|
||||||||||||
|
|
School bullying victims lobby for change in law
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Several former victims of harassment in schools asked lawmakers Wednesday to bolster Minnesota's anti-bullying laws, and to expand the categories of children specifically protected in school policies. Leah Matz, a high school junior from Minneapolis, said that she is one of many students who've experienced bullying as a direct result of actual or perceived sexual orientation. "We know how things like hate speech can escalate into physical harassment, hitting, kicking, spitting," she said, "Things that are happening to students every day that are happening as we're speaking right now." Matz, who now attends a private high school where she feels more supported, was among a group of students who testified before the senate education committee at the State Capitol. Current state law requires school boards to adopt a written policy that bars harassment, intimidation, bullying and attacks based on the victim's race, gender or religion. The bills pending this session would also prohibit such acts based on the victim's sexual orientation, gender identity, color, creed, a disability or physical characteristics. "It's not an issue of agreeing with homosexuality, or agreeing with whatever a person's being hated for," Matz told lawmakers, "It's an issue of humanity, of treatment of humans." Skeptics says there's no need to specifically enumerate so many categories of persons to be protected from bullying, when most schools will take action to stop harassment regardless of the cause. Supporters say spelling out specifics in anti-bullying policies helps targeted students feel more self-esteem, and gives teachers more to go on when reacting to such episodes. Another student, Andy Berlin, said that he was harassed and attacked in school to the point it drove him to a mental breakdown. He's now in a school for the arts where he doesn't have to worry about being mistreated just for being who he is. "I just feel like another student," Berlin said, "I just go to school and learn instead of worry about am I going to be bullied and harassed and what's going to happen with my day." One of the bill's sponsors, Sen. Scott Dibble, said Berlin's case is an example of why firm policies are so important. "He suffered serious health consequences as a result of the treatment at the hands of his peers," Dibble said, "He's now going to a school where there's consistently applied policies. Kids know when they mistreat each other there's a consequence." Opposition The bill's enhanced record keeping requirements drew opposition the school principals in Minnesota, who say they're already struggling to keep up with the work load of state mandated paperwork. Roger Aronson, who spoke on behalf of the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals and the Minnesota Elementary School Principals Association, said the state's schools already dish out an average of 65,000 suspensions each school year. "With the disciplinary data," Aronson said, "We assemble all of that and break it down, whether it's bullying, fighting, harassing, the various categories; we think the system works very well." He said what would make the most difference, when it comes to ending bullying, would be increase support staff. "We're number 49 in school counselors!" he lamented, "We need counselors, psychologists, assistant principals!" Instead, he said, districts around the state are laying off support staff and assistant principals. And those are the very people, Aronson said, who could turn harassment episodes into teaching moments. The panel took no action on the bill, but will continue the hearing Thursday with testimony from the Minnesota Family Council's director who also opposes the bill. Representative Jim Davnie of Minneapolis, the sponsor in the House, said it all comes down to modeling respect. "When schools have a policy that bullying and intimidation will not be tolerated," he said, "The message spreads."
|
 MORE HEADLINES |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
