Indiana’s bullying bill will have unifying effect on bullies
By
Oscar Gooding, THG Features
The Indiana Senate has passed Bill 231, a measure that among other things would
force public schools to crack down on bullying. Each school would be forced to
“provide educational outreach and training to school personnel concerning the
identifying, preventing, and intervening in bullying” if this bill makes it
through the House of Representatives.
Senator Thomas Wyss’ (R-Fort Wayne) heart was in the right place when he
sponsored the bill; no one (except of course bullies) wants to see students
ridiculed or threatened—school should be a place where everyone can learn in a
safe environment. The senators that voted for this bill no doubt believe that
teachers and school administrators trained in anti-bullyism tactics will be able
to finally put an end to this epidemic that has plagued Indiana schools since
the inception of the one-room school house.
Other than the financing issues involved in funding this piece of legislation,
there is one more problem that Senator Wyss probably did not consider when
introducing it: how will the bullies themselves respond to Bill 231 becoming
law?
If the bill passes the House, rather than stamp out bullying, bullies may unite,
creating an even worse environment for students in Indiana’s schools. Here is
why:
Bullies tend to be loners who roam the hallways and playgrounds of schools,
ready to harass anyone who is smaller or weaker than them; this makes the bully
feel empowered. The only way innocent victims have a chance to avoid these thugs
is by forming a coalition. A bully is like a lion on the Serengeti Plain. He (or
she) waits for the smallest and weakest victims to stray from the group before
pouncing on their prey. Rarely will a lone bully attack the herd.
This will all change if Bill 231 gets passed in the Indiana House. The bullies
within Indiana’s public schools will not go down without a fight. They will be
forced to unite and work together or face extinction. This is something no
student who has been on the receiving end of the heinous acts of a bully wants
to see happen.
United, bullies would no longer have to pick and choose their victims. Large
groups of them would be able to attack whoever they wished at will. Whole
classrooms of students would be the victims of repeated wedgies. Cafeterias
would be forced to close due to no one having any lunch money. And I don’t even
want to think about the carnage that would occur daily on the playground with
the only game being played day after day being dodge ball.
Hopefully, our representatives in the Indiana House will consider the
ramifications Bill 231 could have on public schools and vote against it. If you
feel the same way, please contact your district representative as soon as
possible. Remember, it could be your child who is held upside down with their
head in the toilet receiving a swirly if Bill 231 becomes law.
