Proposed Bill May Help Fight Bullying in Schools
The California State Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) proposed a bill Thursday aimed at preventing bullying.
The bill, AB 1156, will reduce incidents of bullying and redefine California's anti-bullying law by linking academic achievement to bullying. It encourages each school to develop its School Safety Plan by including training of the school's personnel and allowing the target of bullying the option to leave the school. The bill will also expand the definition of bullying by linking it to the damaging effects it can have on the target of such behavior.
Assemblymember Mike Eng says when students worry about harassment from their peers, the school prevents an environment conducive to learning.
"The bill looks at poor academic achievement as a result, as a symptom, of bullying," Eng said.
According to the PTA, about 160,000 U.S. students skip school to avoid bullying. Advocates of the legislation said the issue is more important than most believe.
"As early as kindergarten and second grade bullies are learning they can get their way by violence," Kathy Moffat of the PTA said.
The bill hopes to change beliefs that bullying is a part of the school environment and stresses children have the right to a safe learning environment. Garvey School District Board Clerk Bob Bruesch said the passage of the bill is crucial.
Despite the support of the PTA and Eng, some say it will not be much of a benefit to students."
"I personally got bullied, I didn't die. It made me a stronger person," Mandy Lai, a USC master student, said.
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