Back to School - Be pro-active against bullying

TODAY is one of the most exciting of days for children going to school for the first time, joining thousands of others already on the pathway of knowledge, an experience that will shape the course of their future lives. But while school can open the mind and fire the imagination, it can also be a scary place.

The risk of bullying is a reality that every school, every parent and every teacher must be conscious of, especially in this era of social media – ant-social might be more accurate. A terrifying experience, bullying can mark a child for the rest of his or her life.

Any school worthy of the name should have a pro-active policy towards this problem. Rather than turning a blind eye, teachers have a duty to root it out. Otherwise, it will spread like cancer. Parents can beat it by encouraging their children to talk openly about the events of the day.