'Bullyingbill'passesKentuckyHouse,96-0

FRANKFORT--LegislationthatwouldprohibitbullyingandharassmentamongstudentsinKentucky'spublicschoolsandrequireschooldistrictstoputproceduresinplacetohandlereportsofsuchbehaviorpassedtheHouseyesterdaybyavoteof96-0.

HouseBill91or"TheGoldenRuleAct",sponsoredbyRep.MikeCherry,D-Princeton, nowgoestotheSenateforitsconsideration.Itisthefourthanti-bullyingmeasurethatCherryhastriedtopassintolawinrecentyears.

Theprohibitionagainstbullying,harassmentandotherformsofintimidation--includingcyberbullyingviatheInternet--requiredbyHB91wouldbeincludedina"codeofacceptablebehavior"formulatedbyeachdistrictthatwouldbebasedontheGoldenRuleof"Dountoothersasyouwouldhavethemdountoyou." Eachcodewouldincludeproceduresforhandlingcomplaintsofbullyingandprotectingthosewhomakereportsfromretaliation.

Studentswhobreakthecodebyharassing,bullying,cyberbullyingorintimidatingotherstudentscouldfacesuspension,expulsionorotherdisciplinaryactionundertheproposal.

Becausetheoriginalbilldidnotincludecyberbullyingasaformofharassment,intimidationandbullying,thebillwasamendedbytheHousetoincludeaprohibitionagainstcyberbullying.Cherrysaideightoutof30statesthatcurrentlyhaveanti-schoolbullyinglawslistcyberbullyingasaformofbullyingintheirlegislation.

CherrysaidhewouldworkwiththeSenatetoensurethatcyberbullyingiswell-definedinthelegislation,atthesuggestionofRep.JimWayne,D-Louisville.

AnamendmentsponsoredbyRep.DavidFloyd,R-Bardstown,thatwouldrequireschooldistrictstoprovideinformationandassistancetostudentswhoarevictimsofbullyingabouthowtorespondtosuchbehaviorwasalsopassedbytheHouse.

"Inthelegislation,weassumethosewhoarebulliedaregoingtogetsomecounseling,aregoingtogetsomehelp,butassuming(doesn'tgetitdone),"saidCherry,commentingonwhytheamendmentisneeded.

HB91alsoincludesprovisionsthatwouldrequireschooldistrictstoprovidetrainingonthecodetoteachersandotherswhoworkdirectlywithstudents,iffundsareavailable,andincludeinformationonboththecodeandtheGoldenRuleindistrictemployeetrainingmanuals.DistrictswouldalsoberequiredtoreporttothestateDepartmentofEducationallincidentswhereastudenthasbeendisciplinedforharassment,intimidationorbullyingthreetimesinonesemester,aswellasthosetimeswhereastudenthasbeentheobjectofsuchbehaviorthreeormoretimespersemester.

--LRCPublicInformationOffice;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,AssociateEditor

Comments

[DEBORAH BROWN]

I am very much interested in any information concerning "Bullying" that I can share with my school (as we have been searching for a worthy program). Thank you,

[Janet Roy]

This comes too little too late. My daughter has endured 4 years of this bullying. We now have to put her in a school where school administrators will not tolerate this.

This is a mess and made our family despise where we live.

[Colleen Sohnlein]

I am Colleen Sohnlein and I currently have a lawsuit against the Newport Independent School Board because of the bullying, mental abuse, and physical abuse that my twin daughters endured for a year and a half. I am very interested in helping you get this passed! If there is anything I can do to help, just let me know!

