Do We Need Anti-Bullying Laws in Massachusetts?
In the wake of recent suicides of children who had been tormented by their classmates the Massachusetts Senate has unanimously backed an anti-bullying bill.
Intended to protect school children against bullying attacks by their peers, the bill is going after, not only the behavior on school grounds but will also prohibit the use of e-mails, text messages and other on-line hostility.
Bullies have always been part of the "growing up" experience and some children are more susceptible to these kinds of attacks. But, there has been a real explosion of bullying tactics that have been unleashed on kids through the use of cyberspace.
Along with the social aspects of sites like Facebook, Myspace and Twitter, the torment of some children through the use of these venues continues long after school is out.
The anti-bullying bill will attempt to clamp down on cyberbullying by putting schools in charge of prevention plans with regard to texting and emails.
But who is ultimately responsible when children decide to form gangs and pick on their weaker classmates? Some of this behavior is obviously learned at home or certainly not discouraged.
Anything that protects children, particularly the most vulnerable of them, is important to consider and should be addressed. The suicides of 11-year-old Carl Walker-Hoover and 15-year-old Phoebe Prince over the past year, both victims of school bullying, should not go unanswered.
But, where is the responsibility of the parent who allows his or her child to harass and torment their classmates? Most parents I know are caring and concerned about how their children treat others.
I think we need to seriously question those who are not.
Copyright 2010 "Do We Need Anti-Bullying Laws in Massachusetts?"
Claudette Millette, Broker, Owner, The Buyers' Counsel - a Buyer Broker Since 1992
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