This week the Oregon Senate Education and Workforce Development Committee will hold a public hearing on bullying. The Oregon Legislature is considering a proposal that would require school employees to report acts of bullying and intimidation.
The Oregon proposal also includes one of the most unique ideas I've seen: a measure that would require schools to create an anonymous reporting system for students to report bullying, and a requirement to report cases to the police.
Public hearings are a really important step forward, and I am very hopeful that the next legislature in Indiana will at least move a proposed bullying law forward enough to allow a hearing. In Kentucky, their state legislature quickly approved increased protection in cases of bullying after hearing testimony. I think the Indiana legislature wants to do the right thing. I think they want to take a stand, but maybe because they haven't had a chance to hear testimony they don't know the issue is very serious.
Everyone can take a stand today by contacting their representative and letting them know they want tougher laws in Indiana to protect our children from bullying, cyberbullying, and all forms of peer-to-peer intimidation.
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