Oireachtas Committee of Education and Science The pioneer of a successful primary school programme that resulted in a 20 per cent reduction in bullying has recommended that it become a mandatory nationwide programme.
Dr Mona O'Moore, head of the education department at Trinity College, piloted the anti-bullying programme in 42 primary schools in Co Donegal and is rolling it out to 166 more schools nationwide next year.
"Ireland is pioneering this research but is lacking in funding. We could do so much more," said Dr O'Moore told the Joint Oireachtas Committee of Education and Science yesterday.
The pilot programme was implemented from 1999-2000. The results showed that bullying was reduced by almost 20 per cent and "recent" bullying was reduced by 50 per cent.
Teacher intervention increased by almost 30 per cent and there was an increased readiness among the peer group to help when another student was being bullied.
The programme was a "whole school approach". Teachers attended extensive anti-bullying training seminars, schools emphasized an anti-bullying stance, and teachers were encouraged to enhance student self-esteem. Parents and pupils also received information on bullying prevention.
"Aggression, bullying and violence are significant problems for schools in Ireland. We need to invest in attacking bullying in schools to reduce anti-social behaviour in the long-term," she said.
"It's wrong that it isn't mandatory in schools to have anti-bullying programmes in place," said Ms Olwyn Enright, Fine Gael spokeswoman on education.
Dr O'Moore's research showed that victims of bullying are at risk of low self-esteem, depression, suicide and poor school performance. Bullies often suffer from low self-esteem and depression, and contemplate suicide even more frequently than victims.
Bullying during childhood is also linked to criminal behaviour later on. "Primary level will have the greatest impact. We need to get them while they're young and in their most formative years."
Dr O'Moore said since bullies as well as victims suffer from feelings of inadequacy, she favoured a rehabilitative rather than a punitive approach. "The concentration should go to the child who is the perpetrator. If there are no perpetrators, there will be no victims," she said.
She said the most effective tool against bullying was high self-esteem. "Those with good self-esteem are not those who are involved. Teachers need to be conscious of the self-esteem of children in the classroom. A lot of hostile behaviour emanates from the home but that doesn't let the teacher off the hook. They need to counteract the negativity that goes on at home."