Tools

Anti-Bullying Legislation Heard

By Kacey Drescher

Story Created: Jan 25, 2011 at 12:29 AM MDT

Story Updated: Jan 25, 2011 at 12:29 AM MDT

Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau along with Attorney General Steve Bullock are supporting a piece of legislation aiming to make schools safer for kids.

Democrat Senator Kim Gillan (Senate District 24,) is proposing an anti-bullying bill to the Senate Education Committee that would create the Schools are for Education (SAFE) Act.

Senate Bill 141 creates minimum standards for bullying policies for all school districts and it also sets a requirement that bullying, harassment and intimidation are prohibited.

The Office of Public Instruction Reports that 38% of 7th and 8th graders in Montana reported being bullied and almost 1,500 students were suspended for bullying between 2007 and 2009.

“Well we know it’s a pervasive issue, in schools all across Montana, in fact across the country we see a lot of national headlines about bullying and the consequences that come out of that. Teen suicides, a lot of different issues so we want to make sure we’re ahead of the curve, that we’re getting in front of that problem. We’re one of five states in the country that does not have anti-bullying bill so we really want to make sure we’re raising awareness of the issue,” says Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau.

“Hopefully they’ll take away the magnitude of the problem, the recognition that this isn’t anymore just two kids getting into a little tussle on a playground but with all the advantages of technology its also created some real problems,” says Attorney General Bullock.

Supporters of Montana's bill says it is important that the state specifically state that bullying is prohibited and set standards for local school district policies on bullying. Opponents argued the policy should not be handed down by the state.

Representative Gillan's bill also includes cyber-bullying and procedures for reporting and documenting incidents.

You have indicated this comment should be removed.

Close

The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .

Anonymous said on Thursday, Jan 12 at 2:36 PM

The Anti Bullying Law should be for work place bullying also. It is just as important and goes on all the time. Steve Bullock should make sure the law includes everyone.

Anonymous said on Tuesday, Jan 25 at 7:27 AM

back in the day, they used to send this kind of trouble off to war..

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

News, Sports, Weather for Great Falls, Helena, and all of Montana and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

Great Falls & Helena Weather

Icon
Great Falls Great Falls Intl Airport, MT
Current Temp 83.0 °F
Fair
Wind : from the West at 17.3 gusting to 24.2 MPH (15 gusting to 21 KT)
Pressure : 1003.9 mb
Humidity : 12 %
Icon
Helena Helena Regional, MT
Current Temp 84.0 °F
Fair
Wind : from the West at 11.5 gusting to 23.0 MPH (10 gusting to 20 KT)
Pressure : 1005.5 mb
Humidity : 17 %
More Weather
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

AP Video