H.629/ACT 117 Signing Ceremony Speech

John Halligan – May 18, 2004

Governor Douglas, Lt Governor Dubie, Representative Peter Hunt, Senator Jim Condos and the rest of the Vermont Legislature … THANK YOU. To all those Vermont Parents and Students that supported this bill with their personal letters and testimony … THANK YOU. To all the educators in Vermont that agreed this bill was indeed necessary and said so … THANK YOU.

We do not pass laws expecting them to solve problems over night. We pass laws to make a strong statement of what is expected when we commune as a society. This bill makes a very strong statement of what is expected of our schools when it comes to bullying prevention. Enacting this bill is only the start, by raising awareness and calling for action. As parents and educators responsible for the physical and emotional safety of our children, together we must remain demanding and impatient until the spirit of this new law is a permanent part of the school culture and climate.

No Vermont child should ever again be driven to self inflicted harm and even death, to cope with the self doubt and pain caused by bullying. No child of Vermont should ever again have to tolerate this behavior in school, from either a peer or a teacher. No school in Vermont should ever again, wonder what its role and responsibility is in guaranteeing a truly safe and civil environment.

The signing of this bill today gives my family hope, that in memory of Ryan, another young person’s life will have been saved from this kind of pain.

Thank You.