During the just ended session of the Virginia General Assembly, the boot licking members of the GOP in the House of Delegates killed EVERY effort to protect students from bullying - not to mention all bills that might have made LGBT Virginians a little less third or fourth class citizens. Heavens forbid that Virginia Republicans do anything that might upset the Christofascists at The Family Foundation. Now, exhibiting backbone and courage unknown amongst the Virginia General Assembly, the legislature in Arkansas - a state not exactly known for progressiveness - has passed a comprehensive anti-bullying bill that includes protections based on sexual orientation that ought to make Virginians feel shame for our backwardness and cowardliness in the face of religious based hate, the principal stock in trade of The Family Foundation. Here are highlights from Arkansas Online (note the unanimous vote in the Senate and wide margin for approval in the House):*
The Arkansas House has given final passage to a bill that would require school districts to enact anti-bullying policies that take Facebook and other electronic forums into consideration.
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The bill passed the Senate 34-0 and it cleared the House Monday on a 68-18 vote. Rep. David Powers of Hope spoke for the bill on behalf of Sen. David Johnson. Powers says current anti-bullying rules aren’t working in many cases.
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The bill calls for districts to provide training and to investigate every credible report of bullying and document the result.
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Would that Virginia had such progressive legislation. How many young lives might be saved? The text of the bill can be found here. Here is some of the bill's language:
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The General Assembly finds that every public school student in this state has the right to receive his or her public education in a public school educational environment that is reasonably free from substantial intimidation, harassment, or harm or threat of harm by another student.
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"Attribute" means an actual or perceived personal characteristic including without limitation race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, socioeconomic status, academic status, disability, gender, gender identity, physical appearance, health condition, or sexual orientation.
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“Bullying” means the intentional harassment, intimidation, humiliation, ridicule, defamation, or threat or incitement of violence by a student against another student or public school employee by a written, verbal, electronic, or physical act that causes or creates a clear and present danger of may address an attribute of the other student, public school employee, or person with whom the other student or public school employee is associated and that causes or creates actual or reasonably foreseeable:
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(i)(A) Physical harm to a public school employee or student or damage to the public school employee's or student's property;
(ii)(B) Substantial interference with a student's education or with a public school employee's role in education;
(iii)(C) A hostile educational environment for one (1) or more students or public school employees due to the severity, persistence, or pervasiveness of the act; or
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Bullying of a public school student or a public school employee is 1 prohibited.
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(d) A school principal or his or her designee who receives a credible report or complaint of bullying shall promptly investigate the complaint or report and make a record of the investigation and any action taken as a result of the investigation.
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When will Virginia Republicans have the spine to stand up to religious based hate and pass legislation like this? How many more students must take their own lives before the Virginia General Assembly says "No" to Christianist hate?
The Arkansas House has given final passage to a bill that would require school districts to enact anti-bullying policies that take Facebook and other electronic forums into consideration.
*
The bill passed the Senate 34-0 and it cleared the House Monday on a 68-18 vote. Rep. David Powers of Hope spoke for the bill on behalf of Sen. David Johnson. Powers says current anti-bullying rules aren’t working in many cases.
*
The bill calls for districts to provide training and to investigate every credible report of bullying and document the result.
*
Would that Virginia had such progressive legislation. How many young lives might be saved? The text of the bill can be found here. Here is some of the bill's language:
*
The General Assembly finds that every public school student in this state has the right to receive his or her public education in a public school educational environment that is reasonably free from substantial intimidation, harassment, or harm or threat of harm by another student.
*
"Attribute" means an actual or perceived personal characteristic including without limitation race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, socioeconomic status, academic status, disability, gender, gender identity, physical appearance, health condition, or sexual orientation.
*
“Bullying” means the intentional harassment, intimidation, humiliation, ridicule, defamation, or threat or incitement of violence by a student against another student or public school employee by a written, verbal, electronic, or physical act that causes or creates a clear and present danger of may address an attribute of the other student, public school employee, or person with whom the other student or public school employee is associated and that causes or creates actual or reasonably foreseeable:
*
(i)(A) Physical harm to a public school employee or student or damage to the public school employee's or student's property;
(ii)(B) Substantial interference with a student's education or with a public school employee's role in education;
(iii)(C) A hostile educational environment for one (1) or more students or public school employees due to the severity, persistence, or pervasiveness of the act; or
*
Bullying of a public school student or a public school employee is 1 prohibited.
*
(d) A school principal or his or her designee who receives a credible report or complaint of bullying shall promptly investigate the complaint or report and make a record of the investigation and any action taken as a result of the investigation.
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When will Virginia Republicans have the spine to stand up to religious based hate and pass legislation like this? How many more students must take their own lives before the Virginia General Assembly says "No" to Christianist hate?
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