This time the scene is Hamilton, IN and the victim is Marcus Bell, 14. The tragedy happened last week.
His father reported that he was being bullied, but there is uncertainty about the relationship to the suicide, according to this report from the Indianapolis Star.
FISHERS, Ind. — A moment of silence was held this morning at Hamilton Southeastern High School in memory of a freshman who took his own life last week.
HSE officials still aren’t releasing many details about the suicide last week of a Jamarcus “Marcus” Bell, 14, that could link the tragedy to bullying.
In a news conference this afternoon, Superintendent Brian Smith cited privacy requirements for student disciplinary records and would not say whether the district had begun an investigation into the allegations of bullying before or after Bell took his own life on Wednesday.
Smith also wouldn’t say whether Bell had ever reported being bullying to school officials.
Bell’s father, Corey Moore, has said his son was bullied recently in welding class at Hamilton Southeastern High School.
This article gives more specifics and indicates the role of bullying.
Jamarcus had been bullied repeatedly at Hamilton Southeastern High in Fishers and earlier at Fishers Junior High, Moore said. Incidents included Jamarcus being hit, punched and kicked, and the theft of his shoes and some clothing, Moore said, adding that some students even kicked over and smashed candles at a vigil set up by his friends Friday night.
Not much more on it here in Indiana. Back in 2005 State Senator Tom Wyss (R-Fort Wayne) created new laws designed to eliminate school bullying. Recently Wyss spoke at a Catholic school in Fort Wayne to kick off its anti-bullying campaign, he said that he is supporting more anti-bullying legislation in Indianapolis. And, “We don’t want to penalize schools, but then again, at the same time, this is a very important issue. In fact, even the U.S. Department of Education is getting involved…..” The suicide rate in the Fort Wayne area has gone up about 50% over last year among all age groups.
.
Recently, Senator Wyss said that while Indiana school systems may have bullying policies in place, he wants to make sure they are enforced. He was quoted as saying, “we’ve got a lot of school systems where the administrators aren’t really following through like they should.” Indiana law defines bullying as “any verbal, physical or other act committed by a student with the intent of harassing, ridiculing, intimidating or harming another student.” But it has been suggested that does not cover cyber-bullying.
.
Indiana Equality Action, the public policy and advocacy arm of Indiana Equality, has said that it met with Senator Wyss and will be working with the Senator and other members of the Indiana General Assembly to craft and pass appropriate changes to the current law so as to establish a statewide framework for enforcing bullying regulations.
…
Not much more on it here in Indiana. Back in 2005 State Senator Tom Wyss (R-Fort Wayne) created new laws designed to eliminate school bullying. Recently Wyss spoke at a Catholic school in Fort Wayne to kick off its anti-bullying campaign, he said that he is supporting more anti-bullying legislation in Indianapolis. And, “We don’t want to penalize schools, but then again, at the same time, this is a very important issue. In fact, even the U.S. Department of Education is getting involved…..” The suicide rate in the Fort Wayne area has gone up about 50% over last year among all age groups.
.
Recently, Senator Wyss said that while Indiana school systems may have bullying policies in place, he wants to make sure they are enforced. He was quoted as saying, “we’ve got a lot of school systems where the administrators aren’t really following through like they should.” Indiana law defines bullying as “any verbal, physical or other act committed by a student with the intent of harassing, ridiculing, intimidating or harming another student.” But it has been suggested that does not cover cyber-bullying.
.
Indiana Equality Action, the public policy and advocacy arm of Indiana Equality, has said that it met with Senator Wyss and will be working with the Senator and other members of the Indiana General Assembly to craft and pass appropriate changes to the current law so as to establish a statewide framework for enforcing bullying regulations.
…