I’ve written before about the school assault bill that got passed on the last day of the legislative session, but was later vetoed. It was the anti-bullying bill. It’s intent was to add sexual orientation and physical appearance to the sorts of bullying not allowed in schools.
With the veto the Governor did say that he would direct Department of Education Alice Seagren to review the existing anti-bullying policy and to contact school districts to ensure they are meeting the requirements of the current law, which was implemented in 2005.
The Minneapolis Tribune recently had a real life story that is heartbreaking. Their 12 year old son:
an honor student who faced merciless teasing on the school bus, came home on the afternoon of Feb. 8, 2006, went into the family’s barn and hanged himself.
Numbers from the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs suggest that something needs to change. In Minnesota, there were 73 cases of hate crimes committed in 2008, a 48 percent increase. There was a 185 percent increase in the number of incidents involving violence, and a 20 percent increase in the number of incidents involving more than one assailant.
The Children’s Exposure to Violence: A Comprehensive National Survey, was published by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that:
- More than 60% of youngsters had either direct or indirect exposure to violence within the past year
- Nearly half the children surveyed were assaulted at least once in the past year, and more than one in 10 were injured as a result.
- Nearly one-quarter of the children were the victim of a robbery, vandalism, or theft.
- About 10% were victims of maltreatment (including physical and emotional abuse, neglect or a family abduction), and one in 16 were victimized sexually.
There is a debate as to if these increased numbers are due to better reporting, but the numbers are so big, it is imperative that this issue be revisited this next session.
A founding partner with Bradshaw & Bryant, Mike Bryant has always fought to find justice for his clients—knowing that legal troubles, both personal injury and criminal, can be devastating for a family. Voted a Top 40 Personal Injury "Super Lawyer" multiple years, Mr. Bryant has also been voted one of the Top 100 Minnesota "Super Lawyers" four times.
2 Comments
Lee calaway
hello, i am a student at a middle school, and my bus is hell basically. I mean last year i got into a fight with the girl because she was the biggest bully on the bus, and she was bullying my friend who everyone hates. I hate my bus, and most of the people on there. I am a good student, i make good grades, i treat all my friends with respect, and i show courage and bravery in front of those bully's and out right mean people on my bus. The world needs to hear the cry of there children who get pushed around or bullied. No one deserves what i have witnessed, or what has happened in the past to me. And last year i won that fight, that girl didn't show up for three days, but i was there ready to face her again. I wasn't planing to get into the fight last year, it just happened because she was about to punch me, and i am a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, i have been for almost six years this February. She had no chance, but i was still so shocked about me getting into a fight. i had been taught to defend myself and that's what i did. I do not believe in violence in any way. The world needs to wake up and see that life isint Lalala land anymore, people get beat up and bullied and i am about sick of it. i wish there was a way for me to leave my bus, but until i find one i am stick being one of about 3 good children on my bus just waiting to get home and cry in a pillow, pray to god and as why? And call a friend for emotional support. I know some of the adults reading this are probably saying "oh, its just a middle school kid, what could they know". well let me tell you something i live it everyday. I am very mature for my age, there NEEDS TO BE A LAW AGAINST BULLYING!!! because i don't want my children, if and when i don't know, to either become the bully or be the person bullied. Parents please make your kid either ride the car home or something if you don't want them to see the horrors that are now and forever scared into my brain, because that is not something i can easily erase or escape from... please understand this message, i beg of you to help make a change for the future generations of our world so we wont have to live to see the day a bunch of stupid mean idiots take over everything with civilized order. Thank you for your time.
Mike Bryant
Thanks for the comment. It is true that the bully issue needs to be dealt with. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment.
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