Springfield hosts anti-bullying hearing

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The state's anti-bullying law is in effect, but some say it doesn't go far enough.

Parents, school officials, lawmakers and students gathered at Western New England College Thursday to discuss what still needs to be done.

One by one they testified before a special commission chaired by Attorney General Martha Coakley.

The commission is charged with considering whether the bullying prevention law need to expand or change.

"Broad plans, speaking about goals and having a healthy climate are one thing but how you actually make that work everyday in a busy school can be tricky," said Coakley.

Superintendent Marty O’Shea of the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District told 22News, “I'm very interested to see that schools are empowered to build programs that build positive school climates in the broader sense."

The message from a lot of the people who testified at this hearing is that students need to be involved more on what happens at their school.

Students from a group called Teen Angels out of Franklin started a program called Step up, Speak out after the suicide of Phoebe Prince.

14-year old Sammy said, “With bullying and how it's gotten out of control we feel kids will learn better and will understand more if it comes from us instead of adults."

The groups testified that the new law is a great first step, but students need to be better educated about the impact of bullying.

14-year-old Phil said, “"When they learn what the consequences are to be a bully and what it's like to be a victim, they're going to stay away from it."

Phil’s mother, Rose Henault told 22News, “We try to teach them as much as we can at home some parents do that at home so if they can learn from each other at school, as they're trying to do, it's going to be a big help."

If you have an opinion about what more can be done, you can still submit written testimony to the attorney general's office, the deadline for that is February 24th.

You can email paul.heithaus@state.ma.us or fax (617) 727-6016.