Legislature moves anti-bully bill along
TALLAHASSEE -- Bobbie Bean's son was beaten unconscious by a classmate, first on the school bus and then in the locker room.
It happened four years ago, when Bean's son was 14, at Sebring Middle School. Experts compare the long-term psychological trauma to that of a war veteran.
"We're a long way from recovery with him," Bean said after testifying in front of lawmakers Tuesday.
Bean spoke on behalf of a proposed law that would require schools to write detailed anti-bullying policies that give teachers broad authority to punish bullies. The law also gives parents the option of filing criminal charges against bullies.
Until Tuesday, proponents worried the law's chance of passing was growing smaller by the day. Lawmakers have been arguing about whether the bills (HB 535 and SB 1384) should include special protections for students who are considered likely to be bullied: gays and ethnic or religious minorities.
With less than two weeks until the end of session, members of the House and a Senate committee agreed to a compromise.
Under the compromise proposal, school officials will have to write bullying policies that protect every student without naming specific groups.
But schools will be allowed to write separate discrimination policies expanding on the kinds of students most likely to be affected by bullying.
The compromise sailed through its second reading in the House of Representatives and was passed unanimously by the Senate Criminal Justice Committee.
It has to be passed by one more committee, the Senate Education Appropriations Committee, before being voted on by the whole Senate.
The compromise pushes back the date schools need to enforce the policies to December 2006.
"It's huge," said Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, who sponsored the House bill and helped negotiate the compromise.
She said the law will likely be used as a model around the country.
Cape Coral school teacher Debbie Johnston spearheaded the proposed law in honor of her son, Jeff, who she said hanged himself last year after being bullied.
She and many of her supporters did not like the version of the law that named specific groups of protected students.
Source: Herald Tribune
It happened four years ago, when Bean's son was 14, at Sebring Middle School. Experts compare the long-term psychological trauma to that of a war veteran.
"We're a long way from recovery with him," Bean said after testifying in front of lawmakers Tuesday.
Bean spoke on behalf of a proposed law that would require schools to write detailed anti-bullying policies that give teachers broad authority to punish bullies. The law also gives parents the option of filing criminal charges against bullies.
Until Tuesday, proponents worried the law's chance of passing was growing smaller by the day. Lawmakers have been arguing about whether the bills (HB 535 and SB 1384) should include special protections for students who are considered likely to be bullied: gays and ethnic or religious minorities.
With less than two weeks until the end of session, members of the House and a Senate committee agreed to a compromise.
Under the compromise proposal, school officials will have to write bullying policies that protect every student without naming specific groups.
But schools will be allowed to write separate discrimination policies expanding on the kinds of students most likely to be affected by bullying.
The compromise sailed through its second reading in the House of Representatives and was passed unanimously by the Senate Criminal Justice Committee.
It has to be passed by one more committee, the Senate Education Appropriations Committee, before being voted on by the whole Senate.
The compromise pushes back the date schools need to enforce the policies to December 2006.
"It's huge," said Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, who sponsored the House bill and helped negotiate the compromise.
She said the law will likely be used as a model around the country.
Cape Coral school teacher Debbie Johnston spearheaded the proposed law in honor of her son, Jeff, who she said hanged himself last year after being bullied.
She and many of her supporters did not like the version of the law that named specific groups of protected students.
Source: Herald Tribune
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home