SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Steve Fox (D-Palmdale) on Friday announced that his preemptive solution to school bullying, Assembly Bill (AB) 1993, was approved by the Assembly. The bill, which passed with bipartisan support by a 48 – 15 margin, now will move to the Senate for consideration.
“In almost every case of serious school violence, bullying was identified as a primary factor” said Fox. “Teachers who learn about the dynamics of bullying may be able to reduce violence.”
AB 1993 would require the state Department of Education to develop an online training module to assist all school staff, school administrators, parents, pupils, and community members to increasing their knowledge of bullying and cyberbullying.
The preemptive solution to school bullying bill was inspired by a 13-year-old seventh grade student from Palmdale who committed suicide after being suspended from school for allegedly fighting with his persecutor. The intent of the bill is to educate teachers and administrators to identify signs of bullying and to prevent similar tragedies.
According to the Attorney General’s 2013 Report on California’s Elementary Truancy and Absenteeism Crisis, bullying is one of the greatest barriers to regular school attendance and also has been associated with decreased academic achievement, complaints of illness, anxiety, depression, and an increased likelihood tobacco, drugs, or alcohol use. Bullying also is the root cause of many dangerous situations at schools that result in injury to school staff and students.
“Teachers and administrators are our children’s first line of defense and enhancing their knowledge of bullying can literally save a life,” concluded Fox.
(Information via press release from the office of Assemblymember Steve Fox)
RED says
@t.c. , worse than a sissy, you, we should have left him? That’s what your saying. Blinded by hate, you wanted an American soldier left in enemy hands.
Tc says
The sissification of America in action. Next thing you know, we’ll be negotiating with terrorists.
Zeke says
Yep TC. And we just did. Traded a bunch of high level terrorists for one hostage. This country is doomed.
RED says
@To, obviously not a soldier, another Grumpy Old Person. The sergeant was sent in our name, he’s 27 years old and the only u.s. soldier left after being a POW for 5yrs not a civilian. We traded prisoners for prisioners with the governing country. If that was my son I pray to God, we have a President like we do and not a db like you or Buck McKeon. We promised to do anything to bring them back no matter what remember. Mr Obama will take them out any time any where he wants. Try just one time to not see only through the lens of making Obama look bad. Did you see his mom’s face,? That said it all, he completely did the right and only moral decision but you know more cuz you hate the president, you’re a jerk
RED says
@Tc, we got our only p.o.w. back db. We leave no one behind. You are distributed
RED says
@Thomas, at least his name isn’t knight or runner.
gdavis says
Good cause, but what a waste of time and energy. Do we really need a new law to mandate bully training for teachers? Taking more time away from focusing on actual educational instruction. Can’t schools do this simply on their own without adding to an already bloated education code. I guarantee you that the teachers at Harvard/Westlake aren’t spending their time in another training for this reason.
This is classic pandering by a politician to show that he “took action” on an issue, without really making a difference other than help line the pockets of “Anti-Bully Consultants” who will get paid money that should be dedicated towards as the previous commentator said, lowering class sizes so that teachers can better control and supervise the classroom enviroment.
MMary says
my childs life was severely ruined by bullies. A jar of gator aid (actually filled with pee) was dumped on her twice! Her glasses were pulled from her face and stomped on twice. The school did nothing even though they were made aware of the situations. I was refered to parents.
gdavis says
That is horrible, and I’m sorry your daughter had to go through that, but I don’t see how having teachers sit through a 2 hour presentation on bullying is going to improve the situation. You should not need training to realize that a child being doused with urine and physically assaulted is a serious situation that demands urgent intervention.
Did you follow up with complaints above the school level? If the principal is not responding go to the superintendent, if they don’t respond go to your county supervisor. Too many times school officials are left off the hook, because their misconduct is not reported.
Thomas says
Steve Fox is nothing more than a skeevy little tool pandering to a whiny and sissified voter base. All of recorded history has demonstrated time and time again that standing up to bullies stops bullying. Hit back hard and they go away since it’s fear that they feed off of. Now we have a nwo agenda going on in our school system that encourages bullying while pretending to be helpless and outraged.
Remember when we used to be Americans?
RED says
@Thomas, as opposed to the prior Assemblyman? This is a big step up from never getting anything done. At least he’s in 2014, not Steve Knight, McKeon, McCarthy, they’re back in some where else. Never a new idea, it’s all bad all the time. I’m done with that.
concerned says
What about a teacher who starts the bullying? Yes it has happened. What should happen to the teachers that do not stop it?
Palmdale school district helper says
The problem isn’t identifying a bully , it is the teachers having a smaller classroom to handle all problems. There is no time for anything but quick corrections to the students because of the pressure directly on the teacher for test results. The “coaches” that help on the playground are almost all uneducated and treat the children with disrespect. They yell, call names, punish, lie, and bully children because they find certain children annoying. These “coaches” need at least a couple credits of psychology, or child education. Teachers on the other hand are terrible, NOT ALL but we all know if you ask, the majority of children have the same answers to questions like-“is there any teachers that make fun of children?”- all children know the answers but everyone brushes them off.