An 11 year old Merseyside schoolboy, Thomas Thompson, has killed himself due to bullying. The child took an overdose of tablets which led to his death. He went to school at Wallasey School, a co-educational school in Moreton with 1,064 pupils and the bullies there, by all accounts, made his life hell. Thomas was a very intelligent young kid and had been involved in the Anti Iraq War campaign in Liverpool, attending rallies and even speaking at one before the War. His mother Sandra arrived home from work on July 2nd at around 7pm and found him slumped on the bedroom floor.

Thomas's Mother said her son had been a victim of bullying at the Wallasey School where he was a pupil. She told the local Echo newspaper that "He was a good kid, a good laugh, but a bit different from other lads of his age, clearly this was a cry for help. I have no words to describe those people who persecuted and taunted him other than I hate them." Thomas's Uncle also told the Echo that "Thomas was a very clever lad and he was picked on for that. It was a gang of other boys who tormented him. They bullied him very badly and it really got him down. I just think he could not cope anymore."

Kirkby Times is saddened and appalled by the level of violence in our schools now - if some teachers are in fear and taking time off with stress - there is no doubt some kids will be going through hell. When New Labour say that 'can't afford' to put more money in the Education system - they are lying. They promote bullying with 30 kids a class and schools with 1000 plus pupils - these places are like factories - the bright intelligent kids ARE often picked on - and the bigger the school, the bigger the gangs which will bully. Unless we reduce the size of classes our schools will always be unable to actually do much to tackle bullying. Bullies hide in the crowd - kids can be very nasty when left to themselves at an early age - they need supervision and it is appalling that one of the brighter stars now lies dead. The system itself is as much to blame as the bullies.

The facts about child bullying are shocking for those who care to research them, read the facts below……………

FACT: at least 16 children commit bullycide in the UK every year

FACT: the scale of misdiagnosed bullycide could be much higher

FACT: 19,000 children attempt suicide annually - one every half hour

FACT: around 2 million children see their GP each year for emotional and psychological problems.

Please visit the excellent website bully online which is run by Tim Fields whose work and those of his colleagues shows how bullying can be prevented, spotted and driven out of our schools, our workplaces and our lives.

EVERY TEACHER SHOULD VISIT THIS WEBSITE, AND EVERY PARENT.

RIP THOMAS

Kirkby Times would like to express condolences to Thomas's Family and friends. This website supported the anti war movement and praised the young kids involved in protesting. To Thomas: Thanks mate. Your memory will live on - I hope you're living on somewhere out there. If there's a heaven, the gates would have been wide open - the angels themselves would have wept to see this little peacemaker coming home early. We only realised how beautiful the tall poppy was after we saw it cut down.



BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS

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