Practice of bullying must stop

BULLYING in schools is a norm in South Africa and in the last 15 years it has taken a turn for the worse. I have read and heard of some horrific stories regarding this unacceptable anti-social behaviour that has plagued schools in our country.

Recently, I heard from a young man who attends one of the so-called “esteemed” KZN schools, who related to me some disturbing incidents involving bullying. I was told that pupils who are not in cliques are subjected to embarrassing tasks. Some are even told not to sit in a certain area or told not use a particular spot. Apparently, complaints from parents of abused pupils fall on deaf ears.

I am aware that there are laws that protect the rights of children which are in accordance with our constitution, which I think needs to be reviewed. A pupil cannot be expelled or suspended, hence giving pupils scope to do as they please.

I believe it is not solely the responsibility of the school to discipline the perpetrators; it’s supposed to be a joint effort as parents also need to take responsibility and enforce discipline. Parents are often in denial and ever ready to fight with the school authorities. We often hear that bullies have issues of their own, with theories of being abused; most of the time they are made out to be the victims. What about the abused? I heard an ex-principal comment that sometimes being bullied helps the victims face the real world. He also added children needed to be rough around the edges and that one needed to fight fire with fire. What a load of nonsense – imagine if the fire department had that mentality?

This needs to stop and the government is not going to do anything about it because they have too much on their plate. I remember there was a time when school was the safest place to be in. How times have changed. Pupils who are being abused need to expose those cowards to teachers, friends and family, and root them out. Naming and shaming them will perhaps put a stop to this. MERVYN PILLAY

Durban