STAR/TRIBUNE
Article by: MARIA ELENA BACA
Gov. Mark Dayton will appoint a task force to tackle the problem of school bullying and search for solutions by looking at what's working and what's not all over the country.
Speaking at the Capitol on Tuesday, Dayton said the panel will comprise 15 members, including people from his administration, legislators and community members with expertise in the area. The governor wants the group to report back to his office, the Legislature and the public by Aug. 1, 2012.
Dayton is the most recent public official to issue a call to action for a problem that affects more than 100,000 students a week in Minnesota, according to a study by the state departments of health and education.
Last week, Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson proposed a bill that would require all school districts in the state to respond to bullying reports within 24 hours. The measure also would require districts to create policies for reporting, documentation, as well as protection for students who are subject to bullying and those who report it. It is modeled after a law that garnered bipartisan support earlier this year in North Dakota. If passed, the law would take effect in 2013.
With the shortest anti-bullying law in the nation at 37 words, Minnesota requires only that school districts have written policies in place prohibiting all forms of intimidation and bullying. The law earned a C-minus grade from the watchdog group BullyPolice USA, the lowest grade of any state that has an anti-bullying law. Three do not.
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I think bullying is a big problem, but it is an exaggerated problem. I say this because I think that it is a process in the school society. I mean, I think it is normal that some people make jokes with others but if there is an abusse, like...really really bad, I think you have to talk about bullying.
ReplyDeleteBut, like in the nature, there are many fights and I think that little fights or jokes are normal, however if that jokes want to hurt somebody, that should be punished.
Alberto G(7)
Even though the bullying is still a big problem,I think we are starting to gain some control over the situation.But as we grow stronger and stronger there will still be bullying on the situation which is why General Lori Swanson proposed a bill that will hopefully help.Sadly,it wouldn't take into effect until 2013.
ReplyDeleteChris W. hr1
I think that bullying is a real thing to worry about. The people that get bully will have a hard time to focus in school and might hurt others or them self. The schools should have a task forces to check on the students and see if there is anything wrong.
ReplyDeleteJimmy P7
I believe that bullying is a really big issue! Some people may disagree but bullying can range from a lot of things, it could be verbal abuse, neglect or ostrasization. The things that are happening to these kids might not be witnessed by everyone. This is why we need to start cracking down on bullying policies. General Lori Swanson has proposed a terrific bill, hopefully this will shine some more light on the issue. Once more people are aware of this problem I bet it will make it possible for this law to go into effect in 2013.
ReplyDeleteAnna c3
I think bullying is a big problem but it's been in the schools forever, the difference is that nowadays with all the violence and all what is happening in our world right now its getting out of control. I really liked the idea that the government is getting involved in this important issue because the students spend a lot of their lives in the school and it must be awful to be suffering because of that. Another important part of bullying is that most of it is not witnessed and the kids don't talk about it because they are afraid so I think is really important for the authorities to check the students more often and see if something is wrong so they can talk to their parents and do something, and with this new law I think this hole process will be easier.
ReplyDeleteLucy M7
I think it's great that they are taking care of the bullying going around now. It's been going on for so long and it' not fun to go through. So I think it's great idea to send the law to force the bullies to stop. It's about time!
ReplyDeleteThanousay k. 7
I agree with Thanousay. Bullying is bad and it should be stopped because it makes people feel bad. If a strong enough law is passed to stop it it will be very good for everyone.
ReplyDeleteSid M. 7
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ReplyDeleteI agree with Alberto! to some extent bullying is normal for the teenage nature. But only if it is 'harmless'. For example when you say to just best friend that she doesn't look good. Because then you mean it, but you want to help her by saying the truth, you don't have any bad intentions. But if you say to some kid that is kinda foreign to you, not a good friend of yours, that 'he's an ugly fat rat' than it is bullying for me and it should be prohibited. Because that person will take it seriously and it will hurt him. There is so much damage than can be caused through bullying, that we don't realize. Sometimes we say things and we don't mean them or we don't even recognize we said something bad, but the person we said it to is hurt by what you said. I think we all should watch our language and stop bullying others. Because maybe you're gonna be in the same position sometime, even if you don't think so. Besides you don't know the History of a person. Most things have reasons. For example any 'big' kid. First, who decides what big is? maybe he/she has a disease that makes her big and he/she does everything he/she can do fight it? maybe he/she has problems in her family or she just got out of bulimia? You never know what it is, but until you know I would advice you whether to bully nor gossip about that person. Someday it'll be you.
ReplyDeleteIsabel S. 7
I think that this group is not needed. The school should be in charge of taking care of discipline.If the school can take care of bullying we don't need a group to take care of it. The school needs to enforce its own rules.
ReplyDeleteTim M
I think that bullying is pathetic. Most the schools around say there bully free yea right that's a joke! There are so many kids that end up hurting them selves because of bullies. Its about time people are stepping in.
ReplyDeleteCheyenne J.3
I think that the school should be able to take there own actions, the schools have dealt with this before and with it keep happening I think the school should take more charge and punish the people who are bullying more then just a slap on the wrist the first few times they do it.
ReplyDeleteSummer S.
I think that it is a good thing that schools are making a law that kids cant pick on other by other kids just because they are different from other people doesnt mean you can bully them
ReplyDeleteCam K.
I agree with Tim and Summer. The school should be dealing with bullying. Bullying should not get to a point where it has to be dealt with at a higher level. I think bullying is disgusting and if you see it and don't stop it then you are no better than the person doing the bullying.
ReplyDeleteAbby D. Period 3
I think it's good that the government is going to do something about bullying. Here, I don't think bullying is as big of a problem as it is in larger cities. There, bullying is much worse. Also, bullying is worse in our generation, due to new technologies. Cyberbulling, for example, is a new and harsh type of bullying. I agree with the proposed law that said bullying reports would have to be dealt with within 24 hours. I think this is a good idea, and may help victims of severe bullying.
ReplyDeleteShannel D. 3
I agree with what Shannel said. With newer technologies and today's society, bullying has gotten very serious. Things should be done to help stop it. This law will just be the beginning of many good steps forward to help prevent bullying.
ReplyDeleteLynn A. 7
I agree, bullying is a huge problem, Shannel is right with all these new technologys, ex: Facebook! Kids are always being bullied and then everyone joins in on it and harrasses them. It's pathetic people need to just treat people how they would like to be treated. This law is much needed, and should only do great things.
ReplyDeleteSavannah T7
I agree with Shannel and Cheyenne. Cyberbulling has become alot worse in the past few years due to new technolodgies. It's good that they are making new laws that will take action sooner, but the laws and policies we have right now are not inforced very well so hopefully this new law will be
ReplyDeleteMegan W. 7
I agree with Summer, bullying come from school, and for get better all the schools have to start helping because bullying is horrible and really disrespectful, nobody have right to be judge and suffer attackers, and it has to be clear that is not just physical bullying is vverbal too.
ReplyDeleteAnd everybody have to respect everyone.
Alexia M.7
I think its a good thing that they are trying to stop bullying. I also think that even if they try to not everyones going to stop. I agree with what Savannah said we should just treat people nicely and not bully and this law should be great.
ReplyDeleteMacKenzie N. 1