Iowa House of Representatives approves anti-bullying bill
The Iowa House of Representatives has approved an anti-bullying bill that requires public and private schools to have policies by Sept. 1, 2007 that prevent and punish bullying or harassment of any student. Currently 77 school districts already have antibullying policies that include "sexual orientation." However, more than 280 public school districts do not have the "sexual orientation" category. Rep. Jodi Tymeson argues that the bill "won’t stop one student from being bullied." Several Republicans unsuccessfully attempted to strike the list of specific categories, arguing schools should simply protect "all students" without distinction. Rep. Roger Wendt says the list includes categories most frequently targeted for bullying, but school districts are free to add more. Many lawmakers and observers interpreted the long debate over this bill as a thinly-veiled controversy over gay rights. Rep. Scott Raecker denies that resistance to the bill is because opponents do not want to be perceived as condoning homosexuality.
Des Moines Register
By Jennifer Jacobs
[Full story]
[Editor’s Note: The NSBA resource below includes an article by Wayne Jacobsen, president of the nonprofit organization BridgeBuilders, on how the Marshalltown, Iowa, school board set up a successful process with his assistance to enable the local community to find its own way to resolve a controversy over the same issue.]
[Leadership Insider on harassment and bullying]