District Administration - November/December 2011 - (Page 36)

Create an Anti-Bullying Program with Resources You Have address bullying without overreacting and wasting limited dollars and time? Recognize the Politics School leaders must recognize the politics behind the recent drive for new state and federal anti-bullying laws. Special interest groups, gay rights and civil rights advocates in particular, have been aggressively lobbying for new bullying laws that enumerate the phrases “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to create a new protected class for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. Meanwhile, Christian Conservative groups and a number of legislators have opposed such laws as violations of their religious beliefs and rights. The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights issued a 2010 “Dear Colleagues” letter to school administrators advising them of the interpretation of federal civil rights education laws to apply to harassment and bullying. The federal Education and Justice Departments have initiated various investigations and litigation against school districts. Although the National School Boards Association challenged the Education Department’s interpretation of the federal law as being questionable and overly expansive, the Obama Administration has held firm in its position. Efforts are also under way to enact a federal law on anti-bullying and antidiscrimination of LGBT students. These bills, which are Democrat-driven, are unlikely to be passed into law given the current political composition of Congress, where the Democrats control the Senate and the Republicans control the House of Representatives. But political pressures continue behind the scenes to get language enacted into the forthcoming reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). At the state level, many legislators have championed anti-bullying laws and leveraged their efforts for heightened publicity and political advantages. Only a handful of states do not have some type of bullying 36 November/December 2011 Students look on as Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper signs a bill into law, last May, that is designed to reduce bullying in schools. It also allows the state to provide grants for prevention programs. law on the books, according to the Education Commission of the States. While the language and requirements of state laws vary, some state laws, such as New Jersey’s new anti-bullying law, have been characterized by school administrator groups and school safety professionals as being highly prescriptive and burdensome. School administrators need to be ing number of lawsuits challenging how school administrators and their staff manage bullying incidents, so these laws do have serious implications. Understand Media, Emotions The media has been quick to jump on stories related to bullying. Cyber-bullying, student assaults and teen suicides continue But schools do not need new laws, unfunded mandates or programs to meaningfully address bullying. Much of what they need is either already in place or readily available. aware of these political dynamics, as they are increasingly resulting in new laws and outside requirements that are likely to create new data collection and reporting, professional development and other typically unfunded mandates. They must follow those laws and regulations which are enacted, and encourage their professional associations to advocate for changes or against laws that are inappropriate. Anecdotal information also suggests an increasto make headlines in all forms of media. Social networks continue to buzz every day with stories, tweets, blogs and other communications on bullying incidents and advocacy. The heightened media and political attention have also heightened parental attention to bullying. Principals report a growing number of incidents where frustrated parents are bringing conflicts originating on Facebook and by texting outside of the school for principals to resolve. The District Administration

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - November/December 2011

District Administration - November/December 2011
Contents
From the Editor
News Update
Inside the Law
Administrator Profile
District Profile
CIO news
How to Update Your Network on a Budget
The Importance of IT Team Unity
Creating an Anti-Bullying Program With the Resources You Have
The Ultimate Empowerment Program for Parents
Taking the Helm in Cheating Scandals
Readers’ Choice: Top 100 Products
New Directions
Professional Opinion
Problem/Solution
Going Mobile

District Administration - November/December 2011