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posted by: Pamela
| April 13, 2011, 03:14 PM
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The Arkansas State Legislative passed Senate Bill 214 earlier this month, clarifying Arkansas’s antibullying policies for public school students in the wake of recent national headlines regarding bulling in schools.
The antibullying policy clarifies both the definition of bullying in schools and contains language to reflect the new technologies used by students and teachers alike. The bill states that ”electronic bullying in not limited to communications or images transmitted only through phone, wireless phone or other wireless communications devices, or computers” in an effort to combat the often publicized peer bullying via social networking sites like Facebook.
According to the new policy, educators are required to report any acts of bullying, weather witnessed or received reliable information from a pupil, to the principal. The act protects the educator who files the complaint against retaliation or reprisal in any form. A school employee who has reported violations under the school district’s policy is immune from any liability that could arise from the failure to remedy the reported incident.
The act also states how bullying should be handled by administration. A school principal should promptly investigate the bullying complaint and keep detailed records of the investigation.
In light of these new policies, school districts will provide training on compliance with the antibullying policies to all public school district employees responsible for reporting or investigating bullying.
State Representative Darrin Williams, sponsor of the bill, highlighted to House members that "we all know stories around the country and even some here in Arkansas where some kids have attempted to commit suicide and some have even been successful in committing suicide once they have been bullied over the Internet." He argued that the bill was necessary to clearly establish rules relating to bullying in new and emerging technologies.
Do you think the law is needed to combat bullying in the state?
Comment below.
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