Written by Don Byrd
With the start of a new school year, officials within the U.S. Department of Education are looking for ways to combat the growing problem of religious bullying, particularly directed at students adhering to minority faiths. The DOE plans for the first time to collect data on bullying incidents.
The Deseret News reports on the goals of the new initiative and profiles the personal toll that can be inflicted by such harassment.
Dapinder Ahluwalia’s 14-year-old son starts high school next month. Like many parents, she’ll spend the last days of summer ensuring he has the right school supplies and a copy of his class schedule.
Unlike other moms and dads, she’ll also print write-ups for teachers and school leaders that explain the family’s faith. Ahluwalia and her son are Sikh, and confusion about their religion has led to bullying in the past.
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Ahluwalia was prepared for minor bullying episodes. After all, her son’s head covering made him different, and young children often pick on anyone who stands out.
But while he was in elementary school, each new year seemed to bring more tears and frustration. Ahluwalia pulled her son out of his private elementary school at the end of fifth grade and moved him to a public school. They ended up moving to a new state before he finished sixth grade, because ongoing bullying made Ahluwalia long to be somewhere with a larger Sikh population.
The DOE emphasizes the role parents can and should play in helping to curb bullying incidents, including educating themselves about their children’s rights, and educating teachers and school administrators about their faith. They should also be prepared, the report indicates, to advocate for their children in front of school boards and school officials to report incidents of harassment and demand action.
The Department announced this new initiative last month. You can see the new DOE religious discrimination website here, and their updated complaint form here.
