Anti-Bullying ‘Week of Respect’ Kicks Off in Teaneck [VIDEO]

State Education Commissioner Chris Cerf joined Teaneck school leaders and New Jersey officials Monday at Thomas Jefferson Middle School for the kickoff of the state’s second annual “Week of Respect” to stand up against bullying.

Teaneck resident Steven Goldstein, Garden State Equality Chair, led a group of students and officials in a game show “quiz” to help educate young people about ways to spot, prevent and handle bullying incidents.  

Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Englewood), the prime sponsor of New Jersey’s anti-bullying law, was also in attendance, along with officials representing State Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck) and Assemblyman Gordon Johnson (D-Englewood).

The anti-bullying law, credited as being the strongest in the nation, was passed after the suicide of Ridgewood’s Tyler Clementi, a Rutgers University student who was secretly recorded by his roommate in an intimate encounter with a man at his college dorm. The roommate,  on charges including bias intimidation and invasion of privacy. 

Under the law, schools must implement a host of anti-bullying measures, including designating a school official to handle complaints, train staff and follow strict reporting guidelines.

Schools around the state held similar assemblies and will offer anti-bullying lessons.

-- Staff Report 

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