No. 11
Dealing with Bullying
Parent’s Rights & Responsibilities
Watch for the warning signs
If your child loses appetite or complains of stomach aches or
headaches, mopes around and is unhappy and anxious, consistently does not want
to go to school, lacks confidence and has few good friends, listen closely and
talk to her or him sympathetically. Find our what his or her problems are.
Talk to the teachers in your school
Whatever the problems, talk to the teachers in your school.
They can take account at school of the problems a child is facing. If the
problems are due to bullying and harassment within the school, the majority of
teachers and principals will want to take immediate action. In most cases this
will make a real difference
Be aware of your rights
Do not hesitate to take action if you have concerns. Schools
have a responsibility and are usually keen to provide a safe, supportive
learning environment for your child. If the school does not take satisfactory
action, go higher up, from the class-room teacher, to the principal, to district
or regional officers, and to appropriate departmental officers.
Get support from your parent organisations
Parent organisations are not the place to discuss individual
cases and should not get involved in the early stages. However, parent
organisations can provide support in dealing with principals and departmental
officers. Do not hesitate to contact them if you feel you are not getting the
right treatment.
Be active in your school community
Get involved in your local parent organisation or school
council. Make sure that the school council and principal are informed about
bullying and that they develop appropriate policies and strategies
collaboratively with parents and teachers. Make sure that parents are properly
informed.
Demand that governments provide the support that schools
and teachers need
Make sure that your Department of Education not only has
appropriate policies but also practices in place, developed collaboratively with
parents and teachers. Make sure that Governments are aware of how important safe
learning environments are to parents. That will help to ensure that schools and
teachers get the support they need.
Be realistic and positive
Schools exist in an
imperfect society where bullying, (i.e. repeated oppression, psychological or
physical, of a less powerful person by a more powerful person or group of
persons), is present. Most teachers are doing their best to eliminate bullying
under often difficult circumstances. Support them in their work. In the school,
as in adult life, most inter-personal issues will sort themselves out, for
children are developing social beings, like all of us. However be prepared to
take action when it is needed.
Many students are subjected to bullying or harassment at some
stage, but for most this is minor and episodic. However, for a few, bullying can
be systematic and relentless. For them, the long-term consequences can include
depression, major psychosis and suicide. Many schools do a very good job of
creating safe and supportive learning environments with ongoing programs within
the school, but unfortunately some do not. We know what works in schools, and it
is high time that systematic steps were taken to ensure that all schools are up
to the mark.
If schools take the problem seriously, then the situation
improves. If schools make bullying and harassment an issue for discussion
amongst students, then the situation further improves. If schools take students
concerns seriously and take action to protect the victims and to counsel the
perpetrators, then the situation improves even further. And if schools take
parents concerns seriously and involve parents in the development and
implementation of these policies, then the situation improves even more.
A complete version of this
article can be found in the March edition of Feedback. This article was
provided by the Australian Council of State School Organisations (ACSSO).
