One in three kids bullied in schools
More than one in three Kiwi kids suffer bullying at school, as New Zealand continues to have one of the highest school bullying rates in the Western world.
The latest statistic was revealed in a Unicef report, which found 35 per cent of New Zealand children aged 13-15 complained of being bullied every month.
The report, which surveyed children from around the globe, found only students from Singapore, Hong Kong, and South Africa reported more instances of bullying – South Africa topped the list with 47 per cent students bullied every month.
Mental Health Foundation chief executive Shaun Robinson was saddened by the results, ‘‘but unsurprised’’. ‘‘We have known for some time New Zealand has one of the highest school bullying rates in the Western world,’’ he said.
‘‘Bullying is not a normal part of childhood and can have longterm effects on the mental health and wellbeing of those who are bullied and those who bully.’’
The latest figures continue a worrying trend, earlier this year it was revealed 15-year-olds in New Zealand were reported as experiencing the second-highest rate of bullying out of 51 countries. That finding was included was published from the OECD’s latest three-yearly survey, and showed just over a quarter of the New Zealand students taking part reported being subject to some type of bullying at least a few times a month.
The problem is not only confined to teenagers, in June a dad became so fed up that his 9-yearold daughter was repeatedly assaulted by classmates that he erected a large sign outside Christchurch’s Waimairi School in protest. The man, who could not be named without identifying his daughter, was dissatisfied with Waimairi School’s response after his daughter was repeatedly kicked, punched, bitten and choked by other students over 18 months.
Children’s Commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft welcomed the new report ‘‘which puts the spotlight on this important issue’’.
All children deserve to grow up in a safe and secure environment, and any violence against children is unacceptable, he said.
‘‘We now know much more about the impact that early trauma can have on children’s lives, and the importance of helping them to develop resilience.’’
Robinson supports research which suggests it’s about changing the attitudes of New Zealanders to create environments where people feel safe, included and respected.
‘‘We must tackle beliefs that bullying isn’t serious or is a rite of passage to adulthood – it’s not normal, it’s not acceptable, and absolutely nobody deserves to be bullied.’’