Ohio School Shooting

In thinking about and praying for all those affected by this horrible tragedy, I am wondering why there are always conflicting reports.  As usual there are the similar reports that the shooter was an outcast, dressed in goth style, and didn't have many friends.
The conflict that is present, which I seem to notice happens often when things like this happen, is that some are saying he was bullied and others are saying he was never bullied.  I saw the same thing happening with Ruth Ann Payton, the 12 year old girl who killed herself two weeks ago.
Are others just not willing to admit there was bullying?  Are they afraid of being bullied themselves if they speak up?  Or do they just not want to get involved?
The school here in Chetek where Payton attended says they have things in place to prevent and report bullying.  But as teachers and counselors were meeting with the kids after Payton's death no one was saying anything about bullying, therefore making the school feel that bullying was not an issue.  I really don't like to accuse or suggest that the school officials were not telling the truth, but we all know that bullying goes on everywhere.  What I don't understand is why reports coming from outside the perimeter of the school grounds say bullying was definitely a part of this girls decision to end her life at such a young age.
My heart goes out to the families in Ohio who are having to deal with children who were injured yesterday, it goes out to everyone having to understand their feelings and fears.  It especially goes out to the family who lost a child.  No parent should have to suffer that.  And my heart goes out to the family of the shooter and him.  Obviously this boy, this child, was hurting in some way to make him feel the need to hurt and kill other kids.  I cannot pretend to know or understand why.  But it breaks my heart.
What are your thoughts on this tragedy?  What are your thoughts on why kids don't want to admit that bullying is occurring?  Are we as parents and educators, pastors dropping the ball somewhere?  Are we causing them to fear telling us these things or admitting these things?  I just want to understand.

Payton Ruth Ann Richardson

http://www.weau.com/home/headlines/Friend_makes_video_to_honor_friend_and_stop_bullying_139339713.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsG8vZJRofg

Tonight I will be attending the school district meeting that was brought about by the tragic death of 12 year old Payton Ruth Ann Richardson who tragically ended her life on February 12, 2012.  The reason, bullying.  She felt she had no other options.  God rest her soul.  

Please pray for Payton's family, friends, teachers, and all of who are fighting to keep this from happening to one more child.  I would also ask that you pray for those who bullied her.  Pray that Jesus will reach their hearts and help them to find a way to stop their behavior.

God Bless you all.  Peace be with you Payton.

Schools and Bullying

First my comments:
This case happened in 2009.  Have things really changed?  I don't think so.  We are still hearing heartbreaking stories of kids being bullied in school, and very unfortunately, kids are still committing suicide over bullying.  THIS HAS GOT TO STOP!
Every time I hear another story like this my heart breaks and the tears flow.  Why does it have to continue?  It doesn't!!!!  I believe it is time, past time for us to take a stand.  United we stand, divided we fall.  Yes, it's an old cliche.  But it's so very true.  We must stand together to stop this senseless, hateful thing.  How are we going to do it?  By working together.  By coming up with ideas and plans together.  




The Department of Education reports that 25 percent of American students say they were bullied at least once a day. States have tried to address the issue by mandating their school districts adopt anti-bullying initiatives. But can these policies really stop school bullying and possibly save lives? CBS News correspondent Bianca Solorzano reports.
Eleven-year-old Carl Walker-Hoover had a beaming smile.
"He loved life. He loved to laugh," said Carl's mother, Sirdeaner Walker.
But soon after Carl began sixth grade at the New Leadership Charter School in Springfield, Mass., he became the target of school bullies who taunted him - even threatened to beat and kill him.
Sirdeaner Walker says she i immediately contacted the school to address the issues. But she couldn't prevent what followed.
On April 6, 2009, Carl hanged himself with an extension cord - just 10 days shy of his 12th birthday.
CBS News has identified 10 other students ages 13 to as young as nine years old who were bullied and committed suicide in the last 12 months. Suicide is so rare among children that young the CDC doesn't even consistently track the numbers.
Yale professor Young-Shin Kim has done research on what's been termed "bullycide" and has found that victims of bullying are 5.6 times more at risk of attempting or thinking about suicide.
The administrators at the New Leadership Charter School ignored CBS News' request for an interview or comment on Carl Walker's death. But CBS News has learned the school has had an anti bullying policy since 2006, and a reported intervention happened the day Carl Walker died - leaving some advocates to question whether these initiatives fix the problem or make it worse.
Author Jodee Blanco was constantly bullied throughout elementary and high school - so much so she almost committed suicide. She now tours the country talking to students about the consequences of bullying.
She believes disciplining bullies is ineffective because it creates a hostile environment; the bullying may move online and it doesn't prevent what Blanco calls the worst kind of bullying - social isolation. 
"It's the most damaging kind. … It makes you say to yourself, 'There's something wrong with me,'" she said.