[Sharon Simon]

I am very interested and concerned about the all the bullying that goes on at the Newport Middle School. I know the Sohnlein family very well and what happened to their daughter Laci is uncalled for. She was jumped by 2 girls and beat up so badly that she was knocked out for a few minutes. When we send our children to school it is the responsibilty for the teachers to see that they are safe and well taken care of. Well thats not how it is at Newport Middle School. There are so many children that get bullied daily at this school and the bullies are rarely punished for their actions. This school definately needs to adjust it's ways to make the school a safer environment for the children. If I can help to get this bill passed any faster please let me know by email. My email is sls1971@zoomtown.com

[Kristin Barnes]

I am a Newport High School Student, i will graduate with the class of 2009. I attended Newport Middle School in 2001-2005. I can honestly say that I was never a victom of bullying. Things were different then though, Colleen is a friend of my mothers and she tells me that the children who bully her daughters recieve no punishment at all. When i attended the school things were not that way. We had a different school officer then his name was officer Cox, and he was a very good individual in my opinion. Things definitely need to change at the middle school because they will enter high school soon and the punishments will be enforced. The students entering my school as incoming freshman act worse and worse every year, most of the teachers are overwhelmed when they have to teach a freshman class. Is there anything that can be done about this? I have to voice my opinion on this blog because i like many who attend my school are not old enough to vote yet. Please help! Feel free to contact me at Krisitnntyff@yahoo.com

[Colleen Sohnlein]

If I can be of help, please let me know. My email address is: sohnlein@fuse.net.
Colleen Sohnlein

[anonymous]

The Sohnlein twins are not the only victims of bullying at Newport Middle School. There have been many others, but not so severe. I believe that the school staff sees bullying to be something that kids have to just get used to. They think that it is a kind of right of passage into puberty and adulthood; that it toughens them up. They do not appreciate a parent that takes up for their child or children, as Mrs. Sohnlein did. I guess, as teachers and educators, they are taught to believe that, deep down, these kids are not bad kids, just mischevious. Unfortunately, that is just not the case. Some of these kids are just plain evil, mean, and jealous of kids who have anything that they do not have. And the major thing these kids do not have is parents who have taught them correctly from the start to do unto others as you would have them do unto you, the Golden Rule!
Their parents are probably bullies, too. Our prisons and jails are full of bullies. And our schools are not punishing the school bullies, so they will continue bullying and end up in jail or prison like those who have gone before them. This has to stop somewhere! If they are not taught correctly at home, then the school needs to step up and teach them that bullying is not acceptable behavior. There needs to be a system of reporting these incidents without fear of retaliation. And the school needs to take each and every report seriously. Kids who bully do not grow out of it! They go on to college and haze other students, or they rob and kill for what they want but do not want to work for. Maybe that's the key. Kids need to be taught to grow up, get a good education, and work for what they want. Today's kids are given way too much, way too fast, without knowing the value of work and earning what you want. We have welfare, which is good, but it's meant to be a helping hand, not a way of life. If kids don't have everything that their peers have due to unfortunate family circumstances, they don't want to get an education and better themselves. They want to find a way to get what they want right now, and without sacrificing anything for it. And they ruin the self esteem and, many times, the lives, of the kids who have what they want or are who they want to be, by bullying them. If the schools won't stop this, then it's up to the government to make them stop it! Let's get this bill passed in the Kentucky Senate NOW!

[Courtney Baker]

I am sorry to the Sohnlein girls for what they have faced. I do not know you but will tell you my brother has faced some of the worst bullying also, not only by students but teachers also. Some physical abuse as well as the mental. We live in Eastern Kentucky and he goes to school terrified every day. The teachers do not use authority here to protect our children. They never punish the bully always the victim. I believe we should pass this bill soon and get something done to protect our children. My child will start school in 2 years I hope things will be different then and he may be more protected. I would love for some one to email me on steps I can take to bring this to a stop or to a lawsuit. We also have slander going on with the bullying. My parents are going through pure hell and we hate part of this community now. Backstabbers and problem makers. Thank You!

