On Monday, May 3 Govenor Patrick signed into law the most far-reaching effort to date to combat student bullying and its increasingly tragic consequences.
Although civil rights/free speech advocates are predicting challenges to the law, MA House Education Committee Chair Marty Walz—the bill's primary sponsor—contends that the intent was to address the growing epidemic of online and in-person bullying while preserving students first amendment rights.
Much of the language of the legislation is addressed toward strategies aimed at changing school culture, including helping students develop positive skills for interacting with one another, promoting tolerance and respect for differences and suggestions on how to help when they see others being treated inappropriately.
As part of the legislation, DESE is charged with developing curriculum to support these guidelines and will also likely draft policies to assist administrators in how to judge when to notify law enforcement authorities.
Please check back for further details.
 Bullying Bill |
