For many years Somerset Youth Parliament members have raised the issue of bullying in schools and reported the effects on children and young people, their misery, frustration and sense of safety. This in turn affects their wellbeing, confidence and ability to thrive in a learning environment. Every school should have an accessible bullying policy but whether that is robust enough to tackle personal incidents of bullying, let alone additional issues around gender, sexuality or race/ethnicity is something we’d like to hear about. It seems that at each Youth Parliament meeting, members share what they’ve seen or experienced in terms of language and behaviour in class, at breaks, on school buses etc – and yet they say that so much of it has been ‘normalised’ by students and teachers in schools across the county. Here’s what Grace had to say.
It’s September and school has started again! Routines are back underway. For some young people, school is something they look forward to – seeing friends, learning new things and engaging in lots of extracurricular activities that may be offered by school.
However, for too many young people, this sadly isn’t the case. So many have been let down by the educational system and school environment and feel too anxious to attend school. One key familiar reason why they may be unable to attend is bullying.
Bullying is often discussed by young people and is an incredibly serious issue that so many students believe schools do not address properly. It’s also often the case that the victims end up leaving school due to emotional trauma, which can affect them for life. Yet the perpetrator/s are often able to continue their education with little consequence.
When children and young people are in school, parents/ carers expect them to be looked after and protected there. Yet many have lost this trust in schools and instead may make the decision to homeschool or make alternative educational arrangements for their children. In some cases, this has been reported by parents and students to be so beneficial for their child, as they’re not constantly worrying or anxious and can still meet up with friends outside of school.
While this may be a positive alternative for some, it’s not always the answer depending on family circumstances but it’s clear that the educational system and schools/ teacher responses to bullying need to be looked at properly and changes need to be made.
Children and young people should feel safe in school and be free to learn without the fear of being bullied.
Grace
If you have been impacted by bullying or know someone who has…
There are lots of place where victims of bullying can get support. Do not suffer in silence, tell a parent, carer, teacher or trusted adult. Or contact one of the organisations below.
