New Jersey's stepped-up bullying prevention law has been deemed unconstitutional not for its spirit but for its cost. It was the state's Council on Local Mandates that ruled the law – the "Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights," which "was seen as one of the toughest in the nation" – unconstitutional as an unfunded mandate, the Tri-Boro Patch reports. The legislation's lead sponsor, Assemblywoman Valerie … [Read more...] about State anti-bullying law to be reworked
state laws
New state anti-bullying law challenges schools
The New Jersey anti-bullying law passed after the suicide death of Tyler Clementi went into effect this week and is "considered the toughest legislation against bullying in the nation," the New York Times reports. This is good news for New Jersey parents of targeted students who have found schools unresponsive but apparently tough news for schools. School officials worry that the legal requirement … [Read more...] about New state anti-bullying law challenges schools
Fresh takes on ‘cyberbullying’ & how to deal with it
A subhead to this post might be "The flaws of laws" – but also the flawed term "cyberbullying" itself. Every kid is very individual, so every case of bullying or cyberbullying is very individual. It's therefore difficult and probably very unwise to make generalizations about the cases, the children involved, or bullying in general. And increasingly I'm hearing from risk-prevention experts, even as … [Read more...] about Fresh takes on ‘cyberbullying’ & how to deal with it
Why anti-bullying laws don’t work: School psychologist’s view
With the passage of Massachusetts's new anti-bullying law, 42 states now have laws against bullying, Education Week reports, citing "the most recent data available from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration" of the Department of Health and Human Services. But anti-bullying laws don't work, says Izzy Kalman in a blog at Psychology Today. They don't work because they require a … [Read more...] about Why anti-bullying laws don’t work: School psychologist’s view
MA passed its anti-bullying law
The Massachusetts state legislature unanimously yesterday passed a new law "cracking down on bullying," the Boston Globe reports. "The bill gained momentum after the deaths of the 15-year-old [Phoebe] Prince [of South Hadley] and 11-year-old Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover of Springfield, who allegedly committed suicide after being bullied." The bill now goes to Gov. Deval Patrick for signing; a … [Read more...] about MA passed its anti-bullying law