Western A'ustralia's Education Minister Mark McGowan says the Government is now trying to bring in new measures to protect students.Full Story by David Weber
From the archives on this page:
Ireland: Claremorris school leads by example
Japan: National Crisis re School Bullying
Manchester: School Bullying ends in murder and manslaughter convictions
United Kingdom: Bullying a factor in soldier's suicide death
Scotland: Shock as teenagers try to escape bullying through surgery
Ireland: Bullying rampant in Irish primary schools - new survey
Ireland: MInister Hanafin on Box and Interview (again)
Ireland: Brenda Power endorses Box and Interview Method
Ireland:Box and Interview Method can be used by schools - Hanafin
Joe Higgins TD asks question on Box and Interview method
19 May 2008
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Ireland: Widespread Cyber bullying throughout Ireland exposed on RTE
An excellent Prime Time documentary was shown on RTE1 tonight. The programme gave the lie to the pretence that bullying of all kinds is being tackled either by school managements or the Department of Education.
For the first time some very brave young people spoke to the camera about their own experiences. These very brave young people are some of the "victims" of the system that has dismally failed to protect their basic human rights in the ambience of the school. As always they have shown that the people picked on by the bullies are the really brave.
18 May 2008
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Cinema: Charlie Bartlett film is worth seeing
Seldom have I seen a film dealing with the subject of bullying in a serious, yet entertaining, way that gives hope to everyone, both bully and victim alike.
For those who like to believe that those who are bullied can use humour and cunning to turn the tables on their tormentors, win them over and even help them in the process, this film will be a welcome boost to their belief.
19 January 2008
news item:
Dublin Ireland: Six teachers get damages in bullying claim against Principal after High Court case settled
Dublin Ireland: Six post-primary teachers won substantial damages and an apology from School Management and Trustees for alleged bullying by the Principal of a Terenure Post Primary school in South Dublin after their case was settled
Full report: Irish Examiner
5 September 2007
news item
Dublin Ireland: Anti-bullying video, Silent Witnesses, recommended
A new video, Silent Witnesses, with an anti-bullying theme, is available from the Anti-Bullying Centre of Trinity College, Dublin. It costs 50 euro and is well worth the cost.
Website|: http://www.abc.tcd.ie/, Tel: (01) 896 2573 / 896 3488
1 September 2007
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Cork, Ireland: Girl. 18, takes her own life because of bullying.
It has been reported in the Irish Examiner that Leanne Wolfe from Mayfield, Cork, Ireland took her own life last March. leaving diaries behind alleging serious school bullying over a period of five years.
Her mother, Colette Wolfe, said that just before she took her own life, Leanne had received a text message from those who were bullying her saying that they were coming to her house to get her.
Leanne's parents, Anthony and Colette, are now considering taking legal action
8July 2007
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Ontario, Canada: Online bullying a growing concern for teachers, parents and students
Teachers across Canada have expressed serious concerns about online bullying and will develop a national policy to protect the nation's students and educators when they gather this week in Toronto.
The annual general meeting of the Canadian Teachers' Federation, which represents over 215,000 teachers, will be held Wednesday 11 July through Saturday 14 July.
Full article by Kristine Owram Ontario school bullying
6 July 2007
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Perth, Australia: Children charged with serious bullying
Five students have been charged in the Children's court in Perth, Western Australia for the horrific bullying of a boy.
The students brought their victim into the bush, hung him from a tree by his underpants, whipped him with a branch dug a hole and threatened to kill him
news item
Victoria, Australia; Eleven year
old bullied by classmates
An eleven tear old, Jayde Williams has been bullied for about a year by her classmates and was attacked and kicked by them again last week.And the 11-year-old's mother can't understand why Glen Orden primary in Werribee did not tell her about the attack on her daughter.
Vicki Ballinger is furious with the school, which she says has not
acted to stop the bullying of her daughter for about a year.
