I know you think you have me pinned because OMG who wants kids to have criminal records, but I am not ashamed to admit it. If a person ANY person kid or not, breaks the law and torments another person, especially if it is ongoing and does not stop after a detention or a typical type of punishment, then YES they deserve a criminal record because they are in fact criminals. They are breaking the law and abusing their fellow citizens and as a society we should say NO IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO TREAT PEOPLE THAT WAY.
Have you pinned? That would imply that my goal is to change your mind. That's a ridiculous goal to have. I don't really care what your opinion is, nor do I care what definitions you pull out of wikipedia. At this point, I am merely responding to the individuals that seem to think I am defending criminal behavior.
Second yes all kids will from time to time hurl an insult or call a name, however swift action must be taken to stop it before it goes on and becomes bullying. But no not ALL kids bully, most kids are actually quite sweet natured, with only the occasional attitude.
[sarcasm]OK. So let's arrest all the kids that regularly and routinely call other kid's names and maybe push one once in a while. That oughtta solve all the world's problems.[/sarcasm]
Look...we don't know what these 9 kids actually did to get these charges. I have seen statutory rape charges pressed on people for some pretty ridiculous stuff. *Most* of the time it is a very serious charge. But the article makes no mention of the activities that led to these charges, only that they have been charged.
You assume the worst of the 9 kids. Fine. I assume the worst of the school administrators and those charged with protecting this child. But we both make assumptions in order to even discuss this case because there are no facts to present.
Yes if a kid goes to school everyday with a bad attitude and insults their fellow classmates everyday then yes they deserve a punishment at the very least. We should not allow bullies to hold our schools hostage, because it is very difficult for teachers to teach and kids can't learn in a hostile environment. I think if as a student you are creating said hostile environment, then you should be removed so everyone else can get down to the business of learning. If you cannot reform your behavior and you continue to bully people then yes you are a criminal.
I agree with the first half, but for your last statement...please, if you will, define where the line is drawn between criminal behavior and disruptive behavior. Define when a child progresses from being a nuisance to being a criminal.
Is it based on age? Is it based on which words the child uses as insults? Is it based on the number of times the child is found to be disruptive? Is it based on verbal vs. physical? You tell me where the line is drawn.
Than, after you draw the line, you show me in the articles where these 89 kids being charged crossed the line. Try as I might I can't find any mention of what, sopecifically, these kids did for their charges. I am willing to assume that the charges are legitimate, but I am not willing to assume that they are worthy of actual criminal prosecution because I do not know what their actions were...and neither do you.
You are welcome to be mean and totally out of line and insult my ability to read if you wish...what goes around comes around so I know you will get yours in the end.
I insulted you? You're too sensitive. I didn't insult you, I told you that if you actually read the words I used, instead of assuming my intent based on a pre-concieved idea of what you THINK I am going to write, you wouldn't get so angry.
If that's an insult, than I fully understand why you would wish to criminalize any schoolyard bully...
Bullying is abuse no matter what you personally choose to believe and by downplaying it you are in fact downplaying abuse (just google 'is bullying abuse') . Regularly verbally assaulting someone can have just as serious of consequences as if the abuse where physical. A child who is regularly verbally insulting to their classmates is a bully and bullying/harassment is a crime, so it doesn't really matter what you believe. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and beliefs. It is my opinion that the sky is purple but that doesn't make it so.
Bullying is not always abuse. There are vastly varying degrees of bullying, and most of them never become criminal in their intent OR their actions. Sure...occasionally it does. And those kids deserve criminal punishments. But the vast majority of "bullying" *should*(IMO) be dealt with with school discipline, not criminal records.
I agree that regular verbal taunting from classmates can be incredibly painful and detrimental to the developement of young people. This is where parents and school admninistrators need to pick up the line, protect the children, and give them the necessary tools to deal with these issues, rather than coddling them over a few words and creating another generation of over-sensitive, easily offended, "the world revolves around me", spoiled rotten kids.
Ultimately, the world is not a nice place. People are not required by law to be nice. It is not criminal to be mean. I don't care what wikipedia says, it simnply is not criminal to be mean. It's not nice, but...it's not criminal either.
