Anti-bullying efforts: A global perspective

As anti-bullying bills move through the current legislative process in Texas, it would be beneficial to investigate the issue from a global perspective. Other countries have called for change to their anti-bullying legislation, particularly Great Britain.  According to this September 2009 BBC article, many lawyers and charities claim teachers are not being held accountable for bullying in their classrooms and anti-bullying guidelines should be strengthened.  The Anti-Bullying Alliance is an advocacy organization in Great Britain working with schools to create anti-bullying action plans and educational programs. 

Relevant to the issue of school bullying in the broadest sense is the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), adopted by the UN in 1989.  Though conventions are only binding to Member States that sign and ratify them, this convention entered force more quickly and received more ratifying votes than any UN human rights treaty.  The United States was heavily involved in passing this treaty and has signed it, but has not currently ratified it.  Article 29 of the treaty states, “Education should develop each child’s personality and traits to the full.  It should encourage children to respect their parents, and their own and other cultures.”  And Comment No. 1 to the CRC states, “A school which allows bullying or other violent and exclusionary practices to occur is not one which meets the requirements of Article 29 (1)."

Texas Legislation Tracker

There has not been much progress on the bills I am tracking except for SB 205, authored by Whitmore and co-authored by Davis.  It is out of committee and placed on the intent calendar.  There has been no recent movement on SB 245 by Davis.  All of the bills along with their progress are listed below:

• 82(R) HB 224-read first time, referred to the Public Education Committee, testimony taken, and left pending in committee.

• 82(R) SB 245-read first time and referred to the Education Committee.

• 82(R) HB 24-read first time, referred to the Public Education Committee, testimony taken, and left pending in committee.

• 82(R) HB 130-read first time, referred to the Human Services Committee, testimony taken, and left pending in committee.

• 82(R) HB 170-read first time, referred to the Public Education Committee, testimony taken, and left pending in committee.

• 82(R) SB 42-read first time, referred to the Education Committee, testimony taken, and left pending in committee.

• 82(R) SB 205-read first time, referred to the Education Committee, testimony taken, considered in public hearing, reported favorably as substituted (7 ayes, 0 nays, 2 absent), co-author authorized (Davis), and placed on the intent calendar. 

• 82(R) SB 242-read first time and referred to the Education Committee, testimony taken, and left pending in committee.

-Michael Dabbs