Scheibel said the harassment was primarily carried on during the school day.
Prince hanged herself in the stairwell outside her family’s apartment shortly after arriving home from school on a day of what Scheibel described as tortuous abuse, some of it witnessed by a teacher who did not alert administrators until after her death.
The teenagers, who include three juveniles, face charges ranging from criminal harassment and civil rights violations to stalking and statutory rape. Relatives of the teenagers who have been charged could not be reached for comment or declined to comment.
Although the Prince issue was not discussed at last night’s Select Board meeting, several board members addressed the matter afterward.
“I guess I would look to the School Committee and the school administration to review the matter further,’’ said board chairman John R. Hine. “The [School] Committee is the authority for running the school department, so this is their area. I certainly hope they make every effort to investigate further that administrators knew what had been going on.’’
Town meeting members Michael Keane and his wife, Kathleen, said they were frustrated that the town officials were silent on the matter during the meeting.
“It’s very disappointing to see no one in our town has the guts to stand up and say anything,’’ said Michael Keane, who has lived in South Hadley since emigrating from Ireland in 1963. “I think the town is still soul-searching.’’
He said the lackluster response by school and town administrators is “embarrassing for the town and it’s embarrassing to us.’’
Select Board member Robert G. Judge declined to give his thoughts on the indictment of the students or on the accountability of school administrators. “I have no reason to second guess the DA. I just don’t know enough’’ about the situation, he said. “I know people are very interested in the indictments and if the school knew more, but I’m more interested in how to prevent this from happening again.’’
Several bullying specialists said the multiple harassment reports should have put staff members on high alert.
“Once it happens more than once, a red flag should go up,’’ said Elizabeth Englander, who directs the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center. “There has to be communication and standardized procedures so cases like this don’t fall through the cracks, and that’s what appears to have happened here.’’
Specialists said the school’s poor response is not unusual and highlights the need for mandated reporting laws and training on bullying prevention. But others said the severity of the harassment leveled at Prince, and the number of students involved, suggested a systemic, deep-rooted problem.
“If you have nine kids who are charged, it’s a culture,’’ said Elizabeth Stassinos, criminal justice professor at Westfield State College. “There’s . . . permission from everyone involved. This happened right in front of them.’’
Others said the accused teenagers’ parents deserve blame.
“It starts at home,’’ said Janna Darrow-Rioux, who has a son at the high school and has been involved in antibullying efforts. “I don’t blame the school. I think they did as much as they could during a very difficult situation. People often look for an established organization to blame rather than individuals.’’
At the Crack of Dawn restaurant, which was abuzz over a case that has thrust a small town into a harsh public limelight, people said the town is ill-at-ease with the growing scrutiny.
“This happens in other areas, not here,’’ said Shaun Moran, 44, who works at the restaurant. “They’re embarrassed by the whole situation.’’
For a town that had just begun to recover from the shock and grief of Prince’s death, the severity of the charges sent many residents reeling.
“Everyone was taken aback by this,’’ said Paul Beecher, the town administrator. “I don’t think anyone knew the extent of it. It has reopened, I suspect, wounds that started to heal.’’
Monday, March 29, 2010
9 Charged With Bullying Mass. Teen Who Killed Self
9 Charged With Bullying Mass. Teen Who Killed Self
STEPHANIE REITZ, Associated Press Writer
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (AP) ― Insults and threats followed 15-year-old Phoebe Prince almost from her first day at South Hadley High School, targeting the Irish immigrant in the halls, library and in vicious cell phone text messages.
Phoebe, ostracized for having a brief relationship with a popular boy, reached her breaking point and hanged herself after one particularly hellish day in January — a day that, according to officials, included being hounded with slurs and pelted with a beverage container as she walked home from school.
Now, nine teenagers face charges in what a prosecutor called "unrelenting" bullying, including two teen boys charged with statutory rape and a clique of girls charged with stalking, criminal harassment and violating Phoebe's civil rights.
School officials won't be charged, even though authorities say they knew about the bullying and that Phoebe's mother brought her concerns to at least two of them.
Northwestern District Attorney Elizabeth Scheibel, who announced the charges Monday, said the events before Phoebe's death on Jan. 14 were "the culmination of a nearly three-month campaign of verbally assaultive behavior and threats of physical harm" widely known among the student body.
"The investigation revealed relentless activity directed toward Phoebe, designed to humiliate her and to make it impossible for her to remain at school," Scheibel said. "The bullying, for her, became intolerable."
Scheibel said the case is still under investigation and that one other person could be charged. It wasn't immediately known Monday whether the teens who have been charged have attorneys.
Scheibel said the harassment began in September, occurring primarily in school and in person, although some of it surfaced on Facebook and in other electronic forms. At least four students and two faculty members intervened to try to stop it or report it to administrators, she said.
Schiebel refused to discuss the circumstances of the rape charges.
No school officials are being charged because they had "a lack of understanding of harassment associated with teen dating relationships," and the school's code of conduct was interpreted and enforced in an "inconsistent" way, Scheibel said.
"Nevertheless, the actions — or inactions — of some adults at the school are troublesome," she said.
A message seeking comment was left Monday for South Hadley Schools Superintendent Gus A. Sayer.
Phoebe was born in Bedford, England and moved to County Clare, Ireland, when she was 2. She moved last summer to South Hadley, home to Mount Holyoke College, because the family had relatives there.
Her family has since moved away and could not immediately be located for comment. Scheibel spoke for them at a news conference to announce the charges.
