•National anti-bullying strategy should be introduced for all schools, including clear guidelines on tackling homophobic bullying
Olwyn Enright TD, Fine Gael Spokesperson on Education and Science, has today (Friday) reiterated her call for a national anti-bullying strategy to be implemented in all schools in light of the latest research findings which confirm the unacceptably high level of homophobic bullying in Irish schools.
“Earlier this week, International Day Against Homophobia was marked around the world. However, the latest educational research confirms that the incidence of homophobic bullying in Irish schools continues unchecked and unchallenged.
“This should not come as a surprise. The final report from the Task Force on Student Behaviour, published earlier this year, noted that bullying of all kinds including homophobic bullying was taking place in our schools. In addition, the 2004 report ‘A Survey of Teachers on Homophobic Bullying in Irish Second-Level Schools’, found that 90% of respondents said their school anti-bullying policy made no reference to lesbian or gay related bullying.
“The latest findings again indicate that homophobic bullying, as with all incidences of bullying at school, must be proactively tackled. This is simply not happening at the moment. It is very worrying that many teachers appear to feel unable to challenge homophobic bullying, especially when 4 in every 5 teachers are aware of verbal bullying using homophobic terms and 16% reported incidences of physical bullying in a homophobic context.
“I have repeatedly called on the Minister for Education and Science to introduce a national anti-bullying strategy in all schools, but she has failed to take this proactive approach. Anti-bullying strategies have been shown to work on many occasions, and pilot anti-bullying projects undertaken in Ireland have dramatically cut the incidence of bullying in some schools.
“Delegates at the recent Fine Gael Ard Fheis endorsed a motion condemning homophobic bullying, calling on the Department of Education and Science to issue clear guidelines to schools on how to deal with this problem and the inclusion of sexuality education as part of in-service training for teachers.
“It is clear that research into the incidence of bullying at school, for whatever reason, is very valuable in giving us a better understanding of the challenges we face in tackling this behaviour. I support the role of the Gender Equality Unit of the Department of Education and Science in commissioning research on this issue.”
Friday, May 19, 2006
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Bullying is a major problem in Irish schools largely because of the indifference of the Department of Education and Science. Not just homophobic, but all bullying.
ReplyDeleteThe policy of the Department is one of benign neglect.
There is also a policy to put the onus on the Board of Management of the school. If the school fails the Board is responsible but the victim can be put on a merry-go-round of letters to and from the Principal, the Chair of the Board, the Department officials. All of therm will express shock at the news of the bullying but too often that is the end of theior practicAL help.
If there is a genuine system in place in a school to prevent bullying it will prevent ALL types of bu;llying.
THE WILL IS NOT THERE AND THE LEADERSHIP IS NON-EXISTENTep