2013+PERIOD+8+GOVERNMENT

//**How much personal freedom should we be able to have?**//

 * Our Government today has many laws that restrict the freedom of many Americans such as the HIB Law, the restrictions on the driving age for teenagers, and how the government can record and listen to citizens' phone calls. Each of these laws can have pros and cons for us. **


 * Is the government trying to protect us by enacting these laws or are they going too far into our personal boundaries? **


 * What is //censorship?// **

**//Censorship is the act of supervising conduct and morals.//**
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2012/Bills/PL12/1_.PDF
 * ==** HIB Law (Harassment, Intimidation, Bullying Law) **==
 * ==** This law has been rapidly getting stronger and more enforced over the past years. It was created to help children who were getting harassed, intimidated, or bullied. The child who is the victim has to file a report and then the whole bullying case has to be investigated. It restricts students' freedom in schools because it limits what they can get away with doing, and gives them consequences when they make bad choices and do not treat others in a respectful way. **==

** This is a link to the official HIB Law for harassment, intimidation, and bullying in schools that was approved March 26th, 2012. **
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/31/nyregion/bullying-law-puts-new-jersey-schools-on-spot.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

** This is an article from the New York Times describing what the new HIB law implemented in New Jersey schools would be like for students and teachers, and has opinions of people interviewed. **
media type="custom" key="24640724"

** This video talks about bullying of youths due to stereotypes and what the authority under federal law can do to protect students from harassment at school. **


http://www.nj.com/times-opinion/index.ssf/2011/11/opinion_njs_new_anti-bullying.html#co mments = This article is written in a man's opinion about the law, and mostly talks about the cons of it. =

** I think that this man made some good points as to how this law could be not as effective as it's supposed to be in some cases. **
http://www.stopbullying.gov/blog/2013/02/21/podcast-bullying-environment

** This is a podcast about how bullying can happen anywhere, and what types of people are commonly targeted. **
http://www.stopbullying.gov/blog/2012/10/05/giving-teachers-tools-to-stop-bullying-free-training-toolkit-now-available

Pros of the HIB Law:

 * == It was made to strengthen standards for preventing, reporting, investigating, and responding to bullying incidents and reduce the amount of suicide among students ==
 * == It can apply to situations that happen on school grounds, or even off school grounds if it affects a student ==
 * == Now an anti-bullying specialist, anti-bullying coordinator, and a school safety team are required to be designated in every school, to report incidents to ==
 * == Provides consequences for the bully ==

Cons of the HIB Law:

 * ===** it takes a lot of time to file a case, since the checklist is 18 pages! **===
 * ===** the situations to report can sometimes be unnecessary, since some teachers feel the need to report everything, even kindergarten name- calling **===
 * ===** since teachers have to go for training to deal with these situations, it can take away from their needed educational training **===

http://www.state.nj.us/education/students/safety/behavior/hib/overview.pdf






 * == Driving Restrictions: ==
 * == Teenagers in New Jersey are restricted from driving until the age of 16 when they can get their permit, then at 17 they can have a probationary License, then at 18, they can have a basic driver's license. While in other states such as Kansas and Arkansas, teenagers can have their permit when they turn 14 years old. ==

[]

This website shows the responsibilities of teen drivers and what they have to accomplish in order to receive their license.
http://www.2pass.co.uk/ages2.htm#.UpalZ2Sgl0E
 * == The youngest age of a teen driver in the United States is 14 years old ==

This website shows some of the average ages for teen drivers in the United States.
http://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/135077918_Driving_restraint.html == This news article from December 6, 2011 talked about a bill that could have been passed to enforce stricter requirements for obtaining driver's licenses. It would require a longer permit holding period while also extending the amount of hours of practice time and require parents to reinforce their knowledge of probationary driving. ==

http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/Licenses/sample_knowledge_test.htm

This website has example questions from the New Jersey State driving test.
[]

** Pros of Driving Age at 16: **

 * == Teenagers are more mature at 16 then at 14 ==

[[image:2013_Ford_Mustang_GT500_--_2012_DC.JPG width="267" height="164" align="right" caption="Picture by IFCAR"]]

 * == Increased Independence ==
 * == Increased responsibility ==
 * == More Time to gain experience ==
 * == Helps out the family ==

** Cons Of Driving Age at 16: **

 * == Teenagers may be more easily distracted by the technology available ==
 * == Teenagers may lack the judgement that an older driver has. (For Example: they might think they are invincible. Nothing will happen to me.) ==
 * == Lack of experience ==
 * == Not always responsible ==
 * == Not always mature enough ==

The government can listen to your phone calls? []

This is an article talking about how the government is listening to our phone calls. It explains what President Obama has been saying to defend the fact that no one is listening to our phone calls.
media type="custom" key="24640740" == This is a video in which President Obama explains that the government is not listening to our phone calls. He explains that they are only monitoring information and collecting data for potential leads about terrorism. == media type="custom" key="24640742"