Odds and ends, 4/10/07

CONTINENTAL, Ohio (AP) — A 14-year-old boy who had often been bullied was arrested Wednesday after a threat was found on a bathroom wall at a northwest Ohio school, authorities said.

The Continental High School student, whose name was not released, is expected to be charged in juvenile court Thursday, said Putnam County Sheriff James Beutler.

Continental police Chief Arnie Hardy said the threat at the middle/high school building involved violence and named more than one person.

The sheriff said the student does not have access to items necessary to carry out a threat and that there appears to be no immediate danger to the school or any student.

So, what happens to the bullies?

This afternoon, this news release came in from the Ohio Department of Education:

Columbus – The State Board of Education will hold its monthly meeting May 14-15 at the Ohio School for the Deaf, 500 Morse Road in Columbus. On Tuesday morning, the Board will adopt an anti-bullying policy. House Bill 276 mandates that the State Board develop such a model policy to assist school districts with the creation of their own policies to prevent harassment, intimidation or bullying. The new policy was put together in collaboration with the Attorney General’s Office, Ohio Resource Network, Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management, and the Ohio Department of Education. It was also evaluated by students, parents, educators and community agencies.

Not knowing the circumstances of what happened at Continental High School, I'm in no position to say whether this new policy would have helped. Bullies are part of life in school, but if it gets to the point where the bullied kid threatens violence and is arrested, something has gone way, way wrong.

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My favorite blog line today, courtesy West Virginia Blue:

"Manchin bagged a turkey on May 5 -- just like he will when he runs for re-election."

Does the Republican Party have anyone who can give Manchin even the slightest bit of a scare next year?

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In case anyone cares, today is the 15th anniversary of the happiest day of my life up to that point. My daughter was born on Mother's Day in 1992. She was a daddy's girl in the womb. When I would come home from work and say something, she would start jumping around at the first sound of my voice. And she was all mine from the moment she was born.

Of course, she's a teenager now, so I'm all sorts of things to her: a wallet, annoying, someone to rely on, someone to hug. You know how it goes.

Happy birthday, Hannah. And no, you can't have the family car as soon as you get your driver's license.