Working to prevent text bullying

Text bullying has had a high profile in the media recently but Owen Sanders, Manager Youth Education Services, OoC, says it’s just a new manifestation of an old problem.

“Text bullying is the latest way to bully someone. It has attractive features for the bully as it can be done remotely without the bully having to front up to and see the distress of the victim,” says Owen.

Schools have a significant role to play because young people are together at school in situations where bullying can occur.  Also, schools are required to keep their students safe.

Owen says programmes such as the Police YES programme Kia Kaha can help.  Implemented in schools by Police Education Officers (PEOs), the programme has components for teachers and parents as well as students. 

“We believe bullying will only be stopped when the whole school community is working together to prevent it,” says Owen.

Kia Kaha advocates a school planning a schedule of bullying prevention activities during the school year. Prevention must be worked at consistently over time to be successful.  “One-offs just do not work,” says Owen.

Other positive approaches such as the problem-solving No Blame approach advocated in Kia Kaha are available for teachers to use. 

YES works collaboratively with the Internet Safety Group/Netsafe to minimise the harmful effects the electronic media may be used for. 

“It is most important that we treat reports of bullying seriously, recognising that they can have a crippling, sometimes even life threatening effect on young people,” says Owen.