Date: Saturday, June 14th 2015

Participants (from 9 countries):

Team A: Marissa, Amine, Huong, Jami, Sunita

Team B: Marwa, Sidi, Rick, Maria

Team C: Dilowar, Amir, Himalay

Host: Rick

Moderator: Johny

Team A summary:

Students will better understand the difference between right and wrong before going to university by holding them accountable for their actions.
Bullying is a personal choice; therefore students shall be responsible for their actions.
Depending on the situation, legal action could be an effective last solution for significant grievances, which will increase the awareness for consequences of their actions.
New students often repeat the bad behavior of senior students, which includes bullying.
When transgressions become serious, there should be legal intervention.
Bullying affects deeply one’s psyche for life and it is as serious as any other serious crime.
If we enforce legal consequences upon every student for bullying, potential bullies would see this and change their behavior because of the example set.
In some institutions, imposing severe rules has proven to be an effective way to ensure parents, students and potential students that they are in a higher quality school or university.
Allowing bullying to continue without severe outcomes may result in the perpetuation of the bad behavior pattern.
When children reach the age of 13, 14 many times they just don’t want to listen their parents and don’t want to follow any rules. At that age, they have already become aware of many things and parents may do what they can to enlighten their children but ultimately, the children are responsible for their actions.
Parents are responsible for the small issues about their teenager kids but when the bullying becomes severe, children are the ones who shall be held legally accountable.

Team B summary:

Students are still minors; parents shall be the responsible for their children’s actions.
Most students are not mature enough to understand the consequences of their actions, instead of taking legal actions; a psychological assessment would be a more appropriate course of actions.
All bullies should be held accountable indeed nevertheless, legal steps would not be the adequate means to resolve it, instead; a psychological help could be a more appropriate solution.
Bullying is often a way to canalize that bad things that is going on in students’ lives, Thus; understanding the why of their actions would lead to come up with better solutions rather than just punish them legally.
Bullying is part of some schools’ tradition and if it is banned it would take away the identity of those universities.
All students shall be accountable for their actions but as long as their actions do not cross the limits, legal punishment shall not be necessary.
Bullying is not as serious as abusing therefore; legal consequences might be too harsh.
Schools often do not monitor how students treat one another and these schools perhaps ought to be held accountable for these issues but not the students.
The solution would not be putting minors into jail but to find a better solution to allow these minors to learn the consequences of their actions.
Although it is important that children need to have discipline as well as learn to be accountable for their actions and deeds, there are other ways to address the bullying issue.

Team C summary:

Dilowar and Himaly left early. Amir has voted for the team A ergo, team A won the debate. Thanks so much everyone for participating!

Below are the links to listen to our chat:

Students should be held legally responsible for bullying in schools - recording file

For people who did not join the live discussion, feel free to contribute the ideas in the comment blanks below.