attack by five 12 year olds on aspergers' classmate

[bullied for aspergers]

Channel Five just reported on the beating received by a boy with aspergers. One of the five attackers even video taped it. The story seems to have been covered up by officials. Will anyone who knows anything about this experience please tell why it happened, and what has happened since. I know the boy refuse to to to school alone now. People with Aspergers', a mild form of autumism, have trouble having relationahips, but usually have above average intelligence. Albert Einstein had Aspergers' Syndrome. I hope and pray that the people of Templeton will be sensitive and supportive to this boy. He should not be forced to suffer a life alone, as many Aspergers' experience. Someday, he may very well bring Templeton great pride, if he is not destroyed before his life gets underway.

[outragedmom]

I am disgusted by what I have heard about the boy with Aspergers being beaten by a gang of violent and ignorant bullies. How sickening to hear this is how children with disabilities are treated out in the "safe-haven" of their school environment. Where the h--- are the adults here? And what kind of sensitivity-training and disability awareness programs are in place in this school system? This is an outrage, and parents and adults across this country should stand up and speak out against this type of violence against our most innocent and fragile population.
This school system needed a wake-up call, and this was it.

There should be an immediate call to action to provide information and training for staff, an appropriate on-going anti-bully and sensitivity training course for all students, many of whom obviously need it, and a plan of action to protect and care for this child who cannot understand the social nuances due to the disability, not due to willful ignorance.

I'm disgusted.

[Fearful Mom]

I am the mother of a child diagnosed with AS. The situation reported on Channel 5 is exactly the kind of situation that keeps me awake at night.

School districts seem to be appallingly unprepared to help our children. Parents recognize the risk our children face everyday - even by so-called friends.

This was a violent crime, planned and executed by ignorant and cruel people. Their punishment should fit their crime. The bruises will heal but the damage done to this young man will be with him for the rest of his life. There isn't a school district that doesn't have an anti-bullying program of some kind. Children need to know there are real consequences for their actions.

[plymouth sad mom of 2]

hi I am also a plymouth mother who everyday of our lives worrie about our sons. My son is 14 and the other 16 they both go to a Plymouth school and both have already had a few run in's with kids and even adults who do not understand,something like this terrifies me, we have to join together and get the word out and let kids and people know about autism. I agree with you also on letting the kids know about the consequences of bulling,that is formaost on my mind!.....this is important because just one bad thing can put a child who is on the autism spectrum back into there world when we need them to be in ours,it can really steel there souls. sad mom of 2

Fearful Mom wrote:

I am the mother of a child diagnosed with AS. The situation reported on Channel 5 is exactly the kind of situation that keeps me awake at night.
School districts seem to be appallingly unprepared to help our children. Parents recognize the risk our children face everyday - even by so-called friends.
This was a violent crime, planned and executed by ignorant and cruel people. Their punishment should fit their crime. The bruises will heal but the damage done to this young man will be with him for the rest of his life. There isn't a school district that doesn't have an anti-bullying program of some kind. Children need to know there are real consequences for their actions.

[plymouth mom UNREAL]

Something needs to be done! I don't call what these kids did bulling. They actually thought it was funny enough to stop and take pictures to save the memory of what they did to a kid that already was fighting to just B in a world that was different to him. As kids we all have done something mean in our lives but there is a point when to far in my eyes is to far, it isn't bulling. It was cruel,cold,sick and uncalled for. What made them find beating and hurting a kid who was different funny? Is this what they would do to there brother or sister if they were different,then take pictures to always remember the moment,how would they feel if the shoe was on the other foot,is it funny then?

[west newbury mass]

My only hope is that the court system make the consequence fit the behavior.My hope would be to have these children do service in the Autism Community and learn to live in the world of Autism.Anti-bullying policies call for suspension of some sort..An then what?
This was not bullying. This was cruel and planned out.
Where are the programs of Tolerance?
Until our school systems and communities incorporate tolerance and acceptance many children will continue to experience this type of cruelty.
How sad that we are so accepting of this as "bullying"..It is NOT.

