United Future
Since: Aug 2007
Posts: 314

BLOG: Reducing Bullying

Posted in Discussion Forum at 08:16AM, 4 Jul 2008 ∞ Permalink

Currently the Children's Commissioner and the Minister of Education are responding to the call by teachers and parents to help reduce bullying in schools.
I have written today and reminded them both that NZ schools using Character Education programmes have clear evidence that they have seen
*Improved student behaviour
* Fewer disciplinary actions
* A continual decline in aggressive behaviour
* Increased staff stability
* Increased student attendance
* Students being more caring and supportive
Parents more involved in school events
So an obvious strategy should be to make the roll out of such programmes mandatory. This has been UnitedFuture policy for years now.

Read the full text of this blog post.

Quentin Todd
Since: Nov 2007
Posts: 68

Posted at 08:16AM, 4 Jul 2008 ∞ Permalink

I am wondering if the media has blown a mole hill into a mountain? I am sure there must be bullying in schools somewhere, but do wonder about the magnitude of the problem? Do wonder about about the noise by our elected in an election year over this issue? Is it a real concern or hype?

Part of the problem may stem from the usual suspects: peer pressure and Blog sites (watch the cellphone vid. of fight clubs etc). Bullying in schools has been around for centuries- I am pleased though that we try our best to stem the bullying.

Brian Ward
Since: Dec 2007
Posts: 10

Posted at 09:01PM, 25 Jul 2008 ∞ Permalink

There is no doubt that NZ suffers from an cultural epidemic of humiliation, and that explains pretty much all of our problems. It is a silent problem, not visible to most people, but is at the core of our problems.

Just because a behaviour has been around for centuries does not mean that it is right, or should be accepted. Let us not underestimate the deep psychological problems that school, workplace, or indeed any other form of bullying creates.

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