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New Maine Law Aims To Protect Teachers From Harassment

Maine Public | By Associated Press

Published July 24, 2021 at 10:30 AM EDT

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A cutout of former President John F. Kennedy occupies a seat next to seventh grader Reilly Sullivan at the Bruce M. Whittier Middle School, Friday, Jan. 29, 2021, in Poland, Maine. With instruction time reduced as much as half by the coronavirus pandemic, many of the nation's middle school and high school teachers have given up on covering all the material normally included in their classes and instead are cutting lessons. Landry, put up cardboard cutouts to keep up social distancing, where instruction time has been cut in half by the hybrid model.

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine teachers will be protected by a new law designed to prevent workplace bullying of educators.

The proposal requires school districts to have internal policies that address and stop bullying and harassment of educators and school staff members.

The Maine Legislature passed the proposal and it became law in mid-July without the signature of Democratic Gov. Janet Mills. Democratic Sen. Mattie Daughtry proposed the new law and said it reflects that ``districts need to have the backs of their teachers and staff if they're facing harassment or bullying.