[Concerned Relative]

I am a relative of one of the children involved in the beating. Before you start beating up on me, please understand that I feel what my relation did was terrible, cruel and inhuman.
I also know enough about this situation to tell you that the "Beating" that was video taped was a young girl pushing the child with AS. He was puched once into a mailbox, where he cut his hand, twice into the woods where he fell, and then was dragged by the arm while he was walking toward the road. That was the extent of the "Beating". Understand that the head line "Autistic Child Beaten" gets an audience.
I also know that the "Beating" began with one child (and it happened to be a girl) when all of the children got off the bus. No other children joined in, but several were there when it happened and did nothing to stop it. One took instruction from the girl and filmed it on the girl's camera. There was no coordinated attack on this child. Further, none of the children knew that the child had a disability. Again, it doesn't lessen the impact of what happened, but it also means the child was not "targeted" because of his disability.
Some of you are asking "Where were the parents?". The parents were at home waiting for their children to arrive. The event happened in such a short period of time and so sporadically, the parents had no idea anything ocurred until days later.
From what I know, all of the children are remourseful, not just because they were caught but because once they had a chance to think about what they did, the recognized the inhumanity of it.
There is no place for bullying, the children are remourseful, but please, let's not buy into the media's selling of this as a "Beating" and understand that sometimes events are reported as more than they were to garner an audience.
Lastly, let's hope that the school system starts taking bullying more seriously and deals with bullying effectively with proper age sensitive instruction not only on avoiding bullying, but what to do when confronted by bullying. Suspending children from school is not the answer. The situation has to be avoided before someone gets injured or worse.

[Kaosgirl]

To Concerned Relative - I am a parent of a 17 year old teen with Asperger's. What was done IS a CRIME!
Don't try to justify this by saying the children involved are remorseful - they are upset that they were caught. YOU are also responsible, for not helping teach YOUR family and relatives proper respect for other human lives. Our family has been in exactly this same situation; it took over six years for our son to regain enough confidence to trust any child trying to approach a friendship.
You are correct on one issue - school suspension is not the answer. Jail time for the parents and mandated public service for the children involved for the remainder of their school years is the closest humane punishment. I hope each and every one of those children who attached the boy are at some point on the receiving end of a violent crime in their lives. THAT might give some reflection of their actions!

[Templeton Resident]

In reply to concerned relative, I am sure the children are remourseful, they got caught. Or am I to understand they went home, realized their mistake, and came forward to confess.

To downplay this incident from beating to "teasing" makes me feel almost as sick, as I did when I first saw this on the news.

As a resident of Templeton, I am ashamed that there are children in this town who behave this way towards their fellow classmates, whether they are disabled, overweight, thin, shy, not as good looking as the others, etc. But that is the way of the world. We have all seen or experienced this at one time in our lives. Children in my opinion, can be the cruelest.

The fact they had the gall to videotape the incident for perhaps a posting on my space or a sharing of some sort, has shown just how much more vicious children have become.

We live in different times now, children learn and mature at a much quicker rate than when I was a child. There is no good excuse for any of their behavior, and if you want me to believe these other kids were as much a victim as the taunted child. Spare me.

You are right, they should not have suspended them from school, rather they should have been forced to endure a week of constant taunting and bullying from their fellow classmates, while being videotaped.

Sorry, but I am disgusted and sickened by this incident. I have no compassion for the five accused. I can't believe, not a one had the sense to stop this.

I am glad I don't know who these children are, and frankly I hope I never do. They sound like a group to be forgotten, not remembered.

[Concerned Relative]

Kaosgirl, First, let me say I am not responsible. You're jumping to conclusions. I am not a parent, merely a relative. Second, you're assuming that the "Beating" was in fact a beating. This was a case of pushing. I haven't seen the video tape, not do I want to, but the police officer interviewed said it was pushing. No punching, no kicking, just pushing. Was it wrong? Absolutely. You're arguing with the wrong person if you think I'm here to defend this. What I am here for is to try to make people understand that the situation was not as severe as the media makes it out to be.
For the people that say these children should go to jail, etc.. What are you going to do when YOUR child pushes someone? It happens. It's not right, but it happens. Does the fact that this happened to someone with Aspergers make it any worse than if any other child was pushed? No!
To Templeton Resident, I would probably side with you in your arguement that a more suitable punishment would be to have them endure the constant taunting and bullying while being videotaped. But that isn't going to happen. So let me ask you this.. Now that the bullying in this case is over and one life has been adversely affected, is everyone so vindictive that they want to ruin the lives of these other children? Is there no moving forward from this? Would you have these children pulled out of school and have a scarlett "B" pinned to their chest to signify they were the Bullies? Do the parents that are teaching kinds not to be bullies become bullies themselves when handing out punishment for a childhood mistake?
Were they remourseful because they were caught? No. I don't think getting caught is going to make a child like this remourseful. I don't think they would have been remourseful if they hadn't been caught, but I think the remoursefulness comes from the acknoledgement that they did something wrong and socially unacceptable. Some one asked where the parents were earlier. That's where they are. Trying to teach their kids and making mistakes, but still giving the best supervision they can under the circumstances.

