Monday letters: Expand SC anti-bullying law

Every day an estimated 160,000 children miss school because they fear they may be harassed, attacked or bullied by a peer. Among them are students who are targeted because of their race, ethnic group, religious practice, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, weight, ability, gender or sex. In order for schools to feel safer for S.C. students, the state’s anti-bullying act needs to specifically identify all of these groups.

It’s important to specify such groups in the act because many are at a higher risk of being bullied. Studies have shown that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered students are more likely to be bullied than their heterosexual peers. In a 2010 nationwide survey, 85 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered students reported being verbally harassed and 40 percent reported being physically assaulted at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation. If “sexual orientation” were added to the act along with other groups it could help protect targeted individuals.

However, adding group characteristics alone will not decrease bullying. The act also needs to mandate diversity lessons, which will help teach children to respect others who may be “different” from them. Students also will learn to be more empathetic and understanding of the obstacles faced by those in minority groups.