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Saturday, September 3, 2011

The Pulse: Bullying wrong, but N.J. law may go too far - Philly.com

The Pulse: Bullying wrong, but N.J. law may go too far - Philly.com:

The Pulse: Bullying wrong, but N.J. law may go too far

September 02, 2011|By Michael Smerconish
  • Dharun Ravi at his May hearing on invasion-of-privacy charges involving Rutgers roommate Tyler Clementi, who committed suicide. The case, still being sorted out, inspired the new law.

With children back or heading back to school, educators in New Jersey are struggling with the realization that they will need to implement what's known as the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights, which went into effect Thursday. There are 18 pages of "required components" to the new law, yet school administrators complain that they've been given no resources to meet the mandates.

For example, within one day of a bullying incident, principals must begin an investigation, and twice a year superintendents must provide reports to Trenton detailing all episodes. Getting lots of attention is that in one district, East Hanover, Crimestoppers will accept anonymous text