- Parents In the New York Town of North Tonawanda May Go To Jail If Their Kid is Found Bullying Other Children
- Parents typically believe that their own children are less involved in bullying (as victims or perpetrators) than their children actually report
- The town’s leaders say that it is intended to address repeat bullying
Parents of kids who bully other children could possibly face a fine and/or jail time under a new city law in North Tonawanda, New York – a city just north of Buffalo.
This means that the kids who bully would not only be accountable, through things school expulsion, but their parents may also be legally responsible.
The law took effect on October 1, and according to theWashington Post, parents are liable to fines of $250 and/or sentenced to 15 days in jail if their child violates the city’s curfew or any other city law. – This includes an anti-bullying law –twice within a 90-day period.
This town clearly takes parental responsibility very seriously.
City officials said that the law is geared toward minors who repeatedly bully other children in public places.
The Washington Post reported that members of the city council – which unanimously passed the law – hope that this new law will put a stop to bullying by holding parents accountable for their kid’s actions.
“We want the message out there that we’re serious about this. We don’t want anyone to be afraid to be in our city, or walk the streets or go to school,” North Tonawanda Mayor Art Pappas said to WIVB4 News.
Nonetheless, Pappas noted that city leadership is focused more on prevention, and repeat offenders, than punishment.
The law comes after four teenagers were reportedly expelled from North Tonawanda Middle School for alleged bullying, and the town’s leaders say that it’s intended to address repeat bullying.
“We didn’t feel like maybe anything was being done and then all of a sudden I heard about this ordinance going through so it was shocking and welcomed,”Victoria Crago, whose son was attacked by classmates in June, said to WIVB4 News.
Image credit: WIVB4-TV
Although the incident happened off from school grounds, Crago was compelled to do something about it.
After she learned that other parents had also complained of violence at North Tonawanda middle school, a Facebook group named the “North Tonawanda Coalition for Safe Schools and Streets” was created to help prevent bullying and violence.
October is National Bullying Prevention Month and parents obviously play a critical role in stopping and preventing bullying.
According to StopBullying.gov, Parents typically believe that their own children are less involved in bullying (as victims or perpetrators) than their children actually report. The organization suggests that parents talk to their kids early and often about bullying, and act as a model as to how to treat others with kindness.
“I think that these teens have figured out that they can get away with this which is why they’re repeat offenders,” said Crago. “But if there’s a tougher law in place it may give them pause.”