Teen girls plead not guilty in bully suicide case

As a victim of bullying as a child, I fully understand the victim's pain. If the teen girls are guilty of the bullying that lead to this girl's suicide, they should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. It was just plain evil that they displayed and should not be free to go on with their lives without severe punishment. They are responsible for this girl's death.

How many children committed suicide after repeatedly being raped and sodomized by Vatican clerics?

Shouldn't US Court's be allowed to ask Pope Ratz under Oath what he knew, what he did and what role he had with those serial pedophile Vatican clerics?

Amen........ A. Smith!

I hope that these bullies are prosecuted to the full extent of the law; and that the school administrators and teachers are questioned under oath and held accountable for standing by and doing nothing to stop bullying in their school. These people know, they just take the easy road and turn a blind eye!

When will bullying be considered assault?

To teachers, IF you SEE or sense that a child in your care is being bullied, put a stop to it! A child's life depends on the adults around them!

The three should have had their butts beat years ago. But they didn’t. Most likely never made to mind. I say that they should jack the jail up and put them under it.! They need to start making some examples out of these lawless kids. Some of it would stop. I say, go back to Public Beatings. Announce in paper the date and time. Put them in stockades and beat them with a whip. I promise youth and adults would change. There is no longer a pain connection. Pain changes people. Look how people change on their dying bed. Florida Senate should pass some laws to accommodate this. I don’t care if you agree with me. I’m right!

It’s up to the State Senate and School Board to make some laws making bulling a crime. We teachers are not going to be able to stop it. A kid goes home and tells Mom or Dad then the kid being disciplined. (Can’t go to PE. THAT IS ALL WE ARE ALLOWED TO DO.) The Principle will take the parents side because they don’t want the parent to go to the School Board. So forget it. Until we are backed it will continue. How sad that we do not even have the support of our Administrator. I’ve seen it time and time again. Broward County Florida. We need a new Superintendent and School Board. There all a bunch of wimps. Yes, Broward County Florida does not support their teachers nor does their useless Teachers Union. They have done nothing to try to stop SB 6bill or anything else. The Republicans are trying to railroad this through like the Democrats did the Health Bill. Down with the Republicans and Democrats. We need BIG CHANGE and Independent. We’ve had enough of the Bush Stuff and the Muslim Obama stuff.

Smith, the pope is no more than a minister. It's the people that raise him. He is nothing more than a Man of God like a minister is a Man of God. Their no special being.

These disrespectful youth are giving other youth a bad name by their bad behaviours. Shame on them. Go and learn some manners, if you ever can.

They need to be booted out if they are abusive. No place for them in society if they want to carry on like that. Be better to leave them in the jungle and that would be too good for them.

Why were these young women released on their own recognizance ? Why didn't they have to appear in court? Why are they not in a juvenile hall institution until their trial. Iam certain none of this group is feeling any remorse! Dr. Gary...I disagree with you entirely...maybe we shoulld all start acting as in gladiator days. Your philosophy is about as wise as these bullying creatures. Violence solves NOTHING!!!I don't know what the solution is but that's not it!!! Yesterday a governor somehow forgot slavery happened ...now you want to go back centuries when it was an eye for an eye. Does noone use their brains anymore?

I was so pissed off when I heard about this.
I am a senior in high school and I think she is so pretty.
I know how she feels because girls in high school are crazy! They are all haters because someone else is prettier, and because their boyfriends are looking at the pretty smart girl. Some of them dont have friends because people hate so much. I have some of the same problems, and it is really depressing so i understand why she would kill herself. I am pissed off at those people. It is not about looks, its school, and only education should be focused on. And there is much more to life than a competition.

Bullying should be a crime, because these bullys are the reason for the depression and suicide. It is not fair if they get away with it, because if they were stopped or grew up, this girl would probably still be alive, living the great life she deserved..
When you are harrased enough, you begin to believe the things people say...

I hope all of them who bullied her get in trouble!! They deserve it it..

On Dr. Laura's reaction:

While you reaction to the situation understood by myself and other viewers as well, I also think there are other factors that are not taken into count is in your analysis. While the media has influenced children's behavior and demeanor, I think this is a small contribution to the factor. Children are young and this is part of their growing up, discovering themselves and how others perceive them. Perhaps the bystander effect was also another factor that led children to not intervening in the situation. At that age, it is critical to be accepted by peers and I think you should thoroughly research all angles of the ordeal rather than go on television and reprimand parents and furthermore, the students themselves. It is clear that you are passionate about the situation but it also seems that you are fueled by your own personal experiences which is unfair to these students as you brazenly scold them. Additionally, you do not have all of the facts to attack how these children are raised, unless you have witnessed the family dynamic in each household – improbable. I think it is unjust for you as a trained professional adult to cast such biased viewpoints.

