We often hear about it being a problem at schools around the country, but is it as much of an issue here in the U.P.?
MARQUETTE -- Bullying. We often hear about it being a problem at schools around the country, but is it as much of an issue here in the U.P.?
Bullying used to be about physical violence, but students I talked to at Marquette Senior High School Friday say they're seeing a new era of bullies on the Internet.
Junior Alex Powell says, "People on Facebook and all that social networks, they always, like, start rumors and stuff about kids and it ends up back; there's always kids getting mad at other kids."
And students say often the problems start outside of school, usually when substance abuse is taking place, then the confrontation happens when students come face-to-face.
Junior Emily Harrington adds, "They start harassing these people and making jokes about it and making fun of them for whatever reason for the things that they do outside of school."
A State House committee approved legislation Thursday that would require Michigan schools to adopt stricter bullying policies. Legislation aimed at protecting students from harassment now goes to the House for a vote, but counselors at M.S.H.S. say either way, they will investigate every bullying allegation.
Counselor Dan Bonsall says, "If you're just dealing with one bully at a time, you're putting out a fire that's just going to restart at some point, so I think it's to develop a program that deals with every student."
The high school currently has a zero-tolerance bullying policy, but officials say they are continuing to improve their advisory program to try and protect victims of bullying.
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