Opinion
Education Letter to the Editor

Anti-Harassment Policies Have Been Effective

January 03, 2006 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

To the Editor:

Your article “Texas Quits Group Amid Debate Over Gays” (Dec. 14, 2005) shows how the Texas state school board is missing a crucial point in the debate over how schools can best protect students from bullying and harassment. Regardless of one’s political viewpoint, the facts are clear: Schools with inclusive anti-harassment policies (those that enumerate classes like religion and sexual orientation) have less of a problem with bullying and harassment than those that don’t.

The new report “From Teasing to Torment: School Climate in America,” based on polling data from more than 3,000 high school students and 1,000 secondary school teachers in a survey conducted by Harris Interactive Inc., found that students who attend schools without fully inclusive anti-harassment policies (lacking categories such as sexual orientation) are one-third more likely to report that harassment and bullying are serious problems in their schools (44 percent vs. 33 percent, respectively). Harassment other than that motivated by real or perceived sexual orientation, including harassment motivated by appearance, ability, and class, is lower in schools with inclusive policies.

Policymaking should be driven by what works, not by political beliefs or personal biases. The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, or GLSEN, agrees with Texas state board member Terri Leo, who is quoted in the article as saying, “Bullying is wrong, period.” If she is serious about that commitment, she should reconsider her opposition to policies that enumerate categories like race, religion, and sexual orientation.

Kevin Jennings

Executive Director

Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network

New York, N.Y.

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Personalized Learning Webinar
Expanding Teacher Impact: Scaling Personalized Learning Across Districts
Explore personalized learning strategies that transform classrooms and empower educators.
Content provided by DreamBox Learning
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Classroom Technology Webinar
How to Leverage Virtual Learning: Preparing Students for the Future
Hear from an expert panel how best to leverage virtual learning in your district to achieve your goals.
Content provided by Class
English-Language Learners Webinar AI and English Learners: What Teachers Need to Know
Explore the role of AI in multilingual education and its potential limitations.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education From Our Research Center What's on the Minds of Educators, in Charts
Politics, gender equity, and technology—how teachers and administrators say these issues are affecting the field.
1 min read
Stylized illustration of a pie chart
Traci Daberko for Education Week
Education Briefly Stated: August 30, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Briefly Stated: August 23, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
9 min read
Education Briefly Stated: August 16, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read