Anti-bullying bill called 'Matt's Law' in jeopardy

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Matt Epling was a 14-year-old who committed suicide following a horrible episode of being bullied.

Kevin Epling, Matt's father said, "The pain of losing a child is unbelievably devastating. We were just like every other family, thinking everything is fine. It was so out of character."

In 2002, at the end of eighth grade, some students from East Lansing High School in Michigan lured Matt from his house. Matt would have attended the school in the fall. As Matt was restrained he had eggs smashed on him in what was said to be freshman hazing. Just before the family filed charges Matt committed suicide.

Michigan state Sen. Glenn Anderson, D-Wayne introduced a bill called Matt's Law that would require every school to have an anti-bullying policy. According to Anderson there are 34 states with similar laws.

The bill has passed the state House but it is stalled in the Senate. If it doesn't pass this fall it will die.

Those who oppose the law say that schools can pass their own anti-bullying policies and there is no need for a state law. They point out that Michigan has a model anti-bullying policy that many schools have already used to write their own policies.

Those who favor having a state law say many schools do not have such a policy. They say that without a clearly defined plan by the state both victims and bullies are left without the support needed to change this behavior.

Anderson said "I introduced a bill that basically would set a floor for all school districts to have a policy. I've heard from a number of parents and students who say they had a problem dealing with the school, getting them to recognize that it was a problem."

Senate Education Committee chairman Sen. Wayne Kuipers, R-Holland, has not returned calls over the past week asking why the bill is stalled. Anderson and Epling both said they were told the bill was not moving because it was not needed.

According to a survey by EPIC/MRA almost half of Michigan residents interviewed knew someone who was a victim of bullying. Of those 40% felt the school was "not at all effective" in dealing with the problem.

Janet McPeek, president of Crossroads for Youth, an Oakland County nonprofit that works with high-risk students said, "Where we're not making progress is getting at the root behaviors. It really takes teaching conflict resolution and problem-solving skills. I think it's part of teaching children and teens the skills they need to be healthy adults in their homes and the workplace."

Phil Freeman, principal at Pioneer Middle School in Plymouth-Canton Community Schools said, "Bullying comes with social exclusion. "To feel socially excluded makes it much more difficult, especially since this is a difficult time socially for any kids."

What is normally seen as bullying, a big kid hitting a little kid, is only a small part or the problem. Bullying can be shunning someone socially or ridiculing a wide range of subjects such as a person's race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, appearance or physical or mental disabilities. Often nonphysical harassment is not recognized as bullying.

The interim principal at White Lake Middle School in Huron Valley Schools and a national bullying expert, Jill McDonald, says high school students tell her bullying doesn't happen at their school. But when she rephrases her question and asks about specific behaviors, the students will change their answer.

"They'll say, 'Yeah, that happens all the time.' " McDonald said.

The root of bullying is the same as what motivates sexual abuse, according to McDonald, it is about power and control.

According to Jill McDonald there are common traits among the victims of bullying;

Children who don't fit in give bullies areas to target.

This can include the victim's size, weight, looks, clothes and disabilities.

Many victims are passive or insecure. But others are provocative or argumentative.

Finally, minorities are often victims. This includes those who are minorities via race, religion or sexual orientation.

To learn more about bullying you can check here.