[Templeton Resident]

Unfortunately we will move forward, and to tell you the truth, the only one that will actually have life long lasting memories, will be the child that was abused.
Though painful now, the others will find a way to block these memories out of their minds. It is something we humans do to cope, in order to move on. Their memories as the tormentors are not as strong as those of the tormented.

As far as punishment, I have found in life that what goes around, comes around. It does not matter
what happens to them now, or for others to want their punishment to be harsh and swift. Life will work this all out. It always does.

I still have no use for cruel people, adults or children. Again, Sorry, but I don't believe these children will be any better people in the future due to the fact they are remourseful now.

[Concerned Relative]

I hear you on your last comment Templeton Resident. And let me say, I was one of those kids tormented when I was younger. I didn't have a learning disability, but I was physically developmentally challenged. Don't misunderstand, I'm not handicapped, but I was in the remedial phys ed classes. I wore glasses (still do) and took gym class in smaller private groups.
I used to get tormented and beat up because of my physical abilities until I was in High School. Believe it or not, I haven't looked back, and have never wished ill on anyone that had tormented me. Some of these people turned out to be be bad people, some didn't. I don't think you can judge how a person will be later in life by their acts when they're 12 years old.

[Bullied for Aspergers]

As the person who started these postings on Sunday, I have been surfing the net. The story has already spread across the nation. What distresses me the most is the description of what took place, as described by the victim's aunt. Anyone who wants to hear and see the video - as shown on Channel Five in Boston on Sunday, can find it on this website. A look at the Templeton Town Government website shows that the town does not even have a town disability commission - where the boy and his aunt might find some legitimate support during this ordeal. School personnel often try to cover up such situations, supposedly to protect the children, but in my opinion, it is to protect themselves. Thus, a quick coverup is normal in such situations. I hope some of the boy's classmates will take him in as a friend and help him survive what may be a nasty situation. He is all alone, and Aspergers Syndrome makes relationships very difficult. Now, that he has been ganged up on and bullied by five classmates, he may no longer be trusting of anyone. Some of his classmates and class leaders, should invite him into their circle or "clique". They should be his "buddies" and help him feel some comfort again at school. Already, he fears walking home alone. Maybe the bullies were from his own neighborhood, in which case his feeling of abandonment will be even more difficult to overcome. As I noted in the first posting, he will probably do well in the intelligence department, as that is also part of Aspergers Syndrome. But, unless he is "rescued by the good kids among his classmates, these first years of being an adolescent, could very easily drive him into retreating from society and suffer great lonliness. This is the 21st century, society knows what Aspergers is, and that it can be treated. If there is an Aspergers organization in the area, he might want to attend a meeting and see how other young people overcome their genetic "disability". Templeton residents should help this boy and other persons of disabilites in their town. Someday they could very well bring your town great pride. There should be no place for hate in our Commonwealth.

[From Town]

I see everyone writing on here with all there saport for this family an coming from that town and gone to the same school!! THANK YOU!! This is very shocking to think that are town has such horriable children an how do parents not see it when there children are bully's are town is now not the same for this !!! I hope these family's put down there head's in shame when they walk into a store an they are now know'n as the parent's who should have knowen better!!! I have no pitty for them NONE and I hope these children get a punishment they need an diserve!!!!!! autisam is nothing to fool with and these childen are brillant an smart in there own ways and they one day will do great things in this world!!!

[carol cooksey]

Concerned Relative wrote:

I am a relative of one of the children involved in the beating. Before you start beating up on me, please understand that I feel what my relation did was terrible, cruel and inhuman.
I also know enough about this situation to tell you that the "Beating" that was video taped was a young girl pushing the child with AS. He was puched once into a mailbox, where he cut his hand, twice into the woods where he fell, and then was dragged by the arm while he was walking toward the road. That was the extent of the "Beating". Understand that the head line "Autistic Child Beaten" gets an audience.
I also know that the "Beating" began with one child (and it happened to be a girl) when all of the children got off the bus. No other children joined in, but several were there when it happened and did nothing to stop it. One took instruction from the girl and filmed it on the girl's camera. There was no coordinated attack on this child. Further, none of the children knew that the child had a disability. Again, it doesn't lessen the impact of what happened, but it also means the child was not "targeted" because of his disability.
Some of you are asking "Where were the parents?". The parents were at home waiting for their children to arrive. The event happened in such a short period of time and so sporadically, the parents had no idea anything ocurred until days later.
From what I know, all of the children are remourseful, not just because they were caught but because once they had a chance to think about what they did, the recognized the inhumanity of it.
There is no place for bullying, the children are remourseful, but please, let's not buy into the media's selling of this as a "Beating" and understand that sometimes events are reported as more than they were to garner an audience.
Lastly, let's hope that the school system starts taking bullying more seriously and deals with bullying effectively with proper age sensitive instruction not only on avoiding bullying, but what to do when confronted by bullying. Suspending children from school is not the answer. The situation has to be avoided before someone gets injured or worse.

