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School bullying
rules in Montana clear last public meeting

School bullying
rules in Montana clear last public meeting

The Montana board of public education is considering measures directing school districts to adopt rules aimed at a reduction in bullying. The period for public comment ended Monday, and the board is expected to take final action in March. The debate started last year in the legislature, where a bill on bullying died after the board of public education promised to take up the issue. The board proposes having school districts: define bullying; acknowledge that populations such as minorities are susceptible to bullies; encourage students to report bullying; and require administrators to investigate reports of bullying. Supporters, including the Montana School Boards Association and the American Civil Liberties Union, said the proposals make sense and may help protect school districts from lawsuits over bullying. A handful of opponents panned the proposal Monday when Steve Meloy, executive secretary for the board of public education, took public comment. A list of recommendations the board prepared to help districts implement the rule includes "minorities by sexual orientation" as one of the potentially vulnerable groups. Barbara Rush, a retired Helena teacher, said the rule is not needed because schools already have rules to deal with classic bullying, such as pushing, shoving, and obnoxious behavior. "No teacher or administrator lets students hurt each other," Rush said. (AP)

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