Anit-bullying programs don't work at all. If a child is programmed at home by hateful or neglectful parents/cargeviers, that child will be a product of his upbringing, and a few hours of "let's all be nice" spewed at schools will be meaningless (and laughable to these children). Kids will also be kids, and find the weakest, most sensitive kids easy fodder for torment. It used to be mostly innocent, but in our "gimme" entitled, violent society, things are much more deadly. Schools try and do their best, but if these messages aren't consistently modeled at home and in our cultural pursuits, not much is going to change.

Saramom is right. The anti-bullying programs don't work. But it has nothing to do with "today's society". Bullying has been around forever. The strongest prey on the weakest. And when there is more than one in the group then the violence is compounded because of the "strength-in-numbers" mentality. Schools can't stop it unless ALL are involved. The students know that the bullies will get even, one way or another. The teachers can't be everywhere all the time, and it didn't help to cut back on the schools' budgets. The first thing the schools did was to cut out the after school activities.

So what do we do? Wash our hands of it? Point fingers? What?

Punish these boys to the full extent of the law. Do not give them juvenile justice, letting them out early & sealing their records. They committed an adult crime and the victim will carry these scars for the rest of his life.

Just don't bother the School Board. I'm certain they see no connection at all between this tragedy and their votes. They are busy with partying and private 'deals' with lobbyists..

Why it is school responsibility to provide after school activities? When I was raised we behaved. Yeah we fought because someone stole a piece of gum from another, but never, ever even considered something like this. The fault is the parents, that B.S. that I cannot control him/her is no excuse. But the reality is that the people that need to be educated, are not going to read this anyways…

Bullies aren't human. This is another example. The animal who threw the lighter should be slaughtered. The others should get life in a cage.

The first thing we need to do is to allow parents to control and disaplin their kids. The second is to stop letting the Childrens Service organizations and the Court systems from interfearing with that process. That doesn't mean parents should be allowed to abuse their kids by no means. But today a parent lives in fear of reprisals from outside the home as a result of trying to take corrective actions of the kids.

When we were kids if we needed a swift kick in the behind we got it, or if a school principal needed to give a kid wacks with, they got it. Not today. We need to go back to the old ways. They worked.

Here's a first. HOLD JUVENILES ACCOUNTBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS!

It's my understanding that these boys were laughing about it. This was not only attempted murder, but pre-meditated attempted murder - they planned it out, then acted on their plans. These boys are just as evil a menace to our society as the boys who committed the Dunbar Village asaults - they just got sentenced to life in prison because they are sociopaths who cannot be rehabilitated - these boys should join them. May God have mercy on you - and may your jury and society show you and your families the same "mercy" you've shown your victim. My prayers and best wishes go out to Michael and his family.

Get Real. These kids probley skipped school more then being there. You can not blame the parents for these kids actions.
My opipion they should all be tried as ADULTS and suffer whatever sentence they are given.
Michael will never be the same his life as he knew it is over.. These boys need more then a juvi slap on the wrist and it will be off your record when your 18.
These parents have little to say and the one that did talk says my son was in the wrong place wrong time..Wake UP LADY, get out lady get out of denial your son thinks he is a thug a wanna be gang banger.
If your son went and got help before this happened maybe i could buy wrong place, wrong time but he did not get help.

These 5 kids are EVIL and cold and need to pay the price for what they did to Michael from the one that just stood there to the on e that soaked him in the liquid, to the one that flicked the lighter..

They want to be big and bad they should be treated as adults. These kids know right from wrong. The punks from pompano had no right to be in Deerfield causing problems.Did the parents even know where these kids were?
These kids are a danger to society and to themselves..

My heart goes out to Michael my prayers for a recovery are with you and your family.

Lock them in jail for 20 years and restrict violent video games. Sports may also spawn violence so it's not probably the remedy. How about social work?.

As both a teacher and a mother, I have been witness to bullying. I agree with
Charles Schneider, we should allow parents to discipline their children. I have students who can quote the law to me, that comes from home. I certainly don't teach it. As a mother, when my child was bullied, I told him to walk away don't fight back because he could be suspended. I shiver in fear, what if he was burned or something else equally heinous. As a community we must all do our part to keep our children safe. It is not the sole responsibility of the school to teach children right from wrong. We need to set limitations and hold them to it. We have many programs at school to limit bullying and intimidation, it must also continue at home. As parents we are the adults and must convey that message to our children. If they choose not to listen, then there will be consequences..whatever they might be.