I was very saddened to learn about Phoebe's tragic death. I'm sure her death could have been avoided if her teachers and the school administrators had taken some action to stop the bullying. As far as I'm concerned, her teachers and administrators are just as responsible for her death as the bullies.
For those of you who don't believe that school administrators would try to coverup such a serious bullying allegation, let me share my own personal experience.
I was recently fired from my job as an elementary school teacher because I refused to participate in a coverup of allegations of sexual harassment and threats of shooting students who reported these allegations of sexual harassment.
These school administrators couldn't care less about the welfare of my students. They are only concerned about keeping things quiet and retaining there jobs.

What Dr. Laura said about kids and teens tonight was BEAUTIFUL!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH, Dr. Laura, for finally saying the TRUTH about how the majority of kids and teens are raised! And also how they act daily in today's society! They are really a bunch of snot-nosed, smart-elech punks who need to have their faces SLAPPED HARD when they act as horrible as they do! Both boys and girls act this way! I see it every day! What a bunch of sorry-assed parents we have nowadays! I NEVER saw this kind of crap when I was in elementary or high school! And the very few kids who acted that way back then ('70's and '80's) got taught a lesson IMMEDIATELY! Then they NEVER, or very rarely, acted that way again! Dr. Laura's comments tonight about kids and teens should be broadcast world-wide on every news program and also as a commercial during EVERY TV show, during the Superbowl, etc., etc. Her comments should be SHOVED in our society's face daily until we teach our kids to act the right way!!!

How dare anyone blame bullying on the parents,. We don't know whats going on in the school system. I had a teacher tell me once," who said life is fair."What kind of teacher and system does this country have when we take that attitude. The teachers and school system should bear the brundt of this very serious troublesome subject.

Agree with most of the points that Dr. Laura Schlessinger made.

I can understand alot of what this 15 year old girl went through. I went through this and the effect was just as damaging without twitter in the mid 80's/90's time period. I am of Chinese ethiic descent and I grew up in Southern California where a lot of Vietnamese displaced people where given political asylum after Vietnam. The kids I grew up (now that I am older and understand) probably went to school with the disgruntled feelings from their parents due to all the Vietnamese immigration. Daily I dealt with kids spitting loogies at me, putting snot on my belongings and telling me that I was the ugliest flat nose, flat chest pig on the face of the earth and that I should go back to Saigon. I would get very angry and tell them "I've never even been to Saigon, I'm an American. My grandfather is an American World War II vet." One time, I couldn't take it anymore, I took a chemistry book and slammed it over some kid's head and Dr. McTaggert, our principal at La Quinta High School (Westminster, CA) suspeneded me. My mother took Dr. McTaggert's side. She thought I was making up these stories.
It effected me that I grew my hair long enough to cover my face. I thought that if my hair covered my face, "they won't think I'm ugly." I am not ugly at all, but I didn't know that back then. I thought of suicide several times, but I didn't have the courage to go through with it because I loved life enough to keep on living. I would dream of moving away and I did. I joined the Army right out of high school and I am close to retirement now. The Army probably saved me. I've seen the world and participated in many events where we the U.S. have helped conflicts as well as natural disasters.

Dr Laura was well spoken and RIGHT ON. Andre's comments are all about excuses – excuses for the kids, excuses for the parents. No one will ever know exactly what goes on in each house and Dr L. never pretended to know, but if we all play by the same rules and raise our kids to have character and stand up for each other in a community, the "good guys" will prevail and "The Lord of the Flies" will be in jail.

I tihnk it should be an eye for an eye. Kids bully because they are insecure about themselves and they think they can get away with it. Its sad that Super said that they had no idea anything weas going on. Everyone involved should be charged and made an example. Such BS that nothing has happened yet. IF nothing does then im sure there will be lawsuits galore!!! Get justice for Phoebe or pay the consequences.

The more I hear of how this young was treated just breaks my heart. When you are swarmed in a bathroom by several vindictive young girls with them calling you such horrendous names.,having them strike you physicallyis unimagineable. Walking home from school with more name calling, objects hurled @ you while more name calling again. This young girls parents went to the school to report & hopefully get help for their daughter. NOTHING again was done. Now these young girls who did not have to go to court, are out on their own recognizance. These creatures kept Phoebe in a type of prison the last months of her life. Then she comes home & with the aid of our wonderful technology this young again saw those horrible names & threats to herself!! Wasn't it lovely they suggested she committed suicide. What the H–L is wrong with this society...where was the school system when this family needed them? And this all started because Phoebe dated one of the popular boys & one of these lovely young goirls was jealous. Whatever happened where young girls were taught to like themselves ,be the best you can be. An education is of utmost importance & last but not least....boyfriends are NOT necessary when you are 14,15,16,17,18 to have a happy life. Learn to love & respect yourself . It is better to give than to receive(positive things only!!!)

