From today's Observer Magazine

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This is the true story of a family which was totally devastated by the outcome of bullying on a son who might have been gay. I read it and wept, it is so sad. It involves suicide so please if this pushes your buttons don't read it.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/feb/19/dominic-crouch...

Angharad.

Comments

Another young life wasted

I feel for this family beset by a double tragedy.Schools talk a good game when it comes to bullying but fail miserably when confronted with it.The school was not aware of any bullying,no,they never are as this involves action by individuals who are not commited to this course of action.Ignore it and it will go away and we can always quote the party line and say it does not occur in our school.The poor lad had learning difficultys with dyslexia which should have meant he was given extra care and help.This was not apparent from the article.Until schools come to grips with bullying in all its forms including teachers bullying pupils we will continue to read stories like this one.We all work in understaffed and overworked environments but we manage to rise above and do our jobs with professional pride in ourselves and our work.When schools manage this then the change will start.I just feel so sad at the moment,rest in peace Dominic.

devonmalc

I saw it ...

... but decided I didn't want to read it. Knowing what the story was going to be about the accompanying photographs (of a loving family) were more than enough for my sensibilities. Then I also recall our dear Mr Gove (Education Minister) saying earlier this week that homophobic material in the context of a RE lesson was permissible and outside anti discrimination policies.

Robi

I'm shocked ...

... truly shocked that language like that comes from the pen of a beautiful woman like you ;)

R

I am not

I am also angrier than I have been in a long while. The first scenes in my Sweat and Tears, the beatings, the homophobic abuse, are all real, and they all happened to me. I very, very nearly did not survive. But I was never bullied, oh no; I was just 'disruptive', 'odd'. God (ha!) forbid that the school might be sullied by accusations that it tolerated bullying!

I could go on, but everything Ang has said, and her language, goes for me.

Bastards and arseholes all.

Perhaps I'm biased; well yes, I am biased.

The school was a religion based school. Most monotheistic faiths are riven with homophbia and transphobia, one only has to read their advertising literature like the Bible and the Koran to name two examples. (Although there are plenty more.)

If their books teach them thus, it's hardly surprising that it translates to the children in some literal and consequently destructive misinterpretation..

I thank my lucky stars I'm atheist, it relieves me of any burdensome and illogical conscience surrounding my own genetic conditions.

Thanks for bringing this item to our notice Ang.

OXOXOX

Bev.

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Does anyone else think it strange?

Okay, I watch a lot of shows that deal with forensics. A smallish teen jumps about three feet vertically to open the roof hatch. Then, when he allegedly jumps, ends up 26 feet away from the building? That kid doesn't look like an NBA player to me.

Sorry, folks, I just don't buy it. To me this smacks of homicide, not suicide. Of course, the school wants it to go away. Policies and procedures weren't followed, and no evidence of bullying was discovered. Makes one wonder how hard they looked. And this wouldn't be the first time that school authorities intimidated students to hide the truth.

It doesn't help that the school is putatively Christian. But I don't have a lot of tolerance for the Januses who spout 'God is love,' and 'judge not lest ye be judged,' from one face and 'God hates [fill in minority slur here]'.

Yes, I have a problem with people who try to justify their petty hates by donning a mantle of righteousness.

And as upset as I am, my faith calls upon me to forgive these misbegotten... um... people. They truly know not what they do.

Janet

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