My daughter has been bullied both physically and emotionally all year. Because of this, her self esteem is tarnished, she battles with depression, anxiety, and OCD. Her grades have also plummeted because instead of focusing on school work, shes focusing on how she's gonna get to her next class safely, or the rumors and mean things others are saying about her. It's gotten to the point of having to unenroll her for the rest of the year to protect her mental health and physical well-being. The school is doing nothing to protect her and allow her to safely, without harassment, get an education. And this is not without trying, as I have spoken countless times to the principal, vice principal, and student manager. Towards the end of the year, I've even reached out the the district, executive admin, and superintendent with no response.

I know I'm not the only parent who has a child struggling in school due to bullying, and receiving no help from the school to stop it. That is why I'm starting this petition. 

Bullying in schools has become a severe issue that affects countless students across Oregon, and the US.

Some statistics;

• In the US, 1 in 5 students ages 12-18 has been bullied during the school year.       
• Approximately 160,000 teens have skipped school because of bullying.         
•  One out of every five (20.2%) students report being bullied.                                                   
• According to a 2023 survey by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, 40% of child and teen respondents said they were bullied on school campuses in the past year.

The consequences are dire; bullying can lead to depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts among young people. Bullying is also closely related to school shootings. Most attackers who target K-12 schools were bullied — sometimes persistently, according to a 2019 report by the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center that analyzed 41 incidents of school violence at K-12 schools between 2008 and 2017. CNN reports there have been at least 18 school shootings in the United States so far this year, as of April 18. Four were on college campuses, and 14 were on K-12 school grounds. 

It's time for our public schools in Oregon (and across America, but starting locally) to evaluate their current bullying protocols critically. These protocols need updating to reflect modern challenges and must be enforced rigorously to ensure every student's safety.

Please sign this petition urging Oregon's Department of Education to take immediate action by evaluating, updating, and enforcing anti-bullying policies in our public schools.