Where are the fathers???? Single either unmarried or never married moms cannot control boys without a strong positve male role-model. There are exceptions, but we are seeing more and more due to the breakdown of strong two parent, male/female families. Enough blame shifting. We are all at fault for normalizing dysfuncional families and making it too acceptible to be promiscuous and unaccountable.

The School Board Anti-Bullying Policy is a joke (and by the way-BSO is supposed to enforce the same state law). Let me explain:
We live in Pompano (ANOTHER BSO district). My 15 y.o. son and I witnessed the local bullies defacing a stop sign (similarity #2) and reported it to BSO. They arrived and the only thing they did was make the cretin clean the sign. Within a week the little cretin and his minions were threatening and harassing us, which was reported to the BSO. Now BSO knows these kids are bullies (similarity #3) Nothing is done in regard to threats against my son, my home, and obscene, slanderous emails. Starting to sound familiar?
School starts this year and one of the 3 head brats gets a reassignment to my sons school and immediately starts telling everyone he is a snitch--(That would be #4 for those keeping count. I inform the principal, and gee--they have the boys shake hands--there is a solution. Did I mention he is at least a year behind? (#5) Supposedly the in school harassment has lessened because he has the threat of being a skinny little white boy in ELY over his head. The harassment increases in the neighborhood, BSO visits quite a few times, and the only advice we receive is maybe we should move. During one confrontation, it becomes known that one of their little group is now armed either with a knife, or an automatic--depends on the day. This heathen is 12 and left behind a few years also. Of the 12 kids, we have 9 that have either already dropped out, or been left behind at least once if not twice or more. 9 also come from single parent families. None of their parents participate in any activities with them, shoving them out the door until all hours. One group is bragging about joining the latin kings. Final similarity-- the arson happened directly in front of one of the worst kids in this groups half-brother's house!!!

i so agree with charles couldn't have said it any better I do believe we need to go back to the old days in alot of things: we as children never acted out like the kids do Now a days we also had respect for our parents and other people. if we got into trouble at school you got the paddle and then had to be in fear of what you got when you got home it all boils down to respect this current society has lost that and we as americans allow it by putting up our defenses all the time by thinking we are protecting our own we are only making matters worse spankings & taking things away that they feel they are entitled to well I'm all for it.

There are so many issues involved with the state of society, especially involving male teens. The total lack of positive FATHER FIGURES in the black community, mothers having multiple babies with multiple donors, violence in all aspects of media (movies, tv, music, video games, etc.) that has desensatised most of the population. We have created multiple generations of anti-social, increasingly violent young males that, as the judge in the Dunbar case said, "have no moral compass." It's not a black issue (look at the white scumbags that used machetes on a mother and daughter last week) it's an environment issue: These sociopaths are the product of their miserable environment created by a society where no one is responsable for their actions, whether they be the non-existant fathers, baby factory mothers or major corporations that spew out the ultra-violent vile they peddle as entertainment. The chickens have come home to roost and we're all paying a very heavy price.

I am so angry about what these kids did to Michael and am so happy to see there are many others as outraged as I am.
There needs to be a strong message sent that you do a serious crime there is serious punishment. They need to be charged as adults especially Bent, Denver Jarvis and Mendez.
I pray Michael Brewer is going to be ok.
Someone please post information about helping the Brewer family.

what are we going to waste taxpayer money on these scumbags for?!? don't lock them up. put a bullet in their heads. Make it known that this type of crime will get you killed rather than sent to prison. That WILL discourage most of this type of crime.

Instead of the anti-bullying agenda, how about some type of scared straight program. show these kids pictures of that poor burned child and then superimpose that onto a picture of themselves or their mothers. Make them see how horrible it is.

As a parent and teacher I do hold the parents responsible.
With the need for housing and jobs and senior citizens it would be wise that if you have a job make sure that your kids have an adult to pick them up or be there when they arrive.
Next a bite to eat and homework. By that time a bath and dinner a program and time for bed.
Also instruction that they never have to work things out without your help that you are there to show them how to work things out big or small.
You find them the help they need to progress in school and get involved people do it everyday. Find out what the problems are and face them together that is called a family.
As for these kids look at the wreckage this caused all the families they need to be looked at by a Dr. we do not need them back out there shooting up a school or neighborhood no slap on the wrist and my group and I are going to see to this they need supervision and lock up. This could be just the beginning. Use these to show others there is way to much of this going on every day, all times of the day and now they will take sides at school and get into more fights. So much for the fun Holidays coming up for these people it is a shame a horrible shame what did it take a few minutes lives ruined forever. Wake up America, wake up parents,teachers, schools and kids. Violence does not work for anyone. Oh what a sorry state of affairs.