"The Prince family has asked that the public refrain from vigilantism in favor of allowing the judicial system an opportunity to provide a measure of justice for Phoebe," she said.
Some students accused of participating in the bullying have been disciplined by the school and will not be returning to classes.
The Massachusetts Legislature cited Prince's death and the apparent suicide of 11-year-old Carl Walker-Hoover of Springfield last year when members passed anti-bullying legislation earlier this month.
South Hadley is among several college towns in western Massachusetts that pride themselves on their urbane cultural offerings, good schools and safe streets. After Phoebe's death, the community formed an anti-bullying task force that drew more than 400 people to its first meeting in February.
Robert Judge, a South Hadley selectman and task force member, said hundreds of people have become involved in hope that something good comes from the incident.
"Like most towns, we like to think of ourselves as a good place to live, and then this happens and your reputation is sullied nationally and even internationally, and people look at you differently, and they make assumptions," Judge said.
Scheibel said the teens will be issued summonses to appear in court on yet-undetermined dates. The teens who face criminal charges under the indictments announced Monday are:
— Sean Mulveyhill, 17, of South Hadley. Charged with statutory rape, violation of civil rights resulting in bodily injury, criminal harassment and disturbance of a school assembly. A woman who answered the phone at his home Monday would not identify herself and told The Associated Press, "You don't know the full story."
— Kayla Narey, 17, of South Hadley. Charged with violation of civil rights resulting in bodily injury, criminal harassment and disturbance of a school assembly. A message left at a number listed to a Narey family was not immediately returned; another line was out of service.
— Austin Renaud, 18, of Springfield. Charged with statutory rape. A telephone number could not immediately be found.
— Ashley Longe, 16, of South Hadley. Charged as a youthful offender with violation of civil rights resulting in bodily injury. A telephone number could not immediately be found.
— Sharon Chanon Velazquez, 16, of South Hadley. Charged as a youthful offender with stalking and violation of civil rights resulting in bodily injury. There was no telephone listing.
— Flannery Mullins, 16, of South Hadley. Charged as a youthful offender with stalking and violation of civil rights resulting in bodily injury. A message left at a Mullins home was not immediately returned.
Three 16-year-old South Hadley girls, whose names were not released, face delinquency charges that include the civil rights offense, criminal harassment and disturbance of a school assembly.
__
AP writer Denise Lavoie and Mark Pratt in Boston contributed to this report.
STEPHANIE REITZ, Associated Press Writer
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (AP) ― Insults and threats followed 15-year-old Phoebe Prince almost from her first day at South Hadley High School, targeting the Irish immigrant in the halls, library and in vicious cell phone text messages.
Phoebe, ostracized for having a brief relationship with a popular boy, reached her breaking point and hanged herself after one particularly hellish day in January — a day that, according to officials, included being hounded with slurs and pelted with a beverage container as she walked home from school.
Now, nine teenagers face charges in what a prosecutor called "unrelenting" bullying, including two teen boys charged with statutory rape and a clique of girls charged with stalking, criminal harassment and violating Phoebe's civil rights.
School officials won't be charged, even though authorities say they knew about the bullying and that Phoebe's mother brought her concerns to at least two of them.
Northwestern District Attorney Elizabeth Scheibel, who announced the charges Monday, said the events before Phoebe's death on Jan. 14 were "the culmination of a nearly three-month campaign of verbally assaultive behavior and threats of physical harm" widely known among the student body.
"The investigation revealed relentless activity directed toward Phoebe, designed to humiliate her and to make it impossible for her to remain at school," Scheibel said. "The bullying, for her, became intolerable."
Scheibel said the case is still under investigation and that one other person could be charged. It wasn't immediately known Monday whether the teens who have been charged have attorneys.
Scheibel said the harassment began in September, occurring primarily in school and in person, although some of it surfaced on Facebook and in other electronic forms. At least four students and two faculty members intervened to try to stop it or report it to administrators, she said.
Schiebel refused to discuss the circumstances of the rape charges.
No school officials are being charged because they had "a lack of understanding of harassment associated with teen dating relationships," and the school's code of conduct was interpreted and enforced in an "inconsistent" way, Scheibel said.
"Nevertheless, the actions — or inactions — of some adults at the school are troublesome," she said.
A message seeking comment was left Monday for South Hadley Schools Superintendent Gus A. Sayer.
Phoebe was born in Bedford, England and moved to County Clare, Ireland, when she was 2. She moved last summer to South Hadley, home to Mount Holyoke College, because the family had relatives there.
Her family has since moved away and could not immediately be located for comment. Scheibel spoke for them at a news conference to announce the charges.
"The Prince family has asked that the public refrain from vigilantism in favor of allowing the judicial system an opportunity to provide a measure of justice for Phoebe," she said.
Some students accused of participating in the bullying have been disciplined by the school and will not be returning to classes.
The Massachusetts Legislature cited Prince's death and the apparent suicide of 11-year-old Carl Walker-Hoover of Springfield last year when members passed anti-bullying legislation earlier this month.
South Hadley is among several college towns in western Massachusetts that pride themselves on their urbane cultural offerings, good schools and safe streets. After Phoebe's death, the community formed an anti-bullying task force that drew more than 400 people to its first meeting in February.
Robert Judge, a South Hadley selectman and task force member, said hundreds of people have become involved in hope that something good comes from the incident.
"Like most towns, we like to think of ourselves as a good place to live, and then this happens and your reputation is sullied nationally and even internationally, and people look at you differently, and they make assumptions," Judge said.
