Legislation that would expand Minnesota’s anti-bullying law is headed to a vote in the full state Senate after receiving committee approval Tuesday.
The proposal brings the law into parity with Minnesota’s human rights law by adding sexual orientation and physical appearance to the sorts of bullying barred in schools.
Currently, sexual orientation is covered under the human rights law but not in the law affecting bullying.
Statistics show that 90 percent of LGBT students face harassment, yet 93 percent of schools don’t include sexual orientation or gender identity and expression in their anti-harassment policies..
Minnesota bully bill advances
Posted by Greg Laden on March 26, 2009
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Comments
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I think bullying is a problem, but it is a problem that should be addressed by schools. I am concerned about the increasing reliance on police to address disciplinary issues at schools. Kids are getting arrested for for “sexting” and farting in class. We are criminalizing routine misconduct, when we should be using detention, suspension, and parent-teacher collaboration. I worry about how these laws will be enforced and if they will create more harm than they prevent. Zero-tolerance policies don’t teach kids tolerance, they kids the same lesson kids always learn: don’t get caught.
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I think bullying is a problem, but it is a problem that should be addressed by schools.
Schools don’t address bullying unless compelled to do so by law.
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Neal,
I appreciate your point of view, nobody wants to live in a police state. However, if a high percentage of lgbt student are being harassed with out interference by the school, it should become the states responsibility to protect them. However, I admit this is a slippery slope. . .
Brendan,
http://www.wildramblings.com
March 26, 2009
March 26, 2009
March 26, 2009
, which is now available for the 