Jayde said that at lunch break last Thursday a group of five girls
followed her and then attacked -- pushing, punching and kicking her
from behind. (Story:http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21965942-5011680,00.html )
2June 2007
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Wales: Top prize for Teenager's film against bullying
18-YEAR-0LD Sarah Baker from Tremorfa, Cardiff, wrote and directed an anti-bullying film called The One, which this week won the top award at the "Turn on the Rights" Film Festival, reports Moira Sharkey of the South Wales Echo
Ten films, produced by young people from Cardiff and all with their own message on topics including homelessness, asylum seekers and young carers, premiered on Wednesday at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay.
Organised by Save the Children & Cardiff’s Children and Young People Partnership and backed by youth organisations, the festival aims to raise the profile of children’s rights.
The One, which was made with the support of city centre youth project Grassroots, scooped top prize.
“The point of the film was to show parents the effects of bullying,” said Sarah. “If children hide things from their parents, it could be through bullying. Winning this award has inspired me to do more with filming and to write more poetry"
25 May 2007
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Britain: Big "Stand Up" against Bullying
At 10am today schools and workplaces across the UK stood up as part of Beatbullying's BIG STAND.
Attending the national event for The Big Stand, in a London school, Chancellor Gordon Brown joined over 200 children protesting against bullying and standing in solidarity with the millions of children who are bullied every day - many of whom lie in bed at night terrified of the prospect of school the next morning.
Schools participated by organising all pupils to either stand up in their classrooms or collect together in the playground for no longer than one minute and simply standing up. Beatbullying will be giving away big prizes for schools that provide a photo of the most innovative and creative stands.
http://www.beatbullying.org/
22May 2007
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Dublin: University bullying settlement not a help in solving the bigger problem
A case of bullying in third level college, Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), taken by Dr James Urquhart of the Business Faculty against his senior colleague, Paul O'Sullivan commenced in January 2004. An independent investigation by a rights commissioner found that Dr Urquhart had sustained a case of bullying against Mr O'Sullivan.
Now, over three years later, it is believed that Dr Urquhart has received 250,000 euro from the College in a settlement. While vacating his post with immediate effect, he will remain on the college's payroll. In return he has withdrawn all allegations. The question of costs has not been revealed.
The fight against bullying has not been helped by this agreement which contains a commitment by Dr Urquhart that no officer of DIT will be pursued legally and contains a confidentiality clause which, in effect, will cover over the facts of the dispute.
The questions still remain: Did bullying take place, did DIT deal properly with the allegations of Dr Urquhart, is there a satisfactory anti-bullying system to prevent bullying of staff in place in DIT and a fortiori is there a satisfactory system in place to prevent the bullying of students by staff or other students within the College.
15 May 2007
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Australia: Bullying does not build character but can cost you $1million
Benjamin Cox, received an award of $1million (Australian) in New South Wales. From age five he had been bullied by an older boy and robbed of his adolescence. The Supreme Court Judge said that the school had failed to stop the bullying.
Ben's mother said in court she had been told by an Education official that Bullying builds character.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/printpage/0,5942,21297014,00.html
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/05/14/australia.bullies.reut/index.html?eref=rss_latest
10 May 2007
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Northern Ireland: Bullying among 16 year olds rampant
Almost 30% of 16-year-old children in Northern Ireland were bullied at school within a two-month period, according to a May 2007 survey by researchers from The Young Life and Times at the University of Ulster and Queen's University, Belfast.
It found students bullied at school were more likely to feel pressure to smoke, drink and go on diets.
There was a ten fold increase in the bullying of teachers http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0302/bullying.html
21 April 2007
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USA: Massacre student had been bullied
Fellow students have told that Cho Seung-Hui who massacred 32 people in Virginia Tech in the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, had been bullied by fellow students at high school says the International Herald Tribune.
A 2002 federal study on common characteristics of school shooters found that 71 percent of them "felt bullied, persecuted or injured by others prior to the attack."
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/04/19/america/NA-GEN-US-University-Shooting.php
19 April 2007
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Sussex: 11 year old boy hangs himself because of bullying
An 11-year-old boy, Ben Vodden, hanged himself on
December 12 last year after being subjected to months of bullying on
the school bus, an inquest has heard. (ITN)
The inquest heard the bus driver had been responsible for some of the verbal bullying, allegedly labelling him Billie No Mates.
