A case of bullying at Lexington Middle School in Lee County has recently garnered renewed media attention and is currently under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. Additionally, October will mark National Bullying Prevention month. In 2008, state lawmakers passed the Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up for All Students Act which requires Florida Schools to adopt policies to discourage bullying, both in person and online, or risk losing state funds. The law was championed by former Cape Coral resident Debbie Johnston, whose son Jeffrey took his own life at the age of 15, after enduring years of bullying by classmates.
More recently, State Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen, R-Fort Myers, has been working to pass a law that would criminalize penalties for those who willfully, maliciously and repeatedly harass or ‘cyberbully’ another person. The measure, dubbed ‘Rebecca’s Law,’ is named for Rebecca Sedwick, a 12-year-old Polk County student who committed suicide after facing bullying. We’ll explore the current status of bullying education in local schools, the impacts of bullying and the importance of identifying and addressing the behavior in and out of the classroom.
Guests:
Mary Fischer, Lee County School Board Member, District 1
Debbie Johnston, former Cape Coral resident/educator and proponent of Jeff’s Law
