I agree with the school; cyberbullying is much more effective than face to face. Besides the parents don't seem to be taking the necessary steps to stop their kids from acting like ass holes.

First, to me, there is a difference in a couple of kids not liking each other or saying mean things and bullying. Bullying has led to suicides among school age kids and this bullying was on and off campus. I applaud the school for standing up and doing what the PARENTS should be doing. No schools should HAVE to police what students do off campus, but cyber bullying often escalate to on campus bullying and while I can't hear the video at work I would lay odds they harassed this student on campus too. Instead of people worrying about the school having too much power, why don't we worry about the parents who think their precious "snowflakes" can do no wrong instead of busting their asses for bullying someone weaker than them? THAT is what this is about. Yeah, people have to be tough and stand up for themselves, but we, as a society, also have to TEACH people to respect others and have values.

You hit the nail on the head. These kids are not just bullying on the web. You know it's probably going on at school, as well. When you hear about all the school shootings, the common thread has been that these kids were bullied and just couldn't take it anymore. I wonder what the statistics are for kids who've committed suicide over bullying. As adults, we can walk away and tell people to fuck off. It's harder for kids to do that. I was lucky that I was never bullied and had the attitude that if someone didn't like me, oh well. But some kids can't or won't. Those are the ones that need to be protected. When you're a teenager, your whole identity is wrapped up in what you look like, what you wear, and who you hang with. If you don't conform to the masses, you're labeled an outcast. If you don't have a strong feeling of self-worth, the effects of bullying are horrendous. I think the district was trying to prevent a disaster-in-the-making and if it was over-kill (no pun intended) then I'd rather they erred on the side of caution. Columbine is a grim reminder of what can happen when bullies are not dealt with.

I applaud this school, but wonder how much bullying is still going on. I was bullied before high school, then I started freaking people out and hitting back, twice as hard and I didn't quit untill I was forcibly pulled off of them. I didn't care if I was expelled or suspended because I hated school, so I had no fear and unloaded years of hurt and rage into some serious whoopings! Every bully should experience getting beat with a metal object by the person they were bullying.

It is true that this isn't going to stop bullying as a whole, but they were getting into dangerous territory by becoming a group of haters. I mentioned before, we have all had to deal with bullies in our lives in one way or another, but when it is one on one, there is a chance to at least defend yourself...as you did. When it is 20 on one that would be terrifying regardless of how old you are.

I'm going to be a voice of disagreement here, depending on a few factors. Since I didn't watch the video, I may be off-base here, but it sounds like they were only 'cyber-bullying', not doing anything physically or in person. If that's the case, then I think this is blown out of proportion.

People are going to say mean things about and to you your entire life. Big deal. If people are coddled to the point where, omigosh, mean words on a computer could do horrible damage to their self esteem, then they need to get off the computer. People aren't nice, and they especially aren't nice on the internet.

That said, the victim does have to (presumably) deal with these kids every day, and if they're harassing him/her in person, then they totally deserve to get busted for everything. But if it's just words online, then I think the reaction is way over the top. Not even getting into the fact that schools don't have jurisdiction over the internet, and therefore shouldn't have the right to punish someone for what they do or don't do on it.

I can tell from your comment that you must not have been bullied or witnessed someone you love be the target of bullying (on this scale). Everyone has had the local bully growing up. Even the ones I knew growing up had their own bullies to contend with.

This is beyond one or even two kids posting on their FB about not liking someone. This was a gang of 20 people singling out an individual. How would this one kid be able to get an education if he/she was worried day in and day out over these 20 individuals, and what they may do?

Just to address your comment about jurisdiction over the internet... there is no formal body that has ultimate jurisdiction over something that technically doesn't exist. The internet does not have a physical entity that exists in any set place, so the actions taken are strictly based on the action in question. If someone were to Tweet or FB about a plan to blow something up, it could be local officials, the FBI, or the CIA...depending on what is being talked about. In this case, the school had every right to get involved since the "common ground" between the instigators and the target was the school.

if this were a group of Boy Scouts targeting another scout, they would (and should) be tossed out of the BSA. If it were a group of Altar boys/girls targeting another, they would be removed from serving in the church. If it were a group that was affiliated by ANY organization targeting a member, it would be the obligation of said organization to do something about it, why should the school system be any different?

