Sachem Student at Center of Anti-Bullying Legislation

A recent press release from Suffolk County Legis. Jon Cooper's office started like this: "It makes me feel bad and rather depressed. Like I don't want to be a part of this world any more."

Those are the words of a 14-year old affected by cyberbullying.

Statements like that had Cooper draft a policy to criminalize despicable, high-tech harassment of children.

"The victims emotionally drown in a deluge of humiliation, anguish and hopelessness," he said. "We simply can't wait any longer for Albany to get its act together on this issue. That's why I'm acting now by introducing this bill."

Now another 14-year old has Cooper's ear.

Jamie Isaacs, a Sachem student, is the model for anti-bullying legislation in Suffolk County aimed to hold school administrators responsible for writing up incidents of bullying and punishing children who take part in the malevolent acts.

She said the bullying started at Wenonah Elementary School in Lake Grove. The Isaacs, who testified at a Suffolk County Legislature public hearing in Hauppauge Tuesday afternoon, filed four notices of claim with the Sachem Central School District in December 2007. The claims looked to address administration, which they say failed to acknowledge the bullying of Isaacs and her brother Danny, who cited that he was threatened with a knife earlier this year.

Since the tragic death of West Islip High School student Alexis Pilkington, whose suicide was linked to cyberbullying via social media, there has been a risen awareness with students, parents and schools regarding similar situations.

"The Sachem Central School District has a zero tolerance policy on bullying," said a statement issued by the district's public relations firm, Zimmerman/Edelson. "The District implements many programs each school year to teach anti-bullying and tolerance in the elementary, middle and high school levels. Anti-bullying is addressed in each grade through an array of programs including lectures, guest speakers, workshops, after school programs and curriculum.

"When an alleged incident is brought to the administration's attention, an investigation is launched immediately. Building administrators, counselors, social workers and teachers join together to resolve any bullying issues within our school community.  Appropriate disciplinary action is taken against any student who is involved in a bullying incident. The District cannot comment on individual cases due to student privacy laws and ongoing litigation."

While Isaacs' case is not entirely geared towards cyberbullying, many other students have issues with the technologically based problems. Late last month, Sen. Charles E. Schumer requested that the Federal Trade Commission claim regulation of Facebook.

"I am asking the FTC to use the authority given to it to examine practices in the disclosure of private information from social networking sites and to ensure users have the ability to prohibit the sharing of personal information," Schumer said in a statement. "If the FTC feels it does not have the authority to do so under current regulations I will support them in obtaining the tools and authority to do just that."

In Pennsylvania, one of the 42 states that has anti-bullying legislation, they are looking to further strengthen their policies. State Reps. Rick Taylor (D-Montgomery), Tim Briggs (D-Montgomery), and Bryan Lentz, (D-Swarthmore) want the Department of Education to routinely review bullying policies and report its findings and make schools' accesses to Safe Schools program grants contingent upon approval of its bullying policies and compliance with reporting procedures, the Delaware Times (Delaware County, PA) wrote.

"We believe that if the child feels bullied or cyberbullied, they do not feel safe," Nancy Baron-Baer, a representative from Pennsylvania's Anti-Defamation League, told that paper, "if the child doesn't feel safe, then they cannot learn, and if the child cannot learn in school, then we as adults are not doing our jobs in a society."

As the legislative process continues with this bill, Sachem Patch will provide coverage.