Scheibel said the teens will be issued summonses to appear in court on yet-undetermined dates. The teens who face criminal charges under the indictments announced Monday are:
— Sean Mulveyhill, 17, of South Hadley. Charged with statutory rape, violation of civil rights resulting in bodily injury, criminal harassment and disturbance of a school assembly. A woman who answered the phone at his home Monday would not identify herself and told The Associated Press, "You don't know the full story."
— Kayla Narey, 17, of South Hadley. Charged with violation of civil rights resulting in bodily injury, criminal harassment and disturbance of a school assembly. A message left at a number listed to a Narey family was not immediately returned; another line was out of service.
— Austin Renaud, 18, of Springfield. Charged with statutory rape. A telephone number could not immediately be found.
— Ashley Longe, 16, of South Hadley. Charged as a youthful offender with violation of civil rights resulting in bodily injury. A telephone number could not immediately be found.
— Sharon Chanon Velazquez, 16, of South Hadley. Charged as a youthful offender with stalking and violation of civil rights resulting in bodily injury. There was no telephone listing.
— Flannery Mullins, 16, of South Hadley. Charged as a youthful offender with stalking and violation of civil rights resulting in bodily injury. A message left at a Mullins home was not immediately returned.
Three 16-year-old South Hadley girls, whose names were not released, face delinquency charges that include the civil rights offense, criminal harassment and disturbance of a school assembly.
__
AP writer Denise Lavoie and Mark Pratt in Boston contributed to this report.
Significant announcement in Phoebe Prince case
Boston Herald
Significant’ announcement in Phoebe Prince case
Town on edge as DA set to speak today
By Edward Mason & Jessica Van Sack
Monday, March 29, 2010
The emotionally shaken small town of South Hadley is anxiously hoping for justice for Phoebe Prince today, as the district attorney is expected to reveal the results of her criminal investigation nearly 11 weeks after the young Irish girl allegedly hanged herself in response to merciless bullying.
“There needs to be some punishment for those kids (who bullied Prince). They need to be held accountable,” said Jeannine O’Brien, a South Hadley mom. “If nothing is done, nothing will change.”
Prince, 15, was reportedly found hanged Jan. 14 after allegedly enduring weeks of torment from bullies on Facebook and in the halls of South Hadley High School.
This morning, Northwestern District Attorney Elizabeth D. Scheibel is expected to announce the results of her probe into the death of Prince, said Elizabeth Dunphy Farris, an assistant district attorney, raising expectations in a town on edge.
“Everybody in town has been focused on this,” said Robert G. Judge, a South Hadley selectman who is also on the town’s anti-bullying task force. “And everybody knows about the anxiety of parents of students and teachers in the schools. Frankly, the stress upon students themselves has been in some ways as great.”
Many hope Scheibel’s announcement today will get the town moving toward closure after dealing with the horrific tragedy that brought with it unwanted international scrutiny.
“Everybody is crying out for justice and resolution,” said Mitch Brouillard, a South Hadley parent.
Scheibel did not return calls for comment, but the languid pace of her probe - coupled with a secretive school investigation in which the bullies were never identified or their punishment disclosed - has stirred worries no one would be held accountable in the young girl’s death.
“I pray there’s justice for Phoebe Prince,” said Donna Tower of South Hadley. “But there’s a great deal of frustration among the people in South Hadley. A lot of people - including teenagers - think nothing is going to happen.”
Prince’s death has drawn the media spotlight on the scourge of bullying, and how targets are relentlessly pursued on the Internet. It also stirred Beacon Hill lawmakers to move on long-stalled anti-bullying legislation. An anti-bullying bill is close to reaching Gov. Deval Patrick’s desk.
Judge said he hopes something positive will come from Prince’s tragic death.
“I hope the community is looking at this tragedy as an opportunity from which we can learn and pull together more closely as a town,” he said. “I hope that will happen.”
---------------------------------------
Marie Szaniszlo contributed to this report.
Significant’ announcement in Phoebe Prince case
Town on edge as DA set to speak today
By Edward Mason & Jessica Van Sack
Monday, March 29, 2010
The emotionally shaken small town of South Hadley is anxiously hoping for justice for Phoebe Prince today, as the district attorney is expected to reveal the results of her criminal investigation nearly 11 weeks after the young Irish girl allegedly hanged herself in response to merciless bullying.
“There needs to be some punishment for those kids (who bullied Prince). They need to be held accountable,” said Jeannine O’Brien, a South Hadley mom. “If nothing is done, nothing will change.”
Prince, 15, was reportedly found hanged Jan. 14 after allegedly enduring weeks of torment from bullies on Facebook and in the halls of South Hadley High School.
This morning, Northwestern District Attorney Elizabeth D. Scheibel is expected to announce the results of her probe into the death of Prince, said Elizabeth Dunphy Farris, an assistant district attorney, raising expectations in a town on edge.
“Everybody in town has been focused on this,” said Robert G. Judge, a South Hadley selectman who is also on the town’s anti-bullying task force. “And everybody knows about the anxiety of parents of students and teachers in the schools. Frankly, the stress upon students themselves has been in some ways as great.”
Many hope Scheibel’s announcement today will get the town moving toward closure after dealing with the horrific tragedy that brought with it unwanted international scrutiny.
“Everybody is crying out for justice and resolution,” said Mitch Brouillard, a South Hadley parent.
Scheibel did not return calls for comment, but the languid pace of her probe - coupled with a secretive school investigation in which the bullies were never identified or their punishment disclosed - has stirred worries no one would be held accountable in the young girl’s death.
