Can love conquer the bullying epidemic?
June 18th 2008 00:50
Schoolgirl bashed by gang of 15 students. What an awful headline in this morning’s news. Reading the story is heartbreaking. Poor Angela Stankovic had changed schools to escape relentless bullying, but the bullies wouldn’t let her go. As she got off the bus they ambushed her, recording on their mobile phones a brutal assault that left her in hospital with bruises and a broken nose. When her mother tried to protect her they bashed her too, putting her in hospital next to her daughter. WHAT THE HELL?
The attack happened in a Gold Coast suburb not far from where we’ve recently moved to settle in a “family friendly” area. These feral children not only make me feel angry and disgusted, but frightened as well. What kind of cowardly, socially inept kids are running around our suburbs? And will I be able to protect my kids from them if need be?
I don’t mean to sound preachy, but if my son ever takes part in this kind of despicable behaviour I’ll be the first to hand him over to the police, after I’ve kicked his ass myself. I’m all for kids having rights and being well protected from abuse and injustice, but when we have 15 and 16yo kids forming violent gangs and taking bullying to a terrifying level perhaps a little more discipline is well overdue.
If my memory serves me well, being a teenager is hard enough without the fear and isolation (not to mention physical pain) being felt by the growing number of kids subjected to bullying.
According to a UK study one third of kids reported being bullied last year. It’s not simple at all. A bully can be created by feelings of inadequacy, jealousy, peer pressure, lack of positive role models, even being bullied by others. It’s a complicated, insidious and very damaging social trend. One that HAS to be whole-heartedly addressed by parents as well as schools and authorities.
I was lucky to have a bully-free childhood and I hope that I can influence the experience my own kids have when they’re older. I guess the first step is to be aware and the second step is to ensure the little ones are given every chance to develop empathy, respect and a strong sense of their own worth. Idealistic? I don’t think so at all.
The attack happened in a Gold Coast suburb not far from where we’ve recently moved to settle in a “family friendly” area. These feral children not only make me feel angry and disgusted, but frightened as well. What kind of cowardly, socially inept kids are running around our suburbs? And will I be able to protect my kids from them if need be?
I don’t mean to sound preachy, but if my son ever takes part in this kind of despicable behaviour I’ll be the first to hand him over to the police, after I’ve kicked his ass myself. I’m all for kids having rights and being well protected from abuse and injustice, but when we have 15 and 16yo kids forming violent gangs and taking bullying to a terrifying level perhaps a little more discipline is well overdue.
If my memory serves me well, being a teenager is hard enough without the fear and isolation (not to mention physical pain) being felt by the growing number of kids subjected to bullying.
According to a UK study one third of kids reported being bullied last year. It’s not simple at all. A bully can be created by feelings of inadequacy, jealousy, peer pressure, lack of positive role models, even being bullied by others. It’s a complicated, insidious and very damaging social trend. One that HAS to be whole-heartedly addressed by parents as well as schools and authorities.
I was lucky to have a bully-free childhood and I hope that I can influence the experience my own kids have when they’re older. I guess the first step is to be aware and the second step is to ensure the little ones are given every chance to develop empathy, respect and a strong sense of their own worth. Idealistic? I don’t think so at all.
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