Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Bullies target Boston teen with Down syndrome on school bus

From The Boston Channel:


BOSTON -- Three middle school students have been suspended for bullying a 13-year-old boy with Down syndrome on a school bus.

The family of the boy, Brian Palmeri, told the school about the bullying after another student alerted them to the incidents, the Enterprise reported.

Kathy and Nicholas Palmeri said Bridgewater Middle School Principal Derrick Swenson immediately called the bullies and their parents. The boys were banned from riding the bus for a week, received two days of out-of-school suspension and received one day of in-school suspension during which they, at the suggestion of Kathy Palmieri, had to write a report on Down syndrome, the paper reported.

The Palmeri family has met with two of the three bullies and their families, during which they apologized to Brian. They hope to meet with the other family soon.