This is where I'm not surprised in the growing numbers of kids dropping out of school and doing the online schools or being homeschooled. Bullying can be extremely hard on a kid, especially when the adults and teachers are pushing it under the rug and telling them to "deal with it". It's very sad and disturbing.
I don't agree with what she did and yes she should be punished but I think these school needs to start taking things a little more seriously and dealing with the problem before something major happens.

Just this morning I heard a news report about a new website being used by schools in several states to help students with bullies. They can report bullies anonymously on the website and then the schools will investigate. I wish this had been in place when it was my daughter being bullied!!

We don't know for sure if the Hempfield girl was bullied but I'd lay money on it. This would be a good case for a peer review committee or a youth aid panel. These groups could get to the root of the problem and really help the girl rather then just suspending her.

Hope, if you can find that website, I think you should post it. If nothing else, it might help some of these kids to know others are in the same boat.

I don't know if any schools in PA use a website like this but it's called schooltipline.com

So why are we ALLOWING this? Every year, my taxes go up, but the safety, security of the sudents does not! Oh yeah!!!!! I forgot! My taxes go sky high, each year to pay the teachers' salaries and HEALTH CARE! Where else in PA does anyone have their health care paid for them? Time for these people to get a reality check and start helping the "middle man; average taxpayer". Yes, I am a college graduate and wish I could work 9 months out of a year and make what the teachers do. Before you bash me, read about my nephew (previous thread)....that NEVER would have happened where I worked. The Asst. Principle would have been FIRED!