Putting Teeth in Anti-Bullying Policies

Many school policies addressing bullying amount to little more than “Bullying is bad. Don’t do it.” But state legislatures in North Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Nebraska, Florida, and Michigan have been debating ways to strengthen anti-bullying measures. Usually a high-profile incident in a school pushes the issue into the news and lawmakers jump on the bandwagon. These incidents often involve the persecution of a gay or lesbian student, a problem most recently spotlighted by the shocking murder of a junior high student in California. Still, many states seem reluctant to insert language in the bills that specifically calls out GLBT students for protection. The Michigan legislature is struggling over such a provision, which, according to one local newspaper editorial, would be “playing favorites.” A bill moving through the Florida legislature requires all districts to develop anti-bullying policies and allow schools to discipline students for, among other offenses, so-called cyber-bullying that takes place off-campus. Although the bill specifically bans sexual, racial and religious harassment, advocates want to add protection based on sexual orientation, arguing that a more specific list of prohibitions would give teachers and administrators stronger tools to fight the problem. All bullying is a problem and these efforts to look seriously at the issue are to be applauded, but exclusion of the types of bullying that account for the highest incidence and the most violence seems a little counterproductive.

Bullied for Being Gay

Bullying and harassing students for being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender is common. Referred to collectively as GLBT, these students are five times more likely than the general campus population to skip school due to safety concerns. Some even drop out due to continued harassment.

According to a National School Climate Survey conducted by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, almost 38 percent of GLBT students experienced physical harassment at school on the basis of sexual orientation and 26 percent on the basis of how they express their gender. Nearly one-fifth, almost 18 percent, of students reported being physically assaulted because of their sexual orientation.

For more, see NEA's "Strengthening the Learning Environment: A School Employee's Guide to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues." The guide was developed to help Association members and staff who may confront issues involving GLBT students or colleagues, or who may encounter bias based on sexual orientation or gender identity

--John Rosales