Much of the education legislation coming out of the Indiana Statehouse in recent years has been bad for schools and, in turn, for students. House Bill 1169 bypasses the schools to take direct aim at student rights.

Presented as a student discipline bill and dressed up as a safeguard against cyber-bullying, the legislation is a chilling and unprecedented attempt to give school officials unlimited authority over student behavior outside of school. If not defeated, it demands a serious overhaul before it emerges as law.

For more on how House Bill 1169 could affect Indiana students, see Friday’s editorial page in print editions of The Journal Gazette or visit www.journalgazette.net after 3 a.m. Friday.