Phoebe Prince anti-bullying law against freedom of speech

KATE HICKEY,

Published Tuesday, May 4, 2010, 12:36 PM

Updated Tuesday, May 4, 2010, 5:08 PM

Larger Text

E-mail

5 Comments

Phoebe Prince anti-bullying law comes under fire

It seems that school districts are finding it difficult to strike a balance between combating cyber-bullying and avoiding freedom of speech violations.

Boston civil rights lawyer, Harvey A. Silverglate said “School authorities are going to overreact, and we’re going to have a firestorm of administrative actions against kids for saying things that are merely slightly unpleasant but do not qualify as bullying or harassment or stalking or any other such thing."

Walz said she has already taken note of problems that might arise, such as every little complaint being brought to the attention of the police. The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education plan to draft a policy on when schools should contact the police.

She believes that most bullying allegations will remain in the schools but will be highlighted and brought into the light. It is hoped that steps such as these will prevent tragedies, like Phoebe Prince’s suicide, happening again.

Last page < 1 2

Nster.com

E-mail

5 Comments

See all comments

kcgaelic | May 06, 2010, 03:05 PM EDT

here we are headed is frightening. What once was absurd is becoming the "norm".

Report abuse

TraveLynn | May 05, 2010, 12:31 PM EDT

So basically, it's ok to slander someone. Nice.

Report abuse

geoduck | May 04, 2010, 08:38 PM EDT

If the courts want to protect high school student's 1st Amendment rights why not defend their 2d Amendment rights as well? Let the kids carry loaded rifles at school. In fact, require it as part of the school uniform. As Heinlein said "An armed society is a polite society".

Report abuse

gregwb57 | May 04, 2010, 06:24 PM EDT

It just goes to show you how some lawyers are totally useless! They have to throw in their two cents no matter how stupid it is.

Report abuse

rorschach | May 04, 2010, 04:53 PM EDT

I hope this measure is a start at addressing this problem. Any decent lawyer ought to have been able to draft a bill that offered protections against criminal harassment (such as Phoebe suffered) while not infringing civil liberties. How else are anti-stalking or anti-harassment laws in force? People who harass celebrities aren't able to plead the Constitution as a defence.

Report abuse