His mother said that the bullying had started on his second day at Tanbridge House School in Horsham, West Sussex.
On the day of the tragedy the inquest heard that he was very angry and was put off the school bus for hitting the air vent and making gestures at the driver. That morning he had sent a text message in which he had said "They are doing it again." The parents interpreted the comment to mean Ben was being bullied again.
When unable to tell his mother about the incident she said " 'Sweetheart, you have got to tell me because we can't help you unless you tell me what has happened'."
Ben retreated to his bedroom, but after a short while he emerged and gave her a hug and said: "I'm sorry, mummy."
He then went back into his bedroom and closed the door before Mrs Vodden said she heard him sobbing like she had never heard him crying before.
A
short while later, his father returned home from work and walked into
Ben's bedroom with the intention of asking him about his problems only
to find him hanging.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/itn/20070419/tuk-boy-hanged-himself-after-bullying-dba1618.html
14 february 2007
news item
Ireland: Survey says Bullying still rampant
Alison Healy of The Iriish Times (13/2/07) says Primary School bullying is still rampant here, with boys suffering more than girls, according to a survey carried out by Steven James Minton and Prof Mona O'Moore of the Anti-Bullying Centre in Trinity College Dublin. Among other frightening statistics was the information that 21.5% of boys and 18.7% of girls reported having been bullied within THE PREVIOUS FIVE DAYS of the date of the survey.
This would indicate that the amount of bullying being reported is below the actual figure.
Just imagine - in one week alone 6 of every thrity boys in the school were bullied and nearly as many girls.
21 January 2007
news item
New Jersey: Miss Teen NJ International is Anti-bullying person
Krysten Moore, who is Miss New Jersey International Teen 2007, is the new Bully Police USA Teen Spokesperson. She will be sharing her duties with Teen Actress, Jordan Valacich. Krysten’s platform is on the education and prevention of childhood bullying. She was bullied as a pre-teen. Krysten enjoys speaking with other students, fundraising, speaking or doing interviews in the New Jersey - New York area. (From Brenda High, founder of Bully Police)
Excerpts from Krysten's reply to my letter of congratulations:
"I look forward to working with everyone and taking a stand to stop bullying. Also, thank you for sending me the reading material on Box and Interview. I look forward to reading it; the more information the better. If I can do anything for you please feel free to let me know, I'm here to help"
"As for right now I do not have any plans in the near future to visit Ireland. But if an opportunity presents itself to travel overseas, I will be sure to contact you. As for your web-site, please feel free to publish my name, and/or any letters. Thank you for the publicity. If you wouldn't mind sending me the link to the site where this information will be posted it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you again for all of your help. If there is anything else you need please let me know."
news item
Malta: Five get sentenced for college bullying
In the prestigious MCAST
post primary school in Paola, Malta, five students,
aged 16 and 17 years, bullied a fellow student for four months prior to
being reported. and charged. The five who took four separate
videos of
the bullying were eventually outed by their own videos and were
immediately charged and sentenced in December to one months
imprisonment, suspended
for one year.
The videos showed numerous types of bullying, including physical
assault (pushing, punching, kicking), name-calling, humiliation,
control, derogatory references to the victim's mother and to the
victim's genital area - all videoed on a mobile phone camera by one or
other of the five perpetrators. In one video one student tries to
prevent the
bullying - other onlookers are seen laughing .The places of bullying
included the corridors, outside the front door and in the classroom.
Malta's Department of Information has commented on the late
discovery of the bullying as a matter of concern
MCAST Students' Council has condemned the bullying. In a
statement to press, they say: "The truth is that bullying thrives on
silence and people who are being
bullied often feel that there is nothing to be gained by speaking out
against someone who bullies others, thus allowing bullying to
continue." They call for appropriate measures to be taken to prevent
such bullying in the future
http://www.maltastar.com/pages/msfullart.asp?an=8239
http://www.timesofmalta.com/core/article.php?id=247255
26 December 2006
news item
Ireland: Claremorris school leads by example
During last term, a group of teachers in Mt St Michael Secondary
School in Claremorris, Co Mayo, organised an anti-bullying week.
