Parents seek clear guides for schools to tackle bullies

The parents of a 10-year-old boy bullied out of a Meath school over his South African accent have been “overwhelmed” by the public’s response to their plight.

They have called for clear guidelines for all schools to tackle bullying.

Gerry and Liza Dalton’s son was forced to leave school in Kells because of bullying. After going public, they have heard from other frustrated parents facing similar problems all over the country. Their Facebook page, Meath Against Bullies, has been inundated with messages and allows people to share stories and experiences.

“The response has been overwhelming,” Mr Dalton said. “We had a lot of people joining the group and heard some shocking experiences. We now know we are not the only people who are very frustrated with the lack of clear guidelines for dealing with bullying in schools.

“There is one set way of dealing with this, some schools seem to be great while, in others, parents are met with stone walls.”

Mr Dalton said, in relation to the racial aspect of the bullying, the Immigrant Council of Ireland is following it very closely.

Meanwhile, the Daltons are still looking for a home tutor for their son.

“There is no pool of available people and we have to find and recruit the tutor while the Department funds it. Essentially, we have to apply for a grant.”

Monica Monaghan, founder of the National Anti-bullying Coalition, said stories like the Daltons would be represented at the first national anti-bullying forum in May. The Daltons are providing the NABC with details to present to the minister next month.

Ms Monaghan founded the NABC in response to her own experience of school bullying and the lack of dialogue around the issue. She is determined to bring about healthy, positive and lasting change in the Educational System and in the interim create supports for schools so that bullying problems are managed appropriately with positive outcomes for all.

“There are so many stories out there like the Daltons which go under the radar. The problem is there was no collective group to represent people and that’s why we set up.”

Ms Monaghan said people’s voices would be heard at the forum. “What we want is to come up with a strategy that is mandatory, accredited and audited.

“No one is looking at practices in schools and across the boards of management — no one looks at things independently.”