Bullying

1.Learning about bullying in class stretched the importance of how serious bullying is. Usually bullying is started because of something that is happening at home, which is where the bully gets the anger and hate to tease someone. Listening and reading about all the stories and experiences kids have had around the United States about being bullied is interesting because they all have the same basic story. Whether the bullying is physical or mental it still damages people. When discussing in class many people shared there personal stories about being bullied , knowing someone who was bullied ,or being the bully. Opening up in class helped the topic of the situation because people became comfortable in the class room knowing that they aren't alone. When we were handed the packets filled of stories and news articles about bully it showed that bullying is a serious problem. Teens are being harassed and in many cases nothing is being done. Learning about this in school and not just in the news I believe helps the bullying problem.

2.In the case of Phoebe Prince there was many students involved in her death. Phoebe was taunted on a daily bases when she went to school and after school.She was physically and emotionally harassed throughout her days in South Hadley. Students harassed the young girl until she hung herself because the older students would not stop taunting her about a senior football player.I could not imagine coming to a new country and in the first couple months experiencing America by being tormented everyday. Not only do young girls at South Hadley look bad ,but Americans look bad.Six of the teens will be indicted on charges connected to Prince's suicide. Three of the indicted students are girls, charged with violating Prince's civil rights, criminal harassment and disturbing a school assembly. Two of the indicted students, a 17-year-old male and an 18-year-old male, will also be charged with statutory rape. Criminal complaints were filed against three other students. Of the six indicted students, three are still students at the school and three were expelled in February. These consequences should make a statement to young teens in America.Bullying is being too common in schools and needs to be stopped. Teens,parents, and schools need to come together and take note on these situations when they occur. In the United States we do no believe in torture and it should be taught throughout school districts that this behavior is not okay and there will be severe consequences.

3. Personally I do not think we have a bullying problem at DHS. Obviously there are going to be times where girls and boys get a temper and say things that hurt one another , but that happens not only in schools. DHS does a great job setting consequences and letting the students know that this is not tolerated. When someone does step out of line the students know that they have done wrong and many people are shocked when this happens. DHS is a very respected and tamed school with rarely any out bursts. When bullying does occur the school gets involved even if it is the smallest act of meanness. The deans are well aware of what the students do in and out of school , so they maintain the student life. Comparing DHS to another school like Stevenson where they have big classes and more diversity there is more bullying. A school can only control so much before they get lost in the crowds of who's who. I know that if I went to a larger school I would be a completely different person even though its a few miles away from Deerfield. Other schools have bigger problems then not using a lunch tray. We are lucky to have a well protected and maintained school.

4. Bullying has been going on throughout years and in the past when my parents grew up it was taken lightly. Students would not go to the extremes as to kill themselves or bring weapons to school. Literally times have changed drastically and now we need to take precaution. I think Challenge Day was a great way to address the issue. I hope that many school around the United States begin to take this day into there own hands.Schools are presenting videos to classes making sure that everyone is aware that bullying is not accepted and can harm others. The fact that were talking about bullying in school makes it easier to stop these mean acts. There's many prevention sites on the Internet that help parents and students deal with bullying. In fact last night I was watching MTV and a commercial came on ,but this wasn't like every other commercial. It was a young boy getting tattoos all over his body and a big tattoo artists the young boy receives a text and he says " oh I have another one, worthless" . The tattoo artist begins to tattoo that word on the boys body along with 20 other hurtful words that are on his body. It was a very powerful commercial and I was surprised to see it.It made an impact on me and I hope it did to those who are bully's.

Students and the Fourth Amendment

I am against drug testing in schools because of the invasion of personal privacy.I do not think that the school should act like parental figures. If the school only drugs tests the athletes it shows that there only concern if those who are representing the school ,which is wrong because a a school should care for all the students. Pointing out a group of athletes that need to take drug tests can turn many students away from having a sport after school. The school should be putting more money the the sports so the students have a more options to choose drugs or sport. Wasting money on drugs testing will limit the amount of students that will choose to do a sport even if these students are or are not doing drugs. From the information used in class the amount of money that would be spent on buying and testing drugs tests would be outrageous and should be used towards promoting sports.If one of the athletes is found doing drugs they would repeatedly need to be tested which involves more money for follow-ups.  If the students were pushed to do sports because there are so many opportunities and enjoyment out of them they would help students to choose sports over drugs.When Mr.Kramer said Deerfield would start doing drug tests for athletes and clubs many people thought that there would be less numbers in our athletics and clubs. I believe that students would choose not to do clubs and activities because there is that risk that teachers find out or friends parents find out that your drug test didn't pass. I believe that in Deerfield many people are worried about there image and what students do on there spare time is completely different then how they work in school.

After reading the Ruling In ACLU Case Is Vindication of Students' Constitutional Rights my opinion has been strengthened because of the way the schools are handling certain situations. Having a young girl who is an Honor Roll student being accused of having aspirin on her and then strip searched because a source that was unreliable claims she has them. Schools are out of line and do not realize that students walking into the school still have rights that need to be protected. It is sad to know that this girls pain was caused by people who are suppose to protect her not embarres her. It was said ,"Today's ruling affirms that schools are not constitutional dead zones. While we are disappointed with the Court's conclusion that the law was not clear before today and therefore school officials were not found liable, at least other students will not have to go through what Savana experienced." Students have rights and they need to know what rights they have because schools are not understanding whatt rights they have either. I am glad that the law is now clear to the school's that word of mouth is not a reliable source to strip search a young girl. After reading about this case I am glad to know that the rights I have will carry into my school and that the school will make mistakes, but learn the rights that they have.