Posted by Maria Mangicaro
Bullying Prevention Advocate
mangicaro829@aol.com
Click here to read Nevada Senate Bill: Prohibits transmitting or distributing certain images of bullying involving a child under certain circumstances. (BDR 15-70)
Posted: Oct 16, 2013 6:36 PM EDTUpdated: Oct 16, 2013 6:36 PM EDT
LAS VEGAS — Another investigation is underway after another video has surfaced on social media showing Clark County students fighting on a high school campus.
Clark County School District officials have confirmed the fight happened at Chaparral High School. The video also appears to be staged with two high school girls beating each other up in front of an audience. This video and others bring up the question of whether a new law on Nevada’s books is being used.
School police told 8 News NOW that SB414 may sound good on paper, but in reality, the law is very difficult to enforce. The law prohibits the transmitting or distributing of violent images involving a child. It targets cyber-bullying.
This most recent video shows two girls fighting in the high school’s bathroom as friends cheer them on. It’s obvious the two students knew they were being caught on camera. They went on to take off their sweaters and geared up for a fight just before another student pushed one girl towards the other.
“I think they just do it to be Facebook famous or something,” said Alex Andrade, a junior at Chaparral High School.
He says he has seen other kids at school get suspended and even expelled for fighting, but when it comes to bad behavior on social media, he says a lot of kids get away with it.
“So many people are like videotaping it and they all post it and nobody knows who did it first,” Andrade said.
According to CCSD Police captain Ken Young, that’s the problem his officers have been facing. He says, despite the new Nevada law that could charge minors with a misdemeanor, it’s hard to track the original culprit.
Nevada State Senator Kelvin Atkinson, who helped get the new law on the books, said parents should start paying attention to what their children are doing because they could be held responsible for their online postings.
“Parents need to understand they have some accountability. If parents … know their child is engaged in this type of behavior they themselves can be penalized for it,” Atkinson said.
In regards to the latest video, CCSD officials will only say they are dealing with the issue and would not say whether any student has been suspended or expelled.
“I think they should be sent somewhere else, not here, because we have enough problems,” Andrade said.
He says students should be focused on their studies and grades, not other distractions.
The new law has been in effect since Oct. 1, 2013. According to the juvenile court, no one has been cited under the law.
Anti-Bullying Laws 