Boy’s brother says tragedy should function a “get up name” amid contemporary debate about bullying as new faculty yr begins in Italy.
Italian prosecutors have opened an investigation into incitement to suicide after a 14-year-old boy took his personal life simply hours earlier than the beginning of the brand new faculty yr.
The household of Paolo Mendico, who hanged himself in his bed room on Thursday evening, say he was the sufferer of relentless bullying at colleges within the province of Latina, about an hour south of Rome.
Prosecutors have ordered an post-mortem and the seizure of the boy’s cell telephones and computer systems in addition to these of a number of of his classmates at college.
Investigation
Carabinieri police are investigating potential incidents of cyberbullying which have emerged from chat rooms and social media.
His dad and mom say that Paolo, whose funeral was held on Monday, was the sufferer of bullying for years and that their stories of his plight have been routinely ignored.
Paolo was described as a great scholar and was keen about music and sports activities. He performed bass guitar and drums and infrequently went fishing together with his father.
Last yr Paolo moved to a brand new center highschool to flee the persecution, solely to seek out himself the sufferer of additional insults and taunts in his new faculty.
“How many occasions I’ve seen him cry,” his mom Simonette La Marra informed La Repubblica newspaper, claiming that the complaints filed towards the varsity, together with adverse feedback from lecturers, went unheeded.
Bullying
Paolo’s dad and mom say he was mocked for his lengthy hair and known as names similar to “Paoletta”, “sissy” and “Nino D’Angelo”, in reference to the Neapolitan singer.
He was recurrently assaulted by bullies who would await him within the faculty lavatory. He reduce his hair brief however the bullying continued.
“We filed a criticism with the police as early as fifth grade as a result of he was being bullied” – Paolo’s father Giuseppe Mendico informed reporters – “A baby even confirmed up at school with a knife, saying he needed to kill him, whereas a instructor, reasonably than taking management of the state of affairs, incited the scholars by saying, ‘Fight, struggle.’ This criticism was later dismissed.”
School response
The principal of the Pacinotti Institute in Fondi, Gina Antonetti, rejected the accusations of Paolo’s household, alleging that the boy attended the counselling centre with none vital points rising that might have triggered emergency protocols.
Antonetti denied allegations of lecturers being detached, emphasising the presence of three assist lecturers and conferences with psychologists, state broadcaster RAI News stories.
She additionally stated the complete class and faculty have been current at Paolo’s funeral, opposite to what was claimed.
Letter to Meloni
In the wake of Paolo’ss loss of life, his brother Ivan Roberto Mendico wrote an open letter addressed to Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, training minister Giuseppe Valditara, and Pope Leo XIV, demanding pressing reform.
“Despite these conditions being repeatedly reported… no concrete motion was taken to guard his dignity and security” – Ivan Roberto wrote – “I ask that the loss of life of my brother and the opposite victims not be hushed up and that concrete and decisive measures be urgently adopted to fight bullying in Italian colleges.”
He pressured the necessity for a “tradition of prevention, duty, and respect” and stated the tragedy should function a “wake-up name that may not be ignored.”
Valditara responds
Minister Valditara has ordered two quick inspections on the colleges Paolo attended to confirm whether or not administration complied with anti-bullying protocols.
Italy’s 70/2024 regulation requires faculty principals to contact the dad and mom of bullies, provoke instructional programmes, and, in critical instances, report the incident to the authorities.
“The matter of bullying saddens me tremendously; it is a rising phenomenon all through Europe, linked to the abuse of social media,” Valditara acknowledged, asserting a tightening of classroom behaviour assessments as Italy’s colleges reopen after the summer time break.
