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US Ed Dept Demanding Principals Censor More

Posted by samzenpus on from the sticks-and-stones dept.

Toe, The writes "Education Department officials are threatening school principals with lawsuits if they fail to monitor and curb students' lunchtime chat and evening Facebook time for expressing ideas and words that are deemed to be harassment of some students. Under the new interpretation of civil rights laws, principals and their schools are legally liable if they fail to curb 'harassment' of students, even if it takes place outside the school, on Facebook or in private conversation. When children are concerned, where is the line between protection and censorship?"

8 of 493 comments (clear)

  1. Ludicrous by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    On the one hand we teach kids about the Constitution and Bill of Rights. On the other hand, we tell them "Hey johhny - what you say can get you in trouble if you make fun of that fat kid in the playground...

    Whatever happened to "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me?" Have we become such a bunch of pussies that we can't even deal with having people call us bad names? What ever happened to "hey - here's two pairs of boxing gloves - go behind the gym and work it out?"

    And finally, doesn't the Dept of Ed have ANYTHING else to deal with besides this BS?

    1. Re:Ludicrous by Seumas · · Score: 5, Interesting

      If kids weren't beating the fuck out of each other in school and torturing and harassing each other in school, I doubt it would be an issue outside of school, either. In a lot of these instances, the online "harassment" is merely an extension of the viciousness that is occurring inside the walls of the school eight hours a day. Perhaps they'd be less inclined to do that outside of school if they weren't allowed to get away with it *inside* of school, too. The problem is that teachers and administrators look the other way. Trouble makers get away with it and at worse are "disciplined" but kept in school. Then parents excuse it as some sort of insane right of passage or character building exercise. The parents that do take it seriously reach a roadblock when nobody else engages with them and they're forced to send their kid to a violent prison for eight hours a day with no recourse to protect them.

      I remember a specific incident when I was in junior high in the 90s. There were two teachers right in front of me in the hallway and a large eight grader at the end of the hallway walked passed a small seventh grade student and in one swift motion, slammed his head directly into a wall for no reason. The kid passed out and had a concussion. The teachers didn't respond. They just kept walking and turned at the next bend in the hallway. The kid who did it was a trouble maker and had a lot of detention. Was never expelled or removed from being a threat to the rest of the school.

      Unrelated, but interesting, I remember when I was in grade school and I was walking down a hallway. I was running my outstretched arm against the wall as I walked down the mostly empty hall. One of the special-ed kids was coming the other way . . . and at the last second, moved to the side and took a fucking BITE OUT OF MY ARM.

      Schools are fucked up places. At no other time in my life have I been forced to surround myself with sociopaths, criminals, and the insane.

  2. Re:The Land of the Free by perpetual+pessimist · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's always been difficult to learn about "the land of the free" in an institution where you (the students) are forced by law to go there whether you want to or not.

    Excellent training ground for applied sarcasm and irony appreciation, though.

  3. Poor values and negative reinforcement by Dutchmaan · · Score: 5, Insightful

    We keep on addressing effect after effect, when we need to be addressing the cause of the problems. Our problems don't stem from Facebook or music or video games, they come from the 'values' in our society. Our 'me first' attitude of competition is coming home to roost. Don't like bullying, well guess what, it's been taught to us from day one to 'win' and to kick someone when they're down so we can stay on top. From kids to corporate america to congress we need a values 'regime change'. Imagine what our country would be like if we were taught from day one to think of the other guy first.. and to help people succeed so that they can be around to help us when we're down. Negative reinforcement from the time we're kids to young adult hood to the workplace... and people wonder why everyone is always afraid these days. I think my boss summed it up for me one day when talking about the company.. he said "It's all punishment and no reward." seems like a fair assessment of our society.

  4. Re:The Land of the Free by cappp · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Before the hysteria reaches epic proportions, the advisory itself can be found here (pdf). It's a pretty quick read, only 10 pages, and sadly enough lacks any mention of enforcing rules outside of school, forced indoctrination, political correctness, or secret Muslim plots. TFA however makes for some nice slanted coverage, if anyone is looking for a chuckle I encourage you to read it.

    Oh yeah, kids have limited consitutional rights - especially in education.

  5. Re:somene please help me by Manip · · Score: 5, Insightful

    1969. When free speech in schools could be curtailed if it "substantial interference with school discipline or the rights of others." Since then it has been further limited. 1988, school newspapers censored, and 2007 suspending a student for wearing an offensive t-shirt OFF school premises.

    I think it is an interesting area for debate, particularly when state education is legally required. But then again I guess teachers need to have some level of control. I think the most controversial area is if school should have any input into what students do in their own time rather than the police.

  6. Re:Children don't have the right to free speech by mr100percent · · Score: 5, Informative

    Not really.
    In the US, the Supreme Court upheld the right of free speech for students in Tinker vs. Des Moines School District. Students can express as much free speech as they want provided it does not disrupt the learning environment, so outside-of-class speech is protected.

    Unfortunately, Bush's appointees have essentially punched a gigantic hole into the previous ruling with Morse v. Fredrick, where the Roberts Court determined that if the school officials have a seemingly good reason, they can abrogate free speech rights. This looks pretty easy to abuse, a school could claim to be protecting student safety and thus have license to patrol facebook and punish students accordingly.

  7. Tucker Carleson by jbolden · · Score: 5, Informative

    Let me just point out the "original article" here is pointing to a news editorial site run by Tucker Carlson. The actual website run by the government dealing with bullying is http://www.stopbullying.gov/

    There is legislation pending in congress to make bullying more serious

    Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act of 2010 - Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require each institution of higher education (IHE) participating in a title IV program (except foreign schools) to include in its annual security report a statement of policy regarding harassment that includes: (1) a prohibition of harassment of students by other students, faculty, and staff; (2) a description of its programs to prevent harassment; (3) a description of the procedures that students should follow if harassment occurs; and (4) a description of the procedures it will follow once an incident of harassment has been reported. Defines "harassment" to include certain conduct undertaken through technological means that limits a student's ability to benefit from the IHE's programs, or creates a hostile or abusive educational environment at the school. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to IHEs to initiate, expand, or improve programs to: (1) prevent the harassment of students; (2) provide counseling or redress services to students who have been harassed or accused of subjecting other students to harassment; and (3) train students, faculty, or staff to prevent harassment or address harassment if it occurs. Directs the Secretary to publish a report of best practices for combating harassment at IHEs.

    (Full Text: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s112-540)