Editor:
I am writing in response to the recent introduction of HB 879 by Rep. Mike O’Brien. Over the last few months, I have been advocating, on Facebook and beyond, for anti-bullying legislation that would meet or beat New Jersey’s Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights to be introduced in the Keystone State. It is through that medium that I have been in contact with a staffer from Sen. LeAnna Washington’s office and giving my input on what good anti-bullying legislation should look like. It’s safe to say that my concerns are not what is within HB 879, but rather, what has not been included.
For one thing, New Jersey has had a requirement that teachers and administrators undergo suicide-prevention training as part of their certification. This was amended in the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights to require the training to include profiles of vulnerable groups. Sadly, Pennsylvania doesn’t require suicide-prevention training for teachers and administrators at all. Given that over the last five months, we have had five bullying-related suicides, we owe it to Jesse Buchsbaum, Brandon Bitner, Tiffani Maxwell, Britney Tongel and Justice Goodwin to prevent young people from making a permanent decision that will cause heartbreak to those around them.
Another major issue is that no legislation has addressed the Pennsylvania Fair Educational Opportunities Act, and the lack of protection for sexual orientation or gender identity.
Furthermore, what best to gauge the climate of each school than to get the input of the students. After speaking with a young anti-bullying activist from New Jersey, I believe that twice a year, a campus climate survey should be distributed to all schools. It should be based on uniform criteria, confidential, optional for students and should be used in grading the schools. Children and youth should be both seen and heard.
I have given these suggestions to Sen. Washington’s office and I would highly encourage Rep. O’Brien to consider adding these ideas to HB 879. Furthermore, for more resources on bullying policy, including how you can create your own comprehensive anti-bullying policy for your local school district, I urge you to like the Facebook page “Support A Pennsylvania Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights.”
— Jordan Gwendolyn Davis Philadelphia