Yesterday, the New York Times ran a front-page article (with photo, at right) about Billy Wolfe, a boy in Fayetteville, Arkansas, who has been tormented by classmates since puberty. What he's been through sounds truly appalling. And yet, there has been some sniping about the boy's story being worthy of the paper's front page. Gawker, for example, said, "Exhaustion with scandal and financial ruin are the most charitable explanation for [Dan] Barry's piece today on 'A Boy the Bullies Love to Beat Up, Repeatedly.'"
But the story seemed worthwhile and timely to us. When we were all discussing the North Carolina effort to ban bullying last week, it became clear that the topic is fresh on a lot of people's minds.
The family of the Times kid is suing some of the bullies and the school district. It sounds like they have a case. But we still don't understand why this kid is still at this horrible school, around these terrible people. Seems like as clear a case for homeschooling or transferring as we've ever seen.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 3)
1. This is exactly why we have had all these school
shootings. When kids reach the limit, they snap
and fight back. Lay all these deaths at the feet
of cowardly school administrators who don't have
the guts to confront bullies. I did not let my kids
be bullied in school. I told the principals, you
stop it or I will.
J. Stone
Mel Strickland at 10:44AM on Mar 25th 2008
2. Fry the entire state in hot sause and BBQ roast and toast them, then remeber it is all in the Sause.
Michael at 11:30AM on Mar 25th 2008
3. Burn the entire racist, homophobic, fowle state of indecent bullies. Roast them in Hot Sause and BBQ, cook them tender and remember its all in the Sause.
Mike Gayer at 11:30AM on Mar 25th 2008
4. Suppose he goes to a different school and the bullying is worse? Have the kid enroll in kung-fu classes. The world is a constant battlefield. Kung-fu is good for bullies, both in school and at home.
By the by, I was talking with a black lady who was venting about how awful it is to be black, not knowing what on earth she was really talking about. So I had a talk with my brother who informed me of the Obama pastor thing and now I understand what the black lady was trying to say. She was trying to justify what the pastor had done. But what the pastor really needs is a stay in the nut house. Some people need psychotherapy, and some need a little pop in the nose. :>)
The Goddess Athena at 11:37AM on Mar 25th 2008
5. i think htis kid is just complaining because he started some stuff and had to deal with the consequences of it. so before you attack the state think about the real story, which is he started some crap and got beat up for it, thats life
Jimmy bond at 12:19PM on Mar 25th 2008
6. My daughter goes to school with that little punk. It is a well known fact that he has instigated every fight he has been in. His mother is grandstanding and the media is sucking it up in his defense. The schools hands are tied because of the privacy laws. Just talk to any kid that goes to Fayetteville High that knows him. He deserved every bit of butt kicking he has recieved.
Gb at 12:46PM on Mar 25th 2008
7. That is great gb that you teach your children that violence is a perfectly wonderful way to deal with any situation. Maybe when they get pissed off at their egotistical boss they can just fight him. Or when the bank turns them down for a loan they can have a go with a guy in a three piece suit. Or perhaps when they are ignored by their waitress they can just knock her in the head.
This might sound extreme but children have to learn how to deal with situations without violence. Otherwise they will end up in the pen.
Gwen at 1:38PM on Mar 25th 2008
8. GB you are a total moron, I would hate to meet your daughter. What a craphole you live in.
ma at 4:12PM on Mar 25th 2008
9. First off, I want to say that I go to Billy's school and am a year younger, so I know more than most of you commenters, and probably more than the people that have written these articles. I agree with GB somewhat. Yes, it IS well-known that Billy was the one that started all of these fights, and the NY Times article about him, as well as the NW Arkansas Times article that was in today's paper, were EXTREMELY biased in Billy's favor. I would hate to say that he deserved the beatings that he got, but he could have avoided them if he had kept his mouth shut.
JP at 5:21PM on Mar 25th 2008
10. This kid is not a "little punk." I go to school with him too, and I don't blame him at all for reacting to continuous and drastic torture, do you? How is it reasonable to assume it's his fault? You're no better than the bullies if you think "he got what he deserved" or "just needs to learn kung-fu." Anyone would snap being that tortured for so long! It isn't fair to him or anyone to place the blame on him or his family. The district needs a slap in the face, I hope he sues them for all they're worth. We had three bomb threats last year at our high school, and countless gang fights. There are certain areas you have to avoid in school so you don't get pummeled for looking at the wrong person. I am honestly frightened of my own school some days. God, you're all so insensitive.
FHS student at 7:46PM on Mar 25th 2008
11. I Totally agree with Gb. I go to FHS. I've been going to school with Billy for 5 years. He starts every fight he's in. The NY Times needs to get the students perspective. I've read every article about him, they all make him look like a totally innocent kid that does nothing to diserve what happens to him. That is pretty much the exact opposite of the truth. He talks a lot of crap and can't back it up. It's not the School's fault, it's his.
LM at 8:35PM on Mar 25th 2008
12. Maybe the boy could grow a penis. The other boys may not pick on him then.
mac at 9:54PM on Mar 25th 2008
13. LM - I don't care if he is innocent or not. I don't care if talks a lot of crap and I suggest that you and others learn not to care also. It is unacceptable going through lift beating on people who "bother" you. High school is not a reflection of the real world. When you mature into an adult perhaps you will realize that such behavior will only get you sued and thrown in jail. This behavior is totally unacceptable. I have to wonder if you are part of the problem. What is always funny is to see people from high school that thought they were tough by picking on smaller kids get out into the real world and just loose it. They are completely insignificant once they leave high school.
Gwen at 8:14AM on Mar 26th 2008
14. It is never appropriate for a school to disregard an incidence of physical violence, especially if the child lost consciousness as a result of the attack - whether or not he instigated it.
After similar experiences trying to defend my daughter - who has a learning disability and has never lifted a finger against another student - from bullying in 3rd grade (not only by her classmates but from her *teacher*, who also bullied her and encouraged the classmates to bully her) I can assure you the only thing that makes a school district pay attention to bullies is a) the threat of a lawsuit and 2) publicity. The rest of the time they hide behind their curtains of red tape and their meaningless "policies" until parents give up and go away.
Audra at 8:50AM on Mar 26th 2008
15. GB: It's people like you who give the south a bad rap. Yet, I just read what you said, and I do have to wonder if you have your head screwed on right. No matter what someone says they do not deserve a beating for words. Words are words, and bodily injury is totally different. How about when your daughter gets married to a redneck like you and he kicks the crap out of her for something she said? It will be a different story then, won't it? or will it?
dds at 10:56AM on Mar 26th 2008