Should school districts be required to adopt codes of conduct specifically prohibiting bullying and harassment?
Bill Summary
This bill would require school districts in states to adopt codes of conduct specifically prohibiting bullying and harassment, including on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, and religion. It would also require that states report data on bullying and harassment to the Department of Education. The Department of Education would then be required to provide Congress with a report on the state reported data every two years.
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Opponents say
Unfortunately, despite the best intentions of the members of Congress, there is absolutely zero evidence the approach outlined in the bill will have any effectiveness. This same approach has been incorporated into many state statutes across the country. But on the National Crimes Victimization Survey-School Crimes Supplement, which has measured bullying since 2005, and the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which has measured bullying since 2009, there has been No decline in the percentage of students reporting bullying.
Proponents say
“Bullying is a challenge that impacts far too many children and families across the country,” Senator Casey said. “With the advent of text-messaging, social media, and social networking, many children find they cannot escape the harassment when they go home at night. It follows them from the moment they wake until the moment they go to sleep. This legislation will ensure that schools districts across the country take proactive steps to combat bullying and protect children.”
