Paterson introduces legislation to combat bullying
New York Gov. David Paterson speaks during a legislative leaders budget meeting at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y. (June 9, 2010) Credit: AP
Gov. David A. Paterson has introduced legislation in Albany aimed at combating school bullying by requiring school officials to post school violence hotline information in their hallways.
Posting the hotline number would give more students access to "important state assistance," according to Paterson.
State Senate Republicans introduced a bill in May that, among other things, would require creation of a state hotline for students to report bullying, cyberbullying and hazing.
Almost 30 percent of youth in the United States are estimated to be involved in bullying as either a bully, a target of bullying, or both, according to Safeyouth.org, a nonprofit that studies the issue.
Paterson's proposed legislation would also codify in state law that schools fall under the state's Human Rights Law, which would give students who feel discriminated against "an available forum." A recent appeals court ruling found that school districts weren't under the jurisdiction of the New York State Division of Human Rights.
In March, New York was one of fewer than a dozen states without an anti-bullying statute on the books.
Wendell Chu, East Islip schools superintendent and president of the Suffolk County Superintendents Association, said posting a hotline number in school hallways might help a few children but bullying is a problem that requires fundamental changes in society.
"We as a society have to commit ourselves to treating people in a civilized way," Chu said. "If one kid makes use of it, it'll help. But is it going to make a major dent in terms of the problems kids are facing with bullying? It will be very slight."
