I’ve been holding on to this story for over a week now. I didn’t
want to post it before Christmas, and then I didn’t want to wait until the
first of the New Year. But the fact is that these stories must be told because
they’re still happening; we’re still wringing our hands and asking ‘What can we
do?’
Alexis “Lexi” Lopez-Brandies, a 14-year-old freshman at
Horlick Senior High School in Racine, Wisconsin, committed suicide just before Christmas.
A vigil was held last week in her memory, with nearly 200
mourners gathered outside her home carrying candles; the vigil was organized by
both the Gay-Straight Alliance [GSA] and the Youth Empowered in the Struggle [YES!],
a group for Latino students and friends.
“She was such a beautiful person and I wish everybody could have met (her) because she really did turn everybody’s life around in a positive manner.”—Michael Dollaka-Posch, a friend
Lexi’s friends and family believe she was the victim of
bullying which lead to her taking her own life, saying she was verbally
attacked at school and on social media.
Stacy Tapp, a spokesperson for the Racine School District, says
officials are working with the GSA and YES! to come up with an effective
program to address bullying, and to address issues confronting students who
identify as LGBTQ, and while I applaud that, in a way, I’m tired of schools and
school officials saying things like “we’re working on it.”
Here’s how it’s done: bullying is not acceptable behavior;
ever. You bully someone; you’re out. The victims of the bullies aren’t
punished; they aren’t told to stop “acting gay”; they aren’t told how they need
to adapt; if you bully someone, you’re out. Even if you’re a teacher or a coach
or another parent. You call it Zero Tolerance and you mean it. Zero bullying.
Work done.
And then maybe we won’t have Another One.
These stories seem never ending and no-one in authority ever cares enough to put in an across the board system of dealing with bullying. Teachers should go through training to identify and deal with bullying. If they are scared of the bullies then the support should be available from their peers and superiors to stand behind teachers taking action. All children should be taught that it is acceptable to be different, no matter in what way we are different from our peer group or those older or younger than us. And children should be taught how to deal with bullies; speaking to those in authority or perhaps older children identified as someone to go to with problems and the bully themselves may need help for whatever reason makes them inadequate enough to try and make others feel inadequate too. Bullies have often been bullied themselves. How hard would it be to make a difference so that children can feel safe?
ReplyDeleteHaving spent time in the classroom, and the hallways, I know it can be very, very subtle. I like the idea of empowering children to stand up. Has to start early before you get to The Toxic Zone - middle school!
ReplyDelete:(
ReplyDeleteSo much of this starts at home. I think a school taking a strong stance can help, but if a child grows up in a bigoted, uncaring home, I'm not sure a good School Board or supportive teachers are enough. It's sad and I don't know what the solution is. I'm just glad I grew up in a family that taught me to think for myself and to judge people by their actions, not their appearance.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeletewhat this girl was amazing but why are kids not learning how to stop people dont know how it feels to want to go home and sit in your room and cry yourself to sleep and wake up and want to cut iknow exactly how it feels at schools there is no consiquence so why not stop thats what the students have going through there head shit get it through your head bullying is not okay
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear of this. Even this many years later. She was beautiful and deserved a long life. I will never understand why people bully one another even after seeing/reading/experiencing stories such as Alexis'. May she rest in peace. Prayers are always with her family and everyone that knows and loves her. I only wish karma on the person that caused this. I wish that if someone commited suicide due to bullying, the person found guilty of the bullying would do jail time or something! She is missed and forever will be.
ReplyDeleteI still miss my cousin. You'd think that even with the little bits I knew of her my memory of her would move on. But no. It just, doesn't. I was too young then to know what happened. I went to a street corner, got handed a candle and stood around for awhile, people crying beside me. I was confused rather than sorrowful. But now I know. I know how she was neglected everywhere she went. No one deserves that. I'd give so much to have her back. I hope the people that hurt her are satisfied now. Satisfied that they destroyed so any people's lives. Satisfied that took someone's life. I'm happy to say that my immediate family is very accepting to ANY type of person. I feel loved wherever I go. Everyone should.
ReplyDeleteWe love you. You aren't forgotten.
ReplyDelete