This day is designated for children, teachers and parents to learn about recognizing and preventing bullying.
In 1999, after the school shooting at Columbine, anti-bullying programs sprung up in and around schools. The tragic event seemed to give way to the movement, which focused on fixing the environment around victims – no longer putting the weight of the burden on the victim, according to National Today. To combat bullying, anti-bullying laws and policies were introduced, and teachers focused on empowering bystanders, policing classrooms and hallways, and punishing and reforming the bullies.
Federal law (2006) and state law (2008) prohibit abusing and harassing others online.
- Unwelcome and objectively offensive, such as derogatory language, intimidation, threats, physical contact, or physical violence;
- Creates a hostile environment at school. That is, it is sufficiently serious that it interferes with or limits a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or opportunities offered by a school; and is
- Based on a student’s race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or religion
- Sex includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex traits. Sex also includes sex-based stereotypes and sexual harassment.
- National origin harassment can include harassment because a student speaks another language.
- DOJ also has jurisdiction to enforce Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which addresses certain equal protection violations based on religion in public schools. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, enforced by both ED and DOJ, does not explicitly identify religion as a basis for prohibited discrimination. But religious-based harassment is often based on shared ancestry of ethnic characteristics, which is covered under Title VI.
For prevention, identifying and support from bullying, visit stopbullying.gov
