October 26, 2023

Clinton Says New Bullying Plan Will Remedy Harm Of Trump Campaign

Clinton Says New Bullying Plan Will Remedy Harm of Trump Campaign

Updated on October 28th

In the midst of growing reports of school bullying that mirrors the aggressive language used during the Trump campaign, Hillary Clinton has announced her plan to decrease harassment of students by their peers.

The Better Than Bullying campaign aims to establish a $500 million grant program for states that develop comprehensive anti-bullying strategies. These strategies could include initiatives such as hiring more counselors in schools, promoting social-emotional well-being, implementing stronger measures to combat cyberbullying, and providing better support for bullying victims.

Although all states already have laws or policies against bullying, Corey Ciorciari, a Clinton adviser, stated during a conference call with reporters that not all of them are thorough enough. Only 25 states specifically address cyberbullying in their policies.

Nevertheless, these policies have proven to be effective. States that have implemented at least one of the Department of Education’s recommended anti-bullying policies have experienced a 24% reduction in bullying.

Under the plan, states that create anti-bullying strategies would be eligible to receive four federal dollars for every dollar they spend on their efforts against bullying.

A report by UCLA in 2010 discovered that bullying has a negative impact on student performance. The researchers found that high levels of bullying are associated with lower grades and that middle school students who are victims of bullying may suffer a 1.5-point drop in their GPA.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, the percentage of students who reported being bullied decreased from 28% in previous years to 22% in 2013. Clinton credited this decline to Obama’s policies, but her advisers noted that the data does not reflect the toxic environment created by Trump’s campaign. They specifically highlighted Trump’s proposed Muslim ban, promise to deport undocumented residents, and his mocking of a disabled reporter as contributing factors to the increase in bullying incidents.

Anne McQuade, an educator from New Hampshire who participated in the call, expressed concerns about the message being sent to children. She said, "We aim to raise socially responsible individuals, yet we have a powerful man running for president who demonstrates bias, racism, and gender abuse. It is in complete contrast with the anti-bullying education that we are trying to promote."

In a survey conducted by The Southern Poverty Law Center, which included 2,000 teachers, it was found that two-thirds of students, especially Muslims and immigrants, are experiencing increased anxiety and fear as a result of the campaign. Moreover, immigrant and Muslim students from Washington state told CNN that they have been subjected to derogatory remarks such as "terrorist" and "go back to the border," which they attributed to Trump.

Tony Coelho, the former chairman of the President’s Committee on the Employment of People With Disabilities, expressed his belief that Donald Trump has fueled hatred with his rhetoric. The Trump campaign has not yet responded to a request for comment.