BULLYING, IN its various manifestations, is one of the most common and destructive social practices experienced by children and adults.
Based on an imbalance of power, it can cause physical, mental and emotional pain and make people feel scared and alone. In extreme cases, it leads to suicide. Recently, the growth of social networks has led to a massive increase in the incidence of cyberbullying by young people. Confronting this new and damaging phenomenon through the education system should emphasise all aspects of aggression and abuse.
Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn has decided to update departmental regulations on bullying through the establishment of a forum that will revise pre-internet regulations from 1994. The need for the initiative was emphasised by Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald, who revealed that one-quarter of all schoolchildren are involved in, or experience, cyberbullying.
A revision of guidelines will not, of itself, deal with the issue. Sufficient time must be provided during the school year to leave children in no doubt about the socially unacceptable nature of bullying and its damaging consequences. Disciplinary action should follow at school level if social networking sites that reach a wide audience continue to be used by students in this fashion. Teachers have a vested interest in countering on such destructive behaviour. If they fail to protect vulnerable students from deliberately inflicted mental and emotional pain, it will be only a matter of time before they themselves become regular targets.
Bullying may be less awful than sexual abuse. But it contains some of the same features, such as an imbalance of power between bully and the target and the latter's fear of reprisal if he or she speaks out. Bullying can occur in the school, the church, the family, the workplace and neighbourhood, as well as between social groups and classes. Because it is ubiquitous in its minor manifestations, there has been a general reluctance to address its more serious aspects, particularly in the workplace and in the home. That has changed in relation to physical violence within a family. But when a verbally abused person finds the courage to alert the authorities to what has been happening, they are frequently fobbed off. The traditional reaction: "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me", involves a blatant lie. Words do hurt people and, if abuse becomes habitual, it can make life grey and unbearable.
The best time to tackle bullying is when children begin to interact with one another at school. On occasion, young children exhibit aspects of learned behaviour. That is all the more reason to break a destructive cycle. School years should be positive for vulnerable young people; not a time of fear and sadness when being picked upon and belittled overwhelms everything else. For the young bully, it is equally important to learn that aggressive and manipulative behaviour that causes pain to others is not socially acceptable.