Hard Truth -- here's information about how to help the Brewer family:

Michael Brewer's family has set up a foundation with Bank of America for anyone who wants to help with medical expenses. The foundation's account number is 898035752616 and funds can be deposited at any Bank of America.

This story has saddened me to the core and broken my heart. I can't stop thinking about it. I have two boys one is eight and the other three. My eight year old is not a superior athlete but I keep in on sports for the sheer fact that he has alot of energy to burn. I think the excuse that parents cannot control their kids is outrageous. If it means getting off your lazy butts and sacrificing your freedom as an adult to raise your kids..you do it! If it means getting off your lazy butts and monitoring what your kids look at on the internet, or where thaey go after school, or who their friends are DO IT DO IT DO IT!!!! The fact that one of the parents denies that their kid even had a part in this sheds alot of light. These kids are not scared of anything or any consequences these days and why should they be with lazy unaccountable parents who could care less and probably do not follow through with any type of punishments at home. I think these boys should be sentenced to work in ICU wards for burn patients for the rest of their lives. They should see all facets of the life this poor boy will have to now endure because of their ruthless actions. When they are not tending to burn victims they should be helping other disabled people preferebly children victims in their communities maybe then will they will have some hope of fabricating some type of morals. What will putting them in jail for 4-5 years do? Nothing. Show them what the day in the life of a burn victim is like!!!

its time government butt out of parenting. its also time that the courts get a back bone. this was premeditated behavior.

This is a hate crime! Why arent these kids charged with a hate crime!!1

THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT MADE THESE KIDS VICTIMS,IS THE GOVERNMENT WHO TOOK THE POWER OF DICIPLINE AWAY FROM PARENTS AND INFORMED THE KIDS THAT ITS ALL THE PARENTS FAULT. NOW DAYS KIDS ARE IN SCHOOL AND DAYCARE MORE HOURS IN THEIR LIFE THAN WITH PARENTS, AND YET SOME HOW THE PARENTS STILL GET BLAMED. FIGURE THAT ONE OUT!

What happened to this young man is simply barbaric and evil, and these kids should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Bullies become more brazen the more we let them get away with it. Bullying exists even at the best schools in Weston. At the end of 6th grade I was in the assistant principle office three times over the course of one week. When the boys and parents found out that I literally had the power to shut down all their home phones and personal cell phones for a full year, due to a specific incident, the bullying magically stopped. They wised up even more when they learned that my child is a student of Tae Kwon Do. Not that she would ever use it to purposely hurt anyone, but could certainly defend herself if cornered. She will be a second degree black belt by the time she hits college. I am not rich, I have given up many things for myself in order to pay for her training. But you can bet that I will sleep better at night due to this investment.

These so called kids, don't have a bit of remorse, and laugh in our faces. 15 and in 7th grade?
No one can believe or accept the real reason for this. They are little murderers even at that age.

These so called kids, don't have a bit of remorse, and laugh in our faces. 15 and in 7th grade?
No one can believe or accept the real reason for this. They are little murderers even at that age.

I was amazed at this post,

Posted October 14, 2009 12:35 PM

Bullies aren't human. This is another example. The animal who threw the lighter should be slaughtered. The others should get life in a cage.

Isn't this the very mindset that drove this behavior in the first place?

This is a horrible event. In decent society it is criminal. But all the programs you want, all the training you call for, all the counseling and intervention in the world will never stop the sociopathic 'Lord of the Flies' behavior of the few.

What I don't see mentioned here is the abundant evidence that this pathology is not limited to boys. Girls are just as capable of this kind of 'pack' sadistic violence.

It can't be cured, but society can insulate itself from it by isolation of the microcosm. Incarceration is the only approach that keeps us from behaving like them.

Michael Brewer's family has set up a foundation with Bank of America for anyone who wants to help with medical expenses. The foundation's account number is 898035752616 and funds can be deposited at any Bank of America.

