Should Safety outweigh Freedom?
Many bills are being proposed by local governments to make cyberbullying illegal. Especially considering the recent suicide of bullying victim Amanda Todd, this might seem like a reasonable concession. After all, what positive benefit could cyberbullying have?
But there is a disconnect between the intended actions of these kinds of bills and the consequences they carry with them.
Read this article on a proposed cyberbullying law in Arizona.
Can a law that fails to define its terms be safe? Are there better ways to address the issue of cyberbullying without introducing laws that restrict the freedom of speech?
But there is a disconnect between the intended actions of these kinds of bills and the consequences they carry with them.
Read this article on a proposed cyberbullying law in Arizona.
Can a law that fails to define its terms be safe? Are there better ways to address the issue of cyberbullying without introducing laws that restrict the freedom of speech?
In your group from Mission 1, discuss alternative ways to address the very real issue of cyberbullying. In addition, discuss the following questions:
Is criminalizing cyberbullying the first step towards criminalizing other actions online? Will criminalizing actually stop cyberbullying, or will bullies find new ways to harass other students? Do we as citizens have a legal right not to be offended? |
The results of these discussions will be shared and discussed with the class in fifteen minute intervals.
After the presentations, students will individually craft a one page essay addressing the above three questions, particularly the third one.
Email your initial notes and your final essay to [email protected]
After the presentations, students will individually craft a one page essay addressing the above three questions, particularly the third one.
Email your initial notes and your final essay to [email protected]