Heather was in the 5th grade in 1998-1999. She had a growth spurt over the summer and was taller than most of the kids in her class. She also had a small acne problem. There was one boy in her class that had begun to pick on Heather. He and his friends made rude comments and harasses her everyday at school. I had been to speak to the teacher and principle but it was Heather's word against the boy's word. Nothing was done about this problem. As the weeks went on this boy began to tel Heather horrible things. He would come to school and tell her that he had a dream about her in which he cut off her head and kicked it down the stairs. Other dreams included him bringing a gun to school, shooting her and dancing in her blood till she died. By October 1998 Heather had enough and I pulled her out of public school and began home schooling her. Heather and I both feared for her life. I called the district to file a complaint and they eagerly wanted to place Heather in the school of my choice so they would not lose their tax dollars. No one cared really about the threats or the safety of my Heather. Once home, she was happy and carefree with all the bullies gone from her life.
Heather-April 1999
In April 1999 came the news of the Columbine School shooting. Just to recap the story; two senior students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, embarked on a massacre, killing 12 students and one teacher. They also injured 21 other students directly, and three people were injured while attempting to escape. The pair then committed suicide. It is the fourth-deadliest school massacre in United States history and the deadliest for an American high school. Heather and I remained glued to the TV watching things unfold. We both knew this could have happened to Heather had she remained at school. She was that fearful for her life in 5th grade. Not a was any child should go to school. Heather felt that Columbine was a huge turning point for the counrty as to high school safety. We began to realize as a nation that kids kill other kids everyday. Heather ran into this same boy at Red Mountain High School. He had no idea of who she was. Not much had changed in her opinion of him. He was gothic, into drugs and acted violent at school. Did he find someone new to bully once Heather was gone?
Until the November issue of Oprah magazine came out on newsstand, I had not given any thought to Columbine. One article was an interview with Susan Klebold, Dylan's mom. As I began to read the article somethng came to my attention that I had missed many months before. Heather died on the 10th anniversary of the Columbine shooting; April 20, 2009. It never dawned on me the date she died had such history in our country and in her life. Many kids today have no idea of what happened at Columbine. Heather never forgot and now neither will I.
Heather-April 1999In April 1999 came the news of the Columbine School shooting. Just to recap the story; two senior students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, embarked on a massacre, killing 12 students and one teacher. They also injured 21 other students directly, and three people were injured while attempting to escape. The pair then committed suicide. It is the fourth-deadliest school massacre in United States history and the deadliest for an American high school. Heather and I remained glued to the TV watching things unfold. We both knew this could have happened to Heather had she remained at school. She was that fearful for her life in 5th grade. Not a was any child should go to school. Heather felt that Columbine was a huge turning point for the counrty as to high school safety. We began to realize as a nation that kids kill other kids everyday. Heather ran into this same boy at Red Mountain High School. He had no idea of who she was. Not much had changed in her opinion of him. He was gothic, into drugs and acted violent at school. Did he find someone new to bully once Heather was gone?
Until the November issue of Oprah magazine came out on newsstand, I had not given any thought to Columbine. One article was an interview with Susan Klebold, Dylan's mom. As I began to read the article somethng came to my attention that I had missed many months before. Heather died on the 10th anniversary of the Columbine shooting; April 20, 2009. It never dawned on me the date she died had such history in our country and in her life. Many kids today have no idea of what happened at Columbine. Heather never forgot and now neither will I.
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