Premier quashes Anti-Bullying Legislation Bill

On March 24th of this year the Opposition introduced a much needed addition to the current Educational Act of New Brunswick. The Anti-Bullying additions to the act takes our outdated look at Bullying into modern philosophy. This showing a no tolerance view point to children seeking an education where they feel intimidated to go to school and has been brought up for years by parents.

On a personal note one of the ladies that worked on my campaign when I first started brought up about her own daughter. How she would be attacked at school by other children and endure nasty name calling and aggression to the point of almost removing her from the system. I at first pointed her to the fact that their was amendments being placed in when I noticed there was a bill before the legislature. Under the act things like this are addressed that this little girl endured. They include teasing, social exclusion, threats, intimidation, stalking, physical violence, theft, sexual or racial harassment, public humiliation, or destruction of property. Other such additions included “harassment” means any threatening, insulting, or dehumanizing gesture, use of data or computer software, or written, verbal, or physical conduct directed against a pupil or school personnel that:

(a) places a pupil or school personnel in reasonable fear of harm to his or her person or damage to his or her property,

(b) has the effect of substantially interfering with a pupil's educational performance, opportunities, or benefits, or

(c) has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of a school;

Bill 52 died on the floor at the hands of the Liberal Party the following day when second read was to occur. No debates no amendments just death to a bill that could of made a safe learning environment for children. Under the current section 24 of the Educational Act of New Brunswick the addition to include for suspension of pupils would include for bullying. The most important part of this Bill was creating proactive approach to Bullying.The Change to section 24.1(3) A principal shall in addition to a suspension under subsection (1) require one, some or all of the parties involved to participate in educational programs highlighting the negative consequences associated with bullying and harassment.

A part of the devils advocate that is not shown or amendments put forward are what happens in situations where has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of a school. This portion needs direct cause and effect linked to it. If a child has a condition such as Autism or other known psychological conditions there will need to be special inclusions put in place. So maybe having Section 24.1(3a) in place reading " In cases where special needs children are placed in classrooms and have known conditions then disruptiveness must be addressed by other means than suspensions. We still need to accommodate children that do fall outside of the norm of what we deem " Disruptive Children". There also needs an amendment 21.4(3b) when any form of the Anti-Bullying legislation is used as a means for revenge or abuse. Then it is punishable by suspension also up to and not exceeding 5 days. During the suspension a sit down meeting with the children's parents, teachers and school principal to address why and proactive measures put in place.

If we are to curb bullying we must have policies that are looking at causes and curbing immediately. The legislative amendments are a great start but as in other parts of the country the initiative must also educate children on what it is and why it needs to stop. There are many courses available to parents and teachers so educators will have the ability to focus on education not policing.