Introducing The "Bullying Bill"

Can it Help? Will it Matter?

Ayele Shakur | President & CEO, Boston Learning Center

Bullying in schools is certainly nothing new. Some of us have personally experienced

bullying. Others may have been the bulliers. What has changed, however, is the
means by which bullying now occurs. Rather than shouting names in the halls at
school, students have taken to "cyberbullying." The advances in technology now allow
students to hide behind computer screens or blocked cell phone numbers in order to
torment their peers.

This concealed bullying has had a dramatic impact on youth of all ages. Most affected
have been middle school and high school students. Bullying hurts students in multiple
ways. An autistic Cape Cod 12-year-old was dancing at a school-sponsored dance
when another student videotaped him and put the video on YouTube for his classmates
to ridicule. School officials failed to remedy the situation, claiming that the YouTube
video was posted off-site and out of their control. The abuse became so dreadful that
the boy was forced to switch schools. Other situations are more dramatic. Last April,
11-year-old Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover got tired of the bullying he endured at his
Springfield charter school. So he went home and ended it once and for all: he hanged
himself with an electrical cord.

Even colleges are not immune. Students from some of Boston's most elite schools fell
victim to cyberbullying last year on the website Juicy Campus. The site, which has
since been shut down as a result of pending litigation, allowed college students to post
comments - completely anonymously - about their peers. The comments posted were
horrific. Worst of all, there was no form of accountability for the slanderous comments.
Clearly, this is not just a Massachusetts issue. It is a problem that affects students
nationwide. In the worst of all scenarios, we end up with cases like Columbine.

Because of instances like these, the Massachusetts legislature began hearing

arguments last November in favor of a "Bullying Bill." The Bullying Bill would force the
state Massachusetts Department of Education to create a "model policy" for all schools.
The Bill would make school districts address not only traditional bullying, but the new
cyberbulling that has become so prevalent. Schools would be held accountable when
they fail to intervene. Finally, in all cases of bullying or harassment, schools would be
required to report the case to state education regulators. Currently, 37 other states
have passed legislation to this effect.

WHO COULD ARGUE AGAINST THE BULLYING BILL?

The benefits of passing anti-bullying legislation seem obvious. Experts testified that
bullying reduces school attendance, lowers students' grades, can cause depression,
lead to insecurity, and even cause long-term emotional imbalances. In short,
proponents of the bill argue that bullying is really a form of assault, and should be
handled the same way assaults are: with legislation, police enforcement, and the judicial
system.

Given the impact bullying has on students, it seems hard to imagine that anyone could
indeed be against bullying legislation. Recently, Andy Hiller from WHDH News
investigated the arguments against the Bullying Bill. What he found was truly
surprising. The biggest opponents of the bill were in fact teachers, principals, and other
school administrators.

Why? The Bullying Bill, for the first time, would create accountability. It would force
educators to engage in additional administrative duties, such as compiling paperwork
and reports. Educators contend that taking control of bullying situations will create an
undue burden, one that they admittedly do not have enough time or resources to
handle. Others argue that cyberbullying takes place off school grounds, and therefore
is not a school issue. Administrators don't want to run the risk of school districts being
sued. And finally, opponents claim that "kids will be kids," and bullying is a problem that
should be addressed at the household level if it becomes a concern.

As of now, the Bullying Bill is still up for debate in the State House. Most signs indicate
that the Bill will ultimately be passed. However, in both 2004 and 2006, similar
legislation was defeated. Weighing on legislators minds, this time, is the suicide of a
South Hadley 15-year-old girl this January, who was bullied by five self-proclaimed
"Mean Girls."

WHAT DO TO DO IF YOUR CHILD IS BEING BULLIED

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has put together a useful guide for
parents whose child is being bullied. Click Here for the Entire Article. Some useful tips:
• Do NOT tell your child to "ignore" their abusers; this may suggest to your child
that you are going to ignore the bullying too.
• Don't blame your child for being bullied. It is not his or her fault.
• Contact your child's school and explain the situation calmly, presenting all
relevant facts that you are aware of. Explain that it is imperative for the school to
take action for your child's safety.
• Help your child find friends outside of school.
• Never, under any circumstances, encourage retaliation.
• These are just a few ways that you can try to remediate bullying affecting you
and your family. Sticks and stones may break kids' bones, but words hurt them
just as badly.

For additional education resources and articles, visit:

www.BostonLearningCenter.org