Janet CollinsSociety and the Schoolyard Bully
August 31st 2009 22:32
Anti bullying policy did little to save Jai Drummond Morcom. The 15 year old student died on Saturday from head injuries after a stouch at Mullumbimby High in northern New South Wales on Friday and it should be a wake up call to all of us.
It’s not as if it is new or something we don’t know about, but bullying seems to be a worldwide epidemic that has spread through our boardrooms, our work places, over the internet and in the school yard.
Authorities have long tried to either address the problem of school yard bullying or hide it but the anti-bullying policies are not working. Maybe now someone will give this issue the priority it deserves.
The whole story is yet to be revealed about the fateful incident on Friday and while students marched in protest today, no-one can really level the blame entirely on the teachers of the school or its principal who really have their hands full at the best of times. Yes, they do have the responsibility of “duty of care” but the problem reaches much further than our school grounds and is a reflection of an agression that has gone way out of control.
The school may be a government one but they are not the only ones that confront the gang culture that has spread throughout schools everywhere. Some months ago, parents removed their daughter from an exclusive girls high school after she had been the victim of systematic cyber-bullying by classmates. Two students were also removed by their parents to avoid the embarrassment of their daughters’ suspension or possible expulsion from the school.
Earlier this year, a Queensland student was awarded $150,000 in damages for an incident that happened in the late ninetees when he was five. Lachlan Antony Guerin was awarded the money after his guardian claimed he had been chased into a brick wall, scalped, stoned, hit and taunted and prevented from using the toilet until he wet himself. At the time, Lachlan had been in pre-school and Year 1.
Claims also included the physical damages such as a minor brain injury, cuts, bruising, scarring, lost hair and a chipped tooth and pyschological damage including the development of separation anxiety disorder and potentially depressive illness.
These are cases of school bullying that have made it to the news and may be viewed as rather extreme but the bullying of school students whether in the school playground or online is something that has been a growing problem for some time. It is not only in Australia either and it is not only at school or even involving only those of school age.
Nor is it restricted to males. Only recently, statistics from the UK revealed escalating incidents of aggressive behaviour by women, more and more of them joining gangs and turning to violence such as kicking, punching spitting and calling names.
An article in UK's News of the World reported that one in four violent attacks now involve women and in 2008 more than half a million assaults were either carried out by women or involved a female in a gang.
It is an age-old problem and a universal one but if we can’t even protect our children in the school playground, how can they ever feel protected out in the world? Bullying and the bullying culture in all areas of life is an international epidemic. Hopefully Jai Drummon Morcom’s death will not be in vain.
Sourced: www.smh.com.au; www.news.com; www.notw.co.uk
Image credit: www.news.com
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Comment by Jason King
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RIP Jai.
Comment by Janet Collins
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I really think we have all become a bunch of savages and if something isn't done about this soon we can forget about any chance of having a civil society at all in years to come.
There will be tears for Jai for a few days and then probably nothing else mentioned unless there is some sort of court case. Life just goes on and all but those who knew him, his friends and his family will forget. What a shame.
Comment by Morgan Bell
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actually i think bullying has always been around, i think it was even encouraged in british boys boarding schools in the days of corporal punishment, it taught the life lesson of the pecking order etc
i think it is only so publicised now because we are revolting against the culture and trying to eradicate it from our culture
much like domestic violence, pedophilia, and rigid gender roles, it is going to take a few generations of zero tolerance to completely stamp it out
Comment by Janet Collins
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It needs to be addressed as anti-social behaviour rather than normal growing up behaviour just as all the other forms of violence you mention should be too. Otherwise we will become just a bunch of savages.
Thanks for the comment.
Comment by Jason King
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I hope the violence is not tolerated - have not been watching the news at all as am away but have charges been laid yet?
Comment by Janet Collins
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Will let you know if I read anything about it.
Comment by Seer Travis Truman
Being a leading expert on society, I have actually started compiling precise information on My website on bullying.
Bullying is not going to be stopped by society, as it is an important part of it's malevolent operational structure.