Parents and students must stand up to bullying
Dear Editor
I read with great sadness the story on Ballina High School in Echonetdaily. Sad because these children are traumatised. Sad because the boy who wanted to kill the bully is traumatised; and even sadder that the NSW Department of Education and Communities (DEC) (its new name) continues to stick its head in the sand and take no responsibility.
To the parents of the students who are being bullied, to the parents of the students who are witnessing this type of stress, and to the parents of the boy who had the knife and was threatening to kill either the bully or himself: you too have a choice. This boy is experiencing extreme levels of stress, he is deeply traumatised and needs support. This is not a boy who wants to kill anyone; he’s desperate and can’t see any other way out of his hell. Bullying is hell, violent and traumatic.
Most people don’t realise they can go to the police. Bullying is violence. Cyberbullying can be reported to police and action will be taken. There are police–school liaison officers in the region you can speak with and they do training in schools on this issue. Parents could come together and speak to a lawyer about how DEC is failing in their duty of care to their students. The department can do something; they just don’t or won’t. Time for a ‘please explain’ campaign by parents and citizens.
How many fatalities do there need to be before definitive action is taken?
To the mother of the girl who spoke up: well done. This young person is doing what all witnesses (bystanders) should do, speak up. Silence is agreement. The principal must take responsibility and just because it happens outside school hours does not absolve him from taking action. These matters are serious. Parents, do not wait for DEC to do anything, do as this mother has done: speak out loudly.
Linda Bradbury
Advocate for Targets of Workplace Bullying
Mobile: 0438 478 807
PhD Candidate Deakin University
Thesis topic: The lived experience of teachers bullied and mobbed by their colleagues.
‘There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.’
Elie Wiesel, Nobel Laureate and Holocaust Survivor
Even Mungo shouldn’t criticise Betty
Mungo! At least she does her duty; she is an icon to many and that keeps minds from wandering into other areas, which may be good or bad; at least there is a 50/50 chance. Her family has failed to offer moral leadership, but she hasn’t. I think you will lose respect by this video.
Rishisonline
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