First, look up your local school district anti-bully policy . This may be published on the school district's website, or you may have to call the school and ask them if they have a policy or not. In California , it is up to each school to determine their own anti-bully policy. If your district doesn't have a policy in place, you have a few options.

One is to contact the school PTA and ask if they will sponsor an anti-bully policy. Another is to contact the school and set up an appointment to discuss the matter. Either way, be prepared for the meeting by printing out a few anti-bullying policy templates that are in place in other schools. Understand that anyone willing to meet with you is concerned about the school's learning environment for the students just like you are. Let them know that you want to be part of the process involved with implementing a policy to protect the
students from bullying.

Second , contact your local assembly person and let them know that you are interested in an anti bully law being put into effect. There is no such law in California at this time. One of the problems is that such a law would typically need to be passed with funding to train school employees on how to implement it. Funding is a large issue in California right now. Talk to your legislator about this. Ask if it would be possible to pass the law without funding. Talk to your circle of friends about what you find out.

We are fast approaching an election in California. You can contact the two men running for State Superintendent here and here:

TomTorlakson.com http://www.larryaceves2010.com/
Ask them both if they think we need an anti-bully law in this state. Ask them what their position is on stopping bullying. Then talk to your friends and neighbors about what you discover. Let us know what you find out.

The Safe Schools Improvement Act HR 2262 : has beenintroduced into congress.

The Student Non-descrimination Act HR 4530 : has also been introduced.

Check out the links to see if your representative has co-sponsored it, and then call your representative to tell them it is important to you. If you have never called your representative before, it is empowering. You call and let them know there is an interest that you personally feel strongly about. Call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak to your representative today. The more we do that as a society, the stronger our democracy grows.

The bullying situation stands in this state and this country because adults have not stepped up to the plate to make sure the schools are safe for all students. Although the last month's new cycle has seen several horrifying suicides of teen children who were being bullied, these suicides have been going on for years without our attention .

Please join American Tiger Martial Arts and Fitness in changing the climate of bullying in our schools.