Can 5 Year Old Children Be Fined for Bullying? Maybe it’s Coming in California.
We have officially crossed over into the Land of Make Believe by holding young children responsible for childish behavior with adult consequences. From The California Daily Breeze:
Carson is moving to become the first California city to criminalize bullying, paving the way for misdemeanor charges to be filed against children as young as 5 years old.
If the City Council puts its final stamp of approval on the plan May 20, the new law would take effect June 19. On Tuesday, all five council members voted tentatively to push through the change in the city’s Municipal Code.
“This is a very serious issue that we face not only in the state of California but throughout the United States,” said Councilman Mike Gipson, who introduced the ordinance and is spearheading a campaign to make Carson “bully-free.”
Imagine what that data set will look like for a 5 year old who has the maturity of a 5 year old and calls someone a “doo-doo head”. If a child calls someone names numerous times, the data could include criminal misdemeanor charges for the infraction. Could it also include a kindergarten kiss on the cheek? If that is considered sexual in nature, probably so:
Carson officials want to make it clear to bullies that the behavior — whether it’s physical, sexual, online or verbal in nature — won’t be tolerated, no matter the age.
The ordinance would target anyone from the ages of 5 to 18 who makes another person feel “terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed or molested (in a way that) serves no legitimate purpose.” First-time offenders could be ticketed for an infraction and fined Can 5 Year Old Children Be Fined for Bullying? Maybe it’s Coming in California. | Missouri Education Watchdog: