Recognizing and commending the Bullying Prevention Program in the Philadelphia School District's Office of School Climate and Safety, and offering full support to the work of its associates who implement measures that prevent and reduce childhood bullying as well as address the damaging, detrimental results of this behavior.

WHEREAS, Bullying is known to be a seriously dangerous offense, bringing physical, psychological and emotional harm to victims that can last a life time - resulting in damaging, detrimental and potentially lethal consequences for all involved; and

WHEREAS, The Bullying Prevention Program is a collaboration between the Philadelphia School District’s Office of School Climate and Safety and Physicians for Social Responsibility of Philadelphia, and is funded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency and the State Department of Education; and

WHEREAS, According to data reported by the National Association of School Psychologists, bullying which affects over five million children nation-wide is the most common form of violence in our schools, communities and throughout our social environment in general; and

WHEREAS, In a national survey of students in grades six through ten, indicates 13% of those polled reported bullying others, 11% reported being a victim of bullying, and another 6% said that they had been both a victim and perpetrator of this dangerous behavior; and

WHEREAS, Data reported by the Centers For Disease Control Youth Risk Behavior Survey and Behavior, reveals bullying is a principle and pervasive cause of truancy, classroom absences and a chief factor of disruption and distraction in any educational environment; and

WHEREAS, Only a coordinated, cooperative and adequately funded anti-bullying program - engaging students, parents, teachers, administrators, educational and clinical professionals - is imperative

to detect, prevent and address the violent, disastrous causes and effects of bullying, as well as, report and record these occurrences; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Council of the City of Philadelphia recognizes and commends the Bullying Prevention Program in the Philadelphia School District’s Office of Climate and Safety, and offers its full support to the work of its associates who implement measures that prevent and reduce childhood bullying as well as address the damaging, detrimental results of this behavior.

FURTHER RESOLVED

,

That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Erica Jackson, Coordinator of the Bullying Prevention Control Program and representatives of the Philadelphia School District’s Office of Climate and Safety, Physicians for Social Responsibility and the Pennsylvania Commission on Juvenile Crime and Delinquency evidencing the sincere sentiments of this Legislative Body.

End