Bill would define, ban bullying in Virginia schools
RICHMOND – An effort to define bullying and ensure it is outlawed in public schools is on its way to the House floor for a vote.
Virginia already requires schools to prohibit bullying in their codes of student conduct and to educate students about bullying behavior. State code does not, however, define what constitutes bullying.
HB1871 by Del. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, would codify a definition and require school boards to expand their code of student conduct to ban bullying on school property, on school buses or at school-sponsored activities.
It also would require schools to allow students to unanimously report bullying incidents and require administrators to investigate and address those claims, such as by offering counseling for victims or behavior modification plans bullies. It prohibits bullying by students or staff.
The bill defines bullying as “any aggressive and unwanted behavior that is intended to harm or humiliate the victim; involves a real or perceived power imbalance between the aggressor or aggressors and victim; and is repeated over time or causes severe emotional trauma.” It also includes cyber bullying, such as on social media sites, and excludes ordinary teasing, horse play and arguments.
The House Education Committee approved the proposal, which delegates will likely vote on later this week.
- Kathy Adams, The (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot
January 28, 2013 - 12:41 PM
And the state meddling in local school board issues continues. What is the penalty if a school board doesn’t act quick enough to change its policies and handbooks? What happens if someone feels they didn’t get a fair shake and want to sue someone for the “wrongdoing”? Where does the money come from to set up the anonymous hotlines and cover the expense of counseling and “behavior modification” training for the bad kids (or adults)? If this is such a big problem, why not go all the way Big Brother and just make “no bullying” a blanket state law, with counties and towns required to implement, monitor, and deal with bullying? At what point is government too much government?
Bullying is part of “the pecking order” There will bullys throughout life. The kids need to learn to deal with it now to prepare them for the future.
And shouldn’t it read “anonymous” instead of “unanimous”…
Really? “unanimously report”?
I think that bullying has both the effect and the power to harm on several levels and deserves attention at the state level. Some school districts are not interested in tackling the issue.