You termed this "beating". What this was, was a HATE CRIME just the same as beating someone for being black or gay! This child WAS targeted because of his diability made him easy prey. I hope and have contacted MANY authorities(senator Kennedy and Kerry ,D.A.'s office, Attorney General MA, etc.)in hopes that this WILL be prosecuted as the hate crime that it was.

[Please update]

Will someone please update what has happened in the case of the 11 year old boy with Aspergers who was beaten, bullied, and videotaped by his classmates. Please do not let this case be dropped from a cover-up. This boy's whole life can be destroyed by what has happened to him. Has he withdrawn from school? Have his classmates given him some support, particularly when the bullies are allowed to return to school? He is living with his Guardian-Aunt. Does he have support from town officials, from religious or civic groups, from the scouts, from anyone? Templeton, please do not let this kid be ignored and driven into a life of not trusting people. He deserves better - and it is the civic responsibility of the town to get behind him and help him regain as normal a life as possible. Do not allow this life to be destroyed!

[Jeremy_Visionary - Athol]

ok first off
have you all lost your minds?
"Jail" time for the kids or parents?
Thats ubsurd. They are 12 years old. Do you know what happens to kids when they get put into "programs" for anger management or juvi homes? I do. They get worse. A lot go crazy.
Not to mention that these kids are 12 YEARS OLD. And all they did was do what kids do. A kid says something mean to a girl and shes gonna get mad and record herself getting him back so she can show her friends and make fun of the kid.
Who gives a flying F*** if the kid has autism. Get over it. Stop labling the poor kid, he has enough problems. Start focusing on his good features and they will become dominant.
On another note you cant teach sensativity or anti bullying if you dont teach forgiveness. Yes what these kids did was wrong. Show them some love and forgiveness and i'll bet it will go a lot further than branding them loosers for the rest of there lives. These kids are our future.
Lets teach them right or they will grow up wrong.
Screw autism, it's only a label. Look at the kids soul and you wont see any labels.
Before you cast these kids away. WWJD
Lets teach them forgiveness so they can see whats right. Thats the only way your gonna change them.

[Cruel Nov25 posting]

The beating of the autistic boy and the recording of the attack is a hate crime under Federal Law known as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1989. It is a civil rights crime as well. However, my only question was is the victim OK? Are his classmates and teachers and town supporting him - or has he been driven out of town? He lives with his aunt-guardian and was in a state of shock. He even feared walking home from school. Is he OK - or is it all covered up.

[Please Update]

Like most cases of this kind, the situation seems to have been covered up. This was a tragic story. Did the autistic boy ever return to school? Was he and his guardian forced to move out of Templeton for his safety? Was the Templeton School System responsible for letting this horror story go on right under its own eyes? Did State authorities ever look into this nightmare or did they ignore it? This story went around the world in a week of two. Just use a search engine and see the many foreign media that covered it. Please, will someone in Templeton update the situation. No names, just tell us how the boy is doing or has he been forced to withdraw from society? This tragedy must not be forgotten!

[More disabled beaten]

Sunday's N,Y. Times had a lead story on a disabled 15 year old being beaten severely by classmates. The article had pictures of the boy which showed the black and blue bruises on his body. It has been going on for some time, just like the beating of the Templeton 11 year old. Meanwhile a Lynn boy was bullied so badly, two weeks ago, that he is in Mass. General Hospital on a ventilator, paralyzed from the neck down. In both cases, school people were not there for the boys as was also the case in Templeton. Will no one in Templeton report on what happened to the eleven year old, attacked last October. Has he left Templeton? Is he back in school with support from classmates and teachers? Is there a coverup going on in Templeton against hatred of the disabled? Hopefully, someone with a conscience will tell us what happened to the boy.