From the Washington Post, Virginia Politics Blog:
NoVa. delegates push anti-bullying legislation
Two Northern Virginia Democrats are sponsoring legislation to attempt to curb teen bullying, a topic that’s received heightened national attention due to a spate of suicides of teenagers who had been targeted by classmates.
Del. Adam Ebbin (D-Arlington) is proposing a billthat would make egregious bullying a criminal misdemeanor, punishable by up to 1 year in jail and a $2,500 fine. Ebbin cited the case of York County high school student Christian Taylor, who committed suicide in May.
Taylor’s mother has said she complained to school officials and local sheriff’s deputies that the 16-year old was being bullied but they did little to help. The local sheriff’s office has said it investigated her complaints and turned them over to school officials after determining no laws had been broken. In a wrongful death suit she has filed against local officials, Taylor’s mother indicates that her son’s bully allegedly told him before his death: “You need to just go ahead and kill yourself and get it over with.”
Ebbin’s bill would define bullying as “recklessly or intentionally endangering the health or safety of a student by exposing the student repeatedly, and over time, to physical aggression or intimidation, whether through direct physical contact or through the use of information or communication technology, resulting in bodily injury or other harm to person or property.” It would also give victims the right to sue those who have bullied them.
Ebbin called it “outrageous” that bullying so severe as to lead to a student’s suicide would not be criminal conduct.
“No student should be afraid to go to school,” Ebbin said in a conference call with reporters Wednesday about the proposal.
Del. David Englin (D-Alexandria) is sponsoring separate legislationthat would require that teachers be trained in dealing with bullying, that they report bullying incidents to school authorities and mandate that they intervene when a student is being harassed. Englin’s bill defines bullying more broadly than Ebbin’s, calling it verbal, physical or written conduct that creates a hostile environment that interferes with another student’s education, physical or psychological well-being.
The bill refers specifically to conduct motivated by: an actual or perceived personal characteristic including race, national origin, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ancestry, physical attributes, socioeconomic status, familial status, or physical or mental ability or disability.”
Much of the attention devoted to the bullying issue in recent months has come from incidents in which students were teased by classmates who believed they were gay. But Englin acknowledged singling out bullying based on perceived sexual orientation might make the legislation more controversial in the conservative Virginia legislature.
“That is a challenge and that is something that we’ll have to deal with as it goes through the legislative process,” Englin said. “But it’s a very important item that needs to be on the table for discussion…If you spend any time with kids in school, you know that is one of the things that’s used as a weapon to harm other children.”
Helderman was succinct enough that to cut any part of her post out removes entirely too much data. This is must-pass legislation. Rather than getting better, bullying seems to be getting worse. Technology contributes to much current bullying. Rather than just taunting someone or beating them up on the playground, there is now almost no escape from being bullied because technology is 24/7. Facebook, texting, cell phones, and instant messaging are all ways to psychologically torture someone.
Kids are bullied in school and in the neighborhood. Adults are bullied in the work place by co-workers or by bosses. Last time we ran this topic, the blog women responded and the men basically rolled their eyes. Perhaps it is wuss to admit you have been bullied?
Prince William County has had anti-bully programs for nearly 10 years. The Deputy Superintendant has been vigilant in insisting that schools have programs that teach kids to identify bullying and ways to prevent bullying. Yet, this still isn’t enough. I expect the City has similar programs. Bullying is easy to address and hard to control.
Most kids at some point in time have been bullied and also have bullied others. Adults are no different. Most of us won’t call out bullying when we see it. For example, right now, on a blog in a distant galaxy, a woman is shown on video with a running marque that calls the woman names and it makes fun of what she is saying. The woman’s crime was to speak out at a town hall meeting. Good Lord, no wonder people are so apathetic. Who wants to get involved in the local political system if they are going to be recorded, mimicked, and made fun of? Is this a form of bullying and intimidation?
Will laws stop bullying? No. However, there will now be clear cut consequences for those convicted of bullying. Law enforcement, schools, and employers will have clear cut laws to deal with rather than vague definitions that are not universal. I can’t see why anyone would vote against this anti-bully legislation.
not sure laws can fix human being’s nastiness.
The 40-minute documentary film “Bullied” is being shown on Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 6:30 pm at George Mason’s Prince William Campus in the Verizon auditorium. It’s free and some light refreshments are served for commuters and students going straight from class or work to the event. There is a facilitated discussion after the film. It’s part of the Immigration & Human Right Cinema series sponsored by GMU and Unity in the Community.
This whole “bullying” premise is a red herring used by those who want to constrain our right to express dissent, in all levels of society.
If enacted into law, this bill would allow anyone who didn’t like something that was said to them, to charge others with, bullying. For example, if a fellow student remarks that being a homosexual was repugnant, or that tattoos make one appear to be trailer-park trash; all such expressions of disapproval could then be actionable.
Our freedom of expression does not provide the right to assault anyone, and we already have plenty of existing laws that more than adequately address real harm done to others.
So, be clear, this is not about “bullying” it is about forcing critics of degenerate behavior and all other expressions of disapproval, into silence.
Tyler, wait until you have a child bullied at school and come back and tell me the crap you have said.
You have confused bullying with just being rude and politically incorrect. Bullying is about causing another person continual physical or emotional harm. It can take place in many forms.
Bullying is very real. Continual bullying has done irreparable harm to people. Schools should not be hostile learning environments and going to work should not be a hostile environment either.
We have no laws to curb continual harassment. Bullying can take the form of picking at someone physically like tripping, knocking books out of ones arms, ear flicking, etc. It can be ostracism, whisper campaigns, gossip, vile text messages, insults about ones appearance or beliefs or social sub-group.
Name me one existing law against any of these things.
Just as useful, making it a Class 6 felony for teen agers to have sex.
@marin,
I think it used to be when I was a kid. It didn’t stop some people.
………………………lol, right. So, how exactly will a law that says don’t bully “fix” anything?
Wish a law could cure bullying!!!
As much as I want all bullying to stop, and don’t believe there’ll ever be a law that’ll stop it.
How would you, for instance, punish young bullies? Put them in jail? Isolate them from other youngsters? Keep them out of school? Give them 20 lashes in the public square?
This is wishful thinking, IMHO.
Think Daisy Duke said it all.
I guess it would allow consequences. I certainly think it would not be much of a deterrent for young kids. However, some older folks have bullied people to the point where they have taken their own lives. It has been very difficult to hold very guilty people culpable.
For that reason, I would support the proposed law. It would be out there for the worst of the worst.
I would liken it to gang behavior….How do you punish young gang members? Again, worst of the worst. Certainly anti gang laws don’t do much to stop gang membership but it does provide consequences for those who commit crimes until a gang banner.
gangs are charged under rico statutes. Seems rather tough for a slam book. In 20 years, parents won’t be necessary. We’ll just have breeding centers and the state will raise the kids.
We’ll just have breeding centers and the state will raise the kids.
Isn’t that where we get politicians?
It was very difficult to charge those 2 who filmed the gay kid in NJ. (The one who jumped off the bridge.)
45 states have laws against bullying. NY Times:
If it’s good enough for Gov. Christie its good enough for Virginia.
If it’s good enough for Gov. Christie its good enough for Virginia.
Bwahahahahaha! Let the budget cutting begin! Bwhahahahahaha!
Every school should have some type of bully prevention and intervention program.