(First Published On This Blog in June 2010.)
A report out this last weekend suggests that of all the suicides of youngsters in the age group 10 - 14, around half are due to bullying.I am not surprised in the slightest. It is the single most difficult situation to deal with in any school today.
Here are some of the problems:
1) Bullying is usually well concealed and cannot be easily proved.
2) All too often, parents of a bully will take their child's side irrespective of logic - often threatening legal action when investigations are made. If the bullying is proved - they will go into denial.
3) Potential witnesses are also frequently in fear.
4) A complaint by the victim, once known by the bully, will often make the situation even more serious.
5) Frequently, a claim of bullying results when the victim turns on their oppressor and the latter deliberately turns him/herself into 'the victim'!
6) Much bullying - especially by girls - is simply organised nastiness in order to alienate an individual and cannot be tackled realistically without the situation worsening.
7) Some claims of bullying are simple attention-seeking and utterly untrue.
8) In today's world, far too many accusations result from children who have no concept of 'banter'. Seemingly, many children are much more 'thin-skinned' than in the past. When these hit the workplace - they'll be in big trouble unless they adjust rapidly!We are all desperately anxious to see the end of bullying but ...
There are other categories to those listed above but I do hope that this piece shows how sorting out this dreadful problem is like tiptoeing through a minefield.
With the best will in the world - success in dealing with such matters is extremely elusive and this report shows the possible consequences!
With the best will in the world - success in dealing with such matters is extremely elusive and this report shows the possible consequences!
