seems to be on the increase here.
There has been a case reported in the media here about a new high school student who ended up in hospital after a group of older girls attacked her. It's an extreme case but a deeply disturbing one.
I personally know of another new high school student who was also attacked. On his first day at high school a group of older boys grabbed him pulled him into the toilets, threw his belongings around and stamped on them. They then held his head down into a toilet bowl and flushed it.
The police and courts are involved in the first case. The two main perpetrators have been suspended. It is said one of them won't be returning to the school. The victim is still not well enough to return to school she was so badly injured.
The school is involved in the second case. The police probably should be but the school "decided to deal with it internally". It's a state high school that says it has "a reputation to consider". The victim is apparently less important than the reputation of the school because the parents have been given legal advice to say nothing. The victim is on the smaller side for his age, wears glasses and has difficulty walking following a road accident. He didn't stand a chance against five boys three or four years older than he is.
Right now he doesn't want to go to school. Who can blame him? His sister is being subjected to "comments on social media" because "he is a cry-baby" and a "wimp" and more.
The other boys were not suspended because the school didn't want them to miss out on the first weeks of the new school year. I suspect there is more to it than that. One of the boys alleged to be involved has a father who wields considerable influence.
Both these schools have "anti-bullying programs". I just wonder what good they are doing. Are they having an opposite effect than the one intended - at least on some students? Are they just making some students more aware of what they can get away with?
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Schools have always placed their reputations ahead of their students. It's shameful. This is the fault of leadership or perhaps lack thereof? Healthy leadership will not create machinations to 'sweep things under the carpet' and silence people but will discuss issues openly in the school community and take decisive action to minimise the burden on the victims of bullying. Too often, the bullied are punished or have greater setbacks and worse outcomes than the bullies. That's so wrong!
The story about the girl is heartbreaking. I am sure I was not the only parent shedding a tear on her behalf on hearing about her experience.
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