These guys are unfit for public office. Do they need one of their kids to suffer the wrath of one or more bullies before they wake up? Young victims are learning little, afraid to go to school, intimidated, humiliated, beaten and all to often commit suicide.
Cyber-bullying has reached epidemic proportions and continues to increase. The Republican Party should remove them from its ticket.

Yea, how dare they expect parents to be responsible for theit own children. What are they thinking.

Not sure how bullying equates to children killing themselves because they were found out about their sexuality. Teasing is a part of growing up. You, me and everyone that was born in the U.S.A. have been teased in one way or another and many of us endured fighting because of teasing.

Now, administrators from failing school systems getting paid 6 figure salaries is another story (we can also include irresponsible parenting). I agree with "No Child Left Behind" but... Children failing on my hard earned tax money is disappointing when I have children in the school system where there's not enough teachers and certain programs have been eliminated. So, as a parent, I would appreciate it if the government is going to take my money to support the wealthy administrators in these failing school systems.

Question... If your child is in the 1st grade in a Bergen County Public School, reading a 3rd grade level, would you like the fact that your child is being left behind educationally because there are not enough teachers because of a poor budget?

I am not a politician or do I feed into the political arena. I am a mother, wife, educator, business and property owner and supporter of local organizations in Bergen County. I am from NYC and your numbers are right about superintendents.

Pisses me off that children are failing on my tax dollar and yours, so that these administrators can live a life of luxury.

Sounds like pimping our children.

On the most part children are not killing themselves because of bullying alone. They are being killed in these poor school districts (i.e., Newark, Paterson, etc.).
As parents, such as myself and hopefully responsible parents like yourselves, we try and focus on the real issues of bullying, Teasing, the new trend (homosexuality), and a long history of drug habits picked up right at home when children get hooked on a family members prescription drugs.

I am sort of in the middle about this anti-bullying law. Hopefully, I would like to help find a solution in order for my children and yours to get a fair shot at a good education, especially if they are advanced children.

people need to wise up. the world is a rough place U.S. kids are coddled till they think they are perfect, can do no wrong and should be praised for being weak.

Bullying is wrong, but we shouldn't have a law for everything on the planet. Parents need to step up and stop hoping government saves them from everything.

@Billy Mays... I am implying that "child homosexuals" seems like they are killing themselves because they have been figured out, caught, etc. on the most part. Stories like this have been over powering. This has absolutely nothing to do with our children's education and how our children are loosing out on a good education or even given the opportunity to be acknowledged for their accomplishments.

This law solves nothing....If anything we need less laws...These men should be elected ASAP.

I agree.This law solves nothing. School Administrators all over the state are confused as to how to apply this law.The passing of this measure insults educators by mandating them to do what they have been doing for years(dealing with bullying), also the costs are put on the taxpayers because schools will incur the financial burden. Bullying has been present in the world from the beginning of civilization.This knee-jerk reaction probably wouldn't have prevented the unfortunate suicide of that student that triggered this action..
It is good for one thing : Politicians bragging rights.

Nothing better when an erudite editor of The Bergen Record echoes what John and I had already said:
http://www.northjersey.com/news/education/Educators_police_officers_take_part_in_anti-bullying_workshop.html

Please ask yourself, how often do you see a conservative, the ACLU and The Bergen Record marching to the same beat on a given topic?

To date, John and I are the only candidates in the State to come out openly critical of the way it was rolled out. Sure, the laws needed to be updated with the times, but we agree like with any military mission, business case or other issue, the first thing that must be done is to define the problem.

I've spoken with many people involved with this, including police, senior school administrators, politicians, teachers, children and parents who said there is no clear definition of what a bully is, yet now many parents and teachers are now burdened by a process that is overwhelming, distracting and costly.

Where was John when they taught spelling at his school. A principle is what you stand up for, like preventing bullying. A principal is the official that's supposed to see that there's none in his/her school.
Kids are killing themselves, not because they're "found out", or teased, but because they're mentally & PHYSICALLY harassed CONTINUALLY throughout the school day, especially in bathrooms or locker rooms (where there seldom are supervisors) plus before & after school on cell phones and other media.

Hey billy mays, why so much passion about this bullying nonsense, were you bullied as a young boy ?? Sadly it sounds like you often had to give up your lunch money to the bullies in school..but that said, boys will be boys and they don't need govt. legislating this ..geez !!

