Legislators, Coalition Launch Campaign for School Violence Prevention Act

A series of powerful speakers spoke to different aspects of the bill:

• Rep. Rick Glazier, a primary sponsor who championed the bill in the previous session, lead off with a poweful statement about the purpose of the bill and its effect.
  
• Sen. Julia Boseman, the primary sponsor of the Senate version, gave a personal take on the effects of bullying on real people.
  
• Rep. Tricia Cotham, a co-sponsor, used her experience as a teacher and vice-principal to call out those who oppose the bill for putting ideology over children's safety.
• Rep. Cullie Tarleton and Rep Grier Martin, also primary sponsors of the house version, made a strong case for the bill and the enumerated protections for vulnerable students.
• Sheri Strickland, President of the North Carolina Association of Educators, articulated the need for teachers to have clear, uniform policies that give them tools to effectively address all forms of bullying.

Perhaps the most persuasive speakers, however, were Kate and Neena Mabe. Kate, a high school junior in Winston-Salem, and her mother Neena shared the challenges Kate faced as a victim of bullying. The situation got so bad Kate had to transfer to another school just to feel safe. Her story underscored the need for policies that empower students to get help and stop the bullying and harassment. (The text of their remarks are below.)

A bipartisan group of legislators, faith leaders, and representatives of many coalition partners, including the NC Parent Teacher Association, Covenant with North Carolina's Children, the Arc of North Carolina and others, joined these speakers to show their support.

Remarks of Kate Mabe

Hi, my name is Kate Mabe and I’m a junior at Mount Tabor High School. I am here because I believe that the best way to understand things and to inform people is through your own story and life. I am here to tell you, through my story, why you should care about what bullying policies really say.

I came out as gay to my friends in 7^th grade. I had an awful time dealing with it myself and I was proud that I could take that step. Eventually, more people started finding out and that was when things got bad. I had rumors spread about me, people called me names. I was a victim of bullying. I couldn’t ask the staff for help because I was almost positive they would do nothing but call my parents, tell them I was gay, and my world would fall apart. I was always terrified of my parents finding out. But, eventually I came out to by parents and they had some issues, as some parents do. So I still didn’t feel comfortable bringing up the issue with the staff because I could only see more trouble coming from that.

I started my freshmen year of high school and a lot of kids who had gone to middle school with me went as well. So, naturally, some of the bullying followed. But because I knew there were no rules protecting me, I was sure I would get no support or help from the staff if I told them what was happening. I had good reason to believe so, too. Earlier in the year, a teacher had called me out in front of the whole class asking if I was gay. I ended up becoming so uncomfortable with even going to school that I made the tough decision that I had to change schools or I knew I wouldn’t last through high school. Getting to change schools was a huge shift for me, but it was a blessing. I love going to Mount Tabor. It’s not perfect, but it’s a “live-and-let-live” place, for the most part. I still do experience some problems with students and I do hear a lot of terms like “that’s so gay” and other derogatory terms for gays and lesbians.

Sometimes it makes me feel really lonely and like no one cares about me. And I think that’s how a lot of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender teens feel; Because not a lot of people will stand up for me, or anyone like me in schools. I have come to realize that take on two jobs when I walk through the door of my school, I take on the job of learning, and the job of standing up for myself and who I am. It hurts knowing I have to do something most students never even think about, but every time I hear “that’s so gay” and a teacher does nothing about it, it’s a terrifying confirmation that I’m on my own, without protection, as soon as I get out of my mothers reach. I’ll never ask for “special rights” in school, I’ll never ask for “special rights” anywhere, all I’ll ever ask for is what every straight kid has in school. I want tolerance, I want to be able to learn without fear, and I want to freedom to be myself without consequence. That’s all I’ll ever ask for. Thank You.

Remarks of Neena Mabe

My daughter has shared with you her experiences in our school system.  We transferred Kate to a different high school in an effort to find a better environment where she could grow academically. There are improvements, but still she has unnecessarily suffered because of personal prejudices from administrators, teachers, and students.   

As a parent, my heart breaks every time Kate comes home and is somewhat withdrawn and then shares a bad experience with me.  I worry every day when she goes to school that in spite of her incredible spirit and her ability to work through situations that something will happen.  We do not have a bullying policy that protects our children and our experiences within the school system only emphasizes that all schools within the same system are not created equally and that the prejudices, whether consciously or sub-consciously, of teachers and administrators often cause them to turn a blind eye to things that are harmful to our children and get in the way of every child getting the same opportunities for education.   

As she shared, she takes on two tasks every time she enters the school doors, one of education, but the second is keeping herself safe, both physically and emotionally in an adverse environment.  This is an unreasonable distraction for any young person.     All children have the right to a safe and complete education.  My daughter should not be an exception.  

We need an anti-bullying policy in all schools that is clearly defined and not left up to interpretation by administrators and teachers.  Our ability to keep our children safe shouldn’t be a question.  This should be the foundation of our education system so that emphasis and efforts can be directed toward improving academically. 

Understand that without this legislation that the children that come behind Kate will likely have her same experience.  She continues to push forward and because of her incredible spirit she will succeed in life, but it didn’t have to be this difficult and it shouldn’t be this difficult for other children.   

Our superintendent told us that we will never have an inclusive anti-bullying policy within our county unless it is state mandated.  I am asking our representatives to hear Kate and me and hear our story.  I am asking our community and the thousands of parents across North Carolina to support this bill.  Regardless of your personal beliefs on any issue, I know that we as parents and members of this community want a safe environment within our schools for every child. Thank you.