Wake up parents, teachers, schools, and all other that work with today's youth; those keystokes, clicks of a mouse, taps of fingers can lead to nearly deadly results.
Ironically at the same school that Michael Brewer attended, the teen that was doused in alcohol by other teens and set on fire, 15 year old Josie Lou Rately was nearly beaten to death and is in a medically induced coma.
According to NBC Miami Josie Lou Ratley, 15, has undergone two surgeries to relieve pressure on her brain from the savage beating that took place last Wednesday outside Deerfield Beach Middle School.
Doctors at Broward General Medical Center said Friday that they're optimistic about Ratley's recovery, but that it's now a matter of waiting for her to heal.
Her alleged attacker, 15-year-old Wayne Treacy, is being held at a juvenile detention center. Treacy's 13-year-old alleged accomplice, Kayla Manson, is also being held. Manson is charged as a principal because she helped Treacy find Ratley, authorities say. (See photo's below in slideshow).
Appearing on the NBC's Today Show and CBS's Early Show, Josie Lou's mother Hilda Gotay Ratley, and aunt Linda Sarmiento stated Josie did not know the suspect. They also asked that families reach out and talk to their own kid about this incident and make this a teachable moment. The dangers of school violence, bullying and terrors of texting is a growing problem that parents need to be in tune with and open lines of communication.
Visit STOMP OUT BULLYING and learn more on talking to your children about this sensitive and critical subject.
Bullying is a problem that affects millions of students of all races and classes. 1 out of 4 kids is bullied and 42% of kids have been bullied while online. Child and teen Bullying and Cyberbullying are at an all-time high. Some kids are so tormented that suicide has become an alternative for them. It has everyone worried. Not just the kids on its receiving end, but the parents, teachers and others who may not understand how extreme bullying can get. Love Our Children USA is working aggressively to prevent these issues and to help the kids and teens affected by it. - STOMPOUTBULLYING
Be an educated parent, you will have safer children.
Watch video and slideshow below.
Comments
Violence is violence, and is ugly and unacceptable, be it cyberbullying or other forms. Our kids' world is too full of unnecessary violence.
Parents AND MEDIA must teach their kids starting as early as age two in ways the children can understand the value of human life, the dignity of being human, and the importance of the Golden Rule. Parents who neglect this task are latent abusers. Period.
Dr. Eitan Schwarz, author "Kids, Parents, and Technology: An Instruction Guide for Young Families" available at www.lulu.com.
I guess I feel undecided on this. I don't believe that Josie deserved to get beat for what she said. That was wrong, don't get me wrong. It was a little extreme what he did. But at the same time, Josie said something that was very disrespectful and hurtful. She is in the wrong for doing what she did and not caring for other people's pain. I can see how someone would totally "lose it" after recieving a text like he did from her. He is still tramautized by is brothers death, as he should be. Did she deserve to get beat? NO. Would it have happened though if she would have kept her mouth shut? No. It a sad situation both ways. Physical pain and emotional pain are both sometimes, too hard to deal with. They are BOTH victims, and they are BOTH guilty as well.
Josie DID NOT deserve to be beaten nearly half to death just because of a text message. Some kids get mad and open there mouth about things they shouldn't say, But still, Give the girl a break, He had no need to get all offensive about it! He doesn't even know the girl! Yes, Maybe she should have kept her mouth shut, But still, Poor Josie, Fighting for her life! What kinda of sick animal would beat a young girl half to death. Sounds like some serious issues to me! I'm 13 years old right now! He should have just accepted the fact and move on! No need to threaten someone! I PRAY FOR JOSIE! Get Well Soon Joise, My names Kasey, I'm 13 years old! ~Get Well soon~
i do feel sorry for the girl but only to a point. anyone see the movie Mean Girls??? when the girl gets hit by a bus....
come on. this girl did not deserve to get her skull bashed in but it's her mouth that put her in the position that she is in now. if she didn't text anything mean, she wouldn't be in rehabilitation now.
her attacker does have issues...obviously, the whole family has issues. if the brother committed suicide and this kid has a temper, maybe the parents need to look at themselves and THINK 'what do we do wrong?.'
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