The consequences of depression and bullying are important facts for middle school students to hear. The Milton Public Schools provided such an opportunity, bringing a Vermont man who lost his son to suicide in 2003, to Pierce Middle School this week.

The administration went a step further on Tuesday night, inviting parents to Milton High School for a similar presentation with more details and ways adults can be involved in their children's lives.

Since his 13-year-old son passed away on October 7, 2003 after bullying both online and at school, John Halligan has dedicated his life to spreading the story nationwide.  Both his parent and student presentations start with the story of Ryan and the torment he faced at an Essex Junction, VT middle school.

In December 2002, Ryan, then in seventh grade, broke down to his father and mother Kelly, about a bully that had bothered him for several years. The couple knew about incidents of bullying, but thought the problem had subsided during seventh grade.

It hadn't and with home school and moving ruled out by the Halligans and going to the administration adamantly shut down by Ryan because he thought it would exacerbate the problem, a different approach was taken. The family agreed on what Halligan now calls the "Karate Kid Approach."

Using the popular "Taebo" kick boxing regiment, Ryan began working out. The Halligans bought the kit with strict instruction not to start a fight, but rather defend himself.

About two months later, a fight between Ryan and the bully broke out. Everything was fine again; the two boys even started a friendship. Not surprisingly, the friendship didn't last.

Through his last summer, Ryan spent hours on instant messenger. Halligan would later discover much of this time was spent combating a rumor he was gay that his former tormenter, turned friend had spread.

At the same time, a popular girl in Ryan's grade showed interest in him online. After a summer's worth of chatting Ryan was crushed to discover her interest was a hoax. She was sharing their conversations with her friends for a laugh.

After his son's death, Halligan turned to Ryan's instant messenger account for answers. He found pages of painful conversations and Ryan's friends began opening up to him via the internet.

During his Tuesday evening address, Halligan shared grittier details and touched on more specific topics than he did during the school day on Tuesday and Wednesday.

"The way I tell my son's story is so universal, they get it," Halligan said of the student presentation.

With the parents, Halligan touched on types of bullying including physical, emotional and relational, using friends as a tool to bully others. Halligan touched on depression and suicide as well as the concept of texting.

He also discussed the key players in these situations. Halligan contended that not just the bully and the victim need to be spoken to, but that the bystanders are important.

Halligan, who helped spur a bullying awareness law and a suicide prevention law in Vermont, also talked about parent involvement. He said he regrets not calling Ryan's school or the parents of his bully. Halligan recounted growing up in a time, when he couldn't do anything wrong without his mother getting wind.

After the presentation, Halligan and administrators from the district stuck around to answer specific questions. Copies of the newly adopted Milton Public Schools bullying policy were also available. The policy was officially approved in June this year, but work began last summer. Milton was ahead of the curve on the Massachusetts bullying law, which was passed in May.