Comment posted under article:
memy on
February 4, 2009 11:45 PM
I knew Aquan and he was a good friend of my son's who is also in 5th grade. Aquan was so smart and such a sweet boy. He did NOT commit suicide. My son no longer attends Oakton because of bullying and physical abuse. Ironically enough, the school failed to help my son and Aquan would actually stand up for my son and protect him from the bullies! District 65 is a joke! Supt. Murphy and the Evanston Police said they were not aware of bullying at Oakton which is a blatant lie. I personally wrote letters to Supt. Murphy and the school about what was happening to my son there to document that they were not following their own policies. So they absolutely were aware of it. And the district refused to follow their own policies regarding physical violence, intimidation and bullying.
Angel is right when she said that something is very wrong with all of this.
To Dr. Tracy - he was not on antidepressants either. And to anyone who questions his family life - his mother was a great mom and loves all of her children.
And Larry - if he had threatened to kill himself why was it not said yesterday? And if he did, why didn't someone report it immediately? Also, have you ever been in the 3rd floor bathrooms at Oakton Elementary? I have, and those hooks are not low enough for a child to hang himself by the BACK of his collar - even if he were to stand on the toilet. Are we to believe that he was able to hang himself on the hook while facing the stall door backwards and balancing on a toilet?? Really Larry - think about it. Could you do that?
The only blame to be placed here is on the school district. They have failed to even follow their own policies and this is the result. They failed to protect Aquan just as they failed to protect my son. How incredibly sad.
My family and I are heartbroken over this. As a mom, my heart aches for Angel.