I strongly believe that these youngsters should be held accountable for what they have done and pay with jail time, not be treated like some innocent bystanders. They hang around in packs just like wild animals until they find a prey and destroy it!!! Like they did to that other beautiful young girl!

We have a great problem, our generation growing up.

Most parent do not bother to teach their children any manners or anything else, they just leave it to the street and the video games. Our young ones are lazy, do not learn anything in the school and have no respect for the older, not even for their own parents.

They grow up with the idea of getting rich without really trying. If you want muscels you buy an electric gadget that will make you a superman during the time you sleep. No work or effort is needed.

Who are to blame? First of all, the parents, because they do not fulfill their obligation of raising a child. The schools are not much better, because the teachers just want to get the day behind them without any hassle. It is always easier to look the other way. The pricipals are cowards and just want to keep their jobs.

And our society that worries only about the buying power and keeping up with the neighbors. Whoever invented the "buying power" did ruin our country. How can we teach our children to live within their means when we are in debt up to our noses, individually and as a nation!

Where were all of these friends, now reporting the torture Phoebe Prince went through for three months and who attended vigils after her death - where were they when she was alive and suffering abuse under their eyes? They were silent and they could have stopped this bullying as well as the passive faculty and school administrators.

Bullying goes against the "Golden Rule" of All Social Societies. Do to others as you'd have them do to you. This bullying tactic does not help Society in any way, so STOP!

I'm also a teenager like Phoebe. Though I've never been bullied myself. I understand because one of my old friends was bullied so much she had to move. I just don't understand how someone can be so cold hearted. I will never get why people bully other kids. I can't stand it. I think the bullies should be prosecuted. Whether the think so or not, they pretty much caused the death of phoebe. I think they should face some serious consiquences!

Jeff said on Teen girls plead not guilty in bully suicide case. I SAY TO JEFF, "YOU ARE NUTS!" When children are disciplined and taught properly by, “Civilized disciplined parents,” The chances are much less of acting out. Spare the rod, spoil the child. That is what we have today. Many illiterate teens that can’t even keep their pants up. They hang over their butts. In prison that is a shows their but is owned by another man. Parents allow this. School Administrators and School Boards Kiss Parents butts. Teachers say anything, kid goes home and tells parents they are at the school acting like the slime ball they’ve raised and the teacher is not upheld. So State Senates need to pass laws where once again the schools have authority and are up held rather wanting to pass bills like Florida is trying to do Sb6. I’ll kick it up a notch. Cities should go back to the stockades and whipping Post. Announce it in the paper. I promise you our nation would get back under authority as well as the cities. Bullies would get the crap beat out of them. Blasted with eggs, rotten tomatoes etc. Let Justice Reign!

The more I read about this bullying story the angrier I get. Bullies are cowards who only feel strong when they torment their victims as a group; like a pack of rabid wolves. I recall there was a group of such cowards (boys and girls) when I was in school (many many years ago) who would torment this one quiet, awkward and shy girl. Often times their leader, a boy, would insult her, and push her down and spit on her because, among many other reasons, her family wasn't as rich as his family. I am not sure if the quiet girl or her parent's ever appealed to the school for help. Most kids were afraid to stand up for her as they feared being ostracized or worse treated the same way. I learned later that one reason why she was so quiet was because her father had died.

One day after classes I was walking home and came across yet another incident of their abuse upon this poor girl. That was the last day the quiet girl was going to be bullied. The next day, her tormentors left her alone because their leader, the day before parted with 6 of his teeth.

I don't condone violence. I was wrong for what I did. And I have never felt an ounce of pride for what I did; even when some years later, an older women who introduced herself as the mother of the quiet girl came up to me and told me "Thank you for sticking up for my daughter".

The quiet girl now is a successful physical therapist. And I can only assume that she is more successful and wealthier than her bully and all her tormentors of years ago.

I know that she's more successfully and wealthier than me.

The more I read about this bullying story the angrier I get. Bullies are cowards who only feel strong when they torment their victims as a group; like a pack of rabid wolves. I recall there was a group of such cowards (boys and girls) when I was in school (many many years ago) who would torment this one quiet, awkward and shy girl. Often times their leader, a boy, would insult her, and push her down and spit on her because, among many other reasons, her family wasn't as rich as his family. I am not sure if the quiet girl or her parent's ever appealed to the school for help. Most kids were afraid to stand up for her as they feared being ostracized or worse treated the same way. I learned later that one reason why she was so quiet was because her father had died.

One day after classes I was walking home and came across yet another incident of their abuse upon this poor girl. That was the last day the quiet girl was going to be bullied. The next day, her tormentors left her alone because their leader, the day before parted with 6 of his teeth.

I don't condone violence. I was wrong for what I did. And I have never felt an ounce of pride for what I did; even when some years later, an older women who introduced herself as the mother of the quiet girl came up to me and told me "Thank you for sticking up for my daughter".

