Support Dignity for All Students

Level of Government: State

I am both a constituent from your district and a member of the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT). NYSUT is the largest union in New York State and represents more than 600,000 classroom teachers and other school employees; higher education academic and professional faculty; health professionals; and is also affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO.

My objective in writing you this letter is to seek your support of the Dignity for All Students Act (A.3661-B/S.1987-A) and for you to encourage your fellow New York state legislators to enact this legislation into law during the 2009 legislative session. This is the seventh year this bill has passed the NYS Assembly and I am grateful it has moved this far to date. Yet, more needs to be done by the NYS legislature to turn the Act into NYS law.

The Dignity for All Students Act prohibits harassment and discrimination in public schools, including harassment based upon a person's real or perceived race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, religious practice, sex, gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation or disability. It creates programs to foster a harassment-free environment in schools, and implements a reporting mechanism that will allow the state to compile data on the number of incidents of harassment on school grounds.

All students should be able to attend school without the constant fear of threats, harassment or discrimination from any member of the school population. Since New York state mandates compulsory attendance of its youth in schools it is, therefore, incumbent upon the State to provide a safe and comfortable learning environment for all its students. Enactment of The Dignity for All Students Act is one way to provide for such an environment in one's pursuit of a meaningful education. Currently, New York state has no comprehensive prohibition on bias harassment and bullying in primary or secondary schools.

Promoting tolerance and ending harassment of people because of each others differences in the New York state school system should be of paramount importance in the 2009 legislative session. Please help to ensure that all students can work, learn and socialize in a positive school environment so they can each obtain the necessary education they deserve.

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