Bullying: Why we wrote this story
| Thursday, Jun 11 2009 10:35 PM
Last Updated Thursday, Jun 11 2009 10:35 PM
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The story on this page is one of the most important you’ll read in a newspaper. It’s filled with lessons. It’s a story of a prank gone too far, of a hazing that could have had a tragic, fatal result.
It’s a story of consequences, not just for those who were directly involved but also for those who left the room but didn’t tell an adult.
The fact that it involved students with every advantage who should have known better makes it especially disappointing. And it is dramatic proof that bullying can happen anywhere.
Editors and reporters discussed this story and its presentation at length before publication. We debated whether to publish the photo and whether to name names — of the victim and those who paid to settle the suit.
Even as we deliberated, parents and attorneys called and wrote to lobby that we strip the story of names, numbers and details.
One of the most striking elements of this story is the photo of the victim lying on the floor immobilized in cellophane wrap, duct tape covering his mouth.
The photo, taken with a cell phone by one of those involved, itself became an instrument of bullying after the incident, as it was shown to other students at school.
The picture could have been a photo of a prisoner being humiliated at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison. I felt we needed to publish it because it so starkly shows the seriousness of this incident.
We cropped the top of the photo so the victim is not identifiable. In the version we published, you can’t see the fear in his eyes.
We chose to not identify this young man by name. We have, however, identified his father, who made the decision to enter the public arena of the civil courts by filing a “John Doe” suit on his behalf, seeking compensation from the school district, other students and their parents.
We also identified the students and parents who paid to settle the claim.
These are the consequences that can result when young people engage in such events — or simply know they happen, but don’t tell.
Every parent in our community should read this story. If your children are old enough to understand it, I urge you to have them read it as well.
We all make mistakes, adults and children alike. But immature minds are especially at risk of making poor judgments, which can be compounded by the pressure of the crowd.
Somehow we must teach our children where the boundaries are so they won’t cross them when adults aren’t around.
And we need to instill in them the courage to not simply be bystanders or leave the room when those lines are crossed.
We must teach them to be strong enough to withstand peer pressure and ostracism by objecting when their friends become bullies.