On your first comment, yeah, I'll admit I've never been a target of bullying (at least not from other kids), mostly because I really couldn't care less what some jerk said. And words are all I'm addressing in any of this, because as far as I know, there was nothing worse than a bunch of kids joining up on how much that hated someone; they weren't trying to harm them or anything. If they were, it would change things.

If it was JUST badmouthing on the internet, then who cares? I've been on the 'wrong' side of an argument on the internet, and ended up annoying everyone else, but if it doesn't carry over to in person then you leave it at that. If he/she wasn't being threatened in person, then it doesn't matter about a facebook group.

Threats and such of a dangerous nature are for the law enforcement to deal with, like you mentioned, in the case of someone threatening to blow something up (for instance.) If they made actual threats, like 'I'm gonna get so-and-so after school' then yes, it would warrant intervention. A group proclaiming you hate this person, with no threats toward them, does not. The school going after kids for what they say when they're not at school sounds like overstepping their bounds; it's not their business what someone does at home as long as it's not illegal. It's like workplaces firing their employees for smoking off the job.

And as for those groups you mentioned, they're all private organizations, and I would definitely expect them to take action if something was going on in their group in person. I would think it was their right to do it for words on the internet too, but I still wouldn't agree with it on principle.

Mostly, I think my annoyance with this subject is groups trying to police talking online. People online say a LOT of things; things they don't mean or agree with as well as stuff they do. But when it comes down to it, it's writing, and it doesn't hurt anyone as long as no one is carrying it past that. If people are so sensitive that they can't handle someone talking mean about them, or even a group talking mean about them, then how are they going to handle life?

There's an immense difference between having a nasty dispute online with someone you don't know, and being maligned / threatened / defamed by a group of kids you have to see at school. There are so many instances of kids committing suicide for reasons that are incomprehensible to adults, because at that age EVERYTHING is DRASTIC. Teens don't have the luxury of adult perspective - it's easy as an adult to realise that (almost) nothing in high school really mattered.

In terms of parents not stepping up to stop their kids: in my experience, many bullies have grown up seeing that violence and intimidation - even verbal - gets you your own way. Most people aren't born assholes.

I'm sorry if you don't agree, but things like this can escalate quickly. something needed to be done to stop this stuff. What I want to know is this: If this was a group of white kids talking about any other race, all hell would have broken loose. Why is it okay as long as it isn't racially motivated?

As far as writing not hurting anyone, I can't remember the guys name but a few months ago a guy walked into an LA Fitness in PA and killed a bunch of people. Turns out he had an ongoing "manifesto" online. If someone had seen that and reported it, a lot of people would be alive today. I realize that is one extreme of the spectrum, but who is to say that this FB group couldn't have escalated into a beating that could have hurt this kid or even killed him? then we would all be having a debate as to why nothing was done sooner.

Bravo for the school.

Yeah, I think the school did exactly the right thing. Bullying hurts, whether its online or not, and I know theres been more than one teen suicide as a result of cyber-drama...

Two things. First, while I will agree that the bullies need to be punished, it is not the school's place to do so. School administration is not a part of the judicial system, and I think it should stop pretending to be. Instead, have the POLICE slap harassment charges on them, and see if FB will ban them.

Second, a lot of you are talking about the anonymity of internet bullying. So I have a question: Exactly how anonymous can it be, considering that 20 students just got suspended?

Just to reply to your comment about anonymity... It is the fact that you are able to make comments without being in direct contact with the person you are commenting on. Kind of like writing a letter and dropping it in a mailbox. That has a level of anonymity, however...with enough work they can track down the person that wrote it.

The internet gives the feeling of anonymity because you can say you are whoever you want to be. It won't necessarily hold up to scrutiny, but the damage is already done.

And to go back to your comment about the school pretending to be part of the judicial system, I believe they did the proper thing in this matter. Not to downplay the cyber-bullying aspect, as I feel it is one of the hardest kind of bullying to deal with... but since no physical harm was done, the police really wouldn't have done anything.

Also, would you rather these kids get some perspective of the consequences of their actions and move on, or aquire a criminal record for something stupid that they had done?

Harassment, slander, and libel are all crimes that do no physical harm, yet there is a legal recourse to it that does not involve the school. And I was under the impression that a person's juvenile record gets cleared, so it's not like they would suffer a permanent record for what they did. Even if their actions may have left permanent scars on a developing mind...

