Indiana Mother Files Suit, Says School Ignored Bullying That Led to Her Son's Suicide
An Indiana mother whose son took his own life has filed suit against his former school, alleging that they ignored the bullying which ultimately caused him to commit suicide, the Indy Star reports:
Natalie Moore alleges teachers and administrators at both HSE Junior High and HSE High School ignored reports that her son, Jamarcus Bell, suffered racially-based bullying and harassment for "perceived homosexuality and emotional disability."
According to the lawsuit, filed Nov. 21 in the U.S. District Court in Indianapolis, the African-American student was the victim of "constant and ruthless harassment and bullying from other students" who allegedly threw pieces of metal at him during a welding class, stole his shoes, his clothing, had his book bag dumped and was physically assaulted in hallways and classrooms.
Bell, who had survived an earlier attempt to hang himself at school in a janitor's closet at the junior high, ultimately ended his own life on Oct. 20, 2010, at his mother's home during fall break.
Mother's lawsuit claims bullying led to HSE's freshman's suicide [indy star]
Ahhh... that's so sad. I just can't fathom the heartbreak a parent goes through over the loss of their child. Kids can be so incredibly mean but the school should have stepped in, especially after the young man attempted suicide in the janitor's closet. Someone with the school should have asked why?
Posted by: OS2Guy | Nov 29, 2011 2:07:47 PM
Amazing...we can't treat each other like this as adults without being fired from our jobs or prosecuted or litigated, but the boys-will-be-boys and kids-can-be-cruel memes continue to be an excuse for allowing this behavior in school environments.
Posted by: kelehe | Nov 29, 2011 2:27:43 PM
It is not my intention to blame the mother, but what has been plaguing my thoughts in all these suicides, particularly the ones like Jamarcus Bell,s where the bullying has been ongoing, and concerns of suicide quite evident, is why any parent would not pull their kid out of school.
I wish I could wrap my head around that.
Posted by: Ricco | Nov 29, 2011 2:31:46 PM
I hope that this is the beginning of something. The schools and teachers absolutely have to be held accountable for something that they tolerate and could easily stop. Schools also need to be holding the bullies accountable for their behavior by punishing them by suspending or expelling them.
Posted by: Nick Name | Nov 29, 2011 2:34:34 PM
He needed some mental health counseling and to be removed from that environment immediately. Clearly no one believed it was that bad otherwise how can the school, or the parents explain their gross inaction?
There is enough blame to go around to all involved. The bullies, the school, and the parents let this poor kid down. Suing the school is pointless.
Posted by: chad | Nov 29, 2011 2:38:51 PM
When is the government going to step in and start charging these criminals with their violent acts against innocent citizens? This is an epidemic across the country, and it must be stopped! Teachers and administrators, students and parents: everyone who allows it to go on should be prosecuted.
Posted by: Kenneth H. | Nov 29, 2011 2:51:08 PM
I don't think suing the school is pointless. It will get their attention -and national attention - that this kind of thing is unacceptable and costly. Literally.
Americans enable bullies in their high schools, why I don't know. It's time it stopped.
Posted by: yonquersconquers | Nov 29, 2011 3:17:39 PM
Its an awful tragedy and there's lots of blame to go around, suing the school singles out the group I believe to be least responsible, is all.
Posted by: chad | Nov 29, 2011 3:49:18 PM
Schools must provide safe environments. They need to get rid of the bullies. My sister is a middle school teacher in a lower income, ethnically diverse school. This kind of bullying is just not allowed. The bullies are suspended and expelled. It is a lot work, you have to document and escalate, but it can be done and once it is done to one bully, the bullying goes way down. Consequences is what kids understand. If their parents won't do it, the school must.
Posted by: Joey | Nov 29, 2011 4:00:21 PM
So glad to hear that, Joey.
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Nov 29, 2011 4:08:03 PM
I absolutely agree with Joey!
Posted by: ELI | Nov 29, 2011 4:44:01 PM
Way to blame the victim, Ricco. Maybe not everyone can afford to send their child to a private school or home school them. Every think of that. As Joey said above, schools must provide safe environments for learning for all their students. I don't know why I even bother reading the comments section of this site. Like watching FOX News, it always infuriates me.
Posted by: sugarrhill | Nov 29, 2011 7:13:29 PM
Wow, I'm beginning to get desensitized to these teen suicides... and I don't like that. Where are these headlines:
"GAY TEEN MERCILESSLY BULLIED IS NOT HELPED BY SCHOOL OR FAMILY, BURNS SCHOOL TO ITS FOUNDATION"
"GAY TEEN BULLIED FOR YEARS, HIRES GANG MEMBERS TO BEAT UP HIS ATTACKERS"
"LESBIAN DENIED TAKING HER GIRLFRIEND TO THE PROM HACKS INTO FACULTY BULLIES BANK ACCOUNTS AND DRAINS THEIR LIFE SAVINGS"
"GAY TEEN ABUSED THROUGHOUT SCHOOL RUNS AWAY AND JOINS CIRCUE DE SOLEIL, NEVER COMING HOME"
You know what I mean. Can we have some balance?
Posted by: Hollywood, CA | Nov 29, 2011 8:18:09 PM
HURRAY for HOLLYWOOD...
Posted by: Alan Arthur Chiras | Nov 30, 2011 6:59:59 AM