With a new study showing that one in five young people have been bullied by mobile phone or via the Internet, Cornwall LEA has been working with schools and anti bullying organisations to ensure that the problem is being tackled effectively.
Children’s charity NCH surveyed 770 youngsters and found 14% of 11 to 19 year olds had been threatened or harassed using text messages. Bullies also used images taken with mobile phone cameras to intimidate or embarrass one in 10 young people.
These findings come as little surprise to David Hampshire, the County Council’s Adviser for Personal, Social and Health Education, who says that the LEA has been working with teachers, Governors and pupils and organisations such as Anti Bullying Cornwall to reduce all methods of bullying in schools.
“All schools have been provided with a new resource “ What’s the Score on Bullying” which deals with text and mobile phone bullying and sets out clear guidelines on what to do if it happens” he said.
“We encourage our schools to take this issue seriously, and to encourage all pupils to report incidents to staff. We also encourage children to keep texts, or photos sent by phone to phone as they can be traced, and the bullies identified”.
The LEA and Victim Support Cornwall also staged an Anti Bullying Conference last year which looked at the work currently being done to combat bullying in Cornish schools and identified future initiatives .
Among the guest speakers was Dr Val Besag, an international expert on combating bullying in schools, whose talk looked at bullying using modern methods of communication.
The LEA’s work in this area has been warmly welcomed by Terry Lello, the Executive Member for Children, Young People and Families, , who said “No-one should be bullied for any reason. Bullying is unpleasant and affects a person’s sense of well being, the influences of which are often carried into later life. “
“Schools in Cornwall should be commended for the approach they have taken in dealing with the issue of bullying. There are a range of exciting and successful initiatives and approaches underway at present , including “Bullybusters” schemes, which involve pupils, peer group counselling and the ABC initiaitive which involves the Cornwall Association of Victim Support Schemes, Cornwall Association of Secondary Headteachers and Connexions “.
“However a great deal of text bullying happens outside of school time” she added. “Whilst one school I have spoken to has had no incidents; as they have clear policies on pupils having mobiles phone in their possession during school hours; there are incidents that they are aware of that occur after school in pupils’ own time. This is an issue that parents and carers need to be aware of; and a shared responsibility approach ought to be encouraged”.
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