These comments clearly show the division on this and they also show that when people can't debate the issues, they resort to name calling. First and foremost the schools should be teaching basic skills which they no longer concentrate thus the scores of the children in NJ are in the tank with the rest of the country. Our ranks are deplorable even in light of the cry for more money for the boards of education in all towns. Second, parents defend their child's actions no matter what they do....all watching Jersey Shore for entertainment and these other mad reality bad behavior programs...they learn what they see. (Why do you think companies pay thousands of dollars for 30 second ads...because they influence) Next, parents turned over most of their rights to the schools, they call you for an aspirin, but not an abortion. To the point, who is going to monitor the bully issue and what is bullying? Will it be a stare, snide remark? Without proper guidelines, don't be surprised when a child that pushes back is the one that gets the punishment because others support the bully. Everyone has a right to their opinion and make it respectfully, but don't be surprised when you, your children, your family are all under the thumb of others. Lawyers are laughing at this. End remark: all situations are diffferent and when we institute laws on top of laws, eventually you can do nothing and have no freedoms in your own home anymore.

Sorry Rita, in addition to being a parent int his town, I am also an educator. The point is that the schools do focus on basic skills. Our high school alone is doing much better than in previous years. However, students need resources they have, and where to go when they run into situations they do not know how to handle, the school needs to take a stand. The school has a responsibility to deal with bullying! Just my rather strong opinion ((smiles)).

We can rant and rave all day about bullying... Not sure about you people, but I am tired of my hard earned money being wasted on failing school systems. With the new breed of children (whether they are homos or their parents are related, is meaningless). Maybe those children needs a special program. No one on this blog can say that their children NEVER teased another child.

It's ok to disagree with each other as adults, but as responsible, caring and loving adults for our children, we should try and at least meet on a matter that involves our children's education.

And for all of you here that are educators, I am sure you would agree that you're not getting paid enough to teach, counsel, babysit, tolerate irresponsible parents, out of control children, teenage pregnancy, drug addiction, etc.

Maybe bullying the parents to get involved with their children's lives will help.

I'm thinking about this here mental problem about sexuality a kid has, which causes his/her head to be bashed into a locker, or shoved into a toilet. Oh well, "boys will be boys" & these softy kids should just suck it up.

PS The ideal thing to do with a "twisted" kid is: "Out of the house, until you untwist."

I think they should leave the bill in place and work on a better one-they should not get rid of a law because it will do our kids more harm than good. And when we were in school there wasn't a computer system where they can "bully" other kids over the internet. There wasn't cellphones with cameras to take still pics or even videotape never mind there being no cellphones at all. We as parents, and the teachers, school admins etc need to step up to protect our children this is a different age with different ways to bully and yes I am going to say it terrorize our children. I was bullied in school and let me tell you it's not fun I would hate to be a child now with all the crap that they can be bullied by. I thank God wasn't bullied for long they found someone else to pick on (not saying that in a good way either they put that girl thru hell & yes she was my friend and still is) Get a grip and keep this law in effect.

The bill is in place, no one is arguing that. These politicians are turning anti-bullying into a political arena and this is quite obvious. If it wasnt, we would not be having this discussion.

TAXES IS WHAT I AM WORRIED ABOUT... Bullies will be bullies, they've been here since Moses' day and they will be here til dooms day.

Lazy teachers and administrators have to do something.... nah... that is not a good idea.. let us talk about raises for all of them.... every year for the next few years...... that is good......

Dear District 37 Republican Assembly candidates John Aslanian and Keith Jensen,
Do you have children? Do you have children in the school system whether public or private? My guess is no because of the above article I just read. Are you kidding? More laws are necessary when it comes to bullying in our school system, not less. Before you make your final decision on suspending this anti-bullying law, how about contacting me first? I can give you 100 and one reasons why these laws are needed. Absolutely amazing.

I have sent this article and the one about the referendum with comments including mine to our HS building Principal. Thought she might find it enlightening.

I think that these two should have come out saying they wanted to reword the anti-bullying law and not rescind it. As the law stands it is very open in wording and certain acts that aren't bullying could be taken as bullying. It would be easier to pass an amendment to the legislation than to remove and recreate it.

Repeal the law.You cannot legislate against some child calling another child "fatso".
Nor can you legislate against a child asking a child - are you Muslim? and upon an affirmative response,ask "are you going to kill me".The latter being despicable and an actual example reported through a school chain here in Bergen County.You cannot legislate against ignorance.Isn't that what Education is for?

Al, if you ever had a chance of earning my vote, you can now forget it. As someone who still suffers from the beatings I received in school over forty years ago and the resulting spinal surgery, I feel that this law (or some improved version) is needed. If it prevents teachers, principals, and administrators from ignoring "boys will be boys" events, then it will have worked. If it protects one child from having to hear "if he can't defend himself, too bad" after asking for help in dealing with a bully four years older and a foot taller, it is worth it.
For those that believe that abuse in school doesn't happen, call me. I will gladly show you the scars.
Al, good luck next time.

@Art Elmers... Sorry about your unfortunate situation. The question for you is... Where were your parents when you were getting beatings by bullies?

Well said Art. All these people are very tough on the backs of vulnerable kids. They just don't get it.

