TORONTO - Students who engage in physical or online bullying could be suspended from classes under changes to Ontario's Safe Schools Act that were scheduled to receive third and final reading later today.
It will mark the first time either type of bullying has been formally prohibited in Ontario schools, although the definition of bullying on the Internet has yet to be worked out.
The province wants to stop kids from posting comments, pictures or videos attacking other students or teachers on popular websites such as YouTube or Facebook.
Education Minister Kathleen Wynne says she wants to teach students to start taking responsibility for their online actions.
There have been many incidents at schools in Ontario and across Canada of students posting derogatory comments and videos about other students, teachers and principals.
Some students at a suburban Toronto school who were suspended for posting online comments about their vice-principal complained their right to free speech was being trampled.
