The all-too-familiar image of a child being bullied on a schoolyard has permeated every imaginable realm of pop culture. The boy or girl sits crying, as the bully hurls barbed insult after insult. Perhaps a kick or a slap is tossed in for good measure, to hammer home the point that the schoolyard is, for so many children, the ultimate battleground. It does not matter how many times he or she may ask for reprieve, because it will not come. A new dimension is added when recess never ends, continuing on social media and following a child home. The whistle signaling the end of playtime no longer signifies the end of torture.
The idea of “traditional” bullying no longer exists in today’s complex age. As a result, the “traditional” approaches are sometimes being abandoned for others. In a small Wisconsin town, legislation was passed that puts the responsibility on parents for controlling their child’s actions. After issuing a formal warning, spearheaded by the Shawano Police Department, the parent receives a $366 fine if the child’s behavior does not improve within 90 days.
“This isn’t generated towards the kids being kids, some playground banter,” said Shawano Police Chief Mark Kohl regarding the new legislation. “This is the person that is meticulously using social media or saying things that are vulgar in an attempt to hurt.”
A county in the Hudson Valley of New York last week proposed a similar ordinance, which calls for the outright banning of cyberbullying of any kind directly targeting children under the age of 18. San Antonio lawmakers are also currently following in the example of anti-bullying legislation as they attempt to pass “David’s Law,” which similarly combats cyberbullying. The proposed law is named after a high school student who committed suicide after being bullied online.
“David’s Law will empower school administrators and law enforcement to go after and reprimand the bullies who prey on students, while focusing on rehabilitation,” Texas State Sen. Jose Menendez said about David’s Law. “David’s Law will prevent and combat bullying in schools through several measures.”
Though different and in response to very unique incidents, the common approach to actually discussing something that has been ignored for generations is very much present. For this, the legislation should be commended. However, there are certainly questions that are raised regarding monetizing punishment for bullies.
When implementing a fine on parents for the actions of their children, a precedent is set for relying on parents when difficult situations arise. Children are not raising the money to redeem themselves — their parents are. Also, who is to say that wealthier parents aren’t simply fronting the money to bail their kid out? The child does not learn anything and is likely to be a repeat offender on the schoolyard, and in life.
It also favors wealthier families whose children are most likely already more advantaged in other areas, e.g. academically or athletically. Less financially stable children are not only not learning a lesson, but putting further burden on their families.
These fines are also moving forward with the assumption that a child knows the value of a dollar. Unfortunately, in most instances, this is not the reality. Children ask for iPhones, ponies and drum sets for birthdays. Most children under the age of 10 do not understand how money works, and that is perfectly acceptable. They can, however, understand the value of respectful behavior. Monetization of punishment is not the way to teach that lesson.
The immediate answer that prevents itself is to include more preventative measures implemented early on in education. A single documentary that presents extreme cases of bullying is not enough to teach children how to deal with day-to-day confrontation. Simple coping mechanisms and tools to boost confidence in the face of a bully will not only arm them during recess, but out of school as well. The proposed David’s Law seems to address this idea but must be preventative, not reactionary. Too often do outside powers step in too late.
Though perpetuated in pop culture, bullying is still often not discussed in primary schools across America. It’s time to step up to implement meaningful preventative measures for this incredibly common occurrence.
