Speech

Mike Tully on November 11th, 2011

(NOTE:  Based on this article, and the one that follows, it seems there’s a need for a national “teach in” on First Amendment law.  Both results are facially unconstitutional.  – Mike) NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey administrative law judge has ruled that a first-grade teacher who wrote that she was a “warden for [...]

Continue reading about Judge: Facebook post should cost job of NJ teacher

As students head back to school after summer vacation, educators, free-speech advocates and anti-bullying activists are gearing up for implementation of the state’s new “cyberbullying” law that will make on-line statements subject to academic disciplinary proceedings. The new law puts school officials in the position of having to pass judgement on off-campus speech with little [...]

Continue reading about New ‘cyberbullying’ law poses challenges as school year starts (CT)

Mike Tully on August 30th, 2011

MANILA, Philippines — It is very much like the toilet wall graffiti — only it’s on the internet. Facebook and Twitter, and many other blogs and social networking sites, have become an extension of low-level tit for tat exchanges. Now, bullying is no longer about the big and strong picking on the small and weak. [...]

Continue reading about The writing on the facebook wall

Mike Tully on August 30th, 2011

Many adults shake their heads in dismay over bullying that targets children and teenagers online and in school; they even push for lawmakers and schools to do more to stop the harassment. But many are afraid to admit another dirty little secret: Bullying is just as big a problem for the adults in the workplace. [...]

Continue reading about Workplace becomes new schoolyard for bullies

Mike Tully on August 22nd, 2011

Facebook has become a breeding ground for nasty comments and embarrassing stories for kids to post about each other, according to five female Great Valley High School students. Students comment on pictures, calling a person names, or make comments and accusations on someone’s Facebook page that are sexual in nature, said the girls, who asked [...]

Continue reading about Bullies going online with Facebook posts

Mike Tully on July 18th, 2011

BOSTON — With a school bullying law now on the books, state lawmakers are considering a measure that would make bullying illegal in the workplace too. Amherst Rep. Ellen Story, who is co-sponsoring the proposal, says she’s heard testimony from people treated so badly by a co-worker or supervisor they had to be hospitalized. MORE [...]

Continue reading about Lawmakers Seek Workplace Bullying Legislation (MA)

A group of UK copyright lobbyists held confidential, closed-door meetings with Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries to discuss a plan to allow industry groups to censor the Internet in the UK. The proposal has leaked, and it reveals a plan to establish “expert bodies” that would decide which websites British people [...]

Continue reading about LEAKED: UK copyright lobby holds closed-door meetings with gov’t to discuss national Web-censorship regime

(NOTE:  Courtesy of the Cyberbullying Research Center.) As we have discussed several times on this blog in recent years, there are two cases that addressed issues with off-campus online speech by students that resulted in seemingly conflicting responses by the same court. They potentially have implications for how schools can respond to cyberbullying incidents, so [...]

Continue reading about Third Circuit Court weighs in on conflicting cases involving off-campus online speech by students

(Note:  Warren Blumenfeld was a presenter at the 7th Annual Conference of the International Bullying Prevention Association last November, which is when I had a chance to meet and speak with him.  This space will run guest columns from time to time as the situation warrants.  Please let me know your reaction to this piece [...]

Continue reading about GUEST OPINION: Tennessee Senate’s “Don’t Say Gay Bill” Passes

Mike Tully on June 9th, 2011

A Steel Valley High School teacher was formally arraigned Tuesday on charges that she sent sexual messages to two underage students. Jennifer Smith, 29, is charged with a series of felonies, including child endangerment, criminal solicitation and corruption of minors, following an investigation by Munhall police and the Allegheny County district attorney’s office. Prosecutors say [...]

Continue reading about Steel Valley teacher charged with sexting students (PA)