“I pray there’s justice for Phoebe Prince,” said Donna Tower of South Hadley. “But there’s a great deal of frustration among the people in South Hadley. A lot of people - including teenagers - think nothing is going to happen.”
Prince’s death has drawn the media spotlight on the scourge of bullying, and how targets are relentlessly pursued on the Internet. It also stirred Beacon Hill lawmakers to move on long-stalled anti-bullying legislation. An anti-bullying bill is close to reaching Gov. Deval Patrick’s desk.
Judge said he hopes something positive will come from Prince’s tragic death.
“I hope the community is looking at this tragedy as an opportunity from which we can learn and pull together more closely as a town,” he said. “I hope that will happen.”
---------------------------------------
Marie Szaniszlo contributed to this report.
Friday, March 19, 2010
What Parents Need to Know about Child and Adolescent Depression- Community Workshop - March 22, 2010
From: S. Clark [mailto:sclark@shschools.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 2:05 PM
To: 'Amy Foley'; 'Amy Sullivan'; 'Becky Mazur'; 'Bill Evans'; 'Bob Judge'; 'Chris Glenn'; 'Chris Sweklo'; 'Cindy Boyle'; 'Dan and Carol Brown'; 'Dan Smith'; 'David Gallagher'; David Labrie; 'Eleanor Small'; 'Emily Pritchard'; 'Emma Mulvaney'; 'Erica Faginski-Stark'; 'Gus Sayer'; 'Janna Darrow-Roux'; 'Jennifer Mullins'; 'Jennifer Tucker'; 'Jill Flanders'; 'Kelly St. Clair'; 'Lorraine Liantonio'; 'Maria Torres'; 'Maureen Clark'; 'Mike Pettengill'; 'Nancy Farnsworth'; 'Pam Stevens'; 'Ryan Lemieux'
Subject: Community Workshop - March 22, 2010
Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 2:05 PM
To: 'Amy Foley'; 'Amy Sullivan'; 'Becky Mazur'; 'Bill Evans'; 'Bob Judge'; 'Chris Glenn'; 'Chris Sweklo'; 'Cindy Boyle'; 'Dan and Carol Brown'; 'Dan Smith'; 'David Gallagher'; David Labrie; 'Eleanor Small'; 'Emily Pritchard'; 'Emma Mulvaney'; 'Erica Faginski-Stark'; 'Gus Sayer'; 'Janna Darrow-Roux'; 'Jennifer Mullins'; 'Jennifer Tucker'; 'Jill Flanders'; 'Kelly St. Clair'; 'Lorraine Liantonio'; 'Maria Torres'; 'Maureen Clark'; 'Mike Pettengill'; 'Nancy Farnsworth'; 'Pam Stevens'; 'Ryan Lemieux'
Subject: Community Workshop - March 22, 2010
One of the outgrowths of the Anti-Bullying Task Force has been a new relationship with the Riverside Trauma Center around suicide prevention. The Center has agreed to provide a workshop for our community on Monday, March 22 at 6:30 PM in the High School Auditorium. The presenters will be Jim McCauley and Larry Berkowitz and the title of their workshop is, "What Parents Need to Know about Child and Adolescent Depression."
We thought that this would be an important event that members of our Task Force, as well as many parents, would want to hear. Accordingly, we would like to cancel the Steering Committee meeting scheduled for Monday night and instead invite members of the Steering Committee to attend this workshop, which is an important part of our work.
We will resume Steering Committee meetings on Monday, April 5. By that time some of the Task Force groups should be getting close to completing their reports. When we meet on April 5 we will talk about what we would like to include in the Steering Committee's summary report and, if they are available, also begin to discuss the Task Force group reports.
The next meeting of the eight Task Force groups will take place on Monday, March 29.
Dr. Gus A. Sayer
Superintendent of Schools
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
In Our Opinion: Leadership, not blame
In Our Opinion: Leadership, not blame
by Daily Hampshire Gazette
If only it were as easy as firing somebody to get rid of the scourge that is school bullying. Apparently the South Hadley parents who are organizing a protest at the school tonight - seeking signatures on a petition calling for the ouster of Superintendent Gus Sayer and South Hadley High School Principal Daniel Smith - think it is.
What we need here is clear thinking, not retribution, which got us into this situation.
Tonight's protest was planned to coincide with the first meeting of an anti-bullying task force at 6:30 p.m. at South Hadley High School. The group's charge is big: Map out a community response to the high school's bullying problem, as it came to light in connection with a young woman named Phoebe Prince.
Prince, 15, committed suicide in her home Jan. 14 after enduring weeks of bullying from students who by now no longer attend the school, according to school officials.
Ever since Prince's death, anger over the way the school department handled the situation has simmered, boiling over at times in public gatherings. Over the past month, in widely discussed online posts, people named and unnamed have slammed school officials for their handling of the case, both before and after Prince hung herself.
They take issue with the way the school has communicated with the public about the tragedy and its aftermath. They criticize the speed with which punishment has been handed down to the students identified as her bullies.
All these matters are fair game for heated discussions. But there are a couple things to consider. The question of an administrator's ouster is best left for the context of a performance evaluation. If they don't have parent feedback as part of that evaluation process already, schools should consider adding it. And on the question of punishment, schools need to be fair, and officials can't dispense punishment based on Facebook posts. That's as it should be.
On the wider issue of bullying at South Hadley High, if people are solely focused on laying blame, they may miss an opportunity. There could be scant time or energy left to come up with a creative plan to change a culture that allowed bullying to go on unchecked and unchallenged until a lost and hurting 15-year-old freshman felt she had no option but to end her life.
