13 year old bullying victim commits suicide. Should those who bullied her be held legally responsible?
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Rachel Ehmke, a 13-year-old seventh grader
in Mantorville, Minn., died April 29 after hanging herself at her home.
The months leading up to the tragedy were a whirlwind of peer abuse
instances, her parents say.
Now following Rachel's Friday funeral that was met with widespread
community condolences, Rick and Mary Ehmke are speaking out against the
bullying they say their daughter endured at Kasson/Mantorville Middle
School and online.
Rachel's family and friends say the teen fell victim to school
bullying last fall when her chewing gum was stuck to her textbooks and the word "slut" was scrawled across her gym locker, the Austin Daily Herald
reports. And while she was outgoing, athletic and friendly, the same
group of girls reportedly threatened Rachel and kept calling her a
"prostitute," though she had never kissed a boy, according to KMSP.
Two days before Rachel's death, an anonymous text was sent to other students at the school, KARE reports.
"It was pretty explicit.
Something to the effect of that Rachel was a slut and to get her to
leave the Kasson-Mantorville School, forward this to everyone you know,"
parent Chris Flannery told the station.
But after the text was reported to authorities, it was traced to someone who wasn't a student at the school,
according to Minnesota Public Radio. The district's bullying policy
prohibits threats both in person and online, and promises investigations
within 24 hours of any reported bullying.
Rachel reportedly pleaded with her father not to mention the bullying
to school officials, for fear of worsening the situation. A note that
her parents found after her death read, "I'm fine = I wish I could tell
you how I really feel," alongside a picture of a broken heart, according
to KMSP.
Read More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/08/rachel-eh...
Top Opinion
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Lily 2012/05/10 12:33:49Yes they should.
+7I think all involved need to be held responsible. From the school administration down to the parents of all children involved as well as the children themselves. At some point, a stand needs to be made or this will be a re-ocurring theme in american schools.
Anyway Bully is way out of order..shouldn't be picking on someone so young as 13 yrs old. why haven't the other class mates to stand up for her instead bully gets in the way...
school is responsibility for the damages had done to her life...why hasn't teacher notice this earlier signs spot before hand?
But we cannot be held fully responsible for the actions of others which are out of our control.
However, the school has some responsibility for letting this bullying persist as it had. This should be investigated.
But suicide is always the sole responsibility of the person who does it. There is nobody else who deserves that blame.
Parents, sending teenagers off to juvenile detention over something they couldn't possibly have expected like this is not going to end your grief. But it is going to permanently mar the lives of those who could otherwise reflect on this tragedy and become better human beings.
then you should be held responsible
This is tragic though.