Were you Bullied in High School?

Were you bullied in high school? Please share your experience.

Schoolboy, 15, Killed Himself after Months of Cruel Taunts from Bullies over His Learning Difficulties

A schoolboy who was found hanged in his bedroom was being bullied because he suffered from learning difficulties and was dating a younger girl, his family and friends have claimed.  Joshua Maddox, who suffered from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), had allegedly suffered months of cruel taunts from classmates because the condition had left him struggling with his schoolwork.  His devastated mother Michelle Maddox, 34, also claimed today that her son was called 'paedo' by classmates because his girlfriend of two months was two years younger than him. She issued a desperate plea for tougher punishments to be handed to bullies. The 15-year-old was found hanged by his younger sister Leighlauren at the family home in Walsall, West Midlands, as she went to wake him for school last Thursday morning.  Miss Maddox said: 'I want young people to see what effect bullying can have and educate them better about how to deal with children who have mental health issues. 'I think bullies need a stronger punishment, I feel deep down that nothing will be done about this and I worry it could happen to another family.

 

'He was my baby, I can't replace him, he's never coming back and I want people to be aware of what bullying can do to people. 'We all went to bed the night before, he never gave any indication or let on that anything was wrong. 'That day he'd been playing with his brothers and they'd been laughing and joking together. 'The only thing we do know is he deleted stuff off his phone just before he died, the police are looking through it for any clues. 'He was very good at putting up a front, you wouldn't be able to find out what was wrong with him. 'Even if you asked he'd say he was fine.' Heartbroken Miss Maddox said that her son, who died just a month before his 16th birthday, had been dating a younger girl since just before Christmas. She added: 'We only knew that he had been bullied about his girlfriend because his sister was in the art room when it happened, otherwise we probably never would have known. 'They were calling him a "paedo" because she was two years younger and making fun of the fact that she had glasses. 'We were told about it the week before he left us but he said he wanted to deal with it himself and didn't want me to get involved. 'The problem when children are bullied is that they feel like if they tell on people they'll just get it back ten times worse.'

Scores of Joshua's friends took to social networking sites to play tribute to the 'lovely' and 'cheeky' Year 10 student who was known as Josh, but others hit out at bullies who had targeted him. Friend Jessica Mary posted on a facebook page set up in his memory: 'R.I.P gorgeous! We were always so close.  'I hope the bullies die inside, I hope they suffer I don't get how they can bully you because you have adhd, its so sick you was lovely lad you was so nice sleep tight lovely x (sic). Stepdad Philip Downes, 32, said that Josh behaved as though he was much younger due to his ADHD and autism. He said: 'I think children need to be more aware of the symptoms of ADHD and other mental health problems. 'Josh showed no physical difference to the other children his age, but in his head it was a different story. 'His body was 15 but his mind was more like a twelve-year-old. 'His body had gone through puberty but his brain hadn't, he just didn't fit in any more with the other children so they picked on him.' Friends of the youngster who attended St Thomas More Catholic School in Willenhall, West Midlands, described him as a talented artist, footballer and keen video-gamer on the site.

Kirsty Price wrote: 'Josh u was truely amazing and just a total ace person I will never forget u the way u flipped ur hair the way u alway had a smile on ur face we have lost a true angel. 'I will never forget the laugh we have had when we had piggy back race down all the streets. 'U was so amazing at drawing and I will never forget the time I popped ur nose and u still had a smile on ur face rip josh I will never forgett u xxxxxx (sic).' A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman confirmed that Joshua died at the family's Walsall home.

She said: 'We were called to a medical incident, one patient was confirmed dead at the scene. 'No-one was taken to hospital.' A West Midlands Police spokesman confirmed officers were called to a medical emergency at around 7am last Thursday. Detective Inspector John Smith said: 'We are completing routine enquiries on behalf of the coroner; the death is not being treated as suspicious.'

Joshua's school today said that students were being offered counselling following his death. A school statement said: 'Our deepest sympathies go to the family and friends of Joshua Maddox who tragically passed away. 'He was a kind and friendly boy well-liked by friends and teachers. 'School counselling staff have been made available to support staff and pupils over the coming days and weeks as they come to terms with this sudden and extremely sad news. 'Walsall Council and Walsall Children's Services - Serco have also offered their sympathy to Joshua's family, friends and to our school. They are in regular contact with us and we will continue to work together to support the family and school community. 'It would be appreciated if the family's and school's privacy could be respected at this difficult time.

Understanding Bullying

What is Bullying?

Bullying is when someone intimidates or causes harm to another person on purpose. The victims of bullying can be verbally, physically or emotionally assaulted and are often threatened and made to feel frightened. Bullying should not be viewed as an unfortunate but unavoidable part of school life. No child deserves to be bullied - it's unacceptable behaviour and can have a devastating effect on the victim. Most schools have an anti-bullying policy, so it's a good idea to be aware of the position adopted by your child’s school.

Bullying in school can include:

·         verbal harassment - face to face, by phone, text or over the Internet

·         hitting, hair-pulling and kicking

·         teasing and name-calling

·         spreading rumours

·         damaging possessions

·         frightening and intimidation

·         exclusion at playtime or from social events and networks

How can I tell if My Child is being Bullied?

