Bullying Bill Passes the House

In a stunning turnaround, the House approved a bill that would require teachers, buss drivers, principals, cafeteria workers and others to report bullying to law enforcement. It will make bullying a crime. It also mandates training for teachers and others on how to identify bullying which won't take effect until 2011-12 school year. What it doesn't do is provide a fine for those who don't report it. And further, it some how leaves out the parents. It still needs to go back to the Senate for tweaking. Wait until a 5th grader is taken out of school in hand cuffs.

The bill defines bullying, in part, as “the repeated use by a perpetrator of a written, verbal, or electronic expression, or physical act or gesture . . . directed at a victim that causes physical or emotional harm or damage to the victim’s property; places the victim in reasonable fear or harm to himself or of damage to his property; [or] creates a hostile environment at school.’’