New Jersey Law Requires Teachers to Battle Bullies
New Jersey wants its educators to help curb the bullying crisis, and its schools now are struggling to implement a demanding new state law that requires both preventive education measures and action by authorities when incidents occur.
As the New York Times’ Winnie Hu reports today, the New Jersey law was put in place following the much-publicized suicide of Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi. His roommate at Rutgers, who now faces criminal charges, allegedly used a dorm room webcam to view Clementi kissing another man.
As Hu’s thorough reporting details, the New Jersey law is both comprehensive and demanding. Students as young as kindergarten will be exposed to antibullying lessons. High schools are required to have antibullying coordinators and these efforts will be monitored by the state. Schools that fall short of the requirements face serious sanctions.
Richard G. Bozza, executive director of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, told Hu the law