Bullying has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. It’s a sad reality that our children have come to face. It seems too often that I hear tragic stories about kids who have been bullied. One would think as the prevalence of bullying increases, anti-bullying laws would be strengthened. However, in some states this logic doesn’t exist.
Katy Butler, now a junior at Greenhills School in Ann Arbor Michigan, has been a victim of bullying in the past. Katy suffered from harsh name-calling, pushing and shoving, and getting her locker slammed shut on her hand causing one of her fingers to break. Katy endured these incidents alone because she was afraid her school wouldn’t do anything to help. Katy feared if she told people about the bullying, it would get worse. Katy’s friend, Carson Borbely, was also repeatedly harassed in school and no help was provided for him either.
Just last week, the Michigan State Senate passed a new anti-bullying bill that is supposed to protect students, but just how much does it? Special language was added to the bill that basically gives bullies protection instead of the victims. This language indicates that bullying because of “a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction” is acceptable. Now children know the loopholes of bullying and how to get away with it.
Outraged by this anti-bullying bill, Katy and Carson created a petition on Change.org to stop the “License to Bully” bill. More than 39,000 people have already signed the petition, which demands a stricter anti-bullying law to be passed. Nobody should get away with bullying for any reason. Sign the petition so no one else has to suffer. Students deserve better protection.