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Assembly Passes Dignity For All Students Act
Assemblymember Sam Hoyt (D-Buffalo, Grand Island) announced Assembly passage of legislation he supported to help give students a safe, welcoming learning environment free of harassment and discrimination (A.1118).
“Learning begins with a safe and positive environment,” Hoyt said. “The ‘Dignity for All Students Act’ will help create the right climate in schools so students can concentrate on their studies without fearing for their safety.”
This legislation prohibits discrimination and harassment on school grounds based on a person’s actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or gender. In addition, each school district would be required to:
• establish anti-harassment and discrimination policies;
• create school training programs in harassment and discrimination;
• raise staff sensitivity and awareness as well as enable staff to respond to harassment; and
• develop nondiscriminatory instruction and counseling methods.
“We’ve seen what can happen when a student is bullied or harassed. Not only can they become dejected, they might be pushed to retaliation,” Hoyt said. “This legislation will give schools the tools to intervene, teach kids respect, and give students back their dignity.”
Tragic outbreaks of school violence in recent years have underscored the need to protect youngsters from harassment. A study by the Secret Service’s National Threat Assessment Center found that, in more than two-thirds of 37 school shootings reviewed, the perpetrators felt “persecuted, bullied, threatened, attacked or injured.”
“School can be challenging for children – even without being taunted with mental or physical abuse. It’s time we put an end to hostile hallways and classroom bullies. Our schools should be safe havens – free from harassment and discrimination,” Hoyt said. “By increasing civility in our schools and establishing clear guidelines of acceptable conduct, our students will be more confident and focused on getting the most out of their education.”
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