Rep. King says that hurt feelings, low self-esteem, and depression are a "choice."

Denver - Saying that the resolution would "further accentuate victim mentality" and that students who are experience name-calling "don’t have to have hurt feelings, low self-esteem, or be depressed . . . it is a choice," Representative Keith King (R-El Paso) voted with five other members of the House Education Committee along partisan lines to kill a resolution supporting "No-Name Calling Week."

House Joint Resolution 1019, introduced by Representative Angie Paccione (D-Larimer), was intended to encourage Colorado schools to participate in the first annual "No-Name Calling Week", scheduled for March 1 to 5, 2004 (www.nonamecallingweek.org). The No Name-Calling Coalition was inspired by the book "The Misfits" by James Howe, and was created by Simon & Schuster’s Children’s Publishing, GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Educators Network) and more than 40 other national organizations, including the National Association of Secondary School Principals, The Girl Scouts, the National Urban League, and the National Mental Health Association.

"I’m stunned that a simple resolution that focuses on the very real impact of name-calling and harassment on students would be rejected by the Education Committee," commented Carter Klenk, Program Director with the Colorado Anti-Violence Program, after today’s vote. "The creation of safe learning environments for every student should be a priority."

"If our elected officials cannot agree that name-calling is wrong, how are teachers and administrators supposed to teach this to children? " asked Denise de Percin, Executive Director with the Colorado Anti-Violence Program. "The failure to pass the resolution sends a dangerous message to students: maybe verbal harassment is okay in Colorado schools."

The legislature will consider two more bills affecting students and school climate in Colorado this session. HB 1375, introduced by Representative Shawn Mitchell (R-Broomfield) would prohibit a school district from providing instruction relating to sexual lifestyles that are alternative to heterosexual relationships, except in the context of instruction concerning the risk and prevention of sexually transmitted disease. SJR 017, sponsored by Sen. John Andrews (R-Arapahoe) seeks to affirm the teaching of Western civilization because "contemporary educational trends often downgrade the teaching of Western civilization and its contributions in favor of a multicultural approach that emphasizes the differences among Americans, rather than their common heritage."