Lefty-Approved Grudge Groups Get Personal to Bully for Bigotted Bullying Bill…..
High School Ditzies Bully Support for MN Democrat Bill to Limit Bullying to Acts against Conservatives
from the Rochester PostBulletin:
ST. PAUL — Hundreds of high school students from across the state rallied at the Minnesota Capitol on Monday, urging lawmakers to toughen the state’s anti-bullying policies.
Among those crowding into the Capitol Rotunda was Mayo High School junior Emma Pittelko. In an era of social media, where bullying can take place online outside of school, Pittelko said more needs to be done to protect students.
Autumn Leva, Minnesota Family Council’s director of legislative affairs and communications, said her organization is concerned the definition of bullying is too broad, that there’s no parental notification requirement if a student is being bullied or suspected of bullying and that it favors some students over others. The bill includes specific language prohibiting bullying or harassment of students based on race, religion, sexual orientation or disability, among other things.
“If we are going to talk about bullying and we are going to talk about protecting students, then yes, let’s talk about doing that for all students and not naming out certain classifications of students,” Leva said.
Monday’s rally kicked off what is expected to be the start of an intense lobbying campaign on both sides of the issue. Supporters of the anti-bullying bill are expected to be at tonight’s Rochester School Board meeting, asking school officials to get behind the measure. The legislation grew out of the recommendations of the Governor’s Task Force on the Prevention of School Bullying. It would require all public school districts and charter schools to adopt bullying policies that meet certain standards. Schools would be required to record incidents of bullying and report that information to the state. All school staff members and volunteers also would need to be trained on how to handle it.
The measure is expected to cost $20 million, raising concerns among some district officials about how to pay for the new requirements. Supporters say districts have the option of using a $7-per-student increase in the safe schools levy to cover the costs. The DFL-led Legislature also approved $1 million to establish a School Climate Center that would help districts establish policies and train staff.
During Monday’s rally, supporters clutched signs that read “Let me be free of bullying” and “I have battle scars due to bullying.” House bill sponsor Jim Davnie, DFL-Minneapolis, urged students to talk to their lawmakers and convince them to get behind the bill.
“The adults have been talking about it for a year,” he said. “We need the youth to carry it across the line. Can you do that?”
The crowd roared its approval.
Seeking compromise
Rochester Public Schools Superintendent Michael Munoz was not available for an interview Monday. In a prepared statement, he said, “I am an advocate for safe and welcoming learning environments. Our administration and staff work diligently every day to make sure all our schools are safe and welcoming.”
Munoz also noted the district’s bullying policy mirrors language in the Minnesota School Board Association’s policy.
Munoz previously has said, while he welcomes efforts to combat bullying, he has concerns about the proposal’s costs and its training requirements — specifically when it comes to volunteers.
Sen. Carla Nelson, R-Rochester, said area superintendents have told her they have serious concerns with the bill as written. She said she has been working with a number of organizations on trying to come up a compromise.
“There’s a great consensus that we want to protect all kids as much as we possibly can and schools need to be a safe place for learning,” she said. “It’s just how do we get there.”
Similarly, Red Wing DFL Sen. Matt Schmit said he wants to see the state’s bullying laws toughened but also is aware of concerns about the legislation.
“We want to take a thorough look at it here in the Senate and just make sure we address concerns for all stakeholders involved and that we do pass meaningful measures to protect our kids,” he said.
Davnie said he and the Senate bill author, Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, said they have been meeting with various stakeholders and are willing to consider changes to the bill. It’s expected to get a Senate hearing Thursday.
Among the biggest supporters of the anti-bullying bill are organizations that support people with disabilities. Steve Larson, senior policy director for The Arc of Minnesota, said supporters have been working to toughen the state’s bullying laws for at least six years. He said it is time for the state to step in to make sure all students are treated the same.
“We’ve left it to the local districts, and only half of them have adopted model policies,” Larson said. “So what about those students in districts that haven’t adopted policies?”
ST. PAUL — Hundreds of high school students from across the state rallied at the Minnesota Capitol on Monday, urging lawmakers to toughen the state’s anti-bullying policies.
Among those crowding into the Capitol Rotunda was Mayo High School junior Emma Pittelko. In an era of social media, where bullying can take place online outside of school, Pittelko said more needs to be done to protect students.