Activities throughout the week included role-play and poems by
Leaving Cert students, drama and music work shops for junior students.
Senior students learned also of bullying in their social lives.
Mayo County Council, the ISPCC, Social
Workers, the Samaritans and Mayo Women's Support Group were
enlisted to help, to give talks and lend support throughout the week.
The anti-bullying
committee came up with a novel idea: to make a map of the school
grounds and
mark it with green, orange and red dots to show where bullying occurs
and where pupils feel unsafe. Red marked the ‘hotspots’ where students
felt that most bullying took place - orange marked "sometimes
worrying areas" and green showed "no problem areas". Each Senior
Prefect visited her class and asked each student individually to mark
out the areas. The information gathered will now help teachers monitor
the
problem by focusing on these areas.
As a mark of unity EVERYONE in the school wore a blue ribbon badge
and tied themselves in with a large blue ribbon on "Blue Friday" as a
sign of unity and commitment to end bullying.
The organisers were teachers
Siobhán Allen, Mary Cunningham, Orla Dempsey, Mary Grealis,
Yvonne
Horkan and Karen Mitchell. along with two LC students. They deserve
congratulations.(Based on article in Western
People)
16 December 2006
news item
Japan: National Crisis re School Bullying
In the past few months, bullying at school has become a topic of conversation among the Japanese. With at least 10 suicide deaths blamed on bullying since October 1,and a spate of letters to the Education Minister by school students threatening suicide unless bullying in their schools came to an end, the public has become increasingly alarmed. The two most recent deaths were of a 12 year old who jumped to her death after constant "teasing" and a 14 year old who hanged himself after classmates tried to extort money from him.
It is claimed that teachers don't know how to handle the bullying.
Link Mercury News
16 december 2006
news item
Manchester: School Bullying ends in murder and manslaughter convictions
Lucy Cochrane (16) was bullied in school because of a trivial playground fall-out and targeted thereafter at school and on school buses, by Natalie Connor (18). The bullying apparently extended to Lucy's home - her parents' car was vandalised and eventually petrol was thrown in and the house set alight. Lucy's parents, Alex and Maureen along with the family terrier all perished in the blaze. Lucy, who hid under a bed in a back room escaped with serious injuries and is now living away from Manchester
Natalie's parents were found guilty last Friday of murdering Lucy's parents, Alex and Maureen Cochrane, and of causing serious bodily harm to Lucy Cochrane. Natalie herself was found guilty of manslaughter.
The school authorities had tried to shield Lucy at school but police are now being investigated for not having taken protective action at Lucy's home in spite of pleas from Lucy's parents after repeated incidents.
Michael, Jane and Natalie Connor have been remanded in custody for sentencing on Wednesday 20 December 2006.
24 September 2006
news item
Belfast: Teenager to make documentary film on bullying
A Belfast teenager, Adam Bloch, who was viciously bullied from age 5 and developed a weight problem as a result, is now working on a documentary film that will describe what happened to him. and how he overcame the problem. He is hoping that the film will spare other teens from experiencing his pain. The film will be called "the Weighting game" and will be ready for screening by December 2007.
What happened to Adam in Belfast happens regularly here in the Republic of Ireland - those who bullied him in primary school followed him into post-primary school. The bullying was psychological at the beginning but one day one of them flipped him off his feet and on to the stone floor severely hurting his back. He lost confidence and had a breakdown. Last summer he saw an ad for a US camp that helped people to lose weight. He attended the rtwo month course with excellent results but when he returned to Belfast and school again, depression set in because he associated the whole routine of school with humiliation and misery. He began to return to his old eating habits but when he reached 200 pounds he decided that he didn't want to die young and returned to the routine that he had been taught in the US course.
Adam hopes also to set up a support group in Belfast for male teenagers with weight problems, because, he says, they are a totally neglected group.
(Report based on articles in Sunday Tribune, Belfast Telegraph and BBC news.
