Alleged School Bullying Victim, Mom Speak Out On Georgia’s New Bullying Law

Two years ago, the state Legislature in Georgia passed a law addressing bullying. The measure updated an existing measure from the 1980 and finally went into effect this summer. Among other things, the law:

• Defines bullying more broadly than before.

• Requires local school systems to adopt policies on dealing with bullying.

• Expands the policies to include elementary school students, particularly kindergarten.

• Requires parents to be notified any time their child is bullied or bullies someone else.

• Mandates students who bully in grades six through 12 be placed in an alternative school after the third offense.

Mother and daughter welcome Georgia’s new bullying law, but both have some concerns. They’re particularly bothered by the fact that three consecutive incidents by the same person are required for the bully to be removed from the school.

Alicyn sets her 'desk' to begin her first semester with the Georgia Cyber Academy. Considered a charter school, it didn't cost anything to enroll.

“What if the three separate incidents don’t come from one single person,” asks Mabry. “You know, then again you’re back at the first square of where you’re starting over and over and over again trying to establish three instances with one person. You know that’s the challenge that we had.”

“I think they’ve done pretty good,” says Ali of the Georgia Legislature. “And at least they made it a lot more enforceable, but at the same time, I think that they should train the [school resource] officers a little better everywhere. They should have federal required training to deal with it. “

Mabry says she’s proud that Georgia has taken action.

“The Georgia bullying law had not been revised since 1980, so I think it’s a positive that at least Georgia was proactive,” she says. Right now there are only 34 states that have cyber bullying, cyber terrorism and cyber stalking laws; fortunately Georgia has all three.”

Counselor Jackson is optimistic that the law will have a positive effect.

“For some [school] systems that weren’t doing this before; it gives them the direction for really for giving some support for students and not letting things disappear and slide,” he says. “And this then gives families a resource for being able to go and say this should not be. It gives staff members and administrators within a school the ability to say we do need to deal with this.”

The experience has inspired Mabry to take on the role of advocate. When she speaks to local organizations about bullying she urges parents to learn their rights.

“Most importantly never let anyone tell you ‘no’ who doesn’t have the power to say ‘yes’,” she says. “So the parents just have to keep knocking on doors, because somebody somewhere is going to say ‘yes.’”

She has even opened up her home to other Cyber Academy students whose parents have to work.

As for Ali, she says working one-on-one with mom every day is not so bad.

“I love my mom; she’s the best teacher ever,” she says. “And honestly; even though we might have our moments, she’s always there. And that’s the cool part.”

Photo credits: Clay Duda/JJIE.org.