Phoebe Prince & Bullying

With the recent death of Phoebe Prince over bullying, it raises an interesting question- should the administrators and teachers who knew about the constant harassment- be held responsible as well as the students who taunted this poor girl?

We encourage our youth to report bullying, but why would they if the adult they trust does nothing to intervene? It is our obligation to stop bullying, model appropriate behavior, and provide support and emotional safety to bullying victims.

I would argue that the adults involved at the school who knew about the bullying should be held accountable (meaning professionally disciplined). Though several students have been suspended/ expelled over the tragedy, why shouldn’t the staff? It is their responsibility to provide a safe environment- both physical and emotional. They clearly failed at this school. Her mother reported the incidents at least twice, and there is evidence to suggest that various adults at the school were aware of the problem.

Here is where administrators go wrong- they don’t discipline and provide guidance as to why the behavior is unacceptable. By turning the other way, adults are giving the youth the impression that the name calling, shoving, online harassment, whatever, is acceptable.  You can’t ignore bullying and just claim that it is part of childhood- it doesn’t have to be. It can be stopped if adults prevent it, and when it does happen, addressing it directly with youth.

Here are some links about the incident and bullying:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36099680/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/?gt1=43001

http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/03/31/blanco.phoebe.bullying/index.html?iref=allsearch