Phoebe Prince's Bullies Apologize, Are Sentenced to 1 Year Probation, Community Service

I disagree... Bullying is not new. Kids having a dfficult time dealing with all the changes and whirlwind emotions that go hand in hand with teenage years is not new. Teens killing themselves, while tragic, is not new. Why suddenly is criminal action now being taken in cases like these? Pheobe Prince killed herself because Pheobe Prince sadly saw no other way out, and couldn't wade through the torrent of emotions that are a part of growing up. I was bullied, I have friends who were bullied. I know kids who killed themselves because of their emotional troubles. Does it [bullying]make you life harder, sadder, etc? Sure, yes, it's awful and hurtful and a shame. But how an individual deals with all of that is unique to the individual. If I had decided to kill myself as a result of my teenage hardships, that would have been my own tragic decision. If anyone should be held accountable for Pheobe's life, it would be her legal guardians. Not these children. And I am not saying blame her parents, but legally, if you want someone to blame for not being responsible enough, not keeping an eye out and recognizing the trouble signs, not getting her help, etc, it's her legal guardians -- not the brats at school calling her names. These bullies, while cruel, are not killers. They are kids! Adults bully too! It's disgusting to me that these children are being charged with crimes that will mar their records for life. No one wants to take responsibility, but rather lay blame. Blame these kids, and that will make everyone feel better about what happened, like 'oh, these monsters have been punished, this won't happen again'. The fact is, Pheobe's parents probably blame themselves in part, and prosecuting these children makes them feel better about themselves. And as for bullies, making an example out of these kids 't do a damn thing. Human nature has a cruel streak...bullying has always and will continue to be a part of life, like it or not.

That is the most insensitive comment I have heard in a long time.
If you ever become a parent and lose a child lets see your comment then. And if your a parent now, shame on you.

Apology, my ass. Their actions led to the death of this girl and they should be punished accordingly --- at least two years behind bars and a hefty fine their parents should have to pay. The worst part of this non-sentence is that it sends a signal that you can bully someone to death you won't even have to jail.

I have to disagree with you glgl, I was bullied when I was in school and my daughter was bullied just last year, and although bullying has always been around it is WAY worse now than it was when I was in school. The kids are crueler, most parents are busy and more detached, and with cell phones, facebook, etc., these bullied kids just can't get away from it. There is no reprieve many times. When I was young you basically just had to suck it up. I was on medication when I was 13 years old to prevent stomach aches because I was a nervous wreck. I was followed home, punched, yelled at, and had things thrown at me, but was I was home, it was over for the day. That sadly is not the case anymore. My daughter was called names day in and day out. She finally stuck up for herself and now many of her former bullies want to be her friend. One of the kids who was the worst, even her mother got in on it. I called the police, (A 36 year old harassing a 13 year old? PLEASE), and they did nothing but talk to her, that it. The woman called my daughter a "f***ing whore". Yeah, and that thing is raising kids...(kinda makes you feel secure in our future, doesn't it?)

I think a more fitting punishment to this crime would be to suspend these students from school for a full school year. The duration of that suspension should be spent by those students as a group, touring this states junior and senior high schools and lecturing to other students the unfortunate consequences of bullying. If any of the students disagree to that sentence, that tells you they have no remorse and should serve their year in prison.

If words make someone kill themselves they must have bigger problems. Parents actually do have to be involved in their childrens life. Just makin sure they have a roof over their head isnt a parent. You hafta actually be a part of teaching you kids the skills they need to survive in the world.

And yes I am a parent of children that were bullied in school. My kids were of a single digit race in an inner city minority school. But I am a part of my childrens life. So when they told me I got involved with the school to deal with it. And when they failed to take action i was in their face again till they handeled it. That worked for my girls. As for my son, i taught him how to try to reason yourself out of the situation but also gave him the skills to defend himself. 1 of my proudest days was when he clocked his biggest tormentor that I personally brought to the schools attention. They were dumbfounded when I hugged him and told him good job at his suspension meeting. He was only bullied a couple times after that. He was a B-C student and is now married and owns his own home.

You hafta be involved in your childrens life. Before ya blame kids, It would be best to ask yourself if ya gave your kids the attention they needed to grow up in a world that isnt always fair.
Before ya high and mighty start.... "Sticks and stones..........."

Right...Since when does harrassment, stalking, slander, libel and at times physcIal assault simply become "Bullying" because these crimes against others, these criminal acts were committed by those under the age of 18...It is what it is and thats a criminal act deserving of legal punishment that is not based on their minor age because 'legal bullying" does not exist.

And what about the parents of these little monsters? Shouldn`t they be held responsible too? We who pay attention to how some of these kids behave and how much more cruel they have becom,e should make ppl. like you reconsider your remarks. These monsters behave in a way that i and the kids that i knew would never have done such evil things. This country is decending into hate and evil ways and it`s taking its children with it.

YOU ARE SOOOO WRONG GIGI! You're right about one thing, this is not new, it's gone on FOREVER! But, how many young people taking their own lives does it take to change the system??? Suicide is tragic and should never happen and in this case there is a direct link to the bullies who caused Phoebe's suicide. It was no different than them walking up to her and shooting her in the head and it WAS NOT PHOEBE'S PARENTS' FAULT. When are those responsible going to be held accountable? WHEN??? These bullies were MEAN, NASTY AND VICIOUS, and of course it's soooo easy to bully one person weaker than you, especially when one of the bullies is a "football hero" and a group of whores who tormented this girl and even suggested she kill herself. And the Administrators of our schools have to stop WIMPING THE HELL OUT. YOU HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES WHEN YOU RUN A SCHOOL, BUT THEY TURN THEIR HEADS IN THE OTHER DIRECTION AND HOPE THE PROBLEM (BULLIES) GO AWAY!

GIGI - HAVE YOU EVER BEEN HARASSED???? Just because this has been going since the beginning of time does not make it right. I am an adult, if someone was stalking me or teasing me I would call the cops and file a restraining order against this person that was doing this. Why is it okay for kids to do that to each other? The fact is these kids indirectly caused her death. This is not the blame game. A child died because she was tormented by others.

@Gigi - Bullying has changed and has reached a new level. When I was younger and was being bullied, if it was a really bad group of bullies about 20 - 30 kids knew about it, now it is is all over the media and with social networking it is all over the school or community. I believe it has gotten way out of hand, and the bullies need to be punished so they get the message that it is not acceptable. At this point in time adults and children are getting away with more than ever without any consequences, and this has to change. I believe a lot of adults, are not doing good for their children, as they have never grown up themselves.

I agree. Kids nowadays have no compassion for anyone, for some reason. I am 28 with no kids (kinda interesting that I am posting on this forum when I am such a newbie), but my Mom is a teacher, and has told me horror stories about how the kids treat each other. One girl was bullied because her brother was dying from cancer! What the crap is that all about?! I know what its like to be bullied, and it is only getting worse, as someone earlier had said. These little cold-hearted jerks need a wake up call, and a good one would be a little stay in jail, me thinks. I always thought it was strange that they have those commercials on TV about being compassionate and having good values and everything (they are nice commercials), but nowadays, I see that it is needed. No one, not even the parents of bullies, is teaching them about kindness, compassion or respecting their fellow man! I would say a good dose of Biblical learning would work well, but I don't want to force my religious beliefs onto anyone, so just toss them in jail for a while. Maybe then they, and future bastards---I mean bullies, will think before they make asses of themselves. Pardon my language.