For many, elementary school may evoke memories of recess and nap time, but for others, elementary school reminds them of the class bully stealing their lunch money and beating them up after school.
Virginia Delegate Rob Bell, R-Albermarle, proposed a bill earlier this year that would try to curb bullying behavior in Virginia schools. Last Thursday, the bill won approval from the Senate and currently is under review in the House.
"School should be a place where people are safe and don't have to worry about staying out of someone's way," Bell said.
Gov. Mark R. Warner said he endorsed the bill, and Bell said he feels fairly confident that the bill will go into law July 1.
The bill will consist of three parts.
First, it will force schools to establish a bullying policy and publish it in their student handbook. Second, it will require principles to notify the parents of victims of bullying. Finally, the bill requires schools to include bullying in their existing character education program.
Because the character education program already exists, the bill will not add any extra costs to the schools, Senator Creigh Deeds, R-Bath, said.
Outside of the financial ramifications, some legislatures said they are skeptical about the bill's effectiveness.
"I don't know what impact this bill will have," Deeds said. "It's well intentioned, but it's trying to eliminate the age-old problem of kids picking on other kids. It's been around since the beginning of time."
Other legislatures, on the other hand, said they believe the bill is a step in the right direction.
"I have never had a bill that received so much unsolicited response," Bell said. "I have received 30 to 40 email's, phone calls and letters from parents who are concerned with bullying."
According to statistics from the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, bullying is a large problem in American schools. Seventy-seven percent of school-aged children have reported being physically, mentally or verbally bullied. One out of every four youths will be bullied by another youth this month, the statistics showed.
Researchers have begun to study the problem of bullying more in recent years.
"We know the effects of bullying on children are significant," said Peter Sheras, associate director of the Virginia Youth Violence Project at the University's Education School. "Victims suffer from depression and anxiety. Bullies are more likely to run afoul of the law and are also prone to higher rates of depression."
With this bill, legislators have drawn people's attention to the problem of bullying, Deeds said.
"Curbing bullying is a long-term and complicated process," Sheras said. "We hope that this bill will begin a process of schools acknowledging that bullying takes place and training teachers and school staff how to deal with it."
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