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A comment on Son, as soon as someone puts their hands on you.... Parent comment

Re:Son, as soon as someone puts their hands on you... by moshezadka on Thursday November 11, 2010 @08:35PM (#1896167)
Here is a sustainable approach: make sure that teachers are legally obligated to report bullying instances they are aware of to the police. (This law can be passed in the municipal, state or federal levels -- it doesn't matter.)

Bullying is assault. The first time the police gets involved, it will be unpleasant for the bully. The second time, he gets arrested. The next bully to come along might realize he doesn't want a criminal record, and if he doesn't, his parents might. And if they don't stop, they get sent away to juvie.

Why do we assume highschool/middleschool kids are somehow untouchable by the law?

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Re:Son, as soon as someone puts their hands on you... by neworbit on Friday November 12, 2010 @01:31AM (#1896760)
...because in some circumstances, they are. Cavanagh has vandals on film and admitting their guilt on facebook - cops don't follow up. More important things to do, I guess.

Ever had to actually get the police to follow up on something like that? They'll take your report... but if no one is injured, it often ends there.

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Re:Son, as soon as someone puts their hands on you... by zacharycohn on Friday November 12, 2010 @12:04PM (#1898284)
They're not untouchable, but every year you're going to have a whole new group of kids "becoming" bullies. So any "sustainable" approach has to be made with parents, not the school system, because it's parents who are ultimately responsible.
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