My grandson goes to Deerfield middle and he has come home several times in the past two years beat up, he's belongings ruined or stolen and we have contacted the school so many times but it never gets handled properly.
When he started hitting back he got suspended no matter why he did it. The school is run by uncaring people who are scared themselves of some of these kids. It's a shame you can not send your child to school and feel they are safe.
The parents of those boys need to take a look at themselves and realize what they have raised. I know if my child did something like that I would never be able to look at them again.
What has happened to are youth these days?

I like what rsamorose had to say. These kids should have to see what happens to burn victims in the hospital. It is utterly horrible!!!I am a nurse, and can't think of anything more cruel & barbaric than burning someone alive. I think about this kids future, and I just want to cry. This poor boy will have a future of incredibly painful dressing changes, skin grafts, terrible unending pain, surgeries, rehab, infection, disfigurement....it is utterly heartbreaking.

I have an 11 year old boy and as a parent myself, I feel like this crime falls on the shoulders of the parents (like some others). Yeah, schools do what they can, but it is solely the responsibility of parents to know what their kids are doing, know who they associate with, monitor what they watch on tv & look at on internet (you can put parental controls on tv & internet!), know how they are doing in school (try looking at pinnacle),and most importantly, SET BOUNDARIES & HAVE CONSEQUENCES! Hopefully, through this tragedy, some parents will get a clue...

Why was the Bent child not even sent to school when he got out of juvi Monday morning? Is anyone watching these kids? There is only one reason you are held back several times--not because you aren't working on grade level-they will develop an educ. plan for you--it's because you don't show up and don't do the work. Apparently the parents didn't show up and do their work.

This crime was an act of hateful and malicious revenge. The gang leader was a teen named Bent, an African American. A teen named "Mendez" was the one who set Brewer ablaze: he is Hispanic. Shelton, another conspirator, is an African American. The victim is Caucasion. The weight of the evidence indicates that this was partly a racial hate crime.
Why won't anybody have the courage and honesty to say anything about this Racial Hate Crime? Where is the love of equality and justice now? The African American cruelly commanded the members of his gang to burn the caucasian boy alive. They wanted to burn Brewer alive. What are you people going to say about that? And you Mr. President?

We have read in our newspaper about such crimes committed across all cultures among our youth, in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties as well.

Here is some information I recently received about an upcoming event that maybe of interest, help and importance to parents:

“State of Black Men in South Miami-Dade County,” Wed., Oct. 21, 8 p.m, Second Baptist Church, 1111 Pinkston Drive, Miami. Due to an increase in youth violence, lack of educational achievement, and high crime rates a panel discussion with local community and church leaders will address crime rate, education, and self-improvement in young black males from around the various South Miami-Dade communities. All individuals of any race, gender, profession, and fraternal order are welcome to participate in offering various perspectives and methods to saving the lives of South Miami – Dade’s at risk males.

Contact Representative: Janee’ Brown. E-mail: jbrown@db3tv.com 786-234-7814.

Just as my name suggests, this was going to happen. The problem is that we don't do anything until someone gets hurt. It's like your parents used to say, 'it's all fun and games until someone's eye gets taken out.' Or another example still, a necessary traffic light doesn't go up until someone is killed at a busy intersection no matter how much residents plead for the light.
My son was recently bullied in school, it wasn't a violent act but it technically was bullying, I spoke with the principal and mentioned this and I don't think anything was done about it. Supposedly there's a limit on infractions but I don't know if this child was assessed one or not. Is that right? These are 3rd graders, what happens when they become 7th graders? Exactly what happened on Monday to this poor child.
Was he keeping valuable info from his parents? Who could've protected him as he felt pressure from this mini gang? It's very easy after the fact to say we should all do something about youth violence, how about we all do something BEFORE!!
I am very involved in my son's life, and it embarrasses him at times, but I'll be damned if he's going to be a victim of some manipulative more mature so called friends. Not on my watch!!
Start a campaign against this "snitching" myth kids seem to think is cool! We discourage kids from "tattling" as it's known when they're young and when they're older it becomes snitching and it's taboo.
Very simple. Zero tolerance! At all levels. Parents, stop expecting others to do YOUR job. If we all straighten out our own kids and report any wrongdoing asap, this will stop. The adults are in charge, not the other way around!

Many people have commented that this is a hate crime, that there is a problem with bullies, that this is evidence that these boys are animals who should be caged forever. This is not such a black and white issue.

