• Massachusetts Senate passes anti-bullying laws.
    43 replies, posted
[release]The Massachusetts Senate today approved a bill to crack down on bullying in schools, which organizers say is a growing problem that is being exacerbated by communication over the Internet. The measure, which passed on a vote of 38-0, attempts to address both old-style in-person bullying – the kind that has plagued schools for years – and cyberbullying. The legislation now goes to the state House of Representatives. “This is comprehensive, prevention-oriented legislation that will work to end the persistent cycle of bullying we’ve seen in the Commonwealth’s schools for years, leading to tragedies,'' said Senator Jamie Eldridge, an Acton Democrat. "Every student deserves to feel safe in their own schools, and this bill is a strong step in that direction.” The legislation follows recent high-profile cases of students enduring abuse by bullies. In the most recent one, Phoebe Prince, 15, of South Hadley is thought to have committed suicide in January after allegedly being abused both in school and online by classmates at South Hadley High School. The bill, Senate 2283, defines and bans bullying and cyberbullying; prohibits retaliation against anyone who reports it; requires schools to develop bullying prevention programs; requires staff to report bullying to the principal; and requires the principal to investigate and take appropriate action. The principal must also notify the police if he or she believes criminal charges are warranted. A proposed Senate amendment to require school administrators to report bullying to the district attorney failed today. The bill is being backed by a 50-member coalition led by the Anti-Defamation League of New England that included organizations ranging from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees and the Massachusetts Teachers Association to the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association and Microsoft Corp. Forty-one other states already have such a law, organizers have said. The governor, Senate president, and House speaker have all urged strong legislation to stop bullies. "The time for action against bullying is now," Governor Deval Patrick said in a statement after the bill was approved recently by the Education Committee.[/release] [url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/03/mass_senate_to.html]Source: The Boston Globe.[/url] It's about damn time [i]someone[/i] forces schools to take responsibility for students' safety at school. I remember my days in middle school hell, where the motto on bullying is: "If we didn't see it, we can't do anything about it."
They're kids! Kids pick on each other, it's what they do!
[QUOTE=Luxo;20690589]They're kids! Kids pick on each other, it's what they do![/QUOTE] Laws like this are to protect people from the ones that take bullying to the next level. Such as following them online and pushing the victim to the edge, jumping them ect.
[QUOTE=Luxo;20690589]They're kids! Kids pick on each other, it's what they do![/QUOTE] You're stupid.
Cyberbulling is a load of bullshit. I can see a law protecting a kid from getting his ass beat on the playground, but getting spamed with dicks drawn in MS paint is not grounds to call the cops.
Getting beat up by 6 kids is no picnic, but the cyberbullying part is retarded.
[QUOTE=Sprocket Shit;20690618]You're stupid.[/QUOTE] Stop being such a baby. I got my ass pick on all the way though elementary school and junior high. You don't see me bitching about how terrible it was.
[QUOTE=JakeIsWin;20690793]Getting beat up by 6 kids is no picnic, but the cyberbullying part is retarded.[/QUOTE] Not really, Cyberbullying can be just as worse seeing as the person thinks because they're behind a computer they're protected.
Finally somebody does something about it [editline]08:48PM[/editline] Oh nvm its america
[QUOTE=MR-X;20690849]Not really, Cyberbullying can be just as worse seeing as the person thinks because they're behind a computer they're protected.[/QUOTE] [img]http://help.yahoo.com/cpp/images/mmail/ml_chatblockconf2_yp_1.gif[/img] :colbert:
[QUOTE=Wonky;20691193][img]http://help.yahoo.com/cpp/images/mmail/ml_chatblockconf2_yp_1.gif[/img] :colbert:[/QUOTE]And if someone creates a fake Facebook profile under a middle schooler's name, plasters gay pornography all over it, and says mean things to other classmates?
[QUOTE=Doug52392;20691220]And if someone creates a fake Facebook profile under a middle schooler's name, plasters gay pornography all over it, and says mean things to other classmates?[/QUOTE] That is fraud and defamation of character. They already have laws about it. We don't need a law against cyberbullying, we just need the means to enforce laws already in place.
[QUOTE=Doug52392;20691220]And if someone creates a fake Facebook profile under a middle schooler's name, plasters gay pornography all over it, and says mean things to other classmates?[/QUOTE] Well then it's not fucking cyber bulling! It's fraud, deformation of character, slander, etc.