"By showing people who victimised me that they haven't destroyed me, I hope I will be an example to others," - Adam Bloch
30 August 2006
news item
United Kingdom: Bullying a factor in soldier's suicide death
On the eve of his first tour of duty in Iraq, Jason Chelsea of the King's Lancaster Regiment took an overdose and slashed his wrists. He was buried on August 26 2006
Fear that he would be ordered to shoot children in Iraq because they might be suicide bombers was one factor in the death of the 19 year-old infantryman. Their orders, he said, were "shoot first and ask questions later"
Another factor was bullying. His father said that Jason, a dyslexic, had begun drinking 18 months ago due to the fact that he was being bullied again. He would hear comments aimed at him because of his dyslexia but felt he could make nothing of it as he was supposed to be tough. The drinking had caused such damage to his liver that he could not be saved after the suicide attempt.
Jason's suicide note said: "Really sorry, mum and dad. I'm just no good fro you. I have got to finish it. I am just a waste.
Mr Chelsea told the London Independent: "I would like to stand before my son's unit and ask those who made these comments to him time after time to think about the effect they had"
news item
United Kingdom: Outrage at BBC Board of Governors decision re "gay"
In an excellent
article, Dr Petra Boynton refers to the decision of the
BBC Board of Governors that the word "gay" now means “lame” or
“rubbish” among young people and
need not be offensive to homosexuals.
Anti-Bullying Ireland joins with other anti-bullying groups in opposing
this
decision which is itself outrageously homophobic and dangerous.
Below is the full article by Dr Boynton
"Speaking on Radio 1’s Breakfast show, presenter Chris Moyles rejected a ringtone by saying, “I don’t want that one, it’s gay”. Following a listener complaint, the BBC Board of Governors ruled in favour of Moyles, stating that they believed he had not used it homophobically. The verdict has brought condemnation from Stonewall, School’s OUT! and anti-bullying groups. By failing to uphold the listener’s complaint against Chris Moyles’ derogatory use of the word ‘gay’, the BBC is condoning its misuse and validating homophobia amongst an audience of impressionable young listeners. This decision by the BBC Board of Governors is homophobic, reached by a board with no openly gay representative.
The use of the word ‘gay’ to mean anything that is without value and substandard is now so prevalent in the vocabulary of children (even at a primary school) that many adults fail to challenge it because they believe it has lost its negative connotation. Language changes all the time, but this is not simply the mutation of an adjective that once defined something that was ‘bright and showy’ or ‘carefree’. In young people today we are seeing an abuse of the definition for a community of people. The word ‘gay’s devolution as a derogatory word is, according to School’s Out, “rooted in the idea that being gay is a bad thing which it is acceptable to ridicule.”
Chris Moyles has an audience of thousands of young people. The use of language on his show reinforces and stimulates the language of thousands of UK teenagers.
Claire Anderson of the Stamp Out Homophobia in Schools Campaign, says ‘Victims of homophobic bullying will be made more vulnerable to abuse if there is any acceptance among staff or pupils that a derogatory use of ‘gay’ is not a homophobic attack.’
And how are lesbian, gay and bisexual young people going to feel about their own sexuality if they constantly hear it referenced (homophobically or not) in such a negative way?"
Link: Dr Petra Boynton11 July 2006
news item
Scotland: Shock as teenagers try to escape bullying through surgery
Hundreds of Scottish youngsters have had NHS-funded cosmetic surgery - including breast enlargement, nose and ear surgery - some of them in a desperate bid to escape being bullied at school, according to Richard Gray, Health correspondent for Scotland on Sunday.
Among other reasons given for some of the operations is "to feel
good"
The article, which is based on information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, reveals that at least 40 girls under 18 have had operations on the NHS to enlarge or reduce their breast size in the past five years. Another 21 youngsters have had surgery on their noses while more than 520 children have had prominent ears pinned back.
