“Bullying is not just a harmless rite of passage, or an inevitable part of growing up,” Sebelius said. “It’s a systematic situation that threatens the health and well-being of our young people. It’s destructive to our communities and devastating to our future.”
Sebelius said school districts and states are aggressively working to quell school bullying, noting that 36 state anti-bullying laws were enacted in 2009 and 2010. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has added bullying to its regular survey of risk behavior in schools.
She added that cyber bullying has become a top concern as students increasingly communicate through social media, text messages, and the internet.
“We are all responsible for our children’s safety,” Sebelius said. “And no one can afford to be a bystander.”
See also:
New online safety curriculum helps schools document CIPA compliance
Should bullies be treated as criminals?
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