Plain Dealer: Cyberbullying bill goes too far

http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/09/cyberbullying_bill_goes_too_fa.html

Cyberbullying bill goes too far: editorial
Cleveland Plain Dealer, September 28, 2011
By The Plain Dealer Editorial Board

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State Sen. Joe Schiavoni, a Democrat from the Mahoning Valley, no doubt is motivated by the best of intentions. But he should tread carefully with an anti-cyberbullying proposal that inadvisedly dumps enforcement on schools and may well pose constitutional problems as well.
Senate Bill 127 would prohibit electronic harassment of students via cellphones, computers and other personal devices if it caused "substantial disruption to the educational environment," even if the offense occurred off school property.
The courts have frowned on school attempts to limit students' free speech and have been skeptical about districts that suspend youngsters for off-campus misbehavior, such as creating embarrassing MySpace pages.
School districts can and should help educate students and parents about proper Internet behavior and punish bullying or other misdeeds that occur on school grounds. Parents should handle the rest. No court can stop them.