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Editorial

Concerted efforts needed to keep school violence at bay

The Young Reporter (2004, March), 36(06), pp. 11.
Author: Diana Li Pak-ling. Editor: Victor Lam Ka-wai.
Permanent URL - https://sys01.lib.hkbu.edu.hk/bujspa/purl.php?&did=bujspa0015366

STARTLING revelations about school violence have led to a storm of controversy regarding the possible causes of many recent bullying cases. Because of the public pressure to study the juvenile problem, the Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB) requested schools for full reports on similar incidents that have taken place in this academic year. Though asked not to cover up any inside stories, schools may make judgments themselves, and then decide whether or not to give detailed accounts of the suspected cases. The EMB’s analysis, however, can hardly reflect the real situation.

School bullying cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, be seen as a simple problem. Yet a spate of violent acts have come to light soon after a video clip which captured a schoolboy being beaten in a Sheung Shui school was exposed. These cases are just the tip of a much larger iceberg. Broadly speaking, either the victim or the witness is courageous enough to stand up to the bullies, making a complaint to the school principal before the police carries out an investigation. The upshot of it all sets us thinking about the following questions:

[1] How many victims have the nerve to complain about intimidation?

[2] What is meant by “bullying” ?

[3] Will principals give school reputation a heavier weighting than students’interests?

[4] Are teachers vigilant enough to beware of bullying cases that happened during breaks and after school?

Some students, by any means, are poised to derive pleasure from teasing people and to gang up against schoolmates and call them names. They look as if they are covetous and superior to others, taking away people's pocket money, tasty snacks, and expensive belongings. But the point is, no one knows when and how these mischievous acts turn out to be assaults, which some psychologists see as a kind of aggressive behaviour of seeking pleasure.

To keep school violence to a minimum, teachers and social workers need to promote civic education, impose strict discipline at school, and counsel pupils whenever they encounter difficulties. They shoulder the responsibility to help students develop righteous personality as well.

However, it is too early to come to an conclusion. Besides the increasing teaching load, teachers manage to sit for the language proficiency test. They also take care of students’ health for fear that they might catch Sars and avian flu. But while our diligent school instructors are preoccupied with work, parents and the media unreasonably pin their hopes solely on them to solve the tricky problem.

No doubt, the most effective but simple solution is that teachers, parents, the media, and the government better make joint efforts to educate our next generation.

Parents not only impart knowledge to their children, but they should also cultivate them a positive attitude towards schooling and watch out for their misconduct.

The government should provide teachers with ample assistance to handle any possible confrontation with the bullies. Teachers can thus adopt a conciliatory approach to resolve conflicts and placate students’ anger before taking action. In addition, policemen had better patrol regularly the places where triads wander around so that students can stay safe from their influence.

Also, the media, at least, should practise objective reporting and they should not embellish the stories about students’ not-too-serious misbehaviour. The unbiased reportage can lead young people to understand the consequences of misusing force, which serves as a deterrent to the would-be wrongdoers.

Combating school bullying, in a way, requires a long-term strategy. Stocktaking about how well EMB lays out clear plans to help schools, the bullies and bullied students is necessary.

Written by Diana Li Pak-ling

Edited by Victor Lam Ka-wai

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