Beata Palosz says her brother Bart Palosz, who recently committed suicide at home after the first day of school, was bullied incessantly at Greenwich High School.
Bart was mature for his age, 15, said Beata--which caused other students to make fun of him.
“He was really kind hearted,” she told the Connecticut Post. “I think that’s what kids don’t understand and don’t appreciate. Adults appreciate that. He acted very mature for his age.
“He didn’t make fun or make jokes about other people. That’s where the bullying started because he was mature enough to let it happen and not say anything. There were several instances where I heard from a friend, `Beata, something happened to Bart!‘ and I would have to talk to him and I’d say, `Bart, what happened?‘ and he would say `Oh, nothing.’ I couldn’t pull it out of him. I had to find out from people who saw it or heard about it and then I had to talk to whoever did it. I would say, `Do you think it’s OK to do that? Do you really think that’s OK?' ”
Beata said they asked many times over the years for help from school staff but nothing much came of it.
They wrote letters to guidance counselors, set up meetings with teachers and principals, and talked to administrators via email.
“We would look for help for him,” Beata said. “I don’t think he ever even had an appointment with the school psychiatrist. It pretty much was, `Say you’re sorry,' and that’s it.
“I honestly do not think the school addressed the bullying. It could have saved him if they did.”
Bart’s funeral was today, August 30.
After his suicide, some posts of his on Google Plus came to light that revealed how much he was hurting.
“Hey if I were to stab my eye out due to school caused insanity, who would miss me?” he posted in June.
He also referenced lighting a 12 gauge shotgun shell and ways to commit suicide.
“I notice if I sound sad I’m normal and if I act happy, cheerful, and ”normal“ there is a high chance that I will try to poison myself, cut myself, commit suicide, or jump in front of a truck :),” he posted.
When someone commented on his post, he explained further: “well I am in a very good mood right now and there is a smith and wesson extreme ops knife to my wrist so yeah when I say normal I mean not suicidal”
“I have come to the conclusion my skin is too thick to be cut, but I will keep trying,” he said.
The school district’s communication’s director told the Post that an investigation is ongoing.
“This is an ongoing police investigation, and we’re not permitted to provide any details about the case,” said Kim Eves.
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