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All St. Lawrence County state representatives back bills against bullying approved in Senate and Assembly

Posted 6/23/12

A bill that prohibits bullying and cyberbullying in public schools has passed the state Senate with the support of Sen. Patty Ritchie (R-Heuvelton, 48th District) and Sen. Joe Griffo (R-Rome, 47th …

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All St. Lawrence County state representatives back bills against bullying approved in Senate and Assembly

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A bill that prohibits bullying and cyberbullying in public schools has passed the state Senate with the support of Sen. Patty Ritchie (R-Heuvelton, 48th District) and Sen. Joe Griffo (R-Rome, 47th District) and the state Assembly with support from Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R-Black River, 122nd District).

“Bullying—especially cyberbullying—is something that is becoming more and more prevalent in our schools,” said Ritchie. “I’ve heard from many concerned education officials, parents, and even students about how something needs to be done to put a stop to it.”

The bill does not make bullying a separate crime, but sets in place guidelines for education, investigation and enforcement to combat the problem in schools and in the community.

“This legislation will help educators detect warning signs related to bullying and hopefully stop it before it starts, create a more peaceful environment in the classroom and help ensure that education remains the top priority in our schools.”

Assemblyman Blankenbush said, “Bullying doesn’t just stay in the school yard, it’s ever pervasive now with social media and available technology and our children get little reprieve from constant harassment. That’s why New York’s laws need to be current and officially recognize cyberbullying as just as real and just as damaging as physical harassment.

“Nearly a third of our children have been victims of cyberbullying and that’s why we must enable our schools to adequately recognize, address and help end this kind of torment. I’d even go further by requiring schools to notify parents that their child is being bullied. Together, parents, schools and the entire community, we can work on ending bullying of all kinds,” Blankenbush said.

“We live in an age now where children are wired into a virtual world filled with communication via texting and social networks,” said Senator Griffo. “Bullying doesn’t just take place in-between classes, or in the school bus, or on school grounds anymore. It’s possible for students to be harassed at any time and even in their own homes. I commend the Governor for looking to improve New York’s cyberbullying law. This legislation is progress in making our students feel safer.”

Ritchie cited a survey showing that cyberbullying is at an all-time high, with 43 percent of teenagers reporting being victims of cyberbullying. In 2009, more than 7 million U.S. students ages 12-18, representing 28 percent of all students in that age range, were bullied at school. More than 1.5 million students—6 percent—were cyberbullied on or off school property, according to the survey.

A 2011 survey of New York State high school students revealed that during the previous year, nearly 18 percent of students had been bullied on school property, while 16 percent had been cyberbullied through e-mail chat room, instant messaging, websites, texting or other electronic means.

The bill defines and prohibits the bullying of students and others on school property; both conventional and cyberbullying. It also lays out provisions to combat the growing epidemic, including:

· Adding bullying to the list of incidents for which disciplinary measures must be taken

· Requiring school employees to report incidents of bullying

· Requiring school districts to create policies and guidelines to encourage awareness of and to prohibit acts of bullying

· Giving the Commissioner of Education the authority to set out regulations which would require certain school employees to be trained in how to identify and stop bullying