Birthday bullies bashing schoolchildren

CHILDREN as young as 10 are refusing to go to school on their birthday because of a new ‘birthday-bashing’ craze sweeping through primary and secondary schools.

Parents whose children have been kicked and punched as a result of the birthday ritual have contacted a bullying helpline for advice.

The National Parents’ Council says bullying is on the increase, despite the best efforts of teachers who patrol corridors, classrooms, and play areas. Complaints of bullying made up 20% of calls to its hotline last year.

Staff say that figure will be much higher for 2003, given the level of complaints about other pupils, principals and teachers. Complaints cover all areas, from urban to rural schools, mixed schools, and all-boys and all-girls schools.

The council is urging parents to sit down and talk to their children, and try to discover what is behind the latest craze. “Years ago, bumps were all the craze and we’ve heard of some horror stories of children being injured in this way,” according to National Parents Council Primary PRO Geraldine Graydon.

“It all goes back to the video games they are playing, and the videos they are watching. Most of the games are focused on beheading your opponent or beating him into a pulp. All this is now being translated into play.

“Some children are so eager to get onto the next level of the games they are playing, that they don’t relate the harm they are doing to human reality. The violence they see in these games and videos is being translated into the playground. The number of calls we are getting on our helpline about bullying is showing that,” she said.

The Irish National Teachers Organisation says teachers are always wary of bullying in schools and are doing their best to stamp out the problem.

“Any parent or pupil who knows of such instances should let a teacher or a principal know. It may well be that pupils are also vulnerable going to or coming home from school,” said John Carr, general secretary of the INTO.

The National Parents Council can be contacted on [phone].