This involves a boy who refused to pay a debt and other boys who were never taught the proper civilized way to settle debts. This is their parent's fault, but societally, we must take some blame as well. We glorify the notion of self-help and the independence of the vigilante who takes the law into his own hands. Bent did just that--the Brewer kid owed him money and he decided to collect it in a very stupid way. But Brewer must shoulder some of the blame here--he did borrow money without paying it back and provoked the attack by taunting the lender.

I am not in any way condoning, endorsing, or approving what happened here--this was an extremely stupid and heinous act. These stupid kids had no idea that Brewer would light up like a Christmas tree when they doused him in alcohol and put the torch to him. They need to spend some serious time behind bars to make sure they understand that there is a consequence for being so stupid.

But people should also understand that many kids who claim to be bullied are actually the taunters themselves. Usually, small children with smart mouths are able to get away with enormous amounts of insensitive and hurtful comments directed at larger children because of their diminutive size in relation to the larger kid they tease. The larger kid cannot get sympathy or retaliate because all the adults look at the size difference and tell the larger kid to ignore it or take the high road. Anyone who has a little brother they were prevented from smacking in the mouth understands exactly what I am saying here. Most of you still harbor some of those lingering sibling resentments well into adulthood. Well, sometimes, it is really unreasonable for adults to expect that the older, larger child take every piece of crap from the younger, smaller child forever--everyone snaps eventually. Any parent who witnesses this has a responsibility to step in and be a bigger threat to both than either would be to each other.

That does not excuse what Bent did here, but it does explain it. Instead of beating the crap out of the smaller Brewer, he lit him on fire. Stupid, yes, but was this an unprovoked and sadistically planned crime by some arch criminal? No way. This was an example of teenage stupidity acting without the restraint of adults responsible for this child. Juvie or no juvie (for the bike theft), the Bent boy should have been in school or at home where his parents had to take off work to watch him. The Brewer boy should have been in school and his mother should have made him repay the Bent. The failure of the adults that surround these children to teach them proper ways to reolve disputes is astonishing and should not be absolved lightly.

No one wants to admit when their attempt at parenting has gone astray, when their child becomes a person the world would be better off without. But the parents of ALL of these children have some blame to shoulder in what happened here.

Some of Big Daddy's theories may have a little merit but whether they were taught resolution tactics or not--and they are--(at least in school) these teenagers have no compassion, no empathy and no emotions to be able to commit this horrific crime. Should the Brewer boy repaid the debt, of course he should have-but as they say the punishment has to fit the crime. Being burned alive is a solution. These teenagers are sociopaths and should not be allowed out in society.

After failing church for more than 30 years, to still remember, ocassionally recite and seek to live by the Lord's Prayer is still my blessing. This story brings it near again, apparently with little of the prayers hope left for many in the world. It's sad that "the power, and the glory" is now more frequently manifested by youth in the strange light of burning another to death; after being church and court proper, a public stoning, with Michael having the first toss, gets my vote.

Mikey is the half brother of my childrens' half sister Malissa, and my children were close to Mikey. They really grew up together.

It is tragic and senseless what happened. I hope the boys who did it gets the justice they truly deserve.

I wish I could said I hate them for doing this, but really I feel sad and sorry for them only for one reason.

I've dealt with a trouble teen myself who struggles with anger issues. I would like to blame the parents, and some of them probably do need to be blamed, but I also know about having an out of control teen and no one out there willing to help.

When you are on Medicaid and don't have money, it is difficult to get your teen help. Medicaid won't pay for therapy. Most parents with teens like this feel hopeless.

I think we need to pray for Mikey and his whole family, and we need to pray for a change of heart in the boys who did it and for their families as well.

If the government wants to help its citizens, it needs to help parents.

I'm really tired of seeing comments that this is the parents' fault or the school's fault. I am 54 years old; I was never specfically told by my parents or my school "Don't try to burn someone alive, that's not right." A child much younger than 13 or 15 KNOWS it is wrong to kill another human being for a reason such as this, not even taking into consideration the barbaric and savage way that this was attempted. Throw all five of them in prison for the REST OF THEIR LIVES. If they happen not to survive that experience, oh well.

Seperate schools need to be established for children that are repeatedly exhibiting behavior problems. Troubled kids should be sent to these schools which would be more restrictive and in some cases require that they be housed there. Under this system we could have some hope of turning some of these kids around before it becomes too late. I'd rather spend my tax dollars getting them out of the regular school system and trying to reform them before we have to fund their existence in jail for a life sentence.

