Bullying takes place in almost all schools, although some cases are more serious than others. What people don't realize is how serious bullying is. The movie Bullied helped to show how truly dangerous and hurtful bullying is; it doesn't only affect the student being bullied, but also the person doing the bullying, bystanders, and the parents involved. Jamie Nabozny had to deal with mental, physical, and verbal abuse, and it led him to feel the need to kill himself and run away from home. He couldn't take all the abuse, and rather than helping him, officials chose to ignore what was going on. Even worse, they blamed Jamie for all that was happening to him and told him that if he wanted to stop being bullied then he should stop acting so gay. By not stopping the bullying early on, it taught the students who were bullying Jamie that their actions were okay and allowed in school. Unfortunately, this led the bullying situation to spiral out of control; it grew so out of hand that it physically put Jamie's life in danger.
One of the cases that really captured my attention was the case of United States v. Lori Drew. We read a short piece on this case in class; it explained how a mother, Lori Drew, created a fake Myspace profile to both spy and harass a young girl named Megan Meier. Due to the intense harassment and cyberbullying, Meier killed herself. After researching a little more about this case, I have found out that Lori Drew was convicted and then acquitted. Even though Drew ended up not being punished, many actions were taken to prevent this from happening again. An harassment law in Missouri was created to cover bullying over the internet. I think that this is incredibly important, because people must recognize that bullying comes in all different forms. Although the media often portrays bullying as some physical actions, it can also be in the form of verbal abuse, or even over the internet and through technology. I also learned about the Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act that was introduced to Congress. The bill was designed to set a definition for the term cyberbullying; the definition claims that the behavior must be repeated, hostile, and severe to fall under that definition. The bill has not been passed yet, but it will hopefully soon, because many people often do not realize how serious cyberbulling is. It can even be worse than physical harassment, due to the fact that the bullying is not done face-to-face, so it is easier to say more hurtful and threatening things.
I believe that bullying is a small problem at DHS, but people do not often realize it, because the bullying at our school is less physical and more verbal. To most people, bullying is defined as something physical, such as being pushed into a locker or tripped in the hallway. However, at DHS, bullying takes a new turn, and is often heard rather than seen. People are very judgmental at our school, and it causes people to feel the need to conform. It seems as if those that dress differently than the majority of the school are the ones that are most often made fun of and picked on. It is hard to stop this type of bullying, because it usually happens when large groups of people talk about others behind people's backs. It is not usually evident to school officials, because most of the bullying is all talk.
Bullying is a very serious issue, but is something that is hard to prevent in schools. Teenagers are teenagers and they will act as they please and often conform to what others are doing. However, as individuals, we have the responsibility to make sure others feel safe. I believe that if students are more willing to stand up for those being bullied, then they will be able to outnumber and overpower the bullies at the school. The students who bully others often feel powerful when they are in that position because no one ever tells them to stop. However, if more bystanders were willing to say that bullying is wrong and that it needs to stop, those who are doing the bullying would not be as willing to continue with their wrongful actions. Bullying cannot be stopped unless everyone puts forth an effort; students must be aware of the consequences of both bullying, and being a bystander to bullying.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Freedom of Religion
The First Amendment survey was very interesting, especially because the majority of people in 2010 (61%) knew about the right to free speech, but only 23% knew about the right of freedom of religion. People often pass over this right, forgetting how important it is to every citizen living in the United States. According to Charles Haynes, the United States is the most religiously diverse society on Earth. Not only is it the most diverse, but it is also the most religious. I believe that we have the First Amendment to thank for that. Our country has very religious people of many different religions, because the constitution allows for it. Often in other countries, people would have to live in fear if they wanted to practice their own religion. The United States remains a successful country because of it's freedom. We must make sure to allow this freedom everywhere-even in schools-or the constitution is not doing what it should be.
Schools are where most students learn the most, and they will carry this knowledge with them throughout the rest of their lives. This shows how important it is to allow freedom of religion in schools, as long as it is not too disruptive to the learning process. If students learn early on that religion is not important enough to be allowed in schools, then they will grow up with the belief that freedom of religion is a useless right. It is extremely important to show students that this is not true, because it is our freedoms that allow our country to be so successful. I read that the government has ruled that no teachers are allowed to promote or denigrate any religion, and I believe that it is important for all school officials to follow this rule. Students must learn that they have the right to practice any religion they please, because this sense of freedom is significant.
