DIGNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS...(AND AMERICANS TOO?)

New York State has a law entitled "DASA - Dignity for All Students Act."  It is intended to protect the dignity of all students at all times, on school property and off, when involved in a  school function.  School curricula must include direct instruction in civility, citizenship, and character education by expanding the concepts of tolerance, respect for others and dignity. The consequences for infringing on student rights as outlined in the law are clearly laid out.  Public school teachers are also required to view a training video on the Act in order to maintain their certification.

My latest question is this: How are we to factor in the impact of Donald Trump's presidential campaign behavior on the behavior of our students?  What if it becomes clear that an increase in school bullying is directly tied to unconscionable public bullying of women, ethnic groups, disabled Americans, the LGBT community, and more, by a man seeking the highest office in our land?  

There is an actual law in the State of New York to address behaviors in children that we now witness daily from a man seeking to be President of the United States of America.  How can we not hold this man accountable?  How can any thinking, caring American support such behavior?  What justification can there be for supporting a "candidate" who exemplifies undignified behavior? How can we instruct our children in rightful behavior when an adult seeking the very highest office in the land is an exemplar of discriminatory, intimidating, harassing, bullying behavior?

PLEASE, we need to speak truth to insanity.  NOW.

The Dignity for All Students Act 

New York State’s Dignity for All Students Act (The Dignity Act) seeks to provide the State’s public elementary and secondary school students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function.

The Dignity Act was signed into law on September 13, 2010 and took effect on July 1, 2012. Amendments to the act are effective as of July 1, 2013 and are noted below under ***DIGNITY ACT NEWS***. 

The original legislation amended State Education Law by creating a new Article 2 – Dignity for All Students.  The Dignity Act also amended Section 801-a of New York State Education Law regarding instruction in civility, citizenship, and character education by expanding the concepts of tolerance, respect for others and dignity to include: an awareness and sensitivity in the relations of people, including but not limited to, different races, weights, national origins, ethnic groups, religions, religious practices, mental or physical abilities, sexual orientations, gender identity, and sexes. The Dignity Act further amended Section 2801 of the Education Law by requiring Boards of Education to include language addressing The Dignity Act in their codes of conduct.

Additionally, under the Dignity Act, schools will be responsible for collecting and reporting data regarding material incidents of discrimination and harassment.