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Beat The Bullies
Bullying is in the news again. "I got fatter and fatter and sadder and sadder. Everyone got meaner and meaner…I wasn't too stubborn to ask for help. I did ask but they did not pay any attention."
These words, written by 13 year old Laura Rhodes and found in a letter after her death, testify to the utter misery of being bullied and also to the failure of society to really address the problem.
speaking out
As a teacher I know how hard schools work to deal with this issue and make it safe for those being bullied to speak out. There are now help lines available to support children and their parents, anti-bullying policies are in every classroom as well as government-sponsored anti-bullying campaigns. Yet the problem persists.
A recent Times article says: "There is compelling evidence that bullies have usually witnessed violence and aggression in their own homes or immediate environment..." Ouch!! If we are serious about wanting to eradicate this menace, we need first to ask ourselves where our own behaviour might have been conducive to bullying.
How have we so failed some of our young people that they feel utterly insignificant and powerless and need to find a victim to wield power over in order to feel adequate and get noticed?
We cannot be complacent in the face of these tragedies and each one of us involved with children has a responsibility to ensure that the youngsters in our care develop sufficient self confidence and self worth to grow up to be courageous, confident and compassionate human beings - simple requirements when looked at logically:
- that they develop the self-discipline necessary to curb their natural potential for aggression and to understand their own behaviour and emotions;
- that they feel safe and secure with clear rules and boundaries;
- that they are loved unconditionally, know they are heard and valued so that they can accept themselves and others as they are and find their place in society.
To view Clare's Top Tips on eliminating bullying click here.