The quiet girl now is a successful physical therapist. And I can only assume that she is more successful and wealthier than her bully and all her tormentors of years ago.

I know that she's more successful and wealthier than me.

Theresa April 9th, 2010 11:06 am ET

I fully understand your feelings with this situation. It is extremely disturbing to realize how much anger can bestowed on a child to the point they stomped on the survival instinct of this child; Phoebe, ultimately taking her own life.

The deepest of desperation to the abyss must have been horrific.

To plunge to those depths of darkness feeling like there is no hope of escape ......is very sad.

I agree with you, in that, what is happening to this country where child suicide is almost becoming the norm? Is there really that much hate and anger in this country? I would also start taking a close look at the families of Sean Mulveyhill, 17, Kayla Narey, 17, and Austin Renaud, 18.

@ Katherine

You are young. Young women are at odds with each other as they vie for men's (boy's) attention; therefore, creating extreme competition.

It is only when you are seasoned as a female, do you realize the incredible friendship and nurturance females can give one another.

Once you experience this comradery, you will then understand.

I cannot believe the level of denial and ignorance present in the school administration, faculty and the parents of these young thugs. These kids acted with premeditation and a pack mentality. tThey carried out a vicious unrelenting campaign of intimidation, and terror . This is far more than just bullying. This was criminal activity. These kids need to be punished not with counseling but jail time. They need to lose their freedom , so that they can sit and realize just what they did. I find it curious that they are now upset because the public is outraged and they are getting media attention. The hunters are now the hunted and they don't like it. They did not care at all when they were stalking threatening and harrassing this young girl day in day out for nearly 3 months.I have not seen one word of remorse from these kids, in fact there is sworn testimony where one of the girls implicates herself and says she does not feel sorry the victim is dead. The coverup at the school is already underway..The Governor is rightly outraged and since the school and teachers cannot be sued under state law, they need to be dismissed. They were charged with providing a safe , peaceful learning environment and failed miserably. As for the parents, the actions of their children speak volumes about their parenting. It is sad that we learned nothing from Columbine..Perhaps this case will be the rallying point to put and end once and for all to bullying and criminal activity by our youth. Sadly, it will be too late for Pheobe , but it will save the multitude. We as country cannot tell the world what to do about human rights, until we clean up our own house. This is yet another black eye for this once great and proud land. I thank God that my parents and grand parents instilled in me the courage, moral values , respect for others and the understanding of right and wrong that I have passed on to my children

I don't understand why it gets to this point! It's a sad case and we as the people have the right to speek up. When we deal with these matters, people look at us as numbers and not people.

Understanding the fact, that the schools have alot to deal with, is no excuse to have let this matter accumulate. It's against the law, Yes!

The sickest thing in this world is the Human Mind! An animal has it's survival mode and kills to it's natural instincts!

Those kids had nothing better to do, but hurt a human being! They should be punished...Because they're just beginners that got away with a crime!

My prayers are with the family.

I just recently turned 18 years old a couple weeks ago, and it makes me grieve just thinking about this young lady. I only wish i could've been there to do something about this. If i could make a change in someone's life. There's a saying that my father has always told me that goes, "when you have kids, you'll know what i'm talking about and what i have to go through" i feel so much grief for the parents of this young lady and send them my regards. as for the other people that caused this horrible harm. i just hope they saw what suffering they have caused their peers and the family of Ms. Prince, but most imporantly, what horrible names they have given themselves in this world.

This is incredibly tragic, and I hope that those who were, yes, responsible for the death of this young girl will pay for it. I wish they could be ostracized and called names and let it come down on them with unrelenting force 24/7. I hope those individuals will never find peace as a result of what they've done to this young girl. How dare they go on with their lives feeling good about their selves and their popular crowd!

THEY ARE GUILTY AS SIN.

"Dr. Gary April 8th, 2010 7:46 pm ET

The three should have had their butts beat years ago. But they didn’t. Most likely never made to mind. I say that they should jack the jail up and put them under it.! They need to start making some examples out of these lawless kids. Some of it would stop. I say, go back to Public Beatings. Announce in paper the date and time. Put them in stockades and beat them with a whip. I promise youth and adults would change. There is no longer a pain connection. Pain changes people. Look how people change on their dying bed. Florida Senate should pass some laws to accommodate this. I don’t care if you agree with me. I’m right!"

I fully agree. Sometimes, these selfabsorbed, arrogant, sorry excuses for human beings need to be broke like a god damn animal. They act like animals, they get treated like animals.

I do hope this works its way through the court system correctly and ends with punishment for these girls. Even beyond the torture at school, after school they would keep it up after her death bringing their venom full force to facebooks venue. Horrible pages making fun of the child and her death, no remorse just vicious indifference. It frightens me for the world my child will be growing up in.