WILLIAMS URGES SENATE COMMITTEE TO MOVE ANTI-BULLYING BILL

 HARRISBURG, JUNE 14 – During a Harrisburg news conference today, state Sen. Connie Williams called on the Senate Education Committee to move legislation that would require school districts to adopt anti-bullying policies.

 “Student bullying is much more than name calling or shoving on the playground,” Williams said. “It is the underlying cause of school violence, truancy and even teen suicide. To begin to lower the statistics on these types of events, we need to address the underlying cause, which is why it is important that the legislature enact legislation that would require all Pennsylvania schools to have anti-bullying and intimidation policy in place.”

 Williams has introduced legislation (S.B. 1013) to address the student bullying issue. Her legislation would not only require all public schools to adopt an anti-bullying policy, but also would require schools to make sure all students and their parents are made aware of the policy. Her legislation is similar to legislation introduced by Rep. Ed Wojnaroski (D-Cambria), H.B. 772.

 “Some people say that bullying is an inevitable part of growing up, but it’s not a rite of passage. It’s a serious public health issue,” Wojnaroski said. “Schools are supposed to be safe, clean environments for our children, not a place of violence, intimidation and fear. We need to take a stand against bullying, and it's a stand that must be made school district wide. That's why it's so important that this legislation is acted on.”

 In her remarks, Williams noted that both the zero tolerance weapons policy and toughened laws dealing with drug and alcohol use were good tools, but that both fall short of addressing the underlying cause of violence in schools, which often begins very simply as student bullying.

 Bullying can include name calling, excluding other students from activities, spreading rumors, hitting, kicking, teasing or taunting.

 “As the insults and incidents multiply, children will try to find ways to avoid the situation. Parents will notice that their child is withdrawing emotionally, or possibly acting out more,” Williams said. “Their children will suddenly hate Mondays, become depressed, begin bringing home sub-par grades, skip school or even commit suicide. Students who don’t internalize their anger may act out in school. Bullying has been attributed to a number of shootings at schools – in Pennsylvania and around the country.”

 According to the United States Department of Education, while school violence has declined by 4 percent during the past several years, student bullying has increased by 5 percent. According tot he same department, one in four children who bully will have a criminal record by age 20.

 “For a student to feel safe, he or she must be assured that their school is going to take the issue of bullying seriously and know that there are real consequences,” Williams said. “And this is true for students being bullied and those who are witnessing bullying as well. Those who witness bullying may be afraid to come forward to school personnel with information for fear of being the next victim. Students should not live in this state of fear.”

 “It’s time that Pennsylvania addresses student bullying head-on,” Williams said. “It’s time to teach students that bullying and intimidation are not acceptable behaviors. We must be pro-active – there are children’s lives at stake. Let’s not wait until another incident of school violence – like Columbine or the shootings that occurred in Pennsylvania – makes headlines.”