Link: Teenagers go under knife20 June 2006
news item
Ireland: Bullying rampant in Irish primary schools - new survey
A new survey conducted among 2354 primary students in Irish primary schools outside Dublin has found that
- 25% of girls and 33% of boys wer physically attacked by other students within the last 3 months
- 36% of girls and 45 % of boys were verbally attacked over the same period
- 26% of girls and 31 % of boys said they were bullied within the last 3 months
- 3% of girls and 9% of boys said this bullying had occurred frequently (at least once a week)
- 19% of girls and 21% of boys had been bullied in the past week, 5% and 7% of these having been bullied frequently.
- About
10% had suffered some kind of cyber bullying. (All figures
rounded)
6 May 2006
news item
Northern Ireland: Anti-Bullying Forum with 3 year plan ongoing
In 2001 the Department of Education research showed that 40% of Northern Ireland’s primary school children and 30% of post-primary school children said they had been bullied.
The research from Queen’s University, Belfast also showed that children from ethnic minority groups and disabled children were often bullied.
Since 2003 all schools are required to have anti-bullying policies in place and to consult pupils when these are being drawn up.
When NICCY held its SHOUT consultation, bullying was the top concern highlighted by children and young people, as well as by most adults.
A Northern Ireland Anti-Bullying Forum has now been created. with a
3 year plan to stop bullying
http://www.niccy.org/priorities.aspx?menuId=319
http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/scuk_cache/scuk/cache/cmsattach/3806_NIABF_Bully.pdf
5 May 2006
news item
Northern Ireland: SDLP question on Bullying in NI schools
In reply to a question by the SDLP's Dr Alasdair McDonnell, MP for South Belfast, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, has stated that £66,000 (97000 euro) has been allocated in 2006/2007 for anti-bullying initiatives in Northern Ireland
"In 2005/06 the Department of Education has contributed approximately £55,000 to the development of anti-bullying initiatives. In 2006/07 the Department has agreed to fund £66,000 to the local Forum to implement its anti-bullying strategy and providing the terms and conditions of grant are met, the Department has agreed in principle to fund the Forum in 2007/08 and 2008/09. Across the education and library boards at least £200,000 per annum is allocated to specific anti-bullying activity." the reply said
http://www.sdlp.ie/prmcdonnellantibullying.shtm
30 April 2006
news item
Florida: Bullying Bill passes unanimously in Florida House
An anti-bullying school bill was passed in the Florida House on April 26 by a 116-0 vote. The measure was approved after its sponsor amended the legislation to allow local school districts to enumerate categories of bullying, including anti-gay harassment.
The bill is named after Jeffrey Johnston, a 15-year-old Cape Coral, Fla., student who committed suicide after being relentlessly bullied.
http://www.expressgaynews.com/2006/4-29/news/localnews/ok.cfm
28 April 2006
news item
Ireland: MInister Hanafin on Box and Interview (again)
In a reply to Jan O'Sullivan TD in the Dáil recently, Minister Mary Hanafin gave the usual response, avoiding the question she had been directly asked about meeting me to discuss the Box and Interview Method.
In her reply the Minister again conceded that schools may incorporate the Box and Interview method in their programmes to prevent bullying This was the third time within the past two months that the Minister had been asked by a TD about the Box and Interview Method. Previously, Joe Higgins TD and Finian McGrath TD had asked a similar question and received a similar answer.
Meanwhile her special adviser Averil Fox also avoided the question in a written reply to me similar to that of the Minister. Ms Fox took time to phone me, a month before her written reply, to object to the fact that I had sent copies of the letter I had written to her, simultaneously to members of the Opposition parties.
10 April 2006
news item
Canada: 1 in 17 youngsters suffer from Cyberbullying
A report from Canada says that 1 in every 17 youngsters are oppressed by cyberbullying.
Pulse 24.Com says that teachers know the problem is getting worse
“In the comfort of your own home you're being threatened,” points out Anthony Abdelkerim, a Grade 7 teacher at St. Barnabus Catholic Elementary School. “You assume that's the safest place in the world and yet you're looking at a monitor that is spewing hatred at you … I am sure there are occurrences every single night. Every single night.”