But I will admit, I just don't like the power that school admin is starting to get. What right does the administration have to regulate what people do off school grounds and off school hours? I'll agree that SOMEONE has to do something. I just don't want it to be school bureaucrats.

Not trying to argue the fact, but these would be the same so-called bureacrats that would be sued for not having done something pre-emptive if this kid had been jumped by a bunch of classmates.

As far as harassment, it takes A LOT to get the police to do anything about that. My son was getting death threats via voicemail and text messages, and we were told that nothing could be done unless he actually attempted to act on the threats.

Slander and libel are something that you would have to file a lawsuit to process. This would only put a financial burden on the parents of the children involved and teach the kids nothing.

For the criminal record, it is usually expunged at 18 if they fly the straight and narrow, but as you know with the internet even sealed records get leaked. so it can always come back and bite you in the ass.

Further, why waste the time clogging courtrooms with something like this while we have rapists and murderers waiting for a trial date? Save our judicial system for the monsters that need it.

Okay, I'll agree that the legal system is already overburdened, and that there are more deserving criminals. I'll even agree that suspending students for things they did to other students isn't THAT big of a stretch. But I still think that things are all screwed up and in need of massive reforms.

I just don't like where things are headed. There was a news article a few years ago... Apparently, in the UK, the school bureaucrats have the legal power to force the PARENTS to come in and serve detentions. No trial or anything. Maybe the parents deserve it... But I'd just as soon make sure that legal powers are only possessed by the actual judicial system.

The school did exactly the right thing. I can't tell you how many times in middle school and early high school I heard the phrase dealing with bullying is part of growing up, you have to learn with the real world blah blah blah. Being targeted for teasing and humilation by your peers is not part of growing up. And if the parents won't teach that, then someone else needs too.

I think that they could have done more than just suspending them. Zero tolerance means 0.

Right On,McClure Middle School, Seattle! KUDOS!
The parents that are complaining should take a step back and ask themselves, "What if this were my child, being harassed over the World Wide Web?" then proceed to take away their childrens access to the internet.

I think cyber-bullying is the worst kind of bullying. Once it's on the internet, it's there forever and kids don't seem to be able to grasp that concept. It may have been done off school property, but you know those brats were on their phones during school to keep updated on fb. Parents are always bitching that schools don't do enough to protect our kids but these are also the same dipshit parents that think it's ok for their delinquents to bully some kid on the internet. Just because your kid isn't beating the shit out of someone doesn't mean cyber-bullying is ok. I'd rather be punched.

I think that if the parents aren't goping to take their children seriously and discipline them, some one sure as hell needs to.

If the show was on the other foot these parents are the same ones that would be crying about how the school should have protected their little darlings.

I honestly have to wonder Just how many of these parents knew what was going on and ignored it. Just more proof of what i have said all along too few parents really KNOW what their little ones are doing on line and when they get caught doing i than the parents Need to be fined If parents will not do what they are supposed to and that is parent than Force them to do it by hitting where it hurts them most Their Wallets

Lil Brats should be suspended from Facebook

I applaud the district for being proactive. These kids knew exactly what they were doing. I am glad they are having a refresher assembly, but still handing out the punishments first!

Fuck, someone has to knock the bully down a notch. If not the parents, or a kid, might as well be the school. Nice to see someone is stepping up.

Thank God there was no facebook was I was in middle/high school. I can only friggin imagine how many poor people I would have harassed....

Oh, those poor little innocent snowflakes! I'm sure they meant no harm at all, and were just teasing that nasty little whiny bitch of a student.

Ugh, parents make me so sick. I left school in the 10th grade and never went back (got my GED, but when I was 18) due to bullies, and that was WITHOUT the convenience and anonymity of the internet. I get SO angry when I hear stories like this, and about the parents who claim that their lil' angel never did anything. ARRRGHH

I was also bullied in school without the Internet. It's much worse now that kids can do it without (they think) repercussions. Good for the school for suspending their asses.

I think the parents should be more concerned that their "lil darlins" are harassing another student. THAT is what is important and should be addressed. I think the school took the right stance. Stuff like this have far reaching consequences.

These same people who whine about the school overstepping their boundaries are the same parents that would point fingers at and sue the school district for negligence if it was Columbine v.2.0.