School administrators have tried to quell the conjecture surrounding the deaths of Matthew Homyk and Anthony Gill, but many students have cited bullying and rallied around possible solutions. (Homyk is featured in a tribute video, embedded below, that is accompanying the wave of social media discussion.)
Grief counseling is being offered to students. A boycott of classes on Tuesday drew attention to the demand for further anti-bullying measures. Around 60 or 70 students staged a boycott Tuesday morning, spurring conversation among themselves and with the school’s administration.
This article appears in Jan 15-21, 2014.
If these students were being bullied into feeling that life was not worth living – and others knew about it the evil games – then, were these “bystanders” also intimidated by bullies and refused to say something to administrators or other adults — or, was there a variation of the code that snitches get stitches? The education cannot stop on alerting people to SEE the signs of bullying…..there must be tangible TOOLS in the classroom and on the street to alert those in power positions that there is a serious problem that must be dealt with ASAP.
this is just NUTS…..This has TO STOP.
I’m so proud of people like you that let people know that this is out there.
Under any circumstances subside is devastating but their youth adds horror to a dreadful situation. Awareness is the first step in combating youth suicide.