Bully Tested - Target Approved

So the bully's that tormented Karen Klein in Greece, NY received their punishment.  The boys got one year suspension, 50 hours of community service and have to complete courses on bully prevention, respect and responsibility.  The kids will be placed in the districts re-engagement center where they will stay on track academically but partake in far more than just the lessons of the classroom.  As a former target of bullying, I like these terms.
This center also reportedly requires strong parental involvement, so as to make sure nothing like this ever happens again, at least not on any of these individuals watches.
The reason I like the punishment is because it doesn't throw the kids away.  It gives them a chance to really learn something in all of this and HOPEFULLY, make them better because of it.  I truly hope the parents of these young people take this punishment seriously themselves and enforce it at home.  I mean talk to their kids about their day, about what they've done, about what they want to do.  They have to ask their kids "do you really understand the gravity of what you did, and why it was wrong"  If they don't, this year can very easily be lost on just getting through and completing the penalty.  If the parents don't believe in it, the kids certainly won't.
But these parents seem committed.  They waived a district hearing and agreed to the penalty handed down.  I plan to take that as a positive sign and wish them all luck in the upcoming journey.
This no doubt will be a humbling road for these young people, some may even say somewhat embarrassing.... I say it will only be embarrassing if they come out on the other side UNCHANGED.
Young Men, this is your moment, grab hold and own it.  If you truly care and are sorry for your actions, your story is one that you will be able to use as a teaching tool the rest of your life and instead of being embarrassed, you will be proud to know that the mistakes you made, may very well have prevented someone else from going down that same road!