LANSING -- State Representative Pam Byrnes (D-Lyndon Township) today 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.
"This issue has been ignored for way too long," said Byrnes. "Bullying in school should never be tolerated. Kids are in school to learn, not to spend their days dodging harassment. It's time that our schools address the terrible consequences that result when bullying is dismissed as merely 'kids being kids.' "
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.
"Children deserve to have a safe learning environment," Byrnes said. "This legislation will protect our kids as they acquire the skills and knowledge they need to succeed later in life."
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.