No one should be forced to pray or believe in a particular religion, because our constitution directly states that we have the right to freedom of religion. Schools cannot make prayer mandatory in school, because not everyone believes in it, and it violates the First Amendment. One other interesting fact from the survey I saw was that 54% strongly agree that student speakers should be allowed to speak about their religious faith at public school events, whereas only 12% strongly disagreed. This fact is important to note, because it shows that we have the right to speak freely about our religion and practice it. However, people must make sure not to confuse this right; we can practice any religion we want, but we cannot force others to, because they also have the freedom of religion.
Schools are where most students learn the most, and they will carry this knowledge with them throughout the rest of their lives. This shows how important it is to allow freedom of religion in schools, as long as it is not too disruptive to the learning process. If students learn early on that religion is not important enough to be allowed in schools, then they will grow up with the belief that freedom of religion is a useless right. It is extremely important to show students that this is not true, because it is our freedoms that allow our country to be so successful. I read that the government has ruled that no teachers are allowed to promote or denigrate any religion, and I believe that it is important for all school officials to follow this rule. Students must learn that they have the right to practice any religion they please, because this sense of freedom is significant.
No one should be forced to pray or believe in a particular religion, because our constitution directly states that we have the right to freedom of religion. Schools cannot make prayer mandatory in school, because not everyone believes in it, and it violates the First Amendment. One other interesting fact from the survey I saw was that 54% strongly agree that student speakers should be allowed to speak about their religious faith at public school events, whereas only 12% strongly disagreed. This fact is important to note, because it shows that we have the right to speak freely about our religion and practice it. However, people must make sure not to confuse this right; we can practice any religion we want, but we cannot force others to, because they also have the freedom of religion.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
How Safe Are Our Belongings in School?
There have been many court cases regarding the Fourth Amendment right to privacy, but reading the four articles about school officials who went too far was incredibly interesting and surprising. One of the articles discussed a girl who was falsely accused of carrying drugs, and as a result she was strip searched by a school official. Interestingly enough, no drugs were found anywhere on her or her belongings. Although I believe that some searches must be allowed in schools in order for protection, strip searching a young girl based on another's unsupported accusation is wrong and unconstitutional. Despite the fact that privacy rights must sometimes be limited in schools in order to guarantee safety to the students, this strip search was not necessary. It must have been very difficult and embarrassing for the girl to go through that, and I think it is important for schools to realize that they do not have the authority to limit privacy rights to that extent.
Another privacy issue that I read about was regarding the girl whose phone was searched by the principal. N.N. had her phone taken away when she broke the phone policy by using it during school hours. The phone was then sent to the principal, who spent time searching through her phone and the files on it. He had to go through multiple steps before finding a nude picture of N.N. He punished and suspended the girl based on the photo on her cellphone. I find this unconstitutional and it was not the principal's place to go searching through her phone. She got in trouble for talking on it, so all the principal was required to do was keep it in his office. He went out of his way to search through her phone, and this action was unnecessary and an inappropriate breach of privacy. Court cases have proven that searches in schools can be allowed when it is reasonable and there is probable cause. In this case, the principal had no reason to believe that N.N. was hiding anything illegal on her phone, and this proves that he did not have the right to go searching through it.
Although I am in favor of certain privacy breaches, I believe that they should only be allowed when they are necessary for the protection and order of the schools. For example, if there is a bomb threat at the school, officials should be able to search through every student's backpack before they enter the school. This limits the student's privacy rights to their belongings, but it is crucial to have this search in order to guarantee safety. However, the three cases that were discussed in the articles are very shocking to me and I believe that in all three situations the officials went too far and the students were treated unfairly. School officials must be aware of the rights that the students have and it is unconstitutional for them to limit their privacy rights to a full extent.
