Dear Editor: I am very sorry to hear about the tragic death of Daniel Fitzpatrick and my heartfelt condolences go out to his family.
I was shocked to learn that Daniel attended a Catholic school. All four of my children have attended Catholic elementary and high schools in both the Brooklyn/Queens and Rockville Centre dioceses. My husband and I have made the financial sacrifice to ensure our children are taught Christian values and the Catholic faith as part of their school curriculum. One of the biggest selling points of Catholic schools is the family atmosphere, and that the teachers and administrators get to know the students on an individual basis. Catholic schools should remain an affordable alternative for parents if their child is getting bullied or is having trouble forming friendships in public schools.
I am not saying that bullying does not happen in Catholic schools, but private and Catholic schools have the ability to deal with bullying swiftly by expelling students fairly easily, and there should be zero tolerance of bullying.
MARY ROSE BOSKO
Valley Stream, L.I.
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Dear Editor: The reality of this all too common tragedy is devastating. That so complex an issue demands attention is equally apparent. But one sentence into your piece (Aug. 28) on the recently deceased Daniel Fitzpatrick revealed such an inexcusable and defensive position that it took an effort to read the rest.
The efforts on the part of Holy Angels Academy are to be commended, but why does it seem that praise is coming at the cost of the parents being convicted? Teachers frequently ache over the futility of their efforts to change the plight of a child; mothers and fathers everywhere struggle to meet the needs of each child as they can. There are no guarantees, no triumphs, only lessons learned, often at a great cost.
This article’s uneven portrayal of each party – even to the boy’s “claiming he was bullied” – cannot be considered journalism. Even worse, more bullying has likely been added to the already unimaginable suffering of the Fitzpatrick family at a time when they desperately need mercy.
ROSEANNE CLEARY
Middle Village
