How the Religious Right is Trying to Make Schools Safe for Bullies

[and-justice-for-all]

Big Bullies: How the Religious Right is Trying to Make Schools Safe for Bullies and Dangerous for Gay Kids
Table of Contents

Introduction
Facing the Problem
The Indoctrination Myth
The “Special Rights” Smear
Playing the Victim
Blaming the Victims
Conclusion

Introduction

Students deserve an education that is free from bullying and harassment, and in many districts parents, teachers, principals, community members and students are working together to create a safe and welcoming environment for all children. Bullying can impede learning and ruin lives. As Education Secretary Arne Duncan has said, “bullying is doubly dangerous because if left unattended it can rapidly escalate into even more serious violence and abuse.” Close to nine in ten Americans believe that bullying is a “serious problem,” and many communities are directly challenging harassment and violence in schools.

However, many Religious Right activists want to derail efforts to combat bullying. An increasing number of conservative leaders and organizations have fiercely opposed anti-bullying programs developed by schools and education groups for the sole reason that such programs identify and attempt to combat the widespread bullying of LGBT youth.

Rather than recognize and address the problem of bullying against students who are gay or perceived to be gay, Religious Right groups want schools to embrace a policy of inaction. Many resort to repeating discredited lies about sexual orientation and vilifying the LGBT community and its allies to back up their opposition to anti-bullying programs that mention anti-gay bullying. Concerned students, families, teachers, education professionals, and public officials should not be fooled by the far-right’s attempt to smear anti-bullying programs, and should instead ensure that schools address bullying with a direct, honest and comprehensive approach.

More... http://www.pfaw.org/rww-in-focus/big-bullies-how-the-religious-right-trying-to-make-schools-safe-for-bullies-and-dangero

[AndyTiedye]

1. No Surprise Here. The Fundies are Bullies, and Raise their Kids to be Bullies

[Initech]

2. I come to flat-out utterly despise any group with "Family" in their name.

Because they're clearly not.

[eridani]

5. Yep. And don't you always hear the implied capitalization?

Those amoral shitstains must protect The Family at all costs, no matter how many actual families they have to destroy to do it.

[annabanana]

3. k&r . . . . . .n/t

[leftstreet]

4. It's also part of the for-profit schools push - they want to avoid lawsuits

The privateers would love to tank any regulations that protect people

:-(

[JackBeck]

6. There needs to be more parental accountability for this.

I once had a friend who advocated for punishing the parents over the bullies if it was discovered that their anti-social behavior was learned at home.

I'm starting to wonder if he was on to something...

[and-justice-for-all]

7. kick..nt