That tragic act is a wake-up call for everyone that something is very wrong, but not just in the office of the administrators. For that matter, why not ask all parents what they are doing to monitor their teenagers' postings on Facebook, or what is contained in the many text messages they send out.
The death of Phoebe Prince indicates that something went wrong from the classroom to the school committee board room to the high school hallways to the kitchen tables of South Hadley High School parents.
One South Hadley parent told a Gazette reporter that the unbridled anger towards administrators on Facebook stems from parents' frustrations that they "don't have any other voice."
Well, they do have a voice. They should go to the anti-bullying task force meeting tonight.
But if they're going to talk, they should also listen. A first step would be for people to stop attacking each other.
Another is to stop being defensive. They also will need to keep in mind that finding a solution to a public menace like bullying - a phenomenon which everyone agrees has been around forever - is not going to be easy.
Another is to stop being defensive. They also will need to keep in mind that finding a solution to a public menace like bullying - a phenomenon which everyone agrees has been around forever - is not going to be easy.
It is certainly not as simple as firing someone or accepting a forced letter of resignation. That is not only unrealistic, it lets people walk away from the table before achieving long-lasting change. That change depends on a grassroots effort involving youth, parents, teachers, assistants, secretaries, librarians, janitors and administrators. In other words, everybody.
Maybe, as critics have said, tonight's task force meeting hasn't been well organized. But it's a starting point. It will be a tragedy if people remain outside drumming up ill will rather than going inside to roll up their sleeves in an effort to seek solutions to an entrenched, problem.
That would mean Phoebe Prince died in vain, only compounding the tragedy of her death.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
South Hadley Selectboard Looks to Form Youth Commission
South Hadley Selectboard Looks to Form Youth Commission
SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (WGGB) -- In the wake of a South Hadley High School student taking her own life after allegedly being bullied, the Board of Selectmen discussed Tuesday the formation of a Youth Commission to tackle the issue of bullying in the schools.http://www.wggb.com/global/story.asp?s=11997090
Find more items like this at http://www.wggb.com
Copyright 2010 WGGB
Students suspended over bullying
Students suspended over bullying
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
By SANDRA E. CONSTANTINE
sconstantine@repub.com
SOUTH HADLEY - School Superintendent Gus A. Sayer confirmed Tuesday that there have been some suspensions of high school students in the Phoebe Prince matter and that some of the students will face expulsion hearings.
Sayer declined to say how many students have been suspended, but said those actions were taken after Prince's Jan. 14 death.
High School principal Daniel T. Smith determines if a student should be expelled following a hearing. His decision can be appealed to Sayer, who can overturn Smith's determination.
Sayer's comments came the same day Selectboard members discussed creation of youth commission in the wake of the death of 15-year-old Prince following intense bullying. Prince is believed to have committed suicide in response to bullying at school as well as over social networking sites and through text messaging.
The Northwestern District Attorney's Office is investigating whether bullying precipitated the death of the ninth grade student at South Hadley High School.
Selectboard member Bruce S. MacCullagh suggested creation of the youth commission. The nine-member could include one high school aged person, he said.
"Right now we have a lot of people coming to us with suggestions about what needs to be done," he said.
The commission could deal with problems and challenges of young people in town, said Selectboard member Robert G. Judge.
Following Prince's death Smith launched his own investigation and Sayer said students who were found to have harassed the girl would face "the most serious consequences" including suspension, expulsion, and referral to police. Sayer said Tuesday discipline had been meted out before Phoebe's death also. "Students have been disciplined right along," he said.
He said two students were disciplined the week before Prince died, one of them for calling her a vulgar name during class. Sayer said school officials did not know about most of the harassment of Prince until after she died.
School officials said previously they would not identify students disciplined because that would be a civil rights violation. Such information is part of the student's personal, permanent record, officials said.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
By SANDRA E. CONSTANTINE
sconstantine@repub.com
SOUTH HADLEY - School Superintendent Gus A. Sayer confirmed Tuesday that there have been some suspensions of high school students in the Phoebe Prince matter and that some of the students will face expulsion hearings.
Sayer declined to say how many students have been suspended, but said those actions were taken after Prince's Jan. 14 death.
High School principal Daniel T. Smith determines if a student should be expelled following a hearing. His decision can be appealed to Sayer, who can overturn Smith's determination.
Sayer's comments came the same day Selectboard members discussed creation of youth commission in the wake of the death of 15-year-old Prince following intense bullying. Prince is believed to have committed suicide in response to bullying at school as well as over social networking sites and through text messaging.
The Northwestern District Attorney's Office is investigating whether bullying precipitated the death of the ninth grade student at South Hadley High School.
Selectboard member Bruce S. MacCullagh suggested creation of the youth commission. The nine-member could include one high school aged person, he said.
"Right now we have a lot of people coming to us with suggestions about what needs to be done," he said.
The commission could deal with problems and challenges of young people in town, said Selectboard member Robert G. Judge.
Following Prince's death Smith launched his own investigation and Sayer said students who were found to have harassed the girl would face "the most serious consequences" including suspension, expulsion, and referral to police. Sayer said Tuesday discipline had been meted out before Phoebe's death also. "Students have been disciplined right along," he said.
He said two students were disciplined the week before Prince died, one of them for calling her a vulgar name during class. Sayer said school officials did not know about most of the harassment of Prince until after she died.
