YOUR BULLYING HORROR STORIES
MINISTER PROMISES ACTION AT SCHOOL
If your kids are attempting suicide, remove them from the school, ban all social media and of course get counselling. Look at other schooling options when they are feeling stronger. I wouldn’t wait around in the hope a school may do something. Amy Turnbull
It is time schools and the education department and the police and counsellors become involved. A program needs to be put in place from the moment kids are starting school so they know this is not acceptable, will have zero tolerance and charges will be laid. Instead of penalising the child being victimised, the parents of the bully and the bully need to be held accountable. Desleigh Bycroft
I’ve four kids, all very different people with different attitudes and personalities. I’ve not yet found a perfect school. It’s not the school it’s the child, family and peers. They all play a role in how your child will travel through those difficult teenage years. Michelle Ryan
It wouldn’t matter if the school is overcrowded nor would the blame be solely on the school or parents. Yes the school has a responsibility to ensure the children are safe in their care and yes some of the parents need to be harsher with their children. But at the end of the day, it all comes down to the attitudes of the bullies themselves. I was both physically and emotionally bullied at both primary and high school and even left unconscious on the side of the road after they had attacked me while I rode home from school. Children need to have harsher penalties for bullying. Lisa- Marie Constable
This makes me feel sick. I just don’t understand why some people feel the need to make others feel bad. You really can’t know for sure that your child is safe while at school. Monique Maguire
I’ve met and known parents who have had a child attend this school laugh and mock when my daughter was subjected to bullying. If a parent acts that way it’s no wonder their kids are no different ... I removed my daughter from the school but my son has done extremely well there, has a lot of great mates and his grades are fantastic. Trevena Fisher That’s really scary! We are moving into this area next week with the thought of our boys going there in a couple of years. Something needs to happen to sort these kids out. Julia Marshall
Sometimes bullying is worse than physical attack, it would destroy a person’s beliefs and confidence. I hope all schools would spend more time to promote anti-bullying and encourage their students to be better humans. Marian Hsu
The teachers need to be more aware of what is going on and take action first time. My son was bullied and when I would get called to the school they made it like it was his fault. Dianne Johnston It’s the teachers’ responsibility to bring it to the parents’ attention asap and both the parents and school should be working together for a harsh and suitable punishment, getting the police involved if need be. Kitty Ogilvy
Firstly, taking a toy or a fight is not “bullying”. This is just a fight or an incident. Bullying is the ongoing taunting online or in person exclusion and intimidation etc. Not saying this doesn’t go on just pointing out the difference. My boys attend this school and I think there is more of a violence problem rather than bullying. Melissa Jayne
This still baffles me. My daughter has been at the school for a year and a half and hasn’t witnessed such horrible attacks ... I have been quite happy with the school. Kristell Cummins
I was bullied in the 1980s ... all my parents use to say was “their parents must be so proud of their children”. And a child is a product of their parents. Gordie Scott
Bullying has been around forever, stop blaming the school and start looking at the parents. Children are a product of their environment , it’s up to you to raise a decent human being. Stacey D’Arcy
I am saddened to read this article and my heart goes out to this child and their family. Our son is in Grade 12 and finishes there this year. He is a foundation year student. He has done extremely well there, excellent grades, lovely friends and very positive experiences. Belinda Peisley
It’s time for schools to start taking action on the bullies and stop protecting them! My son was being constantly bullied. Every day. He would fake being sick to get out of school. Ended up in fights with the bullies when they had pushed him far enough. And it was he who would get suspended. Not the bullies. Threatened to have the police involved if it continued and next minute my son was expelled. Has been at a new school since the end of last year and is doing so much better. Bec Newman
Yes, it’s pretty constant and you do need to intervene at times, but kids also need to learn resilience as even when they leave school it’s out there in the workplace, sports teams, etc. Stephen Izzeard
All high schools should be on notice, not just one. Suicidal thoughts can happen to any teenager at any time and at any school. The mental health of our youth needs looking at and social media doesn’t help. Karen Davis
I had to go to three different high schools due to bullying, being bashed all the time which made me severely depressed and suicide attempts. The system seems to get worse and worse. Teachers need more training on supporting young people who are being bullied. Keiah Reanne
I was picking up my twin boys yesterday, had to step into a fight at boys school gate to stop a kid getting group bashed ... I got abused by 20+ onlooking pip squeaks. Fionna O’Neill