Bullied 12-year old girl kills herself after school told her to "toughen up"

[CoffeeCat]

15. I have worked in this school before...

…and I have worked in fifty other schools in the state.

I'm generalizing, but each school has a different vibe. I distinctly remember this school and there was a lot of attitude there. Lots of incredibly rude kids. Lots of kids with attitude. In junior high, you see this quite a bit. It's a tough time for kids. Growing up and middle school are challenging.

However, the kids here, in general--seemed to be a bit rough around the edges. Many were rude to me, and I'm an adult working inside the school system in Iowa.

This school is in Altoona, Iowa--which is a suburb just outside of Des Moines. The population has exploded within the past ten years. Lots of new construction and yuppies. This school district has the money to put toward this issue. Fifteen suicides in 12 years is an epidemic. I live in a similar town nearby, and we've had no suicides in the past 15 years.

Someone is in denial and wanting to cover up--to avoid PR problems. This school really should be forced to deal with their very-real epidemic of kids killing themselves.

I personally do not understand why bullying is not treated as a criminal matter. If adults harassed and physically abused each other--charged would be filed. Arrests would be made. Why is it ok when kids do this in schools? School should be the one place where you can be safe. I think the juvenile justice system should be involved, and I also think there should be a "three strikes" rule in every school. You bully once and you're suspended for two days. A second time and you're out for two weeks. Third time and you are expelled. Good bye and good luck. Kids who terrorize other kids should not be around other kids who are only trying to learn. It's really sick to ignore this. The psychological damage done to the victims lasts a lifetime.