Art-we disagree, and I am sorry for your experience.Note that I don't believe for one minute that violence doesn't occur in schools.Our disagreement is on its remedy.
Regards

My parents were by my side when we heard the "If he can't defend himself,too bad" quote and were with me as we worked our way up higher into the administration.
By the time action was taken, it was too late, the damage was already done.
And that is my point. If concrete action was required by law when it started, there was a real chance that I would not feel the pain I feel this and every morning.
I agree that I don't want the government running every facet of my life, but I do want there to be a downside for those in society charged with the safe education of our children if they fail to take any action when bullies attack. Or more importantly act before bullies bloom.

I understand your point Art and I sympathize with you. I am from the old school and I was bullied myself and my mother was told the same thing "If he can't defend himself,too bad". My mother went balistic and was at the school every day looking for the bully's parents until she caught one of them, of course the parent was no different than the child and smacked my mother right in front of me. My mother in return called the police, pressed charges and ruined there lives from that day forward. Everytime we seen them off school ground we called the cops. That may not work now but it sure worked back then in the 70s.

Now they should make the parent come up to the school and sit with their bullying children, so that parent can suffer the raft of the victim.

Empower teachers and admonish the parents, but the implementation of this is costly, unclear and rushed. Our litigious society caused this problem with too many laws worrying/barring educators from intervention.
If our opponents talked about anything other than their Bill, we would not have to respond to it, yet they won't even recognize the Abbott ruling is out of date. The simplest example is that Hoboken (where Eli Manning and a former Governor reside) is an Abbott District, yet no part of our District is; including the overcrowded Ft.Lee, Englewood, Hackensack, nor Teaneck.
Property taxes are the #1 problem in NJ. Democrats presented a movie tax credit where they were allowed to have a 'campaign' conference inside my old high school. (Sarlo and Weinberg are not the Senators for Fort Lee right now), yet I am tossed out of the Senior Center when I visit, while the Democrats are welcome to sit and have lunch with Seniors.
Address bullying, but the erred school funding formula IS the main issue, FSF would lower property taxes by 1/3rd and bring more $ to our school districts.
Watch our press conference today at Noon in Trenton on this, or come take part. Again, this Bill costs nothing?... Really? Really! We have so much to reference on this. Come to our debate on Tues night, 6PM at the Fort Lee Public Library. For more on bullying, here is one link, although I have many many more references: http://www.schoolbullyingcouncil.com/bullying-law-tough-on-school-districts/

Bullying in schools will never be 100% eliminated. It is tragic that children may be berated by the “in-crowd”, or the “jocks” or denigrated with racial or ethnic slurs. With three children in school, I am concerned like every parent. This is a highly volatile issue.
First, the legislation’s timing; Valerie Huttle is running for reelection and sponsors a good “PR” bill. With school budget’s being slashed, additional expenses out of the operating budget are going to be painful and are going to result in either loss of staff, equipment, or services in other areas. Schools are not receiving any supplementary funding for anti-bullying programs.
Second, this bill was put forth as a result of the Rutgers University tragedy. It is unlikely that this type of bill would have prevented that horrific incident. It was a malicious prank by a student with a perverted image of the world.
Education to students regarding bullying is not new. It has been going on for years; it just was not formally legislated. Any legislation that prevents even one child from being bullied cannot be considered a negative. But weighing the pros and cons of this legislation, I’m uncertain that results will meet expectations.
Finally, asking Mr. Elmers the question “where were his parents” is insulting and ignorant. Parents have limitations; often the children are too embarrassed or afraid to even tell the parents. A little common courtesy is indicated.

Opinionator: Your assessment of bullying is flawed. All bullying does not have physical manifestations. Forcing a child to cede lunch money; homophobic remarks; ethnic slurs; put-downs on appearance or size; are all forms of bullying. A child might very well be too ashamed to tell his/her parents. I do not fail to recognize what bullies are; I don’t think that you can lump all bullies under the term “criminal”, however.
We do agree on the fact that Bergen County schools should provide a safe environment; however, it must also provide a high quality learning environment.
As for your final comment, you are way off target. About a month ago, I wrote a blog on the Fort Lee Patch that called for an overturning of the Abbott Decision, which I described as a total waste, i.e. donating money to the “black holes of education”. If we did not have to send our tax dollars to the Abbott Districts, we might actually have money in our budget, not only to address bullying, but to actually purchase new books and lab equipment, or to hire more teachers and aides.

The point that I am trying to get across is that instead of waiting to react to the physical manifestations of bullying, our society, including parents, must have the tools and responsibility to deal with the future bully just starting to develop.
It is like watching a mystery about a serial killer. When talking about the early childhood of a suspect it is revealed that the suspect tortured and killed kittens.
Ahha, reacts the shows psychiatrist. A sure indicator of a future serial killer.
I am not saying that we are breeding serial killers in our schools but we must all be aware of the warning signs and learn how to stop bullying before it leads to violence.

