As the new school year kicks off, the New York City Department of Education has announced new regulations to cut back on bullying in local schools.
Under the new regulation, announced last Wednesday by Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, schools will be required to take more rigorous steps to ensure safer learning environments for city students.
Schools will now have to report all bullying and harassment incidents within 24 hours, and they must take appropriate action to sanction the offenders. Each school principal will designate a staff member to whom students can report situations of being bullied or otherwise made to feel uncomfortable at school. The DOE has also set up an e-mail address to which students can directly send complaints, as an alternative to voicing them at school.
The program has been lauded as a positive step to reduce bias and violence in city schools through awareness and support groups, including Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays New York City and the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families.
“We all received the letter from the DOE about the antiharassment initiative. I say, ‘bravo!’” said Julia Heath, parent and P.S. 163 PTA copresident.
Statistics on bias incidents and harassment in the schools will be included in school safety reports and evaluated by the department.
The program builds on the Respect for All Initiative, which was launched last year to train school staff members in responding to student bullying and harassment. Initially aimed at middle and high schools, it has expanded to target all grades. This is the first year students have brought home Respect for All brochures. Posters for the program have also been posted inside of schools. One goal is for all students, families, and staff members to be aware of the seriousness and consequences of bullying and harassment.
The initiative is still in its earliest stages, and its effect on schools has yet to be seen. More teachers, counselors, and staff members will be trained this year.
