The Kentucky legislature’s recent efforts to combat bullying in the public schools are admirable.  No child should be subjected to bullying, and teachers should be taught strategies to protect students.  The tone of a classroom is set at the top, namely by the teacher, so one of the best strategies is for teachers to model the behavior they want to see in students by treating all students with respect.  In addition, if the legislature really wants to set an anti-bullying tone from the top, it should begin to model that behavior itself by treating all students, parents, and other citizens with respect rather than bullying them.

For example, there currently is a proposal for the legislature to force all middle school girls to receive Gardasil injections.  This is a form of bullying and shows a total lack of respect for the authority of parents to decide, in consultation with their doctors, what is best for their daughters.  Thus, if our legislators want to set an anti-bullying tone, they can begin by voting against this proposal.

Another proposal before the legislature is a scholarship for students with special needs.  This scholarship would allow the state money that is allocated for those special needs children to be used by the parents in any school of their choice – public or private.  Passing this law would show respect for parents rather than bullying them into sending their children to the local public school whether or not it meets their needs. 

Of course, there are many other opportunities for the legislature to reduce bullying as well.  For example, it could reduce the amount of money it extracts from taxpayers.  It could reduce red tape and regulation of business.  The possibilities are endless, and the benefits would be tremendous. 

Let’s hope the legislators really are concerned about bullying and do everything in their power to reduce its grip on our children and adults.