States across the country are putting anti-bullying laws in place, many in response to tragic circumstances that resulted from excessive bullying within their schools. While some already have laws on the books that require schools to comply, others are continuing to fight the battle to transform anti-bullying from school policy to state law. Are laws against bullying essential, and will they effectively protect the victims? We'll take a look at some of the states grappling with this challenge to find out.
This video describes anti-bullying laws in general.
Laws in Place in Massachusetts
Last May, the governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick, signed a piece of anti-bullying legislation into law. The Massachusetts Bullying Prevention Law required all public schools to file anti-bullying plans with the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education by the end of last year, according to a report in the Holbrook Sun. The schools' plans needed to include the following:
- Clear descriptions of what bullying looks like
- Statements prohibiting bullying in the schools
- Procedures for school staff to report incidents of bullying
- Guidelines to promptly respond to reports of bullying
- Guidelines to ensure the safety of victims
- Procedures to notify parents and guardians of the victim or perpetrator
- Guidelines to report incidents of bullying to law enforcement officials
- Provisions for anonymous reports
- Professional development to build awareness and skills for dealing with bullying
- Disciplinary actions for perpetrators of bullying
The plan should also have