Can a Law End Bullying?
Anyone following the cyberbullying issue should read this article in the Columbia Missourian. (Thanks to Combest for the link.) The article reports on a proposed bill that would require all public school districts to write policies about online bullying.
The bill’s sponsor doesn’t see any drawbacks to it:
“I feel like this bill has the support of everybody,” Wilson said. “It’s simple, and it’s the right thing to do.”
The sponsor’s intentions are unimpeachable, but her bill still deserves to be challenged and debated. In particular, I see one potential down side to it: Passing such a bill could make people feel like the government had fixed something, when in reality little would change.
For one thing, the bill would apply only to public districts. I wouldn’t suggest expanding its reach; the state should not tell private schools which policies to adopt. But what if a student from a private school bullies a student from a public school, or vice versa? Or, what if someone’s cousin comes for a visit from out of state and bullies the neighborhood kids? How would districts’ anti-bullying policies help in those situations? Many instances of bullying wouldn’t fall under any district’s policy.
Furthermore, the bill just tells districts to write something down on a piece of paper. It’s not guaranteed that districts will enforce their policies well enough to prevent online bullying. Bullying can be difficult to detect and stop, because bullies usually harass their victims away from adults’ supervision. A district can’t track down all the emails and text messages that students send to each other, so the new policies probably wouldn’t affect communications between students as much as districts might want them to.
With all due respect, Educators are the last group in the world that I would want to make judgements about this subject. It is sad that we have arrived at this point. During my K-8 years – bullies ended up head down in a garbage can – might take 10 people to do it – but the job got done.
Comment by zapper — January 28, 2010 @ 7:15 p.m.
While I’m somewhat sympathetic to the poster, having a code of conduct for students is not a bad idea. Having electronic communication covered in that code of conduct is fine by me as well. There are loopholes, yes, but there are bad activities that would stop.
Thinking legally, it gives the parents the ability to say to the district, ‘My child is being harmed by this activity that is against your stated code of conduct. My child has the right to an education in a pro-learning environment. If you, the district, continue to let this activity continue without punishment, I recommend that you get out district’s checkbook.’
While the poster is correct that the district can’t monitor all communications, when communication is brought to their attention, they should look into it.
Should children be able to work it out themselves or just suck it up? Most, hopefully all, of the time. But there may times when such options are not available.
Comment by Papillon — January 29, 2010 @ 9:52 a.m.
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/emaf.nsf/comments?ReadForm&db=stltoday\news\stories.nsf&docid=127EAC5F6805F12A862576DF0012B9FA
Detroit has to cough up $800,000 for not stopping bullying. Infractions included a naked student unwantedly rubbing up against the plaintiff. How that is not sexual assault is beyond me. Yes, a little after the fact with this response.
Granted, not about cyber bullying, but about student harassment in general.
Comment by Papillon — March 10, 2010 @ 10:09 a.m.