"Bias Incident Reports", not at all creepy or 1984-ish?

[icehorse]

Below is the first paragraph from the article linked to. This all seems super-bad to me:

A phenomenon is sweeping many Massachusetts public schools: the “bias incident report.” The inner-ring Boston suburb of Newton (home of Jake Auchincloss, the congressman for the Fourth District) hosts an online portal where a person can report any cases of “hate speech, bias, or discrimination.” Another wealthy suburban district, Acton-Boxborough, lays out a protocol for the reporting and investigation of “all incidents of bias, including prejudice, bigotry, microaggressions and cultural appropriation.” Belmont, Lexington, and Wellesley are among other elite suburbs with these kinds of protocols, though their emergence is not confined to wealthy districts: Boston Public Schools has its own “equity” reporting form.

I know, let's make every kid in school suspicious of every other kid, what could go wrong? (argh)

Massachusetts Schools Install ‘Bias Incident’ Regime | City Journal

 

[Revoltingest]

Training kids to be snitches, eh.
The best way to protest this would be to
report anything & everything that could
possibly be somehow inferred as a slight.
Overwhelm them.

 

[Stevicus]

Below is the first paragraph from the article linked to. This all seems super-bad to me:



I know, let's make every kid in school suspicious of every other kid, what could go wrong? (argh)

Massachusetts Schools Install ‘Bias Incident’ Regime | City Journal

I can see having a way to report instances of discrimination and hate speech, but "microaggressions and cultural appropriation" seems going a bit too far. That's also far too subjective to make it actionable.

 

[icehorse]

I can see having a way to report instances of discrimination and hate speech, but "microaggressions and cultural appropriation" seems going a bit too far. That's also far too subjective to make it actionable.

And even discrimination and "hate speech" are sometimes hard to classify.

 

[F1fan]

I can see having a way to report instances of discrimination and hate speech, but "microaggressions and cultural appropriation" seems going a bit too far. That's also far too subjective to make it actionable.

Make kids have to write out the complaints with pencils and paper, and using excellent penmenship. Let's see how many complaints they get.

 

[Stevicus]

And even discrimination and "hate speech" are sometimes hard to classify.

True, although it can also be pretty obvious and blatant at times, so at least they can deal with those instances. If there's some reasonable doubt or gray area, then it might be more difficult to tackle.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Below is the first paragraph from the article linked to. This all seems super-bad to me:



I know, let's make every kid in school suspicious of every other kid, what could go wrong? (argh)

Massachusetts Schools Install ‘Bias Incident’ Regime | City Journal

Worked in Nazi Germany with reporting the jews to the authorities.

Right from the playback.

 

[Sedim Haba]

Below is the first paragraph from the article linked to. This all seems super-bad to me:



I know, let's make every kid in school suspicious of every other kid, what could go wrong? (argh)

Massachusetts Schools Install ‘Bias Incident’ Regime | City Journal

And it's anonymous too. Perfect for abuse. Sounds like a 'C.Y.A.' policy because of a law:

"...Moreover, insufficient efforts to address alleged “hate incidents” may put the school in violation of the state’s Anti-Discrimination Act."

 

[Twilight Hue]

Three guesses as to the political disposition of the school board and administration.

Hint: Jake Auchincloss (D)

 

[Orbit]

I wish we had this when I was in junior high and a white self-professed Neo-Nazi wouldn't stop harassing my black friend.

 

[Debater Slayer]

Below is the first paragraph from the article linked to. This all seems super-bad to me:



I know, let's make every kid in school suspicious of every other kid, what could go wrong? (argh)

Massachusetts Schools Install ‘Bias Incident’ Regime | City Journal

I think it's a sound policy to have mechanisms in place for reporting and investigating possible incidents of discrimination and hate speech. Many developed countries already have laws against both. I would assume a report would be—or at least should be—followed up by an investigation to determine its veracity rather than immediate action.

"Cultural appropriation" and "microaggressions" seem to me much more open-ended and prone to abuse, so I'm more skeptical of including those in the reporting system.

 

[Rival]

I wish we had this when I was in junior high and a white self-professed Neo-Nazi wouldn't stop harassing my black friend.

Uh, surely that's already illegal?

 

[Orbit]

Uh, surely that's already illegal?

No one seemed to want to listen to us (junior high students). No one cared.

 

[Father Heathen]

Training kids to be snitches, eh.
The best way to protest this would be to
report anything & everything that could
possibly be somehow inferred as a slight.
Overwhelm them.

That's what will probably happen anyway.

 

[Father Heathen]

Uh, surely that's already illegal?

Schools tend to dismiss or downplay bullying, at least they did when I was a kid.

 

[Rival]

Schools tend to dismiss or downplay bullying, at least they did when I was a kid.

I'd say that's a bit more than bullying.

 

[Father Heathen]

I'd say that's a bit more than bullying.

So would I, but what would be considered harassment or assault if done by adults would often be handwaved away as "boys being boys", even going as far to suggest that it helps build character.

Of course I'm speaking of experience from over 25 years ago.

 

[Revoltingest]

That's what will probably happen anyway.

The most important people to snitch on are
the leaders, enforcers, & their family members.
Bring the horror home to them.

 

[Father Heathen]

The most important people to snitch on are
the leaders, enforcers, & their family members.
Bring the horror home to them.