The vast majority of kids are not bad but we can not tolerate having our entire educational system turned on its head because of groups of bullies and screwed up kids. These issues are having a negative effect on good students and is impairing the ability of other kids to get an education. Talent is going to be wasted if we continue to allow the bullies to run the schools.

When I went to school in Ohio the principal was a huge guy and had paddles hanging on the wall behind his desk. When someone got "whacked" you could hear it echo through the halls. There was a healthy dose of fear and respect. If you did something wrong there was a clear consequence and you took your medicine and moved on. The principal was a good guy and the students liked him and looking back, I honestly think the students (even the ones that got whacked) appreciated the fact that we had an authority figure in clear control that wouldn't let issues get out of hand.

We have lost our "faith" in our society today. Kids are being raised by societal standards and not by Biblical standards which clearly differentiate between right and wrong.

Simply put, the violent offender "boys" should be machine gunned. Sure, it's a simple solution, but sometimes it's the simple things that are the most effective. Rehabilitation is useless. Remove these animals from the planet, period.

IS EVERYBODY IN DENIAL? ARE YOU AFRAID TO SOUND RACIST WHEN YOU AREN'T? DON'T YOU SEE THE 900# GORILLA IN THE ROOM? Over 90% of SERIOUS behavioral problems are coming from BLACK KIDS and you can't blame THE PARENTS because there is only a PARENT and a grandmother raising the 5 kids. FATHERLESS BLACK KIDS are the ROOT of all problems in school and society. And yes, I remember Columbine, every 10 years or so one of the 50,000,000 white kids does go crazy. But on a daily basis BLACK KIDS are disrupting the other kids that want to learn. BLACK FATHERS NEED TO BE MORE RESPONSIBLE, as a BLACK MOTHER I see many fatherless black kids including both my neighbors, and they are the problem because the fathers are irresponsible many kids in my neighborhhod end up it jail at your expense.

I'm not kidding - we need to bring back public executions. That's the only we these kids can learn the consequences of such henious actions.

Rsamorose - I agree about having them see what the life of a burn victim is like - but however based on the utter and complete lack of remorse on behalf of the jarvis kid and past occurences displaying COMPLETE lack of remorse he especially would just laugh at the mikey. - it's a joke -to him.

Hmmm, these boys are violent criminals. So, the way we prevent more violent criminals from being created is to beat our kids more? You have got to be kidding. Has anyone noticed how violent lower class black culture already is? A lot of them even hit their babies! So, no, beating kids isn't the answer. But keep on thinking that if it makes you feel better.

It is not up to the school to provide "parenting" for these thugs, evidently there are no consequences at home, if there's anyone there to care! School is for teaching, not babysitting. Let these kids WORK in a burn unit, see the real side of life, if they have any feelings. So very sad for the burn victim and his family, we are praying.

I must take issue with big daddy's description of what took place, it was said to be a problem with a bike, video game, whatever...... you cannot possibly blame that poor boy for this!! I don't care if he owed them money, this is a horrible, horrible crime, life altering, these thugs won't bear "scars" now, will they? Sounds like the same denial as one of the thugs mother's said, he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, that is the problem in this world! Someone elses's fault, never theirs, please spare us.

Parents do not parent any more and children are raising themselves. Parents can't be bothered they are too busy. There is nothing we can do about it it is too epidemic. JUST CALL THE POLICE and allow them to make examples of the offending child/teen/young adult.

And that is the truth.

I am seeing way too many comments that he should have paid the $40 to avoid what happened to him. Are you people nuts? Whatever happened to no money no tickie? COD man. And who is to say he was never going to pay. Obviously the perp knew he didn't have the money up front because he let him owe for it.

You people who think that Michael deserved to any degree what happened to him you are certifiably insane and not unlike the boys who set him on fire. Matter of fact you're just like them. Sociopaths.

Society may have to resort to no child may be out unsupervised until they are 18. After school care may become mandatory up to grade 12. There is no other answer. Parents are absent and too self absorbed to be bothered raising their kids right. We've become a mindset of only being there in their defense and trying to prove our kid is perfect instead of teaching them values. By the time they are 13,15 or 17 it is too late if they don't already have that already. Don't bother trying to reverse the damage you've already done to your 17 year old. They psyche is already developed.