The sites can be vicious, he says
“I know of several young ladies, about 13 years old, who specifically designed a website dedicated to hating one of their classmates,” he laments. “And the entire website had pictures and hate propaganda posted and also distributed the website's address for other students."
Read more at Pulse 24.Com
including some advice on what parents and children can do
31 March 2006
news item
Wales: E-Bullying on rise
A BBC report says that a Conference in Wales was told today that e-bullying is on the increase.
A survey over four years of more than 11,000 children found nearly 15% had received nasty or aggressive messages.
Girls were more likely than boys to report being bullied by e-mail and SMS, the survey reported. Full story BBC report
25 March 2006
news item
Ireland: Girl, 13, reported "Bullied to Death"
According to Jimmy Cunningham of the Irish Daily Mail (March 23), a 13-year-old girl was found hanging in her bedroom by her heart-broken father earlier this month after she had suffered a campaign of bullying in a Leinster school.
According to the article, the girl had left a hand-written farewell note in which she named her alleged tormentors.
The article also states that the Gardaí have launched investigations into her death and the girl's school has been carrying out a separate probe.
17 March 2006
news item
UK: Cyber bullies on the increase
Bullies are increasingly using the internet to terrorise teenagers
outside of school, a survey of UK teenagers suggests.
More than 10% of UK teenagers said they had been bullied online, while
24% knew a victim, the MSN/YouGov survey found.
The increasing popularity of instant messaging services and e-mail among children means bullies can now reach their targets at all hours.
Up to half of parents are unaware about online bullying, the survey
of 518 children and parents said.
Full story Mental
Health Foundation
Source: BBC News Online, 14/03/2006
9 March 2006
news item
Wales: No Blame method may cause
suicide says Charity
Bullied students could turn
to suicide because of a controversial "no-blame" approach to the issue
in some Welsh schools, claims a leading charity today.
The policy, which can see victims having to sit with their tormentors and explain their concerns, has also been criticised by anti-bullying charity Kidscape as a way for schools to sweep problems under the carpet.
It says it has received dozens of complaints from parents in Pembrokeshire, where a group is now being set up to try to force schools to stop using the strategy.
Full story: IC Wales7 March 2006
news item
Ireland: Enright calls for Review of State's approach to bullying
Fine Gael spokesperson for Education, Olwyn Enright, TD, has called for a fundamental review of the State's approach to bullying in general. following the award of €10,000 damages to a child who suffered bullying at school from 2001 to 2003.
"Judge Matthews of the Circuit Civil Court has found that the circumstances of this bullying were not beyond the control of the school in question. This raises questions about whether up-to-date procedures are in place in all schools to prevent bullying, and how best to act when cases are identified." Ms Enright said . . .
“In order to ensure that bullying is stamped out, schools must know how best to tackle this behaviour. Children and their parents must be included and informed about the action that schools can take. The training of teachers in best practice, and the inclusion of parents in a national anti-bullying strategy at all schools, is the best way forward.
“I have repeatedly called on Minister Hanafin to introduce this strategy. On each occasion the Minister referred to the Guidelines on Countering Bullying Behaviour. These guidelines were issued to schools in 1993, long before this particular case of bullying occurred. These guidelines also predate more recent developments, such as the use of mobile phones or websites which can be used to bully and harass children and young people.
“It is clear that the 1993 guidelines did not prevent the recent case of bullying before the Courts, and it is now time to fundamentally review the State’s approach to bullying in general.
“We need to explode the myth that bullying is a normal part of growing up. It is not. We also need to tackle the sense of defeatism that is sometimes associated with this problem." . . .
6 March 2006
news item:
Ireland:Box and Interview Method can be used by schools - Hanafin
In reply to a Dáil question by Mr Finian McGrath, TD, Minister Hanafin has conceded that the Box and Interview method may be incorporated in schools' methodologies to counter bullying.
The Minister however implied that it is individual school managements who bear responsibility for implementing effective school-based policies to prevent bullying. She cites the SPHE curriculum, the Department's Guidelines and the requirement of a school policy which includes measures to counter bullying as the main Departmental input.
445. Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if her Department will consider the Box and Interview method to prevent bullying; and her views on whether existing measures are not working. [7725/06]
REPLY
Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin): I am acutely aware of the issue of bullying in schools and my Department has in place a multifaceted strategy to tackle the issue. The education of students in both primary and post-primary schools in relation to anti-bullying behaviour is a central part of the SPHE curriculum. SPHE is now a compulsory subject both at primary level and in the junior cycle of post-primary schools. The SPHE curriculum provides for the development of personal and social skills including self-awareness, respect for others,self-esteem and communication skills, all of which are important elements in addressing the issue of bullying. In primary education the issue of bullying is addressed in the SPHE curriculum in the strand Myself and Others from infant classes onwards. In second-level education the issue of bullying is addressed from first year onwards in the SPHE curriculum at junior cycle,in the module Belonging and Integrating.
Each school is required to have in place a policy which includes specific measures to deal with bullying behaviour, within the framework of an overall school code of behaviour and discipline. Such a code, properly devised and implemented, can be the most influential measure in countering bullying behaviour in schools.
My Department, in its Guidelines on Countering Bullying Behaviour in Primary and Post-Primary Schools has provided a framework within which individual school management authorities may meet their responsibilities for implementing effective school-based policies to counter bullying. These guidelines are sufficiently flexible to allow each school authority to adapt them to suit the particular needs of the school and to incorporate, should it so wish, any methodology such as the one referred to by the Deputy.
6 March 2006
news item
Joe Higgins TD asks question on Box and Interview method
Uimhir:258 Reference Number: 6092/06 To the Minister for Education and Science
To the Minister for Education and Science
CEIST: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will meet with a person (details supplied) to discuss a method to combat the problem of bullying in schools.
- Joe Higgins.
FREAGRA:
Minister for Education and Science (Mary Hanafin, T.D.)
My Department has received promotional material from the person referred to by the Deputy with regard to a method which he has developed to deal with bullying behaviour in schools. This material is currently being considered and a response will issue to this person in due course. Officials from my Department have already spoken with the person on a number of occasions.
28 February 2006
news item
Ireland: Brenda Power endorses Box and Interview method
Writing in the Sunday Times on 12 February 2006, journalist Brenda Power gave a hearty endorsement to the Box and Interview method. as described on this site, to prevent bullying. Here are her words:
One simple technique that should be common practice in all our schools is the box and interview method. Once a week, every pupil is asked to fill in and sign a form answering three simple questions: during the past week, have you been bullied; do you know of anybody in the class who has been bullied; do you know of anybody in the school who has been bullied?
The forms are dropped into a locked box, examined by volunteer teachers and the results passed on in confidence to a nominated anti-bullying co-ordinator. Substantive complaints are then investigated by interviewing victims, bullies, parents and other students. Crucially, children who don’t fill in the form are interviewed as well.
In an already overstretched school system this would be a time-consuming exercise, but the system calls for the goodwill of volunteers from teaching staff. Their incentive would be happier, more attentive, more confident pupils, not necessarily extra dosh in their paypackets.
16 February 2006
news item
Ireland: Bullying will be part of Whole School Assessment - Hanafin
The Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin, TD has told Joe Higgins, TD in a written reply, that the proposed WSE will include an evaluation of a school's implementation of its policies in the areas of bullying. This is the first mention of bullying made by the Minister in the context of WSE.
(See also above news item for a second question by Joe Higgins, TD)
Full text of Deputy Higgins's question and the Minister's reply:
"To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, as part of the school inspections proposed by her Department, there is provision for inspecting the existence and efficacy of methods to prevent bullying of children in schools.- Joe Higgins."
REPLY:
"The evaluation of all school policies, including a policy to deal with bullying behaviour, is part of the Whole School Evaluation (WSE) process. WSE involves a full examination of all the varied activities of a school - from teaching standards to the availability of extra-curricular activities, the ethos of the school and the implementation of policies in areas such as bullying and health and safety. The inspection process also includes consultation with parents, staff members and students". (Minister Mary Hanafin)
Reference Number: 6093/06
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