PREVENTING VIOLENCE IN SCHOOLS

To:  The Alameda County Board of Education

Bullying in schools is a serious issue that can result in severe consequences. For gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) children and youth, intense bullying and violence are an everyday experience: they are subject to slurs and name-calling about 26 times a day, or once every 14 minutes. Thirty-one percent of GLBT youth were threatened or injured AT SCHOOL in 2000. As a result, these young people drop out of school at a rate of 28%, three times the national average. Such discrimination also has severe mental health impacts, resulting in high rates of depression, substance abuse, and suicide. GLBT youth comprise up to 30% of completed suicides among youth annually, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Alameda County, California has taken proactive steps to stop this violence and discrimination by educating all students about tolerance. Their Lesson 9, Caring Schools Community Curriculum, aims to educate and prevent violence, bullying and harassment of GLBT youth. This has lead to a lawsuit filed in objection.

Violence of any kind is unacceptable in schools. Alameda County has done an excellent job of identifying and addressing a serious public health problem that puts children and youth at risk.

I STRONGLY SUPPORT ALAMEDA COUNTY'S CARING SCHOOLS COMMUNITY CURRICULUM TO PREVENT BULLYING, HARASSMENT AND VIOLENCE IN SCHOOLS.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The PREVENTING VIOLENCE IN SCHOOLS Petition to The Alameda County Board of Education was created by and written by Laurel Mildred (LMPETITION@gmail.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.