I’ve gotten a number of inquiries about the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights hearing on bullying in public schools. One of the more basic questions goes along the lines of: “What’s the commission’s authority to address the issue of bullying in public schools?”
I respectfully suggest that’s a question better put to the liberal majority on the commission, who, as you might expect, have a perspective slightly different from mine.
A number of other thoughtful questions and comments have been made. I’ll reserve my own analysis until the commission issues its report to the president and Congress in late summer. But I encourage any and all members of the public to provide their comments and data to the commission until May 27, at which time the record will be closed. All comments should be sent to the attention of the Acting General Counsel, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, 624 Ninth St. N.W. , Washington, D.C. 20425.
Nobody wants violence and bullying in public schools. But questions abound as to how to best address the problem — including whether and to what extent the federal government has jurisdiction over the matter; First Amendment (both free speech and free exercise) issues related to speech restrictions in school anti-bullying policies; parental involvement in preventing bullying (an issue that was left wholly unaddressed at the hearing); whether schools and parents are better equipped to handle the problem than state or federal authorities; whether there are gaps in legislation, etc. Public comment on these and other issues can be valuable.
Simply because one’s skeptical about federal involvement, speech codes, etc., doesn’t mean that person’s fine with school violence and bullying.
The commission welcomes your input.