Opinionator: For one who blogs anonymously, you have some strong comments. You mention the word “homo” quite often. Since the Rutgers suicide was a preemptor of this legislation, the topic needs to be on the table.
I cannot imagine how difficult it would be for a teenage child to be targeted as a homosexual. Parents often fear that their child will be “one of them”. So let’s not slough off the long lasting effects of this type of harassment.
You would like to separate bullying and criminality. Criminality in this case is taking bullying to the nth degree. That does not mean that we should condone bullying such as homosexual comments, ethnic slurs, etc. As for your “bald” innuendo, consider the case of the teenager who is losing his/her hair, i.e. disease related or hereditary. Are you saying you don’t believe that is bullying?
The one area in which you are correct is “parental involvement”. We let parents off the hook a little too easily. Not everyone is fit to be a parent, and it seems like of lot of parents out there made the wrong choice; they should have chosen celibacy and saved all of us a lot of grief.

My name is Genesis

It was a pleasure chatting/blogging with everyone. Have a wonderful evening :0)

If 2 kindergarten children argue over a toy and one pushes another ,under this law, that must be reported to the designated Anti-bullying administrator and the Principal,then after conducting an investigation,he or she must prepare and submit a written report to the Board of Ed ,the State Education Department and who knows who else.the Post Office?God?.
Lawmakers show a lack of confidence and trust in educators by mandating what is already part of their job. And to add insult to injury, it is an unfunded mandate! Will it deter or stop a troubled student from committing suicide? Sadly this might add to the problem because the school personnel will be so bogged down with the every normal interaction of students with one another that they might miss an opportunity to help a child that really needs help.

Anybody notice that Ridgewood of all towns says the Anti-Bullying Law needs to be scraped? Heck, that is a lot further than John and I went. We simply said two things: 1. It is vague. 2. It will be very expensive.
The Bergen Record's story:
http://www.northjersey.com/news/137252293_2_districts_fighting_bully_law.html

Sad to think the handful of bloggers on this Patch thought we came out against this because we were running for office. On the contrary, that was not the reason.

It just so happened that Assemblywoman Huttle forced her Bill through during her campaign and she would never speak to the erred school funding formula.

Now, not only has the Bergen Record echoed our position against this egregious Law, but even Ridgewood where this new Law sadly originated from concurs.

We loudly say that bullying needs to be addressed, but this Law is not the way to do it. No one asked us what our solution was; sadly, instead everyone wanted to make it a political issue and the bloggers were blinded by the sensitivity of the topic.

So, now we have this Law. Where does the Fort Lee Board of Education stand on it? Will the leadership join the likes of Ridgewood and three dozen other towns, or will our teachers burden this new law while we pay for it?

A 2nd reference from The Herald News that also says the Law is not right:
http://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/137337903_Show_some_patience_with_bullying_law.html

Keith-why would you wait from October 2011-until Jan. 2012 before you decide to com on here & comment on this issue?

The Bullying Law is weakening and Assemblywoman Huttle is buckling. Strengthen the existing Law by addressing the following points:
A. It was an unfunded mandate (subsequent to the Law, it was proven to be an unfunded mandate). Yes, I told you so. That was the point of John and I, not that it was a bad bill. Too bad the voters did not recognize that.
B. The definition of ‘bully’ is not defined enough and the broad net captures too many innocent kids and causes a burden on the investigators. (I am still requesting a clearly defined description for 'bully' from our legislators.)
C. Bullies are often groomed from home, so the Law should tie in parents as an accountable measure of bullies in some way. Simply put, there is not enough teeth in the new law to fix the problem that stems from home.
http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20120213/OPINION01/202130311/Anti-bullying-efforts-start-home

How would you suggest to define item B and address Part C?

This Law must address the Parents of the bullies.
http://fortlee.patch.com/articles/new-wording-new-funding-to-keep-anti-bullying-on-the-books-4d393cd6

As opposed to just creating a larger bureaucracy to police the Law and create more rules, which in the end will only help the new public workers instead of helping the poor bullied children.

In the meantime, Assemblywoman Huttle has only demonstrated that she is using it as a political tool instead of addressing the main aforementioned issues.

Assemblywoman Huttle lied. The anti-bully law would not cost the school districts anything she said. Additionally, the anti-bully law was not defined; consequenly, the teachers are not able to clearly execute a plan to address the problem.

http://englewood.patch.com/articles/by-the-numbers-nj-anti-bullying-bill-of-rights-eeeca0b9

She was given a blank check at the childrens' expense AND paid for by our property taxes which more than 60% are sent toward school funding. This blank check was endorsed by the voters that elected her. Now it is time to call her out on her lies to get elected.

http://fortlee.patch.com/articles/fort-lee-republican-state-assembly-candidate-pushes-for-fair-school-funding