H. B. 2393
(By Delegates Riggs, Leggett,
Pino and Warner)
[Introduced February 21, 2001; referred to the
Committee on Education then the Judiciary.]
A BILL to amend article two, chapter eighteen of the code of West
Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by
adding thereto a new section, designated section thirty-five,
relating to decorum for students addressing teachers and
service personnel in public schools.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That article two, chapter eighteen of the code of West
Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be
amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section
thirty-five, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 2. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
§18-2-35. Decorum for students addressing teachers and service
personnel.
(a) The Legislature hereby finds and determines that proper
courtesy and decorum exhibited by students in public schools toward
teachers and service personnel promotes and educates students of
proper social skills and decorum and promotes appropriate
self-discipline by students.
(b) For the school year beginning the first day of July, two
thousand one, and thereafter, the county boards of education shall
require all students in kindergarten through the fifth grade to
exhibit proper decorum as required in this section:
Provided, That
for the school year beginning the first day of July, two thousand
two, the requirements of this section shall also apply to all
students in the sixth grade and extend to students in the next
grade above each year thereafter, to include all secondary school
students beginning in the school year beginning the first day of
July, two thousand nine. The state board may provide for
exemptions from the requirements of this section for students with
disabilities as determined by the state board to be in the best
interests of such students, according to the type of disability, or
on a case by case basis.
(c) When any student is speaking with or addressing any
teacher or service personnel at a public school or while a student is under the supervision of a teacher or service personnel, such
student shall address and respond to such teacher or service
personnel by using the respectful terms "Sir", or "Ma'am", "Yes
Ma'am" and "No Ma'am" or "Yes Sir" and "No Sir", as appropriate, or
"Yes Mister, Miss or Ms. (Surname) and "No Mister, Miss or Ms.,
(Surname), as appropriate, each such title to be followed by the
appropriate surname.
(d) Each county board shall incorporate the requirements of
this section into any existing discipline policy or code of student
conduct of each county board.
(e) The state board shall promulgate rules in accordance with
article three-b, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to implement
the requirements of this section, which shall include and be
subject to the following:
(1) Provide for appropriate action necessary to discipline
students who fail to comply with the requirements of this section:
Provided, That no student shall be suspended or expelled from
school for failure to comply with the provisions of this section;
(2) Provide for appropriate instruction of students of the
requirements of this section and of the provisions of the rules
promulgated herein prior to the enforcement of the provisions of this section;
(3) Provide for informing the parents and legal guardians of
students of the decorum required of students pursuant to provisions
of this section and of the rules promulgated hereunder.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require a certain decorum
for students in public schools when addressing or speaking to
teachers and service personnel; provides for promulgation of rules;
provides for the phase-in of provisions beginning with the school
year beginning July 1, 2001, for grades kindergarten to fifth
grade, to be increased each year thereafter, one grade above the
fifth, until the school year 2008, for all secondary school
students.
This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.
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