Massachusetts: Senate to debate anti-bullying legislation

The Massachusetts Senate is scheduled to debate a bill designed to clamp down on school bullies.

The bill would prohibit bullying at schools and discourage so-called cyberbullying by prohibiting the use of e-mails, text messages, Internet postings and other electronic means to create a hostile school environment.

Administrators would be required to publish an anti-bulling policy and create an anti-bullying curriculum for students.

School principals would also be required to report bullies to police if the principal believes that criminal charges could be pursued.

The push for anti-bullying legislation has gained momentum following the suicides of students in South Hadley and Springfield who had allegedly been tormented by classmates.