Cyber Bullying

It started with sly comments,
turned to hurtful language
until the mirror became a liar,
razor honed to a cruel edge.

What happened to my boy?
Now sadness is his attire,
razor honed to a cruel edge,
until the mirror became a liar.

Daddy, why do they hate me?
I will be perfect, I did pledge,
until the mirror became a liar,
razor honed to a cruel edge.

We are gathered here to mourn
in front of a sad funeral choir,
razor honed to a cruel edge,
until the mirror became a liar.

Student leaders shed tears in a Ramsey, NJ school one day Friday last month as the father of a Vermont teen recounted his son's suicide and put a face to the problem of cyberbullying.

The powerful presentation by John Halligan was the cornerstone of a daylong summit on cyberbullying head at Eric S. Smith Middle School in Ramsey, NJ.

"Mr. Halligan's story brought out the emotional side of bullying," said Nick Schifano, a Ramsey student counsel officer. "It shows it doesn't hurt one person. It hurts family and friends."

As young people spend more time instant messaging, texting, emailing and using social networking sites, the peer harassment that once occurred in hallways and schoolyards has them into cyberspace, experts say.

"It's so much a part of their life," said Richard Wiener, the Smith School principal. "So we have to equip them to use the technology in a way that's going to be productive, and not destructive."

"I don't think it ever goes away," said Dave Pfeiffer, a guidance counselor from Ridgewood, NJ. "Kids will always have that battle in life."