[Angie]

I am interested to see if any one has comments or feelings on the Campbell County School system? I have twins that just started there this year. One of which is picked on and has had other students put their hands on her. It seems when she "gets back" at them she gets caught and gets in trouble. I cant blame her for getting back when the school has done nothing this far. She tries to go to teachers and tell, and the teachers dont believe her.To top this all off is the fact that she has an IEP plan and has learning disablities one of which is a problem with her short tearm memory. Therefore after an attack has been made on her, her story gets mixed up and changed around. The teachers take this as lying about the situation that happend. Please e-mail me if anyone has had issues with this school district,as I am at a loss of what to do.
sunshinepeck@hotmail.com

[J S]

I had a nephew that was a fine young man at 13 years old. He was a role model that only most young men could dream about. One day I was called and told that he had killed himself. During the funeral we were informed that he had been through 3 years of being bullied. I am speaking out for him and telling all students if this is happening to you, speak up and continue to speak until someone listens. Please tell your parents. You don't have to put up with anyone bullying you. Nothing is worth taking your life for. In memory of my wonderful nephew, Stephen

[a voice]

i am 11 years old
i was jumped lastnight by some one from my school.
there was another girl that was trying to get me but my friend stoped her.
i get picked on all the time.i dont look right
my clothes are funny
or that i dont want to do what they are doing.cause its bad
when i fight back more like yell back i get blamed for being a bully.
i get chased allot and they throw things at me.
i try not to cry and just get home.some times i just sit down and wait.people just look as they go by.
my mom wont let me go no where now
i cant go out to my yard cause if they get introuble in school they just get mad and come here and get me.so i cant tell.
if they cant be mean to me they blame me for things i didnt do so i will get in trouble then they laugh at me.i try to be like them
but i get beat up any way.
**********************************
i was asked to send this by a student in the dayton ky grade school.
she has recently moved so her mom could afford to get her to tharapy.
cause she wants to die.
Changing schools will not stop this ,its every where.
please pay attention to you kids.
they need your help .
please pay attention to all our kids.
bullying is a cry for help to.

[Middle School Mom]

My child attends Madison Middle School in Richmond, KY. This is his first year there and he is now depressed and has panic attacks. He is bullied everyday there both physically and mentally. He has gone from a honor roll student to barely passing. He has no friends, he has no self esteem and is not learning. Is there anyone else whose child is experiencing these problems at this school? My child goes to therapy and has medical care for his panic attacks, but I think we could use a support group of parents and children. God bless them all, they are helpless in this school system.

[Joey Brown]

There is a wonderful organization based in Mt. Washington, Kentucky called "Make a Difference for Kids, Inc." It is devoted to stopping bullying and teen suicide, and was formed following the suicides of two best friends in 2006 and 2007. One of the girls was a victim of cyberbullying. This organization and its founders played a huge roll in getting Kentucky's bully bill signed into law in April. For more information, check out www.makeadiferenceforkids.org.

[Vanessa Cantley]

My name is Vanessa Cantley. I am an attorney in Louisville, and I represent three families who filed lawsuits this afternoon against school officials in three different school districts (Oldham County, Meade County, and Floyd County Kentucky). Our investigations revealed that school officials in all three districts were aware that children were being assaulted, battered, bullied, and harassed on a daily basis and turned a blind eye - sometimes even blaming the victim. It is unfortunate that parents must resort to the court system in an attempt to make changes to ensure the safety of their children. In each of these three school districts, policies and procedures were in effect which were presumably enacted to prevent this type of abuse. However, the policies and procedures were not followed. What good are policies if they sit on a shelf and collect dust? I have two sons of my own, and I am working very hard to ensure that what happened to my clients and their families will not happen to another child. I appreciate this message board and all of your efforts to make parents and communities aware of this tragic and widepread problem. I am writing in memory of my client, Stephen Patton, and for his dear parents, Sheila and Lawrence Patton who have suffered the ultimate loss. Thank you - Vanessa Cantley

[concerned parent breckinridge co. ky]

my email address is boers06@yahoo.com we live in breckinridge co. ky.....our son has been threaten and bullied and got in to fights...we went to school and board of ed....we were told "we will talk to them" which did nothing but made stuff worst for our kids..other kids would put their hands on him and nothing still was done..but our son was being chocked by a boy and tries to defind his self and gets 3 days of in school suspention....the school don't take up for him and he is not suppost to defend himself what is he suppost to do.....he is at the point now that he is scared to even go to school or even go anywhere with out his parents.he even turned down a chance to go to a fun park with his best friend cause he did not know who he might run into. he wants to stay home and in the house all the time.....this is no life for a 13 year old child......help how do we stop this..who is going to tell these bullies when a enough is a enough..kids don't understand how it feels to be in anothers shoes....it hurts i see my kids everyday crying cause of this.....someone has to do their job and stop this....thank you for your time and god bless you