School officials said previously they would not identify students disciplined because that would be a civil rights violation. Such information is part of the student's personal, permanent record, officials said.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Comments from Suzanne Cordes of South Hadley
From: Suzanne Cordes
Sent: Sunday, February 14, 2010 2:20 PM
To: Robert Judge
Sent: Sunday, February 14, 2010 2:20 PM
To: Robert Judge
Hi Bob,
...
I just want to say too that...it is important to talk about what IS going on with the process and to encourage people to look at solutions rather than perpetuate bullying behaviors. It's ironic that those who want the girls "outed" are more focused on doing that than finding a solution.
I'm all for building community and communication rather than remaining status quo which I'm sure people would like to do in South Hadley. Let time heal and all will be forgotten. I hope not. I hope South Hadley adopts a NO TOLERANCE for bullying and a consequence if someone does not adhere to policy. In addition, workshops, classes, speakers, building bridges, learning tolerance are all important to creating a safe atmosphere and a voice for our children.
"Punching Holes in the Darkness" - Click HERE
Posted by Bob Judge
February 12, 2010, 10:12PM
I attended this fine event tonight at the church. It was a relief to find clergy from several denominations there, as well as mental health professionals willing to be of assistance to any of those who wanted to talk.
Public officials must take a large role in solving the problems in our schools, and a couple of steps have already been taken. But we will need many others from all parts of the community, including the clergy, if we are to be successful in that effort. Tonight was a good start toward that end.
Public officials must take a large role in solving the problems in our schools, and a couple of steps have already been taken. But we will need many others from all parts of the community, including the clergy, if we are to be successful in that effort. Tonight was a good start toward that end.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Exchange with a South Hadley resident
Below are excerpts from an email exchange I had with a South Hadley resident:
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(RESIDENT):
I understand your public position as an elected official.
…But I am afraid youth commissions are a bit too little too late… I think proposed commissions may be a useful tool later on...but…you first have to rid the system of…problems…year after year…so ineffective…I am not sure that even our school committee is able to objectively evaluate the situation… l would think what we need is an independent outside commission, perhaps appointed by the courts and the State Education Department, with no horse in the race, to begin to find a solution. While I am always suspect of mob or scapegoat mentalities, having listened to these officials two weeks ago for the entire length of that meeting, I think any objective, independent voter would want…so that the next vulnerable student can have some substantial hope that things might change...
From: BobJudge [mailto:BobJudge@comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, February 12, 2010 2:27 PM
To:
Subject: RE: Our school superintendent and our high school principal
Sent: Friday, February 12, 2010 2:27 PM
To:
Subject: RE: Our school superintendent and our high school principal
Dear…:
As I am sure you know, because of our form of government, the Selectboard has no authority over the South Hadley schools. Just as the voters elect a Selectboard, the voters elect a School Committee. The School Committee would hire or fire a Superintendent.
…your comments…I recommend that you direct them to the Chairman of the School Committee…
At the risk of changing the subject somewhat, however, please let me suggest that you look at the story from the February 18 Gazette, at http://bobjudgeselectboard.blogspot.com/2010/02/youth-commission-proposed-for-south.html. I would be interested in your thoughts about a "Youth Commission," or any other aspect of our attempts to respond constructively to this tragedy.
Thanks for your message.
- Bob Judge
From: …
Sent: Friday, February 12, 2010 1:54 PM
To: Bob Judge
Subject: Our school superintendent and our high school principal
To: Bob Judge
Subject: Our school superintendent and our high school principal
(RESIDENT):
…She was corrected quite wisely by the expert from Colorado who insisted quite wisely that it is NEVER a matter of “she” said or of conflict, that 99.99% students do not lie about being bullied. I spent ten years of my life teaching…counseling and living with students as a resident tutor at… to know that students rarely lie on matters like this (and the very few who do are transparent to any one with a bit of insight). To have listened to parent after parent, student after student, recount the REPUTATION of the South Hadley schools for bullying is a tragic revelation to those of us who…Most of us naively assumed that our absurd real estate tax rate and evaluation system went towards supporting a first rate school system: only to hear that parents preferred to keep their kids in Holyoke, Chicopee, Westfield, or to send them to private or parochial schools, all to AVOID our school system.
…we should stop worrying about depriving these criminal bullies of their rights. This tragedy has gone far enough and demands immediate action on the part of our elected officials.
Friday, February 12, 2010
"South Hadley taking steps toward progress" - Click HERE
Bob Judge (BobJudge@comcast.net) has sent you an item from http://www.wggb.com/.
"South Hadley taking steps toward progress"
South Hadley taking steps toward progress
SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (WGGB) – South Hadley is getting a helping hand as it tries to battle back against the bullies.http://www.wggb.com/global/story.asp?s=11974568
Find more items like this at http://www.wggb.com/
Copyright 2010 WGGB
South Hadley taking steps toward progress
Posted: Feb 11, 2010 10:48 PM
 Video Gallery | |||
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| Members of the South Hadley School Committee address residents during their meeting Thursday. | |||
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| |||
By Elizabeth Corridan
SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (WGGB) – South Hadley is getting a helping hand as it tries to battle back against the bullies.
The state Department of Public Health sent a team of suicide prevention and mental health counselors to the embattled town's school committee meeting. Larry Berkowitz from the Riverside Trauma Center told committee members and residents in attendance.
"We don't consider ourselves experts, we feel like we've got experience. We've helped communities go on a journey they don't want to go on," said Berkowitz.
Berkowitz pledged to partner with the community to help identify resources and strategies to help the town heal and prevent another tragedy. His offer was welcomed by parents ready for change and action.
"It's really stressful to worry about the safety of your child," said Kelley St. Clair.
