Massachusetts Bans Electronic Bullying

BOSTON—Schoolyard taunts have traveled from the playground to the electronic sphere. Lawmakers have recognized this. On March 19 the Massachusetts State House unanimously passed Senate Bill 2283, "the anti-bullying bill.” Bullying is defined as “the severe or repeated use by one or more students of a written, verbal, or electronic expression, or a physical act or gesture, or any combination thereof, directed at another student that has the effect of: (i) causing physical or emotional harm to the other student or damage to the other student’s property; (ii) placing the other student in reasonable fear of harm to himself or of damage to his property; (iii) creating a hostile environment at school for the other student; (iv) infringing on the rights of the other student at school; or (v) materially and substantially disrupting the education process or the orderly operation of a school.”

With the new law, Massachusetts became the 42nd state to prohibit electronic bullying. The bill prohibits bullying school grounds, at bus stops, on school buses, and in property owned in the school. It goes one step further so as to prohibit bullying that takes place in non-school environments if the act of bullying results in “a hostile environment at school for the victim, infringe[s] on the rights of the victim at school, or materially and substantially disrupt[s] the education process or the orderly operation of a school.

The bill also works towards the intervention and prevention of cyberbullying, which it defines as bullying by means of technology or electronics.

Under the bill, schools are required to provide anti-bullying instructions for students at different educational levels. The content is to be formulated through collaboration among school professionals, students, parents, guardians, and law enforcement agents. These efforts are not geared only toward students. They will train teachers on how to provide better assistance to students who report that they have observed or directly suffer from bullying.

In a survey by Hoover, Oliver, and Hazler, it was shown that 66 percent of bullying victims reported that school professionals who observed bullying responded poorly. Studies have also shown that students often believe that teachers will not intervene when told about bullying.

In requiring anti-bullying training and instruction for both teachers and students, the bill works to help decrease the often dire effects of bullying in Massachusetts schools. The goal is a respectful educational environment for primary and secondary school students.

The Anti-Defamation League of New England led a coalition of groups, including teacher, law enforcement, and school organizations, which advocated for the law.