It is estimated that 25% of school children suffer at the hands of some kind of bullying to the degree that it affects their mental health and wellbeing.
Friday 18 March marked Australia’s first annual community awareness campaign to address bullying. This national initiative puts the spotlight on bystander behaviour.
Bullying is not just a personal predicament. All members of the school community have a part to play in ending bullying and ensuring safe school environments. Schools recognise that bystanders play a particularly important role.
It was organised by all Australian education authorities through the Save and Supportive School Communities Project which is managed by the QLD Government on behalf of Australia’s Government, Catholic and Independent school communities.
For lots of practical information about how to tackle bullying both in schools and the community go to the Bullying No Way website.
So everyone can get involved with combating bullying in our society the website has resources on:
- School activities
- Classroom activities
- Parent’s activities
- Student’s activities
Writer Helen Splarn. Editor Dr Ramesh Manocha
Source: Bullying No Way
Bullying is a form of “coward behaviour” which is learnt at home, usually through the child observing their parent’s behaviour. If they inter-relate in a dysfunctional manner (ie, emotionally imbalanced) than it’s obvious that the child will unconsciously absorb these confused, unstable behavioural signals. As a result, he/she will form an unstable identity, and this may result in lashing out at other people out of sheer frustration of being abused/ignored/manipulated at home.
Parents – become involved in your child’s life and discipline them when necessary. If you leave them alone they can easily drift off and become influenced by ratbag friends. Yes, I know, it means you can’t always sit back and watch TV, but what’s more important – TV or your child’s life and future?
Show some love, warmth, passion, compassion, and your kids will imitate this as well.
Most bullies are lost, insecure children due to inadequate parenting. Their parents have not taught them respect and dicsipline, which means that they have little respect for others. It all starts in the home; teachers can only do so much. If people are unwilling to be responsible for their own children, than what can schools really do?