NJ weighs new bullying laws after Rutgers suicide

[defendandprotect]

NJ weighs new bullying laws after Rutgers suicide

By GEOFF MULVIHILL, Associated Press Writer Geoff Mulvihill, Associated Press Writer – Mon Oct 25, 9:22 pm ET

EXCERPT ONLY ...

The bill's provisions include requiring public school staff to be trained in suicide prevention and how to deal with harassment, intimidation and bullying.

Bullying prevention programs would be required of schools. Currently, most New Jersey schools have them, but they are only encouraged — not required. Schools would have to form safety teams that would shape policies and review how bullying is handled.

Even public colleges and universities would be affected by a requirement for an anti-bullying policy and enforcement mechanism in student-conduct codes.

State Sen. Diane Allen, a Republican from Edgewater Park, said one important feature is that school websites would have to clarify who's in charge of the bullying policies. Right now, she said, it can be hard for parents to determine that.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101026/ap_on_re_us/us_gay_bullying



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Will this be effective -- any other suggestions for the bill?

[bobbolink]

1. Now this is real... unlike those damned empty "be strong" speeches.

Not knowing what is specifically in the bills, I don't know how effective they are.

But DOING prevention work is waaaayy above the empty rhetoric we heard last week.

[EconomicsIsGod]

2. A huge problem in my opinion is

that the good kids aren't allowed to fight back. Several years ago if there was some asshole bully at the school, he may run the place for a while but eventually everyone would get tired of him and someone would kick his ass. Problem solved. Now those good kids are scared to do that because if they do THEY get expelled for it. As a result, it continues to happen over and over until something like a suicide or school shooting happens when the person being bullied finally snaps.

[readmoreoften]

3. How about prosecuting harassment, assault, and stalking instead of hiding under the word "bullying"

17 y.o beats up and urinates on a gay or lesbian or trans kid at school? Bullying
18 y.o beats up and urinates on someone at work? Assault/sexual assault with prison sentence.

What's the disconnect here? These are crimes. Students who commit them should be expelled at minimum and brought up on charges. You don't need special training on this. Except on how to help your students file restraining orders and how to help them fill out police reports.

[bobbolink]

4. You have a point worth exploring. However, as abused women know, restraining orders aren't worth

the paper they are printed on.

As it stands now, bullying isn't recognized as a problem at all... either as bullying or as a crime. At least a law that teaches people what bullying *is* is a step in the right direction.

[njlib]

5. Agree with you 100%!

When my son was bullied in 5th & 6th grade, the principal told me "Some kids need to develop a tougher skin". My reply was "Well, he's getting hit IN CLASS on a daily basis. If I punched you right now, I'd get arrested for assault. Why is it OK for my kid to be punched every day?" I ended up getting a call from the assistant principal a few days later telling me that my son was in trouble. He had finally said ENOUGH and stabbed the little bastard with a pencil...not enough to cause any serious injury, but just enough to let it be known he was sick & tired of taking his shit. I ended up screaming at the top of my lungs that there was no way I'd stand for my son getting into trouble over this and that I'd be consulting a lawyer if the school didn't finally do something about the situation. As it turned out, the kid backed off, but the rest of the school year was hell for him...

Things improved once he got to 7th grade and high school was actually a very good time for him. He's now a performing arts major in college, getting ready for next week's premiere of "Phantom of the Opera"!

[Skittles]

7. worthy of its own thread

:thumbsup:

[njlib]

11. Thank you

Those really were the hell years for my son and he STILL, at 20 years old, isn't the outgoing, confident kid he was before it all started. There were days when I'd pick him up from the afterschool program and as soon as we got in the car he'd burst into tears and say "Why can't I just have ONE friend? All I want is one friend". He was the kid who was always eating lunch by himself and to this day, thinking back on it all still makes me cry. In 5th grade I told him that next year would be better. Well, when 6th grade was going the same way, he said during one of his breakdowns "You said it would get better". I can't tell you how hellish those years were for me too!

While I was ranting at the principal, I reminded him that bullying is why kids go in and shoot up their school. We live in a rural area, which is always where it occurs, and anytime I hear of a shooting I just can't help but feel sorry for the victims AND the shooter. If I saw that principal now, I think I'd give him a good swift kick in the balls!

I don't know why or what happened, but by 7th grade things had really improved for him and high school was a breeze. Since he's a ham, he was in a few school shows and always got a rousing ovation, just like it is now in his college productions. He's lucky to have a very good circle of friends, all good kids who don't get into trouble, and all very supportive of him. His kindergarten teacher had told me during a parent/teacher conference that one day she'd see him on Broadway. That's his goal now...

I'm really hoping that more will be done to prevent and prosecute, that all those poor kids who saw no other way out will not end up dying in vain. I just can't imagine what it's like for the parents...I don't think I'd be able to deal with my son taking his life.

If anyone is being bullied and reading this now, PLEASE KNOW THAT IT DOES GET BETTER!!!

[Matariki]

6. Damn good point. Given the fact that elementary school children have been tasered for less

Or how crimes against school property would be treated vs assault/sexual assault - it really should be treated seriously and not as some sort of 'kids will be kids' thing.

Sometimes it even seems that it is sometime more than just tolerated, as a way to enforce social conformity.

[EFerrari]

8. This is good but we need to do more than that for these kids.

More than even a law on the books. We need to go out into the community and make safe places for them to be kids.

[Life Long Dem]

9. How about some punishment?

Anti-bullying policies are in place for prevention, even though no one has the answer to prevent bullying.

So since bullying will never stop, how about punishment as well?

[opihimoimoi]

10. Bullies in school is one thing...How about them BULLIES in Poliics?

"Ye will know them by their traits"....Mongo from Rockridge