Young teens may have more to fear while walking home from school

Click the link below to read the story of how a 13-year-old boy was attacked in Philadelphia while walking home from school on January 11.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/02/17/pennsylvania.teen.beating/index.html?iref=allsearch

The highlights of the story:

* Victim says he had been bullied for months
* Police superintendent: "It was a wolf pack"
* The boy was kicked, dragged and hung from a fence by his jacket
* One of the alleged assailants recorded the beating

There has been an increase in coverage of bullying cases in recent years. It is awful to see and read about the rise in bullying. The victims of bullying are getting younger and younger.

What about the perpetrators? Do they feel guilt or remorse? Do they realize there actions were wrong? What is their punishment? Perhaps a better question to ask is, what ails and motivates these children,teens and young adults to commit such acts?

In this case, the perpetrators not only recorded the attack but they laughed as the defenseless 13-year-old cried out in pain and humiliation.

According to the prosecutor the punishment is:

-They must abide by curfews

-Perform community service

-Have electronic monitoring

The family of the 13-year-old boy who was attacked agreed to the disposition.

Is this punishment enough? Will these boys think twice before they bully another person. There should be a follow up of the progress about victim and the perpetrators. An experience like this is enough to scar a young child permanently for life.