North Carolina Students Could Face Misdemeanor Charges For Bullying Teachers

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by Kirk Hawkins, Photojournalist Darnell Hart

Story Created: Dec 1, 2012 at 1:48 AM EDT

Story Updated: Dec 1, 2012 at 2:04 AM EDT

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--Judy Kidd knows what its like for a student to bully a teacher. "What I have a problem is where people can't tell the truth and make up stories in order to get something over on someone else," she said.

Kidd knows multiple teachers who have been bullied. She is the president of the Classroom Teachers Association of North Carolina. And the driving force behind a new cyber bullying law that takes effect tomorrow. Violators as young as 16 could face up to two months in jail or a one thousand dollar fine.

"We have become a culture that is enabling students to be malicious and to be deceptive," said Kidd.

But, critics say the law is vague. The ACLU of North Carolina's Policy Director, Sarah Preston, says “Young people should not be taught that they will be punished for telling the truth, speaking freely, or questioning authority – yet that is exactly what could happen under this law."

Kidd disagrees, "We need to instill in students and parents  and the entire community that we're proud of our schools, we're proud of our school districts and we're not going to tolerate that type of behavior," she said.

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