Before Thursday night's school committee meeting, St. Clair led a meeting of the Special Education Parents' Advisory Council. It was a chance for parents to brainstorm ideas in hopes of creating a safer, healthier learning environment for their children.
"There is a time and a place to express frustrations and tonight we just wanted to focus on solutions," said St. Clair.
The first meeting of the South Hadley's Bullying Task Force is Feb. 23.
SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (WGGB) – South Hadley is getting a helping hand as it tries to battle back against the bullies.
The state Department of Public Health sent a team of suicide prevention and mental health counselors to the embattled town's school committee meeting. Larry Berkowitz from the Riverside Trauma Center told committee members and residents in attendance.
"We don't consider ourselves experts, we feel like we've got experience. We've helped communities go on a journey they don't want to go on," said Berkowitz.
Berkowitz pledged to partner with the community to help identify resources and strategies to help the town heal and prevent another tragedy. His offer was welcomed by parents ready for change and action.
"It's really stressful to worry about the safety of your child," said Kelley St. Clair.
Before Thursday night's school committee meeting, St. Clair led a meeting of the Special Education Parents' Advisory Council. It was a chance for parents to brainstorm ideas in hopes of creating a safer, healthier learning environment for their children.
"There is a time and a place to express frustrations and tonight we just wanted to focus on solutions," said St. Clair.
The first meeting of the South Hadley's Bullying Task Force is Feb. 23.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Youth commission proposed for South Hadley, in wake of teen's death
Youth commission proposed for South Hadley, in wake of teen's death
Thursday, February 11, 2010 SOUTH HADLEY - Even a working meeting about routine business Tuesday could not escape the specter of youth bullying and suicide.Bruce MacCullagh, one the Selectboard's new members, said creation of a youth commission in town, as outlined in state law, could be discussed as a response to the request of several dozen residents. Those residents raised the issue when discussing bullying at the board's last meeting.
The community is struggling to come to terms with a 15-year-old South Hadley High School freshman's suicide last month. Authorities say the student, Phoebe Prince, had been bullied in person and through electronic media.
A youth commission could survey issues facing young people in town and make recommendations about actions that can be taken. "I would be surprised if they come back and say there's nothing we can do that we're not already doing," MacCullagh said.
The commission would consist of adults and high school-aged students and determine for itself what issues it would address, he said.
"This is a great idea," said Selectboard member Robert Judge. A youth commission would not interfere with the planned bullying task force being formed by the School Department, but work on a broader scale to address youth issues, he said.
Francis DeToma, the other new board member, said a youth commission would be an appropriate response to requests from parents for action. Judge said a call for volunteers should come jointly from the Selectboard and the School Committee, because residents want to see the boards working together to address the problem of bullying in town schools.
Marilyn Ishler, a Selectboard member, said the Recreation Commission should be involved if a commission is formed. She noted the town established a teen center several years ago, but it petered out.
MacCullagh agreed that recreation should be involved, but said sports are probably not an area in town that needs more attention. "If you're not in the arts and you're not in sports, then there's nothing for you to do in South Hadley until school starts," he said.
John Hine, the board chairman, asked Town Administrator Paul Beecher to make time available at next week's board meeting to more fully and openly discuss establishing a youth commission.
Prevention work
The Jan. 14 suicide has shifted the focus of many town boards on bullying and youth issues.
Tonight, members of the state Department of Public Health's Suicide Prevention Program will give a presentation to the School Committee. The presentation is a follow-up from a meeting held last week in the police station, attended by Judge.
Judge said the meeting included officials from the state Department of Mental Health and other mental health professionals, as well as school officials. "They told us we are not alone," Judge said. Five teenagers in five years have committed suicide in Needham, he said.
Ideas were exchanged and Jane Rathbun, director of guidance for the school, was asked about the mood of the school, Judge said. The school feels stressed and some students were being watched for signs they might harm themselves, she said, according to Judge.
The Selectboard has been invited to the meeting and should attend to support the School Committee and show its willingness to work together, he said.
"The School Committee is traumatized," said Judge. "Everybody who approaches the School Committee yells at them," he said.
"There have been trauma counselors in the high school for administrators," MacCullagh said.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
"In Our Opinion: The blame game"
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
In Our Opinion: The blame game
by Daily Hampshire Gazette
In Our Opinion: The blame game
by Daily Hampshire Gazette
Role models they are not. After a teen's suicide in South Hadley Jan. 14, some people picked up the same electronic tools that extend the reach of bullies to rail anonymously against girls they believe responsible for hounding Phoebe Prince to death.
Thanks to the Internet and social media like Facebook, bullies can now invade a victim's world around the clock. The mob never sleeps. And now, a new mob is targeting area young people believed to have mistreated Prince, a 15-year-old freshman newly arrived from Ireland. Their names, addresses and photos have been posted on the Internet in a new round of cyber-stalking.
People engaged in the new online threats may feel they possess a courage lacking in officials preoccupied with due process, fairness and long-term learning. It is hardly courage. Their words, like those of bullies anywhere, only seek to exert power over another person. We hope young people see this and recoil from it as much as they do mean comments heaped upon Phoebe Prince in person and online in the weeks before her death.
Americans are angry about a lot of things these days. Many believe their institutions have failed them. In the case of Prince's death, the school system stands in. In well-attended public meetings after Prince's death, some called for immediate action against students suspected of harassing Prince. Because this case involved minors, confidentiality issues and schools, it was guaranteed to proceed more slowly than people wanted.