[kristie hall]

Hello my name is Kristie Hall my children are students at Owensboro middle school in Owensboro,Ky for my 12 year old this is his first year there my 14 year old his second . My 12 year old son received a message on his my space on Aug,272008 that was a murder threat from a high school boy that just didn't like my son because my son talked to his girlfriend we took this to the police then took it to court the boy was sent to a juvenile home but also in the message it said that people in my sons school would be after him so we went straight to the principle with this she assured us she would handle this and make sure nothing happened to him well that was a big fat lie since then my son has been slammed into his locker called names like snitch, and some racial slurs and no my son is not black he is white but there are a lot of black kids at this school and that's ok we are not raciest people i would never let my kids call names like that its just wrong anyways he has been knocked down and kicked and lots of other things all because the boy who threatened him has a girlfriend and some other friends at this school they have made sure that he is tormented every day i have been to the principle so many times but nothing is ever done to these kids because they said they didn't do it of course they r gonna say that i just don't understand why its so hard for to just make these kids are safe but instead of punishing the bullies my son gets punished every time because the other kids will make up stuff or get him going in an argument then go turn him in i know my child is not perfect and he does his share of wrong but hes no bully . Just the other day my son was getting dressed in the locker room before a football game when another male student on his team started rubbing my sons leg and making sexual comments to him my son asked him to stop several times before he did my son says he does that a lot to people but no one ever tells well my son just went on about his business then on the the way to the game on the bus my son and another student sat behind the boy who was touching my son well my son started flicking the boy in his hair softly just playing around the boy turned around laughing trying to see who was doing it that went on several times but it wasn't hurting anybody my son was just trying to get over what happened earlier by just playing around i don't know how that would help but that's what my son did anyways my son stopped because it was getting out of hand because the other boys were starting to say to the boy he was flicking you got punked you couldn't figure out who did so he turned around and punched my son in the arm so them my son went to punch him back back in the arm but the boy raised his arms to cover his face and my son got him in the chin my son said he was sorry he didn't mean to do that but the boy started rubbing his chin hard and his eye to make it look worse see this boys dad is a police officer so he gets whatever he wants and he has been wanting my son off the team for a while anyways so then the boys grabs my sons hand and starts clawing it so when they got to the game my son came to us and showed us and told us what happened the next day we went to the principle she said she had not heard anything about it so just forget it and for them to stay away from each other i was mad but but my son had hit back so i just didn't say anything at the time i didn't know about the locker room so i left touching so i left but when my son got home that day he told me that he had been suspened from the team because the other boys dad made a complaint i went back furious she just said it was all my sons fault he was mad about something silly that happened in the locker room but she wouldn't say what and she had witnesses of course she did all the boys that were gonna tell that the other boy hit first all sided against my son i left mad because she just will not hear me or my son that's makes me so angry so i tried to talk to the board but i got the same thing from them it was all being blamed on my son just because the boys dad is a police officer . the reason i went into so much datail was because i am trying to find an attorney to help me with this but here in Owensboro no one will help me they say its a conflict or they don't specialize in these cases i even went back to my home town but the attorney there doesn't do that either he said he might no someone but i don't expect to hear anything soon enough i need to get this dealt with because i am student in college and was just about to graduate but i have had to put that on hold because i am always at the school over this my husband works out of town so he cant just run home when this happens it has really turned our lives upside down and it all ridiculous . Just yesterday my son went to the teacher because someone had wrote fagot all over a football sign that was on his locker the teacher just said erase it and get to class but he couldn't it wouldn' come off this is why my son doesn' trust enough to tell at school he comes to me because nothing is ever done and 9 times out of 10 he gets in trouble i am sorry if i went to far into detail i'm just hoping someone will see this and be able to help i cant take much more it's to far out of control. thank for your time. i can be emailed at kris76ky@yahoo.com.

