School Bullying

Bullying: Signs that could save your child
Sources told The Daily Telegraph that Alex, who moved to Lismore from Ingleburn in Sydney’s south-west seven months ago, was attacked during the July school holidays and then assaulted again last week.

Alex took his own life on Thursday and his body was found on Friday morning. Fellow students said the sports-loving boy was “picked on” after getting into a fight.

Yesterday the teenager’s mother, Justine Kelly, was too upset to comment on the reasons for her son’s death.
But she said: “It (bullying) is the only thing I can put it down to.”
Lismore Police confirmed they are investigating the death but said it was not considered suspicious.
Widespread bullying seriously affects tens of thousands of school students every year.
Signs that could save your child
Bullying can start between toddlers and continue throughout a child’s school years. But if parents instil value and self-worth in their children, they are less likely to become a victim.
“Any child who is different can be bullied,” Dr Carr-Gregg said.
“That could mean they are too short, too fat, too tall, too smart, have pimples, anything that could be considered by someone as different.

Kevin Rudd’s bully advice slammed
The Prime Minister said it was “exactly the right thing to do”.
But Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said Mr Rudd had missed the point.
“The point is that there should not be bullying in schools and the point is that the teachers and the principal should make sure that there is no culture of bullying in schools,” Mr Abbott said.
The tactic was also criticised by adolescent psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg, who said it could escalate the problem.
“You make it even more difficult for your child when they go to the school the next day,” he said.
The Victorian Education Department advises parents of victims not to confront bullies or their families.

“The point is that there should not be bullying in schools and the point is that the teachers and the principal should make sure that there is no culture of bullying in schools,” Mr Abbott said.