After reading through some of the posts, this is probably preaching to the choir. Unfortunately, I doubt parents with bullies are even reading this stuff or are blissfully unaware that their children are bullies.

Girls are just as guilty of bullying. Boys may be physically agressive but girls use emotional tactics, which can also be destructive. I was bullied from grade 5 through highschool. The reason? Not because I was "weak"....but because I was smart and had different interests (heaven forbid that rather than hang out at the mall, I'd prefer to be doing something outdoors). It was relentless....I tried everything and no matter what people tell you ignoring bullies doesn't work, sticking up for yourself doesn't work, making teachers aware doesn't work. I blame the parents. As many of you have said, it all goes back to the home. Parents need to take responsibility for their children and stop trying to pawn them off on the schools to raise. YOU are responsible for your childs behaviour. What really gets me is that you allow your children to treat others like this and then act shocked and mortified when an event like Columbine occurs. I don't condone violence, but when someone is relentlessly abused, do you not think they will snap at some point? If you have never been bullied, you don't understand the emotional effects.

I survived...I'm now in my 30's, with a PhD, married and have a good job...but I still remember the hurt and all the tears (and the hurt of seeing my mother cry because she saw me hurting and nothing seemed to work). So the bullying issue really irks me. My heart goes out to that boy and his family and I certainly hope that the boys who are responsible for this (and their families) pay dearly for it. This needs to stop and it won't until parents starting taking a more active roll in their children's lives.

I agree with another write who suggested bringing back public executions. Nothing else works. I am a middle-school teacher. I still do not know how students can be age 15 and in seventh-grade. They need to out of middle school. Why can't the school board come up with a better idea for these type of students? Secondly, I witness daily the anger and viciousness committed by students towards each other. The female students are worse than the male students. So violent. I have never seen anything like it. However, the family lives are a disaster. There is usually no father. For some reason women think it smart to have children out-of-wedlock. Then, then mother's boyfriend hangs around and he shouldn't. The kids want a stable home life without mom's boyfriend or dad's girlfriend. The parents are oftentimes in jail so just whom does the child have in his/her life who is smart, kind, sensible? No one but the teachers but we can do only so much. The parents are a mess and from my seat I would say most people should NEVER become parents simply because their lives are a mess and they do not know what to do once a baby grows up.

Is there any hope--any at all--that these kids did not realize just how quickly and intensely the fire would take off? Any hope that they wanted to "scare" Michael, not set him ablaze and probably kill him? Or am I hopelessly naive?

Sometimes it is not a parents fault, but in this case, go on Broward County Clerk of courts and look up the criminal record for the Jarvis brothers father. Not a real good role model, if you read through the 7 times he was charged with a crime.

The school they all go to needs to be put on notice. When a parent makes an appointment because their child is being bullied so badly they cannot attend school you do not hesitate to contact the police and make them aware of it. This happened before that meeting at the school could take place. You don't take your sweet time waiting for the appt. The school needs to share some of the blame for this incident. Zero tolerance is great but when you've been made aware of a potentially dangerous situation you let the local law enforcement agency know about it. Immediately! There is a good chance that this would have never happened if the school had done that. Instead administrators sit in their ivory towers awaiting the meeting. School administrators who take these kinds of meetings should be educated enough to know the dangers.

Here's a way for those despicable miscreants to understand what they did and wipe the smirks off their faces: Give them a dose of their own medicine. Maybe then they'll get a conscience too. Do NOT, under any circumstances, allow them near any vulnerable people unless and until they develop a heart. I would not want them in the same room with anyone that is dear to me. Their cruelty is incomprehensible.

60 or so comments, and a handful of people have to throw race out there. Two of the perps are white, and three are black from the pictures I saw.

More and more American children's lives resemble those of the Gaza Strip. Gaza children aren't born to single mothers (most of them) and they probably aren't exposed to violent American pop culture, so what is the common thread?

I'm not kidding - we need to bring back public executions. That's the only we these kids can learn the consequences of such henious actions.

Here's my ideas:
If you we hold the parents somewhat accoutable for the trouble their children are in, then we might be able to put a stop to it.

Take kids who are offenders and put them in bootcamp schools with the National Guard patroling them.

Also, we need to have yearly videos for children showing actions and consequences, and then we need to charge kids who do adult crimes to the full extent of the law to set an example.