Take Steps to Protect All Students
By Mary Jane Karger
Your Nov. 20 editorial on "Healing the hurt" makes a good point about standing up for human rights on a daily basis. In addition, there are measures that teachers, school administrators and school boards can take to institutionalize a no-tolerance policy for harassment and discrimination. They can do this by passing inclusive nondiscrimination and anti-harassment policies, supporting the formation of student diversity clubs, and training teachers on how they can make their classrooms safe and affirming.
Our lawmakers in Albany also have a role. They can pass the Dignity For All Students Act (A02634/S01628) to give school faculty and administrators the tools to address such incidents. We at the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network of Hudson Valley are available to help any school district interested in furthering their process of making schools safer for all students and staff, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. Call us at (914) 962-7888 or e-mail us at westchester@glsenhudsonvalley.org.
Mary Jane Karger
Yorktown Heights
The writer is co chair, GLSEN Hudson Valley.