Governor Signs Anti-Bullying Legislation
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Gov. Pat Quinn has signed legislation designed to give Illinois schools the tools they need to crack down on bullying.
WBBM Newsradio Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports 15-year-old high school student Mariah Reeves said she started being bullied when she was in 6th grade.
"It started escalating, because I didn't know what to do, and I gave them the reaction they wanted, and it just got worse," she said.
Eventually, assistance her mother sought helped Mariah get past that.
State Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) said the legislation Quinn signed Thursday would require all public schools to develop and carry out an anti-bullying policy.
"What we've done today is create a framework; really a floor – because you can go further if you want , but create a floor – that defines what a policy has to contain, and how to build that policy, involving stakeholders," she said.
Reeves urged other kids who have been bullied to tell their parents, and just be themselves, despite taunting from others.