EXCLUSIVE | Kirk Smalley whose bullied son Ty Field, 11, died by suicide says his 'heart broke' for Adriana Kuch
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
PERKINS, OKLAHOMA: Kirk Smalley was left devastated after the death of his 11-year-old son, Ty Field-Smalley, who killed himself after being suspended from school for retaliating against a bully. Ty shot himself dead in 2010 after being bullied for over two years. Following the incident, Kirk has been on a mission to create awareness about bullying and bringing about a change in the lives of children.
The death of Adriana Kuch, one of the latest victims of viscious bullying at her school, has shaken the conscience of the country. Four girls were charged after Adriana died by suicide hours after a video of her being bullied surfaced online. The incident took place at Central Regional High School in Berkeley Township. Adriana died by suicide at her Bayville home on February 3.
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In the aftermath of Adriana's tragic death, Kirk opened up to MEAWW about his journey to bringing about a positive change. "Bullying has increased not only in schools but also online. We are losing too many children to suicide because of it. Most, if not all of these losses, are preventable with the right actions," Kirk said.
'Ty had a very caring and kind soul'
Speaking of his son, Kirk said, "Ty was a good kid. I don’t say that because he was mine, but he had a very caring and kind soul. Always smiling, always wanting to help others and brighten their day. He and his mom Laura were best friends. And he and I were always doing things together. I miss him every second of every day still."
The video of the recent attack, which surfaced on social media, shows Adriana walking down the hallway when a girl attacks her and begins walloping her in the face with a water bottle. Adriana is seen falling to the ground as she continues to be set upon by the girl. Cheering is heard in the background. By this time, she is lying bruised and bloodied on the floor." When I heard about Adriana, my heart broke all over again. We also lost three students to suicide in Wisconsin recently as well as another one in Iowa," Kirk said.
'Stand for the Silent'
After Ty's death, some high school students in Oklahoma City set up a page called 'Stand for the Silent'. "It was actually started by a group of high school students after they heard about what happened to Ty. They decided they had had enough and wanted to do something for Ty and our family. They started a Facebook page called 'Stand for the Silent'.
"When my wife, Laura, and I heard about it, we met with them and decided we had to do something to help stop this. We started speaking at schools and the children, and the group donated graphics and all of their work to us. Laura and I applied for our nonprofit and that is how 'Stand for the Silent' came to be."
"The 'Stand For The Silent' program addresses the issue of school bullying with an engaging, factual, and emotional methodology. With the help of student leaders, Kirk Smalley presents his inspirational story, and students are shown first-hand the life and death consequences of bullying. Through this unique approach, lives are changed for the better. Students, some for the first time, develop an empathetic awareness through education and understanding," the group's website says.
As part of their mission, Kirk and Laura, who died in 2020, have been to 6,006 schools and spoken to over four million children. "We go anywhere we are invited to speak without charge. We have had huge impacts on every school, and we have visited and received hundreds of messages from the schools telling us that their school atmosphere has changed for the better since we visited and spoke to their student," Kirk said.
Meeting with Barack and Michelle Obama
On March 10, 2011, Kirk and Laura met with then President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama at the White House. "We attended the first ever conference on bullying to ever be held at the White House. We met privately with the Obamas and spoke about the rapid rising numbers of youth suicide and bullying. We asked them to help in any way they could to make it stop for our children," Kirk said.
"I would like to tell schools that bullying can be stopped. We can get the children involved with helping to stop it. The students are the ones that can do this. I have seen it happen so I do know that it is doable," Kirk said, adding, "but most importantly, the children themselves are the key to stopping it and preventing it. Schools can't stop it, parents can't stop it - the children themselves can."
The four students who allegedly attacked Adriana were initially slapped with third-degree assault charges, and one of them was also charged with disorderly conduct. The charges were later upgraded, with one of them now charged with aggravated assault. She could even face court as an adult. Apart from her, one has been charged with harassment and two with conspiracy to commit aggravated assault. Meanwhile, Central Regional School District (CRSD) & Seaside Heights Superintendent, Triantafillos Parlapanides, has resigned after widespread criticism.