Protect your child from bullies: that was the message Tuesday night from a mom who lost her her 13-year-old daughter to suicide after she was bullied on line.
Megan Meier of Dardennes Prairie, Missouri, took her own life in 2006 after a neighbor posed as a mean-spirited boy on Myspace.
Since then her mother, Tina Meier, has traveled the nation working to prevent bullying.
More than 100 people showed up at Columbia College to hear Meier talk about bullying, and the devastating effects it can have on a child.
Meier touched on physical, verbal and emotional bullying and said girls are worse than boys, "The majority of every school I go to, girl bullying is worse than boy bullying, it is usually over boys, over rumors, over jealousy, the boys typically fight-pushing and shoving, but they usually handle it, and it's kind of over with unless the target a specific kid".
She said the most common place for bullying is in gym class. Her daughter suffered there.
She said warning signs include kids with torn clothing, or wanting to stay home from school.
She added, one problem is parents of bullies often won't work to stop it, saying the teasing is justified because the victim has chose to be "different".
This is the second time Meier has been invited to the Columbia Public Schools and tomorrow she'll speak at Jefferson and Oakland Junior High Schools and Lange Middle School.
The Columbia Public School Spokesperson, Michelle Baumstark said students from other schools, including Hickman and Rock Bridge High Schools, have the opportunity to attend those presentations.
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