Bullying: We need change in schools
The death of bullied and beaten up school boy Toran Henry, 17, raises public demand for real and proactive change in our
school environments.
The people who work with young people say this case is not an isolated incident.
According to the Youth 2000 survey of 10,000 secondary school students, 1 in 3 students are bullied at least once during
the school year. Three percent of all students have even stayed away from school, at least once in a month, because they
were afraid of being bullied.
New Zealand Aotearoa Adolescent Health and Development (NZAAHD) executive officer Sarah Helm says that the issue of
bullying in schools is not new, but needs to be dealt with now.
"There have been a number of groups that have been calling for systemic change in schools for a long time now, but they
have been disregarded."
"Young people are at school under the obligation of the state - which requires them to attend until they are 16, and
soon 18. It is therefore the government and schools' role to ensure adequate steps are taken to ensure their safety."
"Mechanisms have to be put into place, in order to effectively deal with bullying. Counselling, mediators, harrassment
contacts, and clear protections for the victims - as have existed at universities for many years - have to be put in
place at schools, too." she argues.
"Everyone needs to pay more attention to victims, perpetrators and their issues, in order to proactively reduce
bullying."
"Optimum results will be achieved, when schools, students, parents and support organisations work closely together
within a clear framework that addresses bullying in schools." she says.
ENDS