But action did come last week, when Superintendent Gus Sayer announced that officials will summon several students to hearings over what he termed "very serious infractions" related to bullying. The students face the possibility of suspensions or expulsions. Further, their actions may be referred to police.
We believe the school system moved swiftly to track down facts about this case. After just three weeks, while probes by South Hadley police and the Northwestern district attorney's office continue, Principal Dan Smith was able last week to offer his initial findings, even as the school's work to hold people accountable continues.
It is against this picture of earnest but temperate inquiry that the new online mob's posturing would seem ridiculous - if it wasn't downright dangerous. Here is a sampling of the vulgarity-laced online posts that vow physical violence against anyone who taunted Prince: "If you can find them, I'm in." "I got an idea. BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM." "These girls need to be put in their place." "How we playing this? Facebook abuse or actual real scale chaos with a plan?" You can see why parents were alarmed and called police.
Once upon a time, before instant, two-way global communication, a community's grief was its own. Today, the South Hadley story is attracting the interest of Internet nomads, people who, in their posts, admit they are trolling the Web looking for "lulz," an online shorthand for the ability to laugh at other people.
Several of the worst online posts suggest the authors would have a hard time finding South Hadley on a map. "Lucky for these girls I'm in Texas," one wrote. "Do we have someone on the ground in that area? If you can locate the targets, I'm in," another wrote.
Yes, they do tend to sound like people who staggered away from an episode of "24" after chugging Red Bulls. And then decided to save America.
It is one thing to feel for a victim and want to prevent bad things from happening again - the stance of most of those who have turned out in the hundreds at public meetings in South Hadley over the past few weeks. It is another to adopt a "shoot first, ask questions later" mentality that lets people at their computers believe they have what it takes.
What they may have is trouble with the law. South Hadley Police Chief David LaBrie is pursuing the source of threatening online comments directed at students. The chief said last week he is seeking a subpoena for Facebook records. While he's unlikely to rein in such comments, we are glad he is pushing back.
By the time a new anti-bullying task force gets to work Feb. 23, the online vigilantes will be feeding off another community's misfortune. People who really care about solutions to bullying in the South Hadley school district will not have turned away.
When that session comes to order, it will be led by people who understand the difference between finding solutions and taking potshots.
They will get back to work - together in a room, not at their computers - on a problem that needs thought, patience and a willingness to reach out with a peaceful mind.
Thanks to the Internet and social media like Facebook, bullies can now invade a victim's world around the clock. The mob never sleeps. And now, a new mob is targeting area young people believed to have mistreated Prince, a 15-year-old freshman newly arrived from Ireland. Their names, addresses and photos have been posted on the Internet in a new round of cyber-stalking.
People engaged in the new online threats may feel they possess a courage lacking in officials preoccupied with due process, fairness and long-term learning. It is hardly courage. Their words, like those of bullies anywhere, only seek to exert power over another person. We hope young people see this and recoil from it as much as they do mean comments heaped upon Phoebe Prince in person and online in the weeks before her death.
Americans are angry about a lot of things these days. Many believe their institutions have failed them. In the case of Prince's death, the school system stands in. In well-attended public meetings after Prince's death, some called for immediate action against students suspected of harassing Prince. Because this case involved minors, confidentiality issues and schools, it was guaranteed to proceed more slowly than people wanted.
But action did come last week, when Superintendent Gus Sayer announced that officials will summon several students to hearings over what he termed "very serious infractions" related to bullying. The students face the possibility of suspensions or expulsions. Further, their actions may be referred to police.
We believe the school system moved swiftly to track down facts about this case. After just three weeks, while probes by South Hadley police and the Northwestern district attorney's office continue, Principal Dan Smith was able last week to offer his initial findings, even as the school's work to hold people accountable continues.
It is against this picture of earnest but temperate inquiry that the new online mob's posturing would seem ridiculous - if it wasn't downright dangerous. Here is a sampling of the vulgarity-laced online posts that vow physical violence against anyone who taunted Prince: "If you can find them, I'm in." "I got an idea. BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM." "These girls need to be put in their place." "How we playing this? Facebook abuse or actual real scale chaos with a plan?" You can see why parents were alarmed and called police.
Once upon a time, before instant, two-way global communication, a community's grief was its own. Today, the South Hadley story is attracting the interest of Internet nomads, people who, in their posts, admit they are trolling the Web looking for "lulz," an online shorthand for the ability to laugh at other people.
Several of the worst online posts suggest the authors would have a hard time finding South Hadley on a map. "Lucky for these girls I'm in Texas," one wrote. "Do we have someone on the ground in that area? If you can locate the targets, I'm in," another wrote.
Yes, they do tend to sound like people who staggered away from an episode of "24" after chugging Red Bulls. And then decided to save America.
It is one thing to feel for a victim and want to prevent bad things from happening again - the stance of most of those who have turned out in the hundreds at public meetings in South Hadley over the past few weeks. It is another to adopt a "shoot first, ask questions later" mentality that lets people at their computers believe they have what it takes.
What they may have is trouble with the law. South Hadley Police Chief David LaBrie is pursuing the source of threatening online comments directed at students. The chief said last week he is seeking a subpoena for Facebook records. While he's unlikely to rein in such comments, we are glad he is pushing back.
By the time a new anti-bullying task force gets to work Feb. 23, the online vigilantes will be feeding off another community's misfortune. People who really care about solutions to bullying in the South Hadley school district will not have turned away.
When that session comes to order, it will be led by people who understand the difference between finding solutions and taking potshots.
They will get back to work - together in a room, not at their computers - on a problem that needs thought, patience and a willingness to reach out with a peaceful mind.
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