Sometimes, after that, he could be convinced to go in and finish out the rest of his classes. He would stay cuddled up in the blankets on his parents’ bed - where he usually demanded to be tickled, his mom recalled with a smile - and skip first period. There were mornings when Drayke refused to go to school because he said he was afraid. Hardman believes the bully retaliated after his suspension. The principal noted: “As a school we take bullying very seriously and our goal is always to protect our students and provide a safe school environment.”Įven with the school getting involved, though, the bullying didn’t end. The school put out a statement last week, saying it is “greatly saddened” by Drayke’s death. Hardman said he used to walk into the front office most mornings, throwing his elbow on the counter in a suave move, and declare, “I hope you all have a good day.” In fact, Drayke loved the school and the employees. Hardman said she appreciates the school’s response and isn’t sure how they could have handled the situation differently. The bully was temporarily suspended from class. Hardman said the administrators there stepped in immediately. She and her husband were proactive, she added, calling the school as soon as they found out about it from Drayke. The bullying started about a year ago, Hardman said, and it was physical and mental and emotional. (Hardman family) Pictured is 12-year-old Drayke Hardman, who died on Feb. The district had, just weeks before, been called out by federal investigators for ignoring serious reports of racism from its students. She says she reported her concerns to Davis School District and was repeatedly brushed off. Izzy’s mom has said that her daughter was bullied by classmates for being Black and autistic. In November, 10-year-old Izzy Tichenor died. His death is the second child suicide to rock Utah in the last three months, with both kids startlingly young. 10, and his parents are now speaking out about the tragedy. We’d done everything, but he’s gone.”ĭrayke, who was in seventh grade at a Tooele charter and whom his mom affectionately called her “little blue-eyed love,” had a passion for magic tricks and a dream of becoming the shortest ever NBA star. We all loved him so much, and now he’s gone. For him to think he had to end his life … I just … I can’t. “I don’t know that we knew just how deep. “The things that were happening ran deep in his heart,” said his mom, Samie Hardman. Now Drayke’s parents are grappling with what more could have been done and whether experts know enough about how best to prevent youth suicide in a state with one of the highest rates in the country. But still the harassment continued, they say, until Drayke died by suicide this month.
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