[QUOTE=yawmwen;20691275]That is fraud and defamation of character. They already have laws about it. We don't need a law against cyberbullying, we just need the means to enforce laws already in place.[/QUOTE] I was going to say exactly this, half of what bullying is is already illegal to begin with.
And how exactly are they going to enforce this without pissing everyone off?
Sounds rather fascist.
[QUOTE=Luxo;20690829]Stop being such a baby. I got my ass pick on all the way though elementary school and junior high. You don't see me bitching about how terrible it was.[/QUOTE] Thanks for sharing your terrible childhood with us, this is why laws are being put into place [b]against[/b] this kind of thing. [editline]06:44PM[/editline] [QUOTE=Boba_Fett;20767414]Sounds rather fascist.[/QUOTE] Fascism is the suppression of ideologies or beliefs whether political or religious. Unless your religion or political beliefs include violence towards children (verbal or physical) then this is definitely not Fascism.
Welp, I hate to sound ridiculous, but this is a slippery slope that can't go anywhere but down. Most of this shit is already illegal, and we really don't need the internet to be monitored to this degree. [editline]04:08PM[/editline] [QUOTE=Gorgonoth;20767909]Thanks for sharing your terrible childhood with us, this is why laws are being put into place [b]against[/b] this kind of thing. [editline]06:44PM[/editline] Fascism is the suppression of ideologies or beliefs whether political or religious. Unless your religion or political beliefs include violence towards children (verbal or physical) then this is definitely not Fascism.[/QUOTE] Actual bullying, and cyberbullying are two totally different things.
[QUOTE=Gorgonoth;20767909]Thanks for sharing your terrible childhood with us, this is why laws are being put into place [b]against[/b] this kind of thing. [editline]06:44PM[/editline] Fascism is the suppression of ideologies or beliefs whether political or religious. Unless your religion or political beliefs include violence towards children (verbal or physical) then this is definitely not Fascism.[/QUOTE] That's not what fascism is either, but that isn't the debate for this thread. On-topic: good to see stuff like this going through. [editline]12:30AM[/editline] [QUOTE=Boba_Fett;20767414]Sounds rather fascist.[/QUOTE] Yes, it does sound like something that seeks to organize a nation with a corporatist system. :downs: Damn, you're retarded.
do you hear that it's the law not being enforced [editline]12:37AM[/editline] plus i guarantee bullying helped turn me from a creepy little nerd kid with no social skills to the normal person i am today
I don't see how this'll help, nobody ever tells on bullies, and generally you should just man up and ignore them. :colbert:
kids won't learn anything with stupid laws bring back capital punishment and don't push laws on the internet. a kid will learn better by getting a spanking.
[QUOTE=Protocol7;20771296]kids won't learn anything with stupid laws bring back capital punishment and don't push laws on the internet. a kid will learn better by getting a spanking.[/QUOTE] Capital punishment on kids?
[QUOTE=Protocol7;20771296]kids won't learn anything with stupid laws bring back capital punishment and don't push laws on the internet. a kid will learn better by getting a spanking.[/QUOTE] Capital punishment is the death penalty. I think you are talking about corporal punishment.
Nah bro he wants the weakest kids to die to improve our gene pool. Nothing he said makes sense. He's saying kids who are bullied need to also be punished by teachers? Yeah man because everyone knows kids who are bullied are usually the dumbest ones.
I could do with this, some fat mexican kid was trying to pick a fight with me until i punched him in the face. adrenaline rush man, holy shit i never felt that way
[QUOTE=lorden;20770289]I don't see how this'll help, nobody ever tells on bullies, and generally you should just man up and ignore them. :colbert:[/QUOTE] No, that just feeds into what they do. If they get shut down, their little power trip can come to an end. Bullies are the same people who become cops just to abuse their power and shit.
[QUOTE=PrismatexV8;20775216]No, that just feeds into what they do. If they get shut down, their little power trip can come to an end. Bullies are the same people who become cops just to abuse their power and shit.[/QUOTE] i'm just going to make an educated guess and say you get bullied a lot
[QUOTE=Archy;20775576]i'm just going to make an educated guess and say you get bullied a lot[/QUOTE] No, but it's not something you avoid. I've seen people ripped apart by it.
There shouldn't be made laws about cyberbullying. Rather, children should be instructed in how to handle cyberbullying on Facebook/Myspace/etc, learn how to block and report people who bully and learn how the laws work on the internet in regard of fraud and defamation of character.
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