Focus on the Family has launched an odd attack on legislation I introduced in the Senate to help prevent and respond to bullying in schools. Their legislative bullying highlights the type of intolerance and ill-informed divisiveness that contributes to the harassment in schools that this legislation seeks to prevent.
The Safe Schools Improvement Act, introduced in the House by Congresswoman Linda Sanchez, would require schools and districts receiving designated federal funds to adopt codes of conduct specifically prohibiting bullying and harassment, including conduct based on a student's actual or perceived race, color, national original, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or religion.
This bill has widespread support from educators, administrators, civil rights organizations and the National PTA. Yet, Focus on the Family has launched a campaign to brand the bill part of a vast LGBT conspiracy "to promote homosexuality to kids" and to push a "pro-gay curricula."
These charges are, of course, false. The legislation would not affect curriculum. The only goals are to help ensure that every child receives a quality education that builds self-confidence and that no child is so afraid to go to school for fear of unchecked bullying and harassment.
What is true and inescapable is the countless news reports in recent years which have shown that bullying and harassment are widespread and affect millions of students every day. According to the Department of Education, nearly one in three school children between grades six through ten are affected by bullying and harassment.
Studies show that the impacts of bullying and harassment have long-term consequences, including decreased concentration in the classroom, increased absenteeism, and lower student achievement. In extreme cases, some victims of bullying have even committed suicide as a result of rampant bullying left unchecked by school administrators.
Without support from teachers and counselors, this behavior can have devastating effects on young people. In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, one girl says she was bullied by a group of boys almost daily throughout sixth and seventh grade and that this bullying contributed to her development of anorexia nervosa. The school's guidance counselor allegedly told her that "boys will be boys" and the bullying was allowed to continue. She has since enrolled in a private school where her mother pays tuition to ensure her daughter attends a safe school.
In Springfield, Massachusetts, Carl Walker Hoover resorted to suicide after facing endless taunting from fellow students who called him "gay" and made fun of his clothes. He was in just the sixth grade. A few months later in a nearby town, Phoebe Prince, 15, also committed suicide after facing a barrage of harassment both at school and online through Facebook.
This legislation would ensure that schools and school districts implement effective prevention programs in order to better prevent and respond to incidences of bullying and harassment both in school and online that have an impact in the classroom. It would also require that states report data on incidences of bullying and harassment to the Department of Education.
The only way to combat intolerance and harassment is to have an open and honest dialogue -- that counts for the public policy arena as a well as the classroom.
Jim David: How Many Teens Have to Die Before Focus on the Family Gives a Damn?
She's got an interesting take on Kline's "no earmark" ideology, which is a sham anyway since he supports GOP earmarks in any district other than his own. Very odd fellow, who should retire back to Texas and let his adopted district have a Rep who cares about MN.
One thing that is upsetting to me is the way people on this thread are judging Christians. Saying that we are full of hate. That we are all right-wingers. I'm sorry but the last time I checked, I am not hateful. I am definitely not a Republican. If you want people to stop stereotyping, you need to stop with yourselves. I could see if someone here wanted to stand up for God and say I am a proud Christian, they would get bullied, which I am sure I will.
How ironic, that we are trying to pass an anti-bullying law, yet I dont feel safe stating my beliefs here.
How ironic that your "feeling safe" depends on your being free from criticism.
There is a place to draw the line. Focus prays for rain on the truth, like they did in Denver in 2008, or seven when Senator Obama came to Denver. A [Gem] of song's that came out at the song was by Peri Urban. It is filled with (symbolism), which is not important, however, the words say it on the salinet plane. Just a hint, Avatar's do not have blue faces, they have blue aura's like indigo children. Some may not of heard of U-2, or Bob Dyan, but this song speaks of this episode of focus, and the the song can be found on youtube and is called: (Don't Let Them Make You) pray for rain song. If one could understand the symbolism of this song, they would say this song tells all on f.o.t.f. Link below, however, you can find this song on youtube if the link below does not work:
http:..www.periurban.com/pr
http://www.periurban.com/pr
Next we'll be trying to stomp it out in the work place, and who knows, some day we might actually tell "religions" that their hate, intollerance and interference in politics will no longer be tollerated. Focus on the Family can not have that!!!