106
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.C.R. NO.            
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                     HOUSE  CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION
  URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ENDORSE A "ZERO
    TOLERANCE" POLICY AGAINST STUDENT BULLYING AND DEVELOP AN
    INTERVENTION PLAN TO PREVENT SUCH OCCURRENCES.



 1        WHEREAS, USA Today recently concluded that "bullying is
 2   rampant in U.S. schools"; and
 3   
 4        WHEREAS, studies show that approximately fifteen per cent
 5   of students are either bullied regularly or are initiators of
 6   bullying behavior; and
 7   
 8        WHEREAS, there is growing consensus among researchers that
 9   bullying in schools is a worldwide problem that can negatively
10   impact the general school climate and students' right to attend
11   safe schools free of fear; and
12   
13        WHEREAS, bullying frequently causes the victims to become
14   fearful of school and to view it as an unsafe and unhappy
15   place; and
16   
17        WHEREAS, it is estimated that up to seven per cent of U.S.
18   eighth graders stay home at least once a month because of
19   school bullies; and
20   
21        WHEREAS, bullying can lead to depression and low self-
22   esteem, problems that can carry into adulthood; and
23   
24        WHEREAS, K. Rigby's "What Children Tell Us About Bullying
25   In Schools" reports on mounting evidence showing a growing
26   number of children committing suicide after a history of peer
27   victimization, leaving little doubt that "severe bullying for
28   some children can be devastating"; and
29   
30        WHEREAS, reports from Norway, England, and Japan indicate
31   that children have allegedly committed suicide following
32   episodes of severe bullying; and
33   
34        WHEREAS, in countries where bullying is a pervasive
35   problem, schools are beginning to address bullying through
36   intervention programs; and
37   

 
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 1        WHEREAS, an intervention program suggested by D. Olweus
 2   includes:
 3   
 4        (1)  Distribution of an initial questionnaire to students
 5             and adults;
 6   
 7        (2)  Increased parental awareness;
 8   
 9        (3)  Establishment of class rules; and
10   
11        (4)  Incorporation of of anti-bullying programs;
12   
13   and
14   
15        WHEREAS, schools implementing Olweus' program reported a
16   fifty per cent reduction in bullying; and
17   
18        WHEREAS, the message in schools and communities must be
19   crystal clear:  NO BULLYING ALLOWED!; now, therefore,
20   
21        BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
22   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
23   of 2000, the Senate concurring, that the Department of
24   Education is urged to endorse a "zero tolerance" policy against
25   student bullying and to develop an intervention plan to prevent
26   such occurrences; and
27   
28        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
29   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the
30   Board of Education and the Superintendent of Education.
31 
32 
33 
34                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________