Your child may not tell you that he or she is being bullied. However, you may notice some changes in his or her behaviour, including:

·         unwillingness to go to school

·         feeling unwell, often with a headache

·         irritability

·         anxiety

·         aggression towards you or others in your family

·         bedwetting

·         waking in the night

·         missing or damaged belongings

What should I do if my Child is being Bullied?

If you suspect your child is being bullied, don’t ignore it.

Find a quiet time to talk to your child. Explain that bullying is unacceptable and that no one should have to put up with it. Promise to do all you can to stop it.

Make an appointment to see your child's class teacher as soon as possible. Useful tips for the meeting:

·         Decide what you want to say and what you'd like to achieve from the meeting before you go.

·         Try to stay calm even though you may feel angry and emotional.

·         Don't blame the teacher - he or she may be unaware of the bullying.

·         Give specific examples of how your child is being bullied.

·         Ask what the school's anti-bullying policy is.

·         Discuss what action the teacher will take.

·         Arrange to meet again within two weeks to discuss progress.

If you're unhappy with the way your child's teacher deals with the situation - either at the meeting or after the school has taken action - make an appointment to see the head teacher and go through the same process described above.

What should I do if my Child is a Bully?

If you suspect your child is bullying another child or other children, don’t ignore it.

A child who is bullying others often has problems of his or her own. Try to understand what may be causing this behaviour and think about what is going on in your own home. Bullying can be subtle, so watch your child’s behaviour closely.

Consider the following:

·         Is your child going through a difficult time?

·         Does your child feel overlooked or overshadowed?

·         Could your child be copying someone else's behaviour - maybe an adult or older sibling at home?

·         Do other members of your family use aggression or force to get what they want?

·         Are you allowing your child to use aggression or force to get what they want from other people?

Make sure your child understands that bullying is unacceptable. Encourage your child to be friendly, understanding and kind to others. Try to bolster friendships by inviting other children over to your home but watch out for any signs of bullying.

Boy, 14, kills himself outside of junior high school in front of other students after being Bullied

A 14-year-old junior high school student in Utah committed suicide by shooting himself in the head in front of a group of classmates Thursday. Those who knew the victim, identified Friday as David Q.  Phan, described him as a boy who was always nice to everyone, but who was often mistreated by his classmates. Granite School District spokesman Ben Horsley said the ninth-grader had left Bennion Junior High in the Salt Lake City suburb of Taylorsville with his mother at around 1.30pm after a trip to the principal's office. Just before 3pm, Phan returned alone to a pedestrian bridge near the school where he came upon several students who had just gotten out of school for the day. Several parents were also present. That is when Unified Police Lt. Justin Hoyal said the teen pulled out a handgun and shot himself in the head. When first responders arrived on the scene, Phan was still alive. The teen was rushed by ambulance to Intermountain Medical Center in critical condition, but died a short while later. The bridge where the shooting took place is just off school grounds near the southwest corner of the campus.

On Friday, police revealed that the gun Phan used in the suicide was kept in a locked safe at his home. They do not believe the 14-year-old brought the weapon to the campus. Horsley said that while he cannot go into detail discussing Phan's possible mental health issues, he noted that the boy faced 'significant personal challenges on multiple fronts.' He added that before Phan was let out of school with his mother, he was searched for weapons. The spokesperson would not elaborate what led school officials to search the teen.  'I was just walking. I hear a big sound and I hear everybody yelling and then I turned around and I saw it and there was a lot of blood,' Ethan Wily told Fox13. At around 8pm Thursday, more than 200 people gathered on the bridge, candles in hand, for a vigil. The Salt Lake Tribune reported that they remembered Phan as a kind and friendly soul. ‘He was one of the sweetest guys I've ever known,’ said Hunter Evensen, a fellow ninth-grader. He remembered when the teen had bought him a drink and never expected to be paid back for it. Evensen and others who attended the vigil on the bridge embraced each other and prayed for Phan before releasing six balloons into the night sky in his honor. Unified Police detectives are interviewing students who witnessed the shooting, Hoyal said. Police and school district officials said they don't yet what led Phan to take his own life, but those who knew the victim said he had endured bullying at the hands of dozens of students. 'They were just mean to him for no reason,' classmate Alicia Earl told ABC4.

A statement posted on the school district's Facebook page read in part that Phan had been contacted regularly by a counselor over the past 18 months over bullying concerns, but the teen did not report being mistreated or harassed. Phan's classmate Makayla Schmidt pointed out that sometimes bullying is hard to detect, especially when it comes to verbal abuse. 'I heard it, people (talking about him),' she told KSL. 'I don't think people realize how much words can hurt.' Horsley said the teen had reached out to a counselor last year for personal reasons, but did not complain about being bullied. He added that the school will investigate the allegations. The school district is providing counselors to talk with students and families in the wake of the death. In a statement, the Granite School District said that Phan's suicide appears to be an isolated incident that is not related to any kind of criminal activity.