The schools across the nation claim they are cracking down on bullies. However, they were not able to help an 11-year-old boy in Pennsylvania. Softpedia reported yesterday and updated its information today about this very sad case. They say that the child was put into a medical a coma and is fighting for his life.
Four weeks ago, Bailey O'Neill got into a schoolyard fight at Darby Township School. He was hit in the face and had his nose fractured. He fell to the ground and suffered a concussion. The parents took him to a clinic which later released him. Upon his return, the parents noticed he was not behaving normally. Bailey’s father, Rob O'Neill recounts. “He was sleeping. He was moody. He wasn’t himself. He was angry a little bit. He wasn’t really eating.”
He then began to have seizures. They rushed him to A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children and the doctors put him in a medically induced a coma. “Southeast Delco School District Superintendent Stephen Butz has released a statement expressing the district's commitment to being thorough in analyzing the case and cooperating with local police. Bailey was an honor student and participated in athletic activities.”
Softpedia quotes the father as saying, “Every day I’m trying to stay strong for him. When you get into that hospital room and you’re looking at him, I would trade places in a heartbeat. It’s my buddy, you know.” According to Mr. O’Neill, the school only gave the bully a two-day suspension.
Why is not more being done to address the bully in this case?
According to the Pennsylvania State Statue §13-3303-1-A, every school district will make their own anti-bullying policies. “Policy Relating to Bullying.--(a) No later than January 1, 2009, each school entity shall adopt a policy or amend its existing policy relating to bullying and incorporate the policy into the school entity's code of student conduct required under 22 Pa. Code § 12.3(c) (relating to school rules). The policy shall delineate disciplinary consequences for bullying and may provide for prevention, intervention and education programs, provided that no school entity shall be required to establish a new policy under this section if one currently exists and reasonably fulfills the requirements of this section. The policy shall identify the appropriate school staff person to receive reports of incidents of alleged bullying.”
Now we must wait and see what further actions the school district shall take in this case. Most people will agree that a two-day suspension is just not enough when this poor child may be fighting for his life.
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