Another privacy issue that I read about was regarding the girl whose phone was searched by the principal. N.N. had her phone taken away when she broke the phone policy by using it during school hours. The phone was then sent to the principal, who spent time searching through her phone and the files on it. He had to go through multiple steps before finding a nude picture of N.N. He punished and suspended the girl based on the photo on her cellphone. I find this unconstitutional and it was not the principal's place to go searching through her phone. She got in trouble for talking on it, so all the principal was required to do was keep it in his office. He went out of his way to search through her phone, and this action was unnecessary and an inappropriate breach of privacy. Court cases have proven that searches in schools can be allowed when it is reasonable and there is probable cause. In this case, the principal had no reason to believe that N.N. was hiding anything illegal on her phone, and this proves that he did not have the right to go searching through it.
Although I am in favor of certain privacy breaches, I believe that they should only be allowed when they are necessary for the protection and order of the schools. For example, if there is a bomb threat at the school, officials should be able to search through every student's backpack before they enter the school. This limits the student's privacy rights to their belongings, but it is crucial to have this search in order to guarantee safety. However, the three cases that were discussed in the articles are very shocking to me and I believe that in all three situations the officials went too far and the students were treated unfairly. School officials must be aware of the rights that the students have and it is unconstitutional for them to limit their privacy rights to a full extent.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Is Drug Testing Constitutional?
Many court cases have already determined that drug testing should be allowed in schools. In Vernonia v. Acton, New Jersey v. T.L.O. and Board of Education v. Earls, the court has ruled that drug testing is not a large breach of privacy, and should therefore be allowed. I agree with these court decisions and am completely in favor of drug testing. Drug tests are used to benefit the students; they are important in order to detect and prevent drug use among students in high schools.
Drug testing should be allowed for many reasons, but the main reason is that it is still constitutional. Some argue that it goes against the Fourth Amendment, but in reality, drug testing is really not an invasion of privacy. The steps that are taken to test the students are used in other situations, such as when someone goes for a doctor's checkup. The small breach of privacy is something that is neccessary in order to protect all students and allow them to feel safe in school. Schools have the responsibility to make sure that their students feel safe and protected, and drug use is something that prevents this feeling of comfort for most students. This shows the importance of drug testing, because the benefits of schools drug testing their athletes, or all students, outweight the costs.
The Fourth Amendment still applies to students in schools, but some limitations must be put on their rights. For example when discussing searching procedures, the amendment states that a warrant is required before a search can take place. However, the Court has ruled that the requirement of a warrant is unnecessary in schools because it is unsuited to the learning enviornment. A warrant interfers with school procedures. This shows that some rights must be limited due to the enviornment-in this case, it is a school. For this reason, drug testing is appropriate and can be considered constitutional.
Schools have the right to drug test their students because the level of privacy intrusion is so small compared to the high nature of government interest. School officials must make sure that their students are safe, and testing for drug use will help to prevent students from using drugs. Although drug testing may limit some rights, including the Fourth Amendment, it is still necessary in order to guarentee safety among the school.
Drug testing should be allowed for many reasons, but the main reason is that it is still constitutional. Some argue that it goes against the Fourth Amendment, but in reality, drug testing is really not an invasion of privacy. The steps that are taken to test the students are used in other situations, such as when someone goes for a doctor's checkup. The small breach of privacy is something that is neccessary in order to protect all students and allow them to feel safe in school. Schools have the responsibility to make sure that their students feel safe and protected, and drug use is something that prevents this feeling of comfort for most students. This shows the importance of drug testing, because the benefits of schools drug testing their athletes, or all students, outweight the costs.
The Fourth Amendment still applies to students in schools, but some limitations must be put on their rights. For example when discussing searching procedures, the amendment states that a warrant is required before a search can take place. However, the Court has ruled that the requirement of a warrant is unnecessary in schools because it is unsuited to the learning enviornment. A warrant interfers with school procedures. This shows that some rights must be limited due to the enviornment-in this case, it is a school. For this reason, drug testing is appropriate and can be considered constitutional.
Schools have the right to drug test their students because the level of privacy intrusion is so small compared to the high nature of government interest. School officials must make sure that their students are safe, and testing for drug use will help to prevent students from using drugs. Although drug testing may limit some rights, including the Fourth Amendment, it is still necessary in order to guarentee safety among the school.
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