“For the people being bullied, they need to know that they have a safe place to go and people to turn to and that it can be stopped and they can be helped,” she said.
Last year, the Minnesota House approved the Safe Schools and Supportive Minnesota School Act, but the measure never got a vote in the Senate. While the proposal enjoys the strong support of gay rights groups and disability advocates, it also faces strong opposition from conservative groups and some school organizations who say it goes too far.
Favors some
Autumn Leva, Minnesota Family Council’s director of legislative affairs and communications, said her organization is concerned the definition of bullying is too broad, that there’s no parental notification requirement if a student is being bullied or suspected of bullying and that it favors some students over others. The bill includes specific language prohibiting bullying or harassment of students based on race, religion, sexual orientation or disability, among other things.
“If we are going to talk about bullying and we are going to talk about protecting students, then yes, let’s talk about doing that for all students and not naming out certain classifications of students,” Leva said.
Monday’s rally kicked off what is expected to be the start of an intense lobbying campaign on both sides of the issue. Supporters of the anti-bullying bill are expected to be at tonight’s Rochester School Board meeting, asking school officials to get behind the measure. The legislation grew out of the recommendations of the Governor’s Task Force on the Prevention of School Bullying. It would require all public school districts and charter schools to adopt bullying policies that meet certain standards. Schools would be required to record incidents of bullying and report that information to the state. All school staff members and volunteers also would need to be trained on how to handle it.
The measure is expected to cost $20 million, raising concerns among some district officials about how to pay for the new requirements. Supporters say districts have the option of using a $7-per-student increase in the safe schools levy to cover the costs. The DFL-led Legislature also approved $1 million to establish a School Climate Center that would help districts establish policies and train staff.
During Monday’s rally, supporters clutched signs that read “Let me be free of bullying” and “I have battle scars due to bullying.” House bill sponsor Jim Davnie, DFL-Minneapolis, urged students to talk to their lawmakers and convince them to get behind the bill.
“The adults have been talking about it for a year,” he said. “We need the youth to carry it across the line. Can you do that?”
The crowd roared its approval.
Seeking compromise
Rochester Public Schools Superintendent Michael Munoz was not available for an interview Monday. In a prepared statement, he said, “I am an advocate for safe and welcoming learning environments. Our administration and staff work diligently every day to make sure all our schools are safe and welcoming.”
Munoz also noted the district’s bullying policy mirrors language in the Minnesota School Board Association’s policy.
Munoz previously has said, while he welcomes efforts to combat bullying, he has concerns about the proposal’s costs and its training requirements — specifically when it comes to volunteers.
Sen. Carla Nelson, R-Rochester, said area superintendents have told her they have serious concerns with the bill as written. She said she has been working with a number of organizations on trying to come up a compromise.
“There’s a great consensus that we want to protect all kids as much as we possibly can and schools need to be a safe place for learning,” she said. “It’s just how do we get there.”
Similarly, Red Wing DFL Sen. Matt Schmit said he wants to see the state’s bullying laws toughened but also is aware of concerns about the legislation.
“We want to take a thorough look at it here in the Senate and just make sure we address concerns for all stakeholders involved and that we do pass meaningful measures to protect our kids,” he said.
Davnie said he and the Senate bill author, Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, said they have been meeting with various stakeholders and are willing to consider changes to the bill. It’s expected to get a Senate hearing Thursday.
Among the biggest supporters of the anti-bullying bill are organizations that support people with disabilities. Steve Larson, senior policy director for The Arc of Minnesota, said supporters have been working to toughen the state’s bullying laws for at least six years. He said it is time for the state to step in to make sure all students are treated the same.
“We’ve left it to the local districts, and only half of them have adopted model policies,” Larson said. “So what about those students in districts that haven’t adopted policies?”
Comment: CONCLUSION FOR CIVILIZED MINNESOTANS WITH CIVILIZED CHILDREN OF SCHOOL AGE……WITHDRAW THOSE CHILDREN FROM THESE FASCISTIC FEMINIZED PUBLIC ‘SCHOOLS’ DEVOTED TO POLITICAL BULLYING, RATHER THAN TEACHING LEARNINGS.
ORGANIZE YOUR OWN INSTITUTIONS WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GUIDED TO LEARN KNOWLEDGE!!
Filed under: American Culture, Education, Family, Feminism, Health, Local Politics, Marxism, The Press | Leave a comment »
MN Prager Discussion Group 