Why was matt epling bullied

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Bills would strengthen Michigan's anti-bullying laws, promote education around teen suicide. By: Mikayla Temple. Kevin Epling. More: Holt student told to drop bullying complaints, mom says. Students called her names, Tyria Norris said, made negative remarks about her having two mothers, and held her down on the playground. Alexus began eating lunch at a table by herself, and students often walked past her and called her names, Tyria Norris said.

Alexus told staff about the incidents, but not her mothers. And school staff didn't call either parent, Tyria Norris said. The couple learned about most of the incidents after they say Alexus was pushed down a flight of stairs by another student outside the school last month. She suffered a wrist injury, a concussion and cuts to her face. Tyria Norris said bystanders told her her daughter was pushed, but school officials determined Alexus fell. Waverly Superintendent Kelly Blake said privacy laws prevent her from discussing specific incidents involving students.

School staff should be trained to recognize bullying, said Limber, the developmental psychologist and Clemson professor. Name calling, teasing and physical acts can all qualify, she said. The common thread in every instance is that an imbalance of power exists between the person bullying and the person being bullied, Limber said. It is often social or emotional.

Johns' Palmer said. More: Is your child being bullied? Is your child the bully? Here's what to do. In March Lansing schools administrators recommended its board change that definition.

The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time and intentionally causes hurt or harm to another person or group of people who feel helpless to respond. Stutzky said an incident does not have to be repeated to be considered bullying. Some victims are subjected to more than one incident of bullying by more than one person at different times while at school or on the school bus, he said.

It can also come from a teacher, coach or caregiver, he said. Tyria and Victoria Norris pulled their daughter out of Waverly schools last month. Some school officials say they are engaged in addressing bullying. Gaggle employs people who review communications for anything that may indicate violence, bullying, hate speech, inappropriate images or possible self-harm. Serious concerns prompt an immediate phone call to school officials, McCullough said.

Eaton Rapids Superintendent Bill DeFrance credits the program with helping his staff intervene in everything from bullying to potential suicide attempts. He wouldn't give specifics, but said in March he received a weekend call from a Gaggle staff member regarding communication that indicated a student's intent to harm themselves. DeFrance said school staff immediately reached out to the student's parents and helped to prevent a tragedy.

Advocates and legislators are still working to affect change. Epling speaks to students and staff at school districts throughout Michigan. More: year-old died from suicide, despite his mother's pleas to Lansing Schools, Dean Transportation. Bullying is a widespread problem, she said, and it can lead to tragedy when schools don't address it. Republican state Sen. The state lawmaker said the bill was personal to him because his son, now 31, had been a victim of bullying, and because a friend's granddaughter had fatally shot herself after being bullied.

There is no intent on my part to justify bullying, in any form. Dan Savage, a sex columnist who launched the It Gets Better Project to encourage gay youth, however, called the bill in its current form "a license to bully. You don't have a right to inflict your private moral judgments on those people in a place where you are a public servant and an employee of the state.

Michigan should be ashamed of itself.