Thaindian News

Massachusetts, May 3 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Massachusetts has passed an anti-bullying law, which covers the Internet cyberspace as well. The legislation came into being, just because of the suicide of a 15 year old girl Phoebe Prince, who was mercilessly bullied at the South Hadley High School. She was bullied so badly, that the only escape route that she found was in the form of suicide. Even the local district attorney, Elizabeth Scheibel later spoke about the incident, and said that the students made her last day “tortuous.” After her suicide, nine students were charged in this case.

So now there is legislation against bullying, which also includes the crimes of stalking and harassment. The bill now just needs the formal signature of the Governor. And all the schools are expected to report to the local authorities if there are any incidents of bullying in their schools and also investigate the matter thoroughly. The bill also dictates that the school employees undergo training, so that they can spot a bully and also have a formal background when they investigate any bullying incident. The law also wants the public and the private schools as well, to offer an anti-bullying curriculum as well, and the schools are also required to make a ‘bullying intervention plan’.