National Bullying Debate Takes Center Stage In Massachusetts Courtroom

Kayla Narey reads a statement as she admits to sufficient facts of criminal harassment during her hearing in Franklin - Hampshire Juvenile Court in Northampton. Mass., Wednesday. (AP)

Here & Now Guest:

Nancy Willard, Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use

Three teenagers admitted Thursday that they participated in the bullying of a 15-year-old Massachusetts girl who later committed suicide, with one of the girl’s lawyers complaining that they had been unfairly demonized as “mean girls.”

Sharon Chanon Velazquez, 17, Flannery Mullins and Ashley Longe, both 18, were sentenced to less than a year of probation after they admitted to sufficient facts to misdemeanor charges in the bullying of Phoebe Prince, a freshman at South Hadley High School who hanged herself in January 2010.

“We have to recognize that this is occurring in digital environments where there are no adults present. That means we really have to be focusing on increasing the skills of young people in responding to these situations.”

–Nancy Willard, director of the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use

Prosecutors said Prince, who had recently emigrated from Ireland, was hounded by five teens after she briefly dated two boys. Her death drew international attention and was among several high-profile teen suicides that prompted new laws aimed at cracking down on bullying in schools.

By admitting to sufficient facts, they acknowledged that prosecutors could win a conviction if the case went to trial. The charges against the girls were continued without a finding and will be dismissed if they successfully complete their probation.

Under a plea deal approved by Prince’s family, prosecutors agreed to dismiss more serious charges against them.

Two other teens finalized similar deals with prosecutors in court Wednesday.

Speaking to WBUR’s Here & Now, Nancy Willard, director of the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use said to avoid bullying in the future, there needs to be a focus on teaching kids to stand up to the behavior.

“We have to recognize that this is occurring in digital environments where there are no adults present,” she said. “So that means we really have to be focusing on increasing the skills of young people in responding to these situations, both if they’re being victimized and if they’re witnessing. ”

Willard wants kids to understand there isn’t a stigma against standing up to bullies.

“Young people actually look up and really respect those who step in and help others,” she said. “And that’s the message we have to get across.”

The Associated Press contributed reporting to this article.

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http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=21104963 Amanda Qualls

As a someone who isn’t that far removed from high school, five years this month, who has a brother graduating this year and another in elementary, it seems like common sense to me that the most important thing is getting kids and teens to stand up for themselves and each other. I have cousins that were brutally bullied in high school (their cars were vandalized, etc, etc…) and in every case involving adults made it WORSE. The movement to stop this behavior really has to begin with the kids themselves, and I don’t think standing up to bullies makes you any less safe, especially if you have a strong friend group that is willing to back you.
Chris0498

Until educators, from the teacher in the classroom to the aid to the principal decide bullying is unacceptable and will not be tolerated it will continue. My son was bullied and it got so bad that I went to Mass Dept of Education. I was told to tell my son to “toughen up”. A mandate from the top is the first step. We took him out of the public school system. That was 5 years ago. He is doing much better now but the effects of the bullying will last a lifetime. I still worry about my son committing suicide, although not as much.
Neen

My daughter, B, at 10, went tomschool with her face grossly swollen with poison ivy. Her friend, first, stiod beforw the class, and told them she was coming, and that no one was to tease her, or they would have to deal with HER. Even the most difficult kids were nice and supportive (as the teacher beamed ;-). A few yars later, B followed this excellent example, and stood up to bullies for friends, attended leadership programs, and, rather than bothering to turn in a highschool classmate for trying to buly her, told him off, to the cheers of the other girls he liked to “tease” (it was really sexual harrassment…). All her aquaintances in her new school quickly learned to NEVER say “that’s so gay” in B’s hearing, she simply would never let anyone say it without telling them to stop!

She is now a strong young woman in college. She knows how to stand up for herself, and still won’t tolerate pettiness and bullying. Learning to stand up and confront bullies has made her less of a target, as well as helping over people!
David Holzman

As a senior in high school 40 years ago I intervened in the repeated verbal (and truly sadistic) bullying of a tenth grader by a much larger kid who was either a junior or a senior. I asked the bully what the other kid had ever done to him (“he’s a pig’s [policeman] son.”) and then I told him, rather awkwardly, that I didn’t think very much of him (the bully). He threatened me physically, “Why don’t you come outside and defend that statement,” and I refrained. Fighting was not my forte.

It was only very recently that I revisited that incident in my head, and realized that I had probably been successful in stopping the bullying, and that it was probably my best moment in high school. But at the time, no-one voiced any approval of what I had done, and one girl–from a different crowd from me–spread the word among her own crowd that I’d almost gotten beat up.

My empathy for the 10th grader, someone who I did not know at all, and probably had nothing in common with, probably stemmed at least from the fact that I’d been bullied myself one year in elementary school, and occasionally at other times in my life, and this bullying really upset me. I had, on rare occasions which I can’t remember at all clearly, seen other kids stand up to bullies.

It certainly would help if kids could be encouraged to stand up to bullying.

I am disgusted with the sentencing in the Prince case.
Laili

When Sept 11th happened,I was in sophomore in high school and living in mississippi in the “bible belt” area I started defending the few muslims that were in our high school and explained what I knew and understood about islam. Because I was doing this, my friends did the same and within weeks, the bullying stoped since we made sure people understood that the muslim students weren’t radicals and didn’t support what happened.
Greg

I truly hope this “bullying initiative” helps. Back in the 1980s, my friends and I would join forces and put bullies in there place. We didn’t need any help from adults or teachers. I guess this is “old school.” I have three kids and so far the experience vaires. My oldest (16 yr) beat up a bully and was suspended. My middle child (9 yr) was accused for bullying. We helped him understand that aggresive play is viewed by other less aggresive children as bullying. So far, it’s been over one year without an incident. My youngest child (7 yr) is kind hearted, but will fight back when harrassed. I use the same advice my father gave me. First, report the issue to school staff. If school staff did not take care of issue and bully keeps messing with you, fight back. School staff does not agree with this concept.