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MIRS, March 26, 2008

The Safe Schools Coalition jammed the rotunda today to demand action on anti-bullying bills that passed the Michigan House last year.

The measure is called "Matt's Safe School Law," named after Matt Epling, an East Lansing eighth-grader who took his own life in 2002 after severe hazing incidents. HB 4162 and HB 4091 are before the Senate Education Committee and activists called on Sen. Wayne Kuipers (R-Holland) to take them up.

School districts would have six months to adopt an anti-bullying policy or face potential future action by the Legislature. Local boards of education and intermediate school districts (ISDs) would be required to hold at least one public hearing on how to tackle bullying between classmates ("Bullying Bills Primed For Movement," 3/13/07).

Many Republicans oppose the bills because of its inference to sexual orientation. The American Family Association (AFA) claims the legislation is part of the "gay rights agenda" that would establish a "protected class status based on homosexual behavior and cross dressing."

AFA of Michigan President Gary Glenn praised Sen. Valde Garcia (R-Howell) for opposing the "protected class" piece of the bill in a recent letter.

"(This) is proof of the deceptive nature of this Trojan Horse legislation and the way homosexual activist groups and their Democratic allies have tried to mislead not only state legislators but the general public."

The rally was part of an all-day lobbying effort by more than 100 members of the coalition.

Several parents who had lost children spoke at the rally. Michigan State Police Director Peter MUNOZ attended, as did several legislators, including Sens. Gretchen Whitmer (D-East Lansing) and Glenn Anderson (D-Westland).

Be it a coincidence or not, Kuipers today introduced a resolution encouraging school districts to adopt and implement character education programs that address bullying.

The resolution said character education programs help define and develop anti-bullying behavior and create a safe and civil school environment in which to learn. The programs include an anti-bullying curriculum that teaches students how to recognize and react to bullying as well as to develop character traits that reinforce self-discipline.

"A safe and civil school environment is critical for students to learn," Kuipers said.

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