Tazewell County School Board unanimously voted to adopt a Bullying Prevention Proclamation at their October 9, 2023 school board meeting. The proclamation reads as follows:
WHEREAS, school bullying has become an increasingly significant problem in the United States and Virginia; and
WHEREAS, almost twenty percent of the youth in the United States are estimated to be involved in bullying each year, either as a bully or as a victim; and
WHEREAS, an estimated one hundred sixty thousand students in kindergarten through twelfth grade miss school every day due to a fear of being bullied; and
WHEREAS, bullying can take many forms, including verbal, physical, and most recently in cyberspace, and can happen in many places on and off school grounds;
WHEREAS, it is important for Virginia parents, students, teachers, and school administrators to be aware of bullying, and to encourage discussion of the problem as a school community; and
WHEREAS, the Tazewell County School Board has adopted a policy on anti-bullying to encourage positive behaviors and to eliminate bullying behaviors;
Now, THEREFORE, the Tazewell County School Board recognizes the month of October 2023 as VSBA Bullying Prevention Month, with the intention that the issue of bullying and its prevention be discussed in the schools and classrooms during that time.
The Bullying Prevention Proclamation was signed by all Tazewell County School Board members. Parents and guardians are encouraged to bring any instances of bullying in Tazewell County Public Schools to the attention of school administrators.