Bullying – Zero tolerance in Schools?

“Zero tolerance”
Parents and schools singing from the same song sheet.

“I am sending my child to school to learn, not to be bullied by another child” said one parent. “My child has a right to learn in a safe environment” claims another parent. An Associate Principal from another college said: “My job is to keep every child safe, I am responsible for over two thousand students at my school, I cannot risk their safety. We have zero tolerance on bullying and all my students knows this very well”

Right to Education – He Täpapa Mätauranga

What is the right to education? “Education is both a human right in itself and an indispensable means of realising other human rights” Human Rights Commission, Race Relations Report 2010 “It is essential for the development of human potential, enjoyment of the full range of human rights and respect for the rights of others. It is the primary vehicle by which economically and socially marginalised adults and children can lift themselves out of poverty and obtain the means to participate fully in their communities”

Schools’ responsibilities

“To create high-quality teaching and learning environments where there is freedom from violence, bullying and harassment; where individuality and diversity are respected; and where all those involved are able to participate fully. The right to education encompasses civil and political rights, and economic, social and cultural rights” Human Rights Commission

Bullying, Is it a problem in NZ Schools?

Human Rights Commission, Race Relations Report 2010 “New Zealand has high levels of student-to-student and student-to-teacher physical and emotional bullying in schools compared with other countries. In 2008, New Zealand was ranked second worst among 37 countries for bullying in primary school. Discrimination, Bullying and violence continues to be a major concern in New Zealand”

Our Work in Schools
increasing awareness regarding bullying issues

Our recent anti-bullying campaign roadshows with Meredith O’Connor, the American teen pop star and anti-bullying icon was a way of increasing awareness regarding bullying issues and reduce the stigma that surrounds bullying by creating hopeful messages. We work in partnership with school guidance counsellors who are readily available to support and stand with victims of bullying in different schools. Children are free to contact us through email  or our 0800 Freephone (see contact page). Where necessary, students will be referred to their school guidance counsellor for further follow up or support

The message to our children is simple;

“Embrace who you are and be proud of yourself”
“If you are being bullied, you need to tell someone who can help make it stop”
“Remember, there is nothing wrong with you. It is the bullies that need help, you are great just the way you are.”

 

Promoting School values and Initiatives

We believe that children learn from their role models.

Children learn from their role models, be it parents, extended family members, friends, teachers or celebrities. Bullying is a learnt behaviour from role models and could be learnt from as early as the neonatal period. Research by Meltzoff “Born to Learn: What Infants Learn from Watching Us” concluded that human kind has a primitive capacity to mimic the actions of others. The research showed that 2- to 3-week-olds imitated tongue protrusion, mouth opening, lip protrusion, and simple finger movements. Bullying can be a learnt behaviour based on particular experiences within one’s environment. The predominance of bullying in New Zealand may be evidenced by the high statistics in domestic violence and child abuse. Early intervention could reverse the epidemic of bullying culture in New Zealand, hence our awareness campaign in schools

Physical and psychological violence and bullying in New Zealand is escalating. Everyday many children and their families are subjected to the effects of bullying and violence. Our focus on education and awareness campaigns through our anti-bullying road shows are part of our early intervention strategy to encourage school students to be part of the solution and speak out against psychological violence “bullying”