LANSING -- State Representative Barb Byrum (D-Onondaga) yesterday praised the Michigan House of Representatives for passing Matt's Safe School Law, which would uniformly define bullying and harassment and require that all schools adopt an anti-bullying policy.
"Our kids should feel safe in their schools," Byrum said. "This plan will ensure that bullying is no longer tolerated. Our kids are in school to learn so that they can compete for the good-paying jobs of the future. They should be free to learn without the fear of bullying."
The Journal of the American Medical Association noted in a recent study that nearly 30 percent of kids reported moderate or frequent involvement in bullying.
Similar legislation was introduced last year, but the new version of Matt's Safe School Law extends protections to Internet activity. The law is named after Matt Epling, a Michigan student who committed suicide after experiencing ongoing harassment and bullying at school. Unfortunately, Byrnes said, six out of 10 Michigan children reported being victims of bullying.
"What happened to Matt Epling is a tragedy," Byrum said. "This anti-bullying legislation will prevent other kids from feeling as if they have no where to turn. We can no longer accept bullying as just kids being kids."
Matt's Safe School Law has the support of Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, the Michigan State Police, the Michigan Board of Education, Michigan Association of School Psychologists and many others.