[kristie hall]

Hello my name is Kristie Hall my children are students at Owensboro middle school in Owensboro,Ky for my 12 year old this is his first year there my 14 year old his second . My 12 year old son received a message on his my space on Aug,272008 that was a murder threat from a high school boy that just didn't like my son because my son talked to his girlfriend we took this to the police then took it to court the boy was sent to a juvenile home but also in the message it said that people in my sons school would be after him so we went straight to the principle with this she assured us she would handle this and make sure nothing happened to him well that was a big fat lie since then my son has been slammed into his locker called names like snitch, and some racial slurs and no my son is not black he is white but there are a lot of black kids at this school and that's ok we are not raciest people i would never let my kids call names like that its just wrong anyways he has been knocked down and kicked and lots of other things all because the boy who threatened him has a girlfriend and some other friends at this school they have made sure that he is tormented every day i have been to the principle so many times but nothing is ever done to these kids because they said they didn't do it of course they r gonna say that i just don't understand why its so hard for to just make these kids are safe but instead of punishing the bullies my son gets punished every time because the other kids will make up stuff or get him going in an argument then go turn him in i know my child is not perfect and he does his share of wrong but hes no bully . Just the other day my son was getting dressed in the locker room before a football game when another male student on his team started rubbing my sons leg and making sexual comments to him my son asked him to stop several times before he did my son says he does that a lot to people but no one ever tells well my son just went on about his business then on the the way to the game on the bus my son and another student sat behind the boy who was touching my son well my son started flicking the boy in his hair softly just playing around the boy turned around laughing trying to see who was doing it that went on several times but it wasn't hurting anybody my son was just trying to get over what happened earlier by just playing around i don't know how that would help but that's what my son did anyways my son stopped because it was getting out of hand because the other boys were starting to say to the boy he was flicking you got punked you couldn't figure out who did so he turned around and punched my son in the arm so them my son went to punch him back back in the arm but the boy raised his arms to cover his face and my son got him in the chin my son said he was sorry he didn't mean to do that but the boy started rubbing his chin hard and his eye to make it look worse see this boys dad is a police officer so he gets whatever he wants and he has been wanting my son off the team for a while anyways so then the boys grabs my sons hand and starts clawing it so when they got to the game my son came to us and showed us and told us what happened the next day we went to the principle she said she had not heard anything about it so just forget it and for them to stay away from each other i was mad but but my son had hit back so i just didn't say anything at the time i didn't know about the locker room so i left touching so i left but when my son got home that day he told me that he had been suspened from the team because the other boys dad made a complaint i went back furious she just said it was all my sons fault he was mad about something silly that happened in the locker room but she wouldn't say what and she had witnesses of course she did all the boys that were gonna tell that the other boy hit first all sided against my son i left mad because she just will not hear me or my son that's makes me so angry so i tried to talk to the board but i got the same thing from them it was all being blamed on my son just because the boys dad is a police officer . the reason i went into so much datail was because i am trying to find an attorney to help me with this but here in Owensboro no one will help me they say its a conflict or they don't specialize in these cases i even went back to my home town but the attorney there doesn't do that either he said he might no someone but i don't expect to hear anything soon enough i need to get this dealt with because i am student in college and was just about to graduate but i have had to put that on hold because i am always at the school over this my husband works out of town so he cant just run home when this happens it has really turned our lives upside down and it all ridiculous . Just yesterday my son went to the teacher because someone had wrote fagot all over a football sign that was on his locker the teacher just said erase it and get to class but he couldn't it wouldn' come off this is why my son doesn' trust enough to tell at school he comes to me because nothing is ever done and 9 times out of 10 he gets in trouble i am sorry if i went to far into detail i'm just hoping someone will see this and be able to help i cant take much more it's to far out of control. thank for your time. i can be emailed at kris76ky@yahoo.com.