Family Sues School in NY Bully Battle

Boy posted video on YouTube urging teens to stop violence

By Kate Rockwood, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 15, 2008 6:55 PM CDT

(Newser) – Bullied at school, a Long Island teenager posted an anti-violence video on YouTube that racked up more than 15,000 hits. The 7-minute montage by Patrick Kohlmann, 13, urges kids to stop fighting, but it didn't solve his problem. Now Patrick's parents are suing the school for failing to help him, ABC News reports.

"I'd be picked on, pushed and kicked," Patrick told Good Morning America. Other kids "said they wanted to kill me." School officials say they reacted to the Kohlmann family's protests, but Patrick's mom disagrees. “I've complained to numerous times and it's usually, 'Well, we'll look into that,'" she said. "That's not an appropriate answer to have."

[Images (2)]

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Nine out of 10 elementary students has been the victim of bullying at least once, research shows. (KRT Photos)

Patrick Kohlmann originally made the video to show to his school's PTA meeting. When they deemed it too graphic, he posted it on YouTube instead. (YouTube)

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Patrick Kohlmann's 7-minute video, which he made after he says reports of bullying made to his school were ignored. (ThroughMiiEyes)

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Family Sues School in NY Bully Battle