The tragedy of the school shootings at Columbine High School and elsewhere around the nation painfully reminded us that school harassment and bullying can have painful and violent consequences. Across the nation, school districts searched their souls. Schools realized that bullying, harassment and intimidation create a hostile environment for many students. In response, school districts all over the county developed and implemented anti-bullying polices and prevention programs.

Recently the Montana Board of Public Education came to the same conclusion. On Nov. 4, 2005, the board voted to require all Montana school districts to adopt policies that are "designed to prevent bullying, intimidation, and harassment of students and school personnel." We at the Montana Youth Leadership Forum (MYLF), the Montana Council on Developmental Disabilities (MCDD), and the Montana Advocacy Program (MAP) are in full support of the board's decision to require these policies that will help schools address and prevent the bullying, harassment, and intimidation that create a hostile environment for many students with disabilities.

The board's decision came after a series of hearings that were held between May and November, 2005, during which the board heard a great deal of testimony about the seriousness of the problem of bullying in Montana, including testimony from scholars who have closely studied the problem. The board discussed this issue thoughtfully and came up with a solution. End of story, right? Sadly, no.

On Jan. 23, 2006, the last day for public comment on the rules proposed to implement this decision, a handful of opponents appeared for the first time and objected to requiring school boards to have any policies that prohibit bullying, intimidation, or harassment. One of the most prominent reasons for their opposition was that the policies would apply to protect everyone - all students and all faculty. Why did they find this objectionable? Because "everyone" includes gay students or students who are perceived to be gay.

We in the disability community have seen bullies single out vulnerable children. Kids who use wheelchairs, kids with developmental disabilities, and kids who are blind are often chosen as targets for this harassment. The opponents to the enactment of anti-bullying policies are so intent to deny protection from violence to vulnerable kids who are or are perceived to be gay, they are willing to deny this protection to every student. Their position is not just malicious and hateful. It is also shockingly reckless, as it urges the board to leave vulnerable children without protection and deny this important tool to school districts and school personnel to address and prevent this violence.

We are offended and outraged by this opposition and urge everyone concerned about violence in our schools to contact the Board of Public Education and voice your support for anti-bullying policies.

June Hermanson is MYLF program director, Deborah SwingleY is executive director of MCDD, and Bernadette Franks-Ongoy isexecutive director of MAP.