It's Time!!!!! Time To Nip Bullying In The Bud!!!

Change the Law" - Jail time for the bullies Plus add a "Bully Rating" to The Federal Labor Government's new website "MySchool." Nip it in the bud!!

I would like to suggest that on the very new "My School" ratings website just released into the ether by the Australian Federal Labor Government that a process/component be included onto the site. re. bullying in schools. This component could sit alongside the quality assurance of teachers and schools plus pupils' examination results - but with statements and studies specifically relating to how a particular school deals with the ongoing problem of bullying. "Bully ratings" could then included onto the website as an integral part of the individual school profile and assessment. Private or Public School - no matter - all equal.

Transparency is a wise option when it comes to addressing any lacklustre performance in dealing with a long term entrenched problem. If insightful questions are put up for the public to read and digest then answers can lead to results where improvements come about as a direct result of public scrutiny . One query which could be asked for example, is- " How often do your teachers give stress as the reason for being away from their workplace?" or do pupils ever list "bullying" as a reason for not attending school? and are the children playing truant doing so for the same reasons? Get too many affirmations and assess where your school rates on the “bullying” scale. The answer may not be where the schools would like it to be but if they (the schools ) set a goal and works towards it , a drop in bullying good outcome could result.This suggestion may seem to be naive and the naysayers could say what school is actually going to say that they have some bullying in their school and hence be rated; when schools that suffer - who in fact do have a bullying problem may choose not to disclose this fact.- no rating. But there has to be a way and it has to be found.

Truancy is non-attendance at school and non-attendance leads to no education which in turn results in poor grades and results in not much of a choice in future career options for the child being targetted. it's the double whammy. No or little education combined with bullying.

In this scenario it could possibly be found that a specific school has a really bad bullying record but for whatever reason has been slipping under the net - what options does the school have to clean up their act? Where they can get help? Will they need extra funding for additional school security and physchological counselling?

On a national scale the overall threat of reduced school funding coupled with school children leaving to go to publicly listed safer school may make the authorities act in a more responsible manner while at the same time forcing the offenders to take stock of their actions and get help.
Now we know money always talks, so in this area of grave concern the resulting reduction in funding coupled with falling pupil enrolments could ensure that the problem comes under close scrutiny and is given really high priority and bingo - Australia’s kids would then be better protected from their bullying counterparts.

So down to basics - within the assessment of bullying ratings as applied to each and every school - parents would be able to assess whether they want to send their child to a school that say enjoys both a high level of teaching and a high level of bullying or, to a school where the grades aren’t quite as good but the children don’t resort to killing themselves either - bit harsh but all children in order to become socially acceptable, well adjusted and educated human beings need to be protected during their formative years.

Therefore if the overall emotional quota levels enjoyed by the pupils in a particular school are placed onto a public platform, i.e. the Australian Federal Labor governments “My School” website, then prospective users would be able to carry out their own assessment of the e.q levels on school by school basis. Results being that they are better informed to make serious decisions which will affect their children’s educational performance on an individual level.

The inclusion of such information is of the essence. Subsequent assessment of each school could result in pupils flocking to the safety of the schools that care; while those don’t or who cannot contain the pervasive wickedness of bullying within their walls will find that their pupils will vote with their feet. This idea can only be good for the children; and will possibly slow down the bullying virus that can be carried in the individual’s mind and body to be spread at will in a future workplace.


Ergo this would be good for both the Australian economy and the individual.

copyright: a.a.gallagher