It is likely that you have been a victim of bullying, someone you know has been a victim of bullying, or you have bullied an individual in your lifetime, especially within the context of school.  

As a group of concerned students and future social workers, we are advocating for those who will be impacted by this bill currently and in the future.  We believe that bullying is a major problem with a variety of negative consequences that range from students being fearful to attend school to bullycide.  We also believe firmly that each child has the right to feel safe while pursuing an education.

Indiana is one of the last of eight states to adopt a policy addressing the problem of bullying in its school system. House Bill 1423 will be the first time that Indiana has enacted a policy that will address anti-bullying on a statewide scale.  The bill would require each school to have a clear defintion of bullying, have clearly outlined discipline procedures in regards to bullying, report cases of bullying including the number and nature of incidents, and provide prevention education to students and teachers on an annual basis, among other provisions.

Digest of House Bill 1423

"Antibullying. Requires the department of education, in consultation with school safety specialists and school counselors, to develop guidelines to assist school corporations and safe school committees in establishing bullying prevention programs, investigation and reporting procedures, and discipline rules. Requires each school corporation to include the number and nature of bullying incidents that occur within the school corporation on the school corporation's annual performance report. Requires each school corporation to provide training to school employees and volunteers concerning the school corporation's bullying prevention program, and to provide annual bullying prevention education to students. Modifies the definition of "bullying". Requires each school corporation to include detailed procedures for investigation and reporting of bullying behaviors in the school corporation's discipline rules. Requires each school corporation to include detailed procedures outlining the use of follow-up services for support services for the victim and bullying education for the bully in the school corporation's discipline rules. Sets out a bullying reporting requirement for each school corporation. Requires that if a board of trustees of a state educational institution elects to govern, by regulation or another means, the conduct of students, faculty, employees, and others on the property owned, used, or occupied by the state educational institution, the regulation must include a policy prohibiting bullying."

For the complete bill:  http://www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo?year=2013&session=1&request=getBill&docno=1423

The bill has passed through the House of Representatives and is currently moving through the Senate - this is a very active time and we would like to take this intiative a step further, with your help.  

We propose that the bill include in its yearly report the nature of the incident as it pertains to race, color, national origin, religion, ability, socioeconomic status, gender, sex, and sexual orientation.  

By including this specific information from each school annually, the state will be able to collect information about the nature of these specific bullying incidents so that research may be conducted on the reality of bullying in Indiana. Safety specialists will be able to pinpoint risk groups within each school corporation, and enhance bullying education based on individual need.  

These statistics are valuable to communities throughout the state because they have the potential to produce the changes necessary to secure a safe environment for the students attending these schools.

Take a moment and sign our petition to help propel the change needed to secure a safer environment for our students and take a stand against bullying in your state!