On June 26, Gov. Pat Quinn signed a new Anti-Bullying legislation. This new legislation has been implemented at LTHS, and has arisen many questions among the community as to what the legislation is going to do to improve the policies already in set in place by LTHS.

This new policy requires parental notification, a definition of bullying, procedures for the bullying, an investigation of reports of bullying and actions that may be taken to address the conflict, according to an article from the Chicago Tribune.

Although this new legislation seems like a lot of work, it hasn’t had a major effect on LTHS. LTHS Social Worker, Susan Hudders, even described the legislation’s effect as being “ slow to come.”

According to LTHS dean, Larry Thompson, bullying cases are seldom at LTHS, “So far this year I’ve had seven incidents.”

Hudders explained how a lot of students don’t tell teachers about bullying incidents and says, “ I don’t think we get enough [cases].”

Hudders felt the legislation was more of a confirmation of what LTHS is already doing she responded, “In my opinion, it’s more communicating. Teachers can be more involved.”

Hudders added that communicating with teachers about conflicts in classrooms is,”very hard” due to the fact that she works mainly with deans and counselors.

Overall, LTHS staff don’t feel any new pressures with the legislation.

”Working at Lockport, We’ve always had a policy against what they constitute, as we call bullying.” says Thompson.  ” That has always been handled as a serious matter here”

Hudders mentions how she has always filled out documentation for cases like these and adds “ we’ve never turned our head.”

Thompson believes this new legislation will make it easier for students stating, “It should help students who don’t report.”

Hudders believes the LTHS staff is ,“creating accountability” that they have taken care of the situation by filling out the legislations required forms.

Matthew Major, an LTHS counselor, says, “It heightens our awareness.”

The new Anti-Bullying law was put in place to take more precautions on bullying, but schools like LTHS seem to be unaffected by this seeing that they already had policies in place against bullying that can even be found in students porter planners. This law seems more of an affirmation of what schools should be doing rather than a whole new change.