Thank you for speaking up for her. This story needs to be told. We are teaching our kids to hate and it has real consequences. I wonder if any of the bullies feel a scintilla of guilt for what they did? Or do they feel proud of themselves for reinforcing the caste system from which they benefit? Either way, when we have 11 year olds doing this kind of racist crap, it is not a good sign of a healthy, multi racial pluralistic democracy.
I don’t know. When I was in 6th grade, a girl whose grandparents lived on my street was hit by two cars while crossing the road to get to her bus stop. She used to catch the bus with us but switched stops because she got into a fight with my best friend. My friend wouldn’t let it go and the girl, Rachel Reynolds, switched to the other stop.
I remember the day she died, my friend was sobbing. She felt so much guilt and has carried that with her for over 25 years. She never bullied anyone again.
I hope that these kids at Jocelynn’s school reacted similarly
Thank you for chatting with me about it. I’m very concerned about the lack of empathy I’m reading about. Standing up to bullies should be the first thing we teach in our schools- in my opinion. An 11 year old suicide just breaks my heart, so I apologize if I came across as heavy handed.
Sad to hear about your experience as a kid. My belief is guilt is a product of being conscious. Your friend had it. But was she bullying someone to the level of Jocelyn? By multiple kids at once? Based on her ethnicity or economic class? When you are at the point where you are acting unconsciously as a group, it’s less likely an individual will speak up, even if they know in their heart that it’s right.
They should sue everyone involved, the school, the school officials, the parents of the children, the school district. The administrator of the school should be fired along with everyone to whom the abuse was reported and did nothing. The children involved should be expelled.
Indeed. There have to be consequences for those failed.
It’s the belief (not unjustified, unfortunately) that they can be indifferent to or even encouraging of vile behaviour and face no penalty that lets things like this happen.
They need to know, to see clear examples showing, that if they fail the kids they’re to protect THEY WILL PAY.
>> “I’d love to give the parents the benefit of the doubt but I just don’t have it in me anymore.” <<
I absolutely blame the parents. Sure, kids don’t always behave as parents wish, but we’re not talking about cutting classes, lying about what you did with your girlfriend, or stealing beers from the fridge. This kind of concentrated hate is not something kids come up with on their own. It isn’t youthful rebellion.
They were taught to do this directly by their parents and I’ve also no doubt, if their bullying had been reported to their parents, that those parents would be more approving than shocked.
Thank you for relating this sad, horrible, story. A child commiting suicide! This is an abomination, perpetrated by a president and his supporters normalizing hate and bullying. This is the atmosphere we are all breathing. Stories like this are all too common, and must be heard, for action to stop the desecration happening around us.
Before America chose to commit suicide I remember waking up and thinking that this country was not good for my mental health. That day came not long after the shooting in Uvalde. There is something rotten at our core.
Heartbreaking. Disgusting, vile spawn and I don't give them or their parents the benefit of the doubt. I'm done giving anyone the benefit of doubt for racist maga behavior. I agree with other responders - sue the shit out of everyone involved and demand the bullies are expelled.
Horrifying and reprehensible. I'm so very sorry for your baby’s loss. The school needs to be held accountable for it's abominable response to bullying!
Thank you for speaking up for her. This story needs to be told. We are teaching our kids to hate and it has real consequences. I wonder if any of the bullies feel a scintilla of guilt for what they did? Or do they feel proud of themselves for reinforcing the caste system from which they benefit? Either way, when we have 11 year olds doing this kind of racist crap, it is not a good sign of a healthy, multi racial pluralistic democracy.
I don’t know. When I was in 6th grade, a girl whose grandparents lived on my street was hit by two cars while crossing the road to get to her bus stop. She used to catch the bus with us but switched stops because she got into a fight with my best friend. My friend wouldn’t let it go and the girl, Rachel Reynolds, switched to the other stop.
I remember the day she died, my friend was sobbing. She felt so much guilt and has carried that with her for over 25 years. She never bullied anyone again.
I hope that these kids at Jocelynn’s school reacted similarly
Thank you for chatting with me about it. I’m very concerned about the lack of empathy I’m reading about. Standing up to bullies should be the first thing we teach in our schools- in my opinion. An 11 year old suicide just breaks my heart, so I apologize if I came across as heavy handed.
You didn’t. I completely agree with you. Your comment just brought up a memory that I probably should have added to the article. 💙
Sad to hear about your experience as a kid. My belief is guilt is a product of being conscious. Your friend had it. But was she bullying someone to the level of Jocelyn? By multiple kids at once? Based on her ethnicity or economic class? When you are at the point where you are acting unconsciously as a group, it’s less likely an individual will speak up, even if they know in their heart that it’s right.
They just had a beef, it wasn’t a group thing. But was in 1997 and I was 12, so I don’t know.
I agree with you, the group think is so hard to break through
Trump did this. Along with anyone who voted for him.
They should sue everyone involved, the school, the school officials, the parents of the children, the school district. The administrator of the school should be fired along with everyone to whom the abuse was reported and did nothing. The children involved should be expelled.
Indeed. There have to be consequences for those failed.
It’s the belief (not unjustified, unfortunately) that they can be indifferent to or even encouraging of vile behaviour and face no penalty that lets things like this happen.
They need to know, to see clear examples showing, that if they fail the kids they’re to protect THEY WILL PAY.
>> “I’d love to give the parents the benefit of the doubt but I just don’t have it in me anymore.” <<
I absolutely blame the parents. Sure, kids don’t always behave as parents wish, but we’re not talking about cutting classes, lying about what you did with your girlfriend, or stealing beers from the fridge. This kind of concentrated hate is not something kids come up with on their own. It isn’t youthful rebellion.
They were taught to do this directly by their parents and I’ve also no doubt, if their bullying had been reported to their parents, that those parents would be more approving than shocked.
Absolutly heartbreaking
It's very sad and I'm wondering why bullying isn't expellable offense in school
Thank you for relating this sad, horrible, story. A child commiting suicide! This is an abomination, perpetrated by a president and his supporters normalizing hate and bullying. This is the atmosphere we are all breathing. Stories like this are all too common, and must be heard, for action to stop the desecration happening around us.
How does an 11 year old even know how to kill themselves???? Sad. Horrific.
Before America chose to commit suicide I remember waking up and thinking that this country was not good for my mental health. That day came not long after the shooting in Uvalde. There is something rotten at our core.
Heartbreaking. Disgusting, vile spawn and I don't give them or their parents the benefit of the doubt. I'm done giving anyone the benefit of doubt for racist maga behavior. I agree with other responders - sue the shit out of everyone involved and demand the bullies are expelled.
Absolutely. I’m far, far past giving any of these monsters any benefit at all.
Our unwillingness to hold them fully to account, to look for some redeeming excuse for them, is our contribution to enabling them.
Fuck that. Give them full credit for their crimes.
Those kids should disappear along with their scumbag parents.
Horrifying and reprehensible. I'm so very sorry for your baby’s loss. The school needs to be held accountable for it's abominable response to bullying!