Canada: Don't Threaten Kids Into An Anti-Bullying Movement
- da: Care2.com
- destinatario: Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Canadian teen Amanda Todd was bullied so badly she was beaten up and left in a muddy ditch. She tragically committed suicide.
Todd's story is one of many that has inspired Alberta, Canada's lawmakers to introduce anti-bullying legislation. The bad news is that Canada's big legal move against bullying doesn't empower students, it adds more fear to the mix.
A law meant to be a strong NO to bullying ironically ends up threatening and bullying kids into behaving. The Education Act forces students to report bullying incidents -- a scare tactic at best. Unreported bullying incidents, if discovered, would result in stiff punishments for the bullies and the victims who don't report it.
Scaring children into behaving will not save kids like Amanda Todd from cruelty in the classroom. Giving kids the tools to create positive and respectful relationships is a message we can all get behind.
Tell Canada you can't fight bullying with more bullying!
Dear [Decision-maker],
Thank you for taking a step in the right direction with the Alberta Education Act, a piece of legislation that firmly puts its foot down on bullying. But how can students take anti-bullying legislation seriously when it does precisely what it aims to stop: bullies?
The Education Act scares kids into the anti-bullying movement when, really, the anti-bullying movement should be propelled by a resolute unity amongst peers, schools, parents, and teachers. This piece of legislation doesn't unite students, it divides them, pinning them against each other.
I urge you to reconsider the message that the Education Act sends, and whether threatening students into good behavior will be effective in the long-run, or at all.
Don't create anti-bullying legislation that scares kids into being good citizens! Let's empower children to do good instead!
Sincerely,
[Your name here]
