School Board May Mandate Faculty Watch the Film “Bully”
Sarah Gonzalez / StateImpact Florida
Lawrence Feldman, Vice Chair of the Miami Dade School Board, was among the crowd at the screening of the film Bully.
Florida politicians and school officials watched the documentary film Bully over the weekend.
The Vice Chair of the Miami Dade School Board, Lawrence Feldman, was at the screening, hosted by the United Teachers of Dade.
And watching the film caused him to send a text message while he was in the theater.
“Its to my chief of staff,” Feldman read to StateImpact Florida from his cell phone.
“It says, ‘I would like a board item that mandates the entire school system see them movie Bully at a faculty meeting or next professional development day or sooner.’”
A panel discussion followed the screening with State Sen. Oscar Braynon (D-Miami Gardens), Florida Rep. Dwight Bullard (D-Cutler Bay) and experts on Florida’s policy against bullying in schools.
None of the characters profiled in the film are from Florida.
Sarah Gonzalez / StateImpact Florida
Rep. Dwight Bullard and Fla. Sen. Oscar Braynon were panelists after the screening of the documentary film Bully. They said Florida still needs a law against cyber bullying.
But the crowd of mostly educators told panelists Miami-Dade schools need more counselors to address school bullying. Many suggested students should also watch the film — not just adults.
After a battle over rating, Bully is now rated PG-13.
The film follows students throughout the country who are bullied by other students on school campuses and on school buses, and exposes a lack of policies against school bullying.
