RALEIGH, N.C. – Those who have fought to have North Carolina’s public schools adopt more detailed policies to prevent bullying neared a victory Monday night in the Legislature.
The House narrowly gave its initial approval to a bill that would require schools to create policies that at a minimum list perceived characteristics of a person likely to be bullied. The Senate has already given its OK.
Should the House give final approval as early as Tuesday, it might end a legislative fight going back to 2007 that has focused largely on the list because it includes sexual orientation.
“People are afraid to deal with those two words,” said Rep. Rick Glazier, D-Cumberland, the chief supporter of the bill in the House, before the measure was approved 59-57. “That child deserves as much protection as any other child.”
The bill would go to Gov. Beverly Perdue’s desk if it gets the final legislative green light. The measure fell short of passage late in last year’s session.
Bill proponents gave several examples of situations where students tormented by bullies have lived in fear or committed suicide. Earlier this year, an 11-year-old boy killed himself in Georgia because, according to his mother, he was continuously teased by other students.
Social conservatives and Christian groups have argued all children can be protected without the list of characteristics and have pushed a competing bill.
If bullies are still getting away with hurting other children, it’s because a 2004 anti-bullying directive by the State Board of Education – that also contained no list – isn’t being carried out, said Rep. Nelson Dollar, R-Wake.
“Bullies bully because they can get away with it,” Dollar said.
The debate was tense as passionate lawmakers on each side argued the other was trying to bring in cultural politics about gays and lesbians over an education proposal.
“This is our moral obligation to protect all of our children,” said Rep. Tricia Cotham, D-Mecklenburg, an assistant principal, who remembered a friend while she was in school who was teased relentlessly about her obesity.
Lawmakers who want to leave out some children from the bullying law, she added, are saying “there are some kids that aren’t just worth protecting. That is wrong and it is sad.”
Rep. Dale Folwell, R-Foysth, who opposed the bill, said it was unfair for some to say people like him didn’t care about children because they disagreed with how bullying policies should be created.
“We are against bullying of anyone at any time and at any place,” said Folwell, adding that by putting sexual orientation and gender identity into the bill, “it’s the people of North Carolina who are being bullied on the floor of the House.”
Seven Democrats joined 50 Republicans in voting for the measure, while only one GOP member – first-term Rep. Jamie Boles of Moore County – voted yes with 58 Democrats. Four members – three Democrats and one Republican – didn’t vote or had an excused absence.
“We’re pleased that the House today (voted) to make all kids safer,” said Ian Palmquist with the gay rights group Equality North Carolina.
The state’s two Roman Catholic bishops have opposed the bill because they said identifying sexual orientation could possibly encourage the courts or lawmakers to approve same-sex marriage. The bill’s language states no protected classes of people are being created.
About 20 of the state’s 115 school districts already have created policies somewhat similar to what the bill would require, according to Sen. Julia Boseman, R-New Hanover, the bill’s primary sponsor.
