AUGUSTA, Maine — Lawmakers on the Education Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a bill that would strengthen Maine’s anti-bullying efforts.
LD 1237 still needs House and Senate approval. If passed, the bill would provide educators and administrators with a clear definition of bullying, an explicit prohibition on bullying behavior, a range of alternative discipline strategies for schools, prevention policies and training for teachers.
The bill took a circuitous route to passage.
It was held over from the first session last spring when some groups, including the Maine Family Policy Council, formerly the Maine Christian Civic League, and another group called the Alliance Defense Fund, objected at the last minute.
The Christian Civic League urged lawmakers to vote against the bill because it “offers no guarantees of First Amendment Rights for those who may express opposing views or opinions,” according to a message on the group’s website.
The Alliance Defense Fund is a national group headed by Alan Sears, author of a book titled “The Homosexual Agenda,” that has opposed same-sex marriage and equal rights for gays and lesbians.
What was interesting about the last-minute objections and the groups behind those objections is that the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Terry Morrison, D-South Portland, is openly gay.
Morrison said it was unfortunate that his bill was characterized as a “gay bill” by some last session, but he said he was happy it passed unanimously on Tuesday.
“This was never about me; it was about kids who go to school frightened,” he said. “That message got a little distorted last year.”
The bill was amended to include a prohibition on cyberbullying as well, although another carryover bill seeks to address the criminal penalties connected to cyberbulling. That bill has not been voted out of committee.
Testimony on LD 1237 was pointed during last year’s public hearing.
“Watching my friends be bullied because of who they are is simply unbearable,” said MaKayla Reed, an Ellsworth High School senior. “LD 1237 will ensure that all students will be safe in their schools, and with the epidemic of bullying on the rise, that is a breath of fresh air.”
A number of advocacy groups praised the Education Committee’s vote on Tuesday.
“This will make a real and positive difference in the lives of all of our students. While many schools in Maine are doing good work, this bill would ensure that all students are protected no matter what community they live in,” said Mary Bonauto, an attorney with Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders.
The state teachers’ union, the Maine Education Association, supported the bill as well.
“Teachers know firsthand that students can’t learn if they’re scared to be in school,” MEA President Chris Galgay said. “This bill will help make sure that all kids feel safe in their classrooms and can focus on learning.”
This article could have been more informative. For instance, did the two groups that voiced opposition to the bill last year object to the bill this time as well? If not, why not?
It will be very interesting what these two groups come up with this time, but they seem to specialize in last minute objections. So they can’t easily be refuted?
Just wait and see how fast the GOP lawmakers fold on this when CCL and MHPC tell them all to vote it down.
Our kids are killing themselves over bullying. Something has to be done and I think a bill like this is part of that equation.
Now will LD 1237 apply to LePage?
How many children over the generations has died either by their own hand or the bullies hand?
The sad thing is it took the deaths of these young people to bring to light the The bullying problem. In the laws eyes children are still under valued.
I hope this Bill gets us one step closer to protecting our children.
If domestic violence is the governors pet initiative, it stands to reason that the administration should be in favor of anti-bullying legislation. This would suggest the most basic consistency. Violence perpetrated against innocents is what these share. They are also both examples of exploiting perceived power advantage. Is there any rationale for why we should be concerned about bullying in the home but not in schools or workplaces?
More words on paper…Schools already have anti-bullying policies, it takes the administration to follow that policy. Something that I as a parent of a high school student have had the misfortune of being subjected to. I have read all the schools anti-bullying “stuff” and they parade it around like they’ve got the problem all covered. Why then when teachers, resource officers and a video type plays an altercation in the hallway of a school is it dismissed as that particular students way of handling their problems. Seems to me the anti-bullying polices of some schools are great on paper — now if they were just adhered to.
Now there’s a law against bullying? Oh that should take care of the problem !!Really, just because a law was passed does anyone think it will help ? How many unenforced laws can you come up with in 5 minutes? Pityful that legislators think they have actually solved a problem!
After the publication of my Young Adult novel Grumble Bluff, I began to get asked to speak in schools and in front of other groups about bullying. It is a very real problem, and there are always tough choices about what might be considered typical adolescent behavior and what constitutes bullying. Unfortunately, bullying will never disappear completely. We are human beings and it’s the nature of the beast. But as adults with maturity, empathy and long experience to draw upon, we can certainly have a positive impact on our youth and assist in minimizing this problem.
If you have time, please consider being a mentor. Call your local junior high or high school and ask how you can help. I can’t tell you what a difference it makes when a young person who lacks in courage or self-confidence has a kind and common-sense adult to shepherd them. Often, children won’t speak to their parents when they are being bullied– out of embarrassment or simply because there already exists normal friction between them. But having a grown-up show support, give advice, or simply listen makes a huge difference in a child’s outlook and in their coping skills.
It’s also important–maybe crucial–to mentor the bully, too. In many cases, these children are in crisis mode– and acting out and trying to ‘control the scene’ is a symptom of their sense of helplessness at home. If adolescent bullies aren’t ‘caught’ at a young age, they can end up being an adult who perpetrates domestic abuse. It’s a cycle which I truly believe can be broken.
I hope this bill doesn’t get bogged down in politics. That would be a shame, and it wouldn’t show those needing help that we’re capable of agreeing long enough to help them.
Respectfully,
Karen Bessey Pease
Author, Grumble Bluff
http://www.karenbesseypease.com
Im just wondering when they will address a serious issue, like outlawing the practice of Einey-meanie-miney-moe? Or maybe next we can attempt to outlaw the baggy pants these kids wear today? Showing your heiney to the entire school is a form of bullying too isnt it?