Bethany Thompson was only a toddler of 3 when she was treated for a brain tumor.
She beat her cancer, but was left with nerve damage that affected her face. When she smiled, her mouth became a diagonal slant. Not much compared to cancer in the great scheme of things. But it was enough to make Bethany the object of constant bullying by some of her schoolmates in North Lewisburg, Ohio.
Bethany saw a counselor to help her deal with the situation. And she had friends who supported her. They even made anti-bullying posters last month with the words "buddies, not bullies." But the school would not allow them to be displayed.
The bullying continued. It seemed to be endless. Three weeks ago, Bethany told a friend on the bus home she couldn't take it any more.
The friend told her father. She was worried the girl might do something rash. Her father called Bethany's mother.
But it was too late. Bethany found a gun that had been hidden on a high shelf. She took it to her back porch and pulled the trigger,
Bethany Thompson was just 11 years old.
A couple of months earlier, in August, a 13-year-old boy in Brooklyn took his own life. His sister found him hanging in the family's attic, a belt around his neck. He left a note describing ceaseless bullying. It also told how he tried to get help from the school but that little was done. About 4,400 young people commit suicide each year. No one can say for sure how many of those deaths are related to bullying, but some studies put the figure at half.
About one in three students report being bullied at some point in their school years. Just under 8 percent report daily bullying.
All too often parents and other adults pass over bullying as just a rite of passage or just children acting up. Some adults go back to common advice given in 1950s TV shows and Saturday morning matinee films-stand up to the bully and he will respect you.
They mean well. It's an easy solution that sounds good to adults. It's not reality for children. The fact is parents, teachers and school administrators have to take bullying seriously. Students as well must take a stand against this behavior. Some do. There are anti-bullying groups across the country, even here in Texarkana. They do what they can and we wish them well.
But there are still those, young and old, whose acceptance or silence keeps bullying alive and well. That's just not right.
Parents of victims must step up for their children and never take "no" for an answer. Parents of bullies must step in and put a stop to their cruel and reckless behavior. School staff must do their job and protect the children under their care. And students must take a stand against bullying whenever they see it happening around them.
Bullying leaves lifelong scars on victims. It enforces antisocial behavior patterns in bullies as they mature. It can have deadly consequences. And it must not be tolerated or laughed off.