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Help Stop Bullying in Michigan Schools!
Michigan has no law clearly banning bullying. Without clearly spelled out policies on this issue, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth are left out and left behind. We need a statewide law demanding that every school district in Michigan pass a policy to curb bullying, including anti-GLBT bullying. Governor Jennifer Granholm has expressed her support for this measure so you should too.
Dear [ Decision Maker ] , Please support House Bill 5616 and Senate Bill 369. These bills help address the fact that bullying still goes on in our public schools, unchecked because many local policies are not sufficient. We need to specifically enumerate categories like race, religion, weight and sexual orientation. Without doing so, school professionals may not have the necessary training and tools to notice bullying that is unique and targeted toward minorities. This kind of bullying is against the law, but districts need clear direction on how to address them. House Bill 5616 and Senate Bill 369 enjoy broad support and Governor Granholm supports the goals of these bills. Please support them and call for hearings.
Sincerely, |
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| Background Information |
Currently, Michigan law mandates that students go to school for 180 days, but it doesn't mandate that they are safe. It is a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution to not provide a safe educational experience for minority youth. Current anti-bullying policies do not treat anti-minority bullying the same as "normal" bullying and they need to. Persistent and pervasive bullying against minorities is different and must be addressed.
Mandating that every school district pass a clear policy against this type of bullying is necessary. The policies must be mandated and they must enumerate categories like race, religion, weight, and sexual orientation. Without doing so they will not be as effective. If we are serious about protecting children, we must write into law what must be done. Michigan is a leader in education so we should be a leader in anti-bullying policies. Help us pass this policy today.
