What about bullying based on completely random shit? That's what I don't understand about that act, given that most of the bullying I faced in school was based on that I liked this one musician. And most of the bullying I've seen was based on things unrelated to the traits listed in the summary. To say nothing of that there's no word about what happens if someone's being bullied and they punch the person bullying them. I don't think they should get in trouble, since they were provoked, but other people think that equates them, and I'd really want to know what the stance is on things like that.
Most Education Professionals and Youth Workers know that Bullying is wrong and dangerous (now - at one time it was considered a useful rite of passage). So all but the terminally stupid and incompetent would step in to prevent random stuff (Band Kids aren't cool, you live in a stupid neighborhood, your clothes look funny). I mean face it Columbine et. al. was a major wake-up call.
But people found that there was a problem in that adults were overlooking bullying or maybe even subtlety encouraging it based on learned bigotry and prejudice that they held. So to stop that and make it very clear that NO bullying was OK, those problematic situations are now being listed in the laws.
This way you cannot have an adult authority figure who may be racially prejudiced, homophobic, biphobic or transphobic themselves saying "well I thought saying THAT was ok". Now they are very clear that it isn't.
But it seems that this will make it harder to go after people who bully for reasons unrelated to bigotry. Like, if Jamil is shoved in a mud puddle by Jimmy, will they only go after Jimmy if he did it because Jamil is Muslim? Or will it be considered equal if Jimmy did it because Jamil cut in front of him at the drinking fountain?
Well it would depend, is Jimmy an otherwise reasonable little boy who suddenly shoved Jamil into a mud puddle because Jamil is Muslim? If yes, you have a problem of learned behavior with Jimmy (and most likely his home environment) around the issues of religion (and possible nationality and race
( ... )
I am so relieved now that North Carolina has passed opt-out comprehensive sexual health education. Not only does it give me an opening to do more work educating kids about safe sex, but hey, more kids in poorer districts can actually get accurate information on their health. Thank god.
There seems to be a disconnect between what the government of NC is doing to try and bring the state's educational and health system into the modern age and the lives and practices in many places, especially in the western and mountain areas (*cough* McDowell County *cough*).
However it is good that people who are trying to make these positive changes actually have the weight of the law behind them now.
True, but at least schools no longer have to forgo the health and education of their students in order to receive the funding they need to stay open and functional.
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But people found that there was a problem in that adults were overlooking bullying or maybe even subtlety encouraging it based on learned bigotry and prejudice that they held. So to stop that and make it very clear that NO bullying was OK, those problematic situations are now being listed in the laws.
This way you cannot have an adult authority figure who may be racially prejudiced, homophobic, biphobic or transphobic themselves saying "well I thought saying THAT was ok". Now they are very clear that it isn't.
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However it is good that people who are trying to make these positive changes actually have the weight of the law behind them now.
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