Sen. Wiger: Anti-Bullying Legislation is Needed to Protect Our Kids

A column from Sen. Chuck Wiger of District 43.

In 2012, Governor Dayton formed a task force on the prevention of school bullying. Bullying was a problem before 2011, but the Governor’s task force shined a light toward an ongoing problem. Back in 2009, I offered anti-bullying legislation, which passed the House and Senate, but was vetoed by Governor Tim Pawlenty. This year, however, I’m optimistic we will pass legislation based on the task force’s recommendations from last August. Those recommendations, and the current bill, are a result of months of public testimony and deliberation. The task force recommended a complete overhaul of the limited policy against bullying by repealing current law and implementing new definitions, reporting, training and procedures on bullying. Furthermore…

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Letter to the Editor

Library Chat: Don’t Let a Bully Get You Down!

The library offers parenting kits filled with resources on bullying.

Ever been bullied? I was throughout my high school days by a male classmate. I hated running into him, because there was always “that name” that he called me. His bullying was sly and quiet; he did his taunting out of hearing distance of teachers and other students. I don’t believe anyone in my school knew he called me “that name,” or would have believed he was capable of such behavior. I never told anyone. Not my family, not friends, not my husband or children. I had wonderful parents, a protective big brother, caring cousins, good teachers, but to this day, I have told no one—just you. The name-calling classmate was a “leader” among my fellow students—a jock, a good student, a churchgoer, college-bound. But as far as I was concerned, he …

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Woodbury School Battles Bullying

Middleton Elementary has put a focus on character during National Bullying Prevention Month.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. But at Middleton Elementary in Woodbury, school officials are looking beyond the incidents themselves and trying to instill the values and characteristics that prevent bullying in the first place. The school has tapped into the teachings of late UCLA coach John Wooden as it educates parents and students about the impacts of bullying and how to deal with it. The traits being stressed for October are friendship and respect. Bullying isn’t a huge problem at Middleton, said Tara Dahlager, a school social worker, but as students move to middle and high school, “it can get really dangerous.” Of late, the school has focused on defining bullying—many students and parents are unsure where the line is …

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The Bully Pulpit

A community presentation at Trinity Presbyterian Church Monday focused on the damage bullying can do and what kids and adults can do about it.

As it has changed nearly everything in our world, technology has also changed today's typical bully. Once the biggest kid on the playground who would use size to intimidate the smaller or younger kids, now bullies tend to be more frequently found at the "top of the pack." They are the popular kids—standouts in sports, academics and other activities—but have turned to texting or Facebook to deliver negative messages about classmates. In a presentation sponsored by the Faith Based Health and Wellness Network in Woodbury and held at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Jennifer Rockhill, the community justice program coordinator for the Youth Service Bureau, addressed the prevalence of bullying among today's young people and the often devastating …

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Woodbury's Lake Middle School Proactive in Addressing 'Cyber-bullying'

Woodbury school has set up a hotline for students, held programs about the issue.

As is the case at schools across the country, Lake Middle School has its share of bullies. But the Woodbury school has taken a proactive approach to addressing the issue in recent months. Administrators set up a bullying hotline for students and brought in experts to speak about what can be done to combat the problem. Much of the school's focus has been on so-called "cyber-bullying," the student use of social-networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter to demean their peers.  "It's an issue in the media," said Richard Paisner, assistant principal at Lake Middle School. "But it's certainly not a new issue for schools." Lake Middle School formed a committee to examine the matter last year, and surveyed students about their thoughts on …

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