I'm wondering how they defined "bullying?"

Because boys & girls bully so differently. Girls are subtle, bullying by social isolation & other behaviors that are difficult to observe & quantify.
How would one mandate behavioral change in these cases?

I would guess that the bully behaviors that the legislation seeks to target are likely physical behaviors i.e. more often enacted by boys (okay, I realize I am generalizing here with that last sentence, but there is a lot of qualitative evidence out there to back this up), and in doing so, would neglect psychological instances of bullying.

As for the port-a-johns... I just don't know what to say about that... I'm baffled as to why port-a-johns are singled out for special protection. They must have a great lobbyist. (Your tax dollars at work in the legislature!)

I agree with you that just teaching abstinence is not enough these days and the kids need better sex education. However, I attended a very large urban high school in the Northeast and we had a comprehensive sex education program, but teen pregnancy was STILL a huge problem. It was such a problem that my high school actually had a daycare center on-site for the children of the students. I knew a girl who was a junior and already had 3 daughters!!!!

My point is that sex education should be taught at home and we shouldn't just rely on the school systems to do it. The number one thing that parents should be teaching to their daughters is self-esteem, so that they don't turn to sex for attention. They should be taking pride in their academics, athletics, artistic & musical talents...that way they won't be so vulnerable to finding acceptance through teen sex.

I was definitely teased in junior high school (isn't that the worst age?) about my braces, my mismatched clothes (we were poor & I got my school wardrobe at garage sales), and the fact that I was a bookworm. I used to come home crying. I really grew to detest school. Even in high school, when the popular kids were enjoying proms and football games, and acting like those were the best years of their lives, I was just trying to study hard and get the heck out of there. College was so much better for me. I met my husband and I have to say my adulthood has been so much happier than my teen years were.

Bullying is a serious problem. It actually factored into our decision to homeschool our children.

I agree with Mami that teaching the facts about sex and pregnancy does not guarantee that we will lower the overall teenage pregnancy rate, however if we spare just a few it is worth it. Keep in mind that unprotected sex also exposes our children to all kinds of lifelong and life threatening STDs.

But,it is still up to the parents to provide a moral framework for the facts we teach. There is also no substitute for a loving parent in building self esteem.

I think that bullying laws should cover sexual orientation and wonder why anyone would disagree. I guess the other point of view is that any bullying should be addressed, regardless of it's reason, so one doesn't need to single out any particular sub-group (which makes the juxtaposition of the port-a-john law ironic).

Along the same lines, I find often reflect on the existance of "hate crimes." If you murder or hurt someone, doesn't that imply that you hate them? I guess it's worse when you murder someone for what they stand for or represent, rather than for individual or personal reasons. The motivation is different, therefore the penalty is more serious.

And if this is the case, sexual orientation should be singled out in the bully law -- as the person being bullied is not being bullied for personal reasons, but because someone identifies them with a larger group.

I have mixed feelings on the sex ed stuff. Part of me feels disgusted that schools have had to take on the roles of social workers, parole officers, counselors, etc..... and feel that they have no business talking to my kids about sex or anything like it. Those are private mother daughter conversations that should take place in the home. I send my kids to school to learn to read and write.The other side of me acknowledges that schools and society in general are constantly weighed down by parents not doing their jobs and are forced to take some type of premptive strike to deal with the consequences of picking up the slack of irresponsible/ill equipped parents. So I'm frustrated but resigned, I guess you'd say.

I agree in some ways with Lilybug. However, I am not confident that I have the best and most up-to-date information about all of the topics around birth control, sexually transmitted diseases, etc. I mean, when I was my kids' ages, HIV and AIDS didn't even exist. In some ways I also feel like in a class about health, sex would be a natural topic...as would healthy eating habits, diabetes, exercise, heart health, etc.

I think that if parents are concerned, they should obtain a copy of the curriculum and address any areas of concern with the teacher...and use the curriculum to provide opportunities to talk with their own children about the ethical and moral stances surrounding a particular topic.

And for the comment about how girls bully differently...it is SO true. For those interested in the subject, I would like to recommend the novel A Most Uncommon Degree of Popularity by Kathleen Gilles Seidel. Very true about the cliques that girls form and how much they can hurt others.

Another reference that I'd recommend on the topic of bullying girls: Queen Bees and Wannabes (Rosalind Wiseman).

Excellent recommendation! Queen Bees & Wannabees...and an interesting partner, Queen Bee Moms and Wannabe Dads. Don't think there aren't cliques and bullying amongst the overinvolved parents of our children!

I agree with lilybug - I don't like the thought of the schools having to take on social roles. It places additional burdens on the schools and diffuses resources from acedemia. But, unfortunetly, we invite the government to do so when we neglect these issues at home.

At somepoint, the government becomes a stakeholder, having to intervene in order to truncate social problems that will cost the public at a future date. I think that more of these issues will surface as government-sponsored health care becomes a reality. For instance, if the government is paying for diabetes care that could be moderated with weight loss and lifestyle changes, won't the government have the right to demand compliance because the government is footing the bill? Talk about legislating behavior! It will be interesting -

Re: stupid porta-potty legislation.....you wanted more government, you got it! Just the tip of the iceberg. I didn't want it but I am going to get it anyway. The power of the majority.Sex ed...I went to my niece's HS graduation last week and think there should be anorexia/bulemia education instead. Ye gods, don't these parents see what is in front of their faces??? What is WRONG with them? I saw young women with such obvious signs (the humped shoulders, the discolored teeth). Are the parents living in Neverland? Not dealing with this is child abuse. If I were a teacher and saw this, I would be contacting Child Protective Services.It makes me SICK that parents have abdicated their roles in their children's education about sexuality. Just sick! And I have no easy answer.My daughter decided in 9th grade health class that she wanted an epidural when she had a baby. Fast forward 16 years to two months ago, and the first thing she said when she arrived at the hospital to have her first child was "get the anesthesiologist quickly."