Statistics show that 77% of students in America say they have been bullied before.  Right now, Texas law prohibits bullying in schools, but teachers and parents say there is no definition for "bullying."

State lawmakers are looking through at least seven bills to define what 'bullying" means.  Matt Tyner with Jacksonville Middle School says he constantly deals with both bullying and cyber-bullying. However,
Tyner says even though bullying is a problem at his school, he's not sure if making the laws tighter would help. "Sometimes if we do define it, then we don't have recourse for things that are happening because they don't fit that definition. Whenever you define it (bullying), it ties my hands to what I can do to help victims," Tyner says.

Stori Willingham, who teaches at Robert E. Lee high school, welcomes stricter bullying laws.  She says, "It needs to stop because people are getting hurt. It takes a tremendous amount of time away from a classroom setting where we have to go and be police instead of be in a classroom."  Willingham adds, "We need help from the administrative board, from the parents, and from the legislature so we can get back in the classroom and teach."
 

Lawmakers have until March to file bills on bullying.  If you want to learn more about what proposals are already out there, click here:

http://www.kwtx.com/news/headlines/Bullying_Will_Be_An_Issue_In_Texas_Le...