Bullying - No Way? Yeah Right.
March 22nd 2009 05:51
I thought that maybe I had retired from this blog, but realise there are way too many issues out in the world that need to be put out there for all to read.
This one is a lot more serious then the other stuff I have previously written about, and it hits a lot closer to home.
I am talking about bullying. The effect it has on the people bullied, the bullies themselves, the repercussions for seeking help when you are the victim and the response of the people who are ment to help with the problem.
It's much too easy for people to look the other way then to take a stand. It happens every day, in so many different environments, be it within the school yard, the work place or even within your own household.
I personally have witnessed it on many occasions and while I can say I tried to stop it, I must also admit, that most of the time, my efforts were met with little success.
I have seen friends bullied at school. On one occasion, I walked into a bathroom to see a girl I knew being beaten up by two other girls. I stepped in and they stopped. When I took the girl who had been beaten up to the office, her mother was called and she pulled the girl out of school that same day and nothing was either said or done to the bullies.
I have seen a collegue belittled by his boss on a daily basis and unable to do much about it as his boss was a close mate of the company's CEO. On the occasion that he did report the harrassment, the next day he copped it even worse when the boss had found out he had complained. Its more then a little ridiculous when you have to fear such repercussions from someone so childish.
The incident that bought this back to my attention happened to a young man I have known my whole life. He is the closest thing I have to a little brother and it makes me feel literally sick in my stomach when I think about this.
He is in high school, Grade 9, and he and a couple of his mates were being bullied by a couple of boys in the grade above. I'm not talking about just calling them names, but the kind of bullying where people get hurt. Which is exacly what happened in this case. One of his friends was beaten so badly that he is now is hospital, the other has also left the school after a similar beating. My friend is the only one who continues to persevere. He goes to school every say, knowing that it is going to be hell, because as he says, the day that he doesn't turn up is the day that they win. It's hard not to admire someone like that.
The school has been told about this problem. The beating that lead the boy to being admitted to the hospital was actually caught on a videophone and yet the school does nothing. They say they are unable to help.
Not good enough I say!
This makes me furious, what more do they need? Hitting another person is assault. It's a crime! One people have gone to jail for.
The parents of the child in hospital are planning to sue the school, and so they should. It is the responsibility of the school to ensure that their students are safe whilst in their care.
I want to know why this incident hasn't gone further? Why aren't the police invloved? Why aren't the media all over it? Where are those shonky current affairs programs when you need them to fan the fire to get some action?
The Australian Government has created a program called "Bullying. No Way!", but it seems to be somewhat redundent when schools do not enforce the policies laid out. They claim that they are making a difference, but are they really?
It is never ok to make someone feel like crap. It is never ok to stand by and let someone do this to another person. Could you honestly say that you could handle it if you were in their shoes? That the snide comments and the rude remarks about anything from the standard of your work, to how you dress, to what you eat, would not wear you down after a while? Could you look yourself in the eye when you stand in front of a mirror and know that you did everything you possibly could to prevent this from happening?
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Comment by the world of gaye
batty
Family Madness
bright lights greedy city
REFLECTIONS
THE WINDMILLS OF MY MIND
I totally agree with everything you say and I get bloody angry about it as well. People do need to start taking legal action (yes I know it is even more of the American way but what choice do we have) BUT also sue the bloody parents of these animals. While all kids get into fights and there has always been a degree of bullying I truly believe it is more brutal and on a much bigger scale than ever before. As well as giving our kids the latest technology, the clothes that all thier friends have, expensive shoes and all the other rubbish they believe they cannot live without WHY are we not teaching them compassion and respect for others in the home. This is a parents job, it is our duty to instill vlues and morals in our children. We blame everybody else, the teachers, the government, the police...it is about time we take responsibility for our own offspring. We created them, and they are our job, not somebody else's. And as far as the punishment goes it needs to be soooo much tougher. Instead of giving kids in a housing estate a basketball court when they caused a violent riot because "they were bored", maybe they should have to give up thier spare ime and repair the damage they have done, I am sorry if I am ranting as well but I am sick of gentle people being punished because they are decent by cowardly bullies. Maybe they need a bit of thier own treatment, they would probably be the first to scream "I was attacked" to the world.
Comment by Wilson Pon
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Comment by Rebecca 1
Famous Zoo
Ranting Rebecca
Guilty Pleasures
A Little Giggle
Thanks for taking the time to comment. It's an issue that needs much more awareness then there already is. So thank you both for doing a bit to help!
Cheers,
Bec