Mother of three calls for schools’ anti-bullying day
Wednesday 21st July 2010, 11:30AM BST.
A MUM of three has launched a petition to establish an anti-bullying day in island schools.
Marie-Claude De Bourgonniere, 35 (pictured), who has a son aged eight and daughters aged nine and 10, is so passionate about raising awareness of bullying that last week she launched a Facebook group which already has 800 members. And on Monday, she launched a petition to persuade the Education Department to have an anti-bullying day.
Miss De Bourgonniere was bullied when she was younger, both in school and on the estate where she lived.
‘It really knocked my confidence back a lot. I didn’t open up until I was 15 and I told my mother.’
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May I ask what the anti bullying day may encourage? What would having one themed day achieve? A day by the way that is a school day consisting of 6 , 6 and 1/2 hours? Surely the focus is on promoting anti bullying groups, providing older coaches or “buddies” and continuous education.
I am not condoning Ms De Bourgonniere’s idea but the concentration and emphasis should be wider than the a day.
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Well done Marie and good luck in your quest, I have never experienced this situation but feel anything to highlight this plight can only be a plus. If only bullies were made to stand out in front of the whole school they would not be so big, allowing this to go on is a disgrace, so I hope you get all the support you deserve.
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go girl go its about time ;;
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Yes well done for bringing this to light. Its horrid to be bullied at school anywhere. I was bullied at school not that bad but I didn’t want to go to school.
Have kids got nothing in there lives to keep them happy that they have to bully others. What is happening to this place?
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I was verbally bullied at school (by pupils and one or two teachers) and personally couldn’t think of anything worse than having to go through it all again. I don’t think it is something you fully get over – I’m now in my 30′s.
Anything that raises awareness of bullying and the effects it can have can only help. Excellent idea Marie but agree with Bart it should be highlighted longer than a day.
It is unfortunate so many teachers and parents are so busy as between them a child being bullied often shows signs.
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if this can be harnessed to all the island agencies who have a mandate to oppose bullying, it will be a good thing. it’s a difficult problem and does not begin or end at the school gate. somehow we all have some responsibility to children to feel better about themselves so they feel worthy enough to face down bullying . in that regard maybe the adult world would like to look at which values it promotes as more important – those will probably turn out to be the dominant capitalist values of ‘survival of the fittest and succeed at all costs and elbow the old fella in the eye if it just might help get you the win’. our profit and loss margin has scant regard for mutual support or understanding difference. schools try to teach kids decent values (e.g. stop wrecking the planet or skin colour is no big deal) but these are laughed at when they enter the adult world (e.g. a pension share in BP is essential and obama must have faked his qualifications). apologies for the ramble, but good luck to marie
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I can personally testify that even in one`s mid-40s, the bullying one suffers at school still has a devastating effect in adulthood. Let the authorities finally act to tackle this highly under-estimated social evil.
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well done the bourgs xxxx
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Bullyin is a part of life and one I had a lot of trouble with from the age of 11 up to 15 day after day of verbal and physical attacks.
Fortunately for me i dealt well with it and it made me a much better person.
Forums and meeting and discusing the bullying with the parties involved doesnt work – it tends to lead to reprisals, which mean more bullying and having your head stamped on is not pleasant. My parents did what all parents do, visit the school, complain etc etc which means the teachers tackle the bully and you are labelled a grass – i used to plead with my mum to stop interefering.
I think we would be better focusing on the bullied and equpping them with the mental toughness to cope, as it is only when they can deal with the bullying that the bullies lose interest and stop.
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Anti-Bullying Week takes place across the UK and Ireland every November. This year it is taking place on 15th – 19th November. It is organised by a different agency in each jurisdiction, including the Anti-Bullying Alliance in England (www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk), RespectMe in Scotland (www.respectme.org.uk) and the Northern Ireland Anti-Bullying Forum in NI (www.endbullying.org.uk). Most put the materials on their websites- so anyone should be able to download them and use them, including schools in the Channel Islands.
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Well done marie! This something that should be tackled from the earliest possible age. Bullying is part and parcel of school life for the majority of pupils at some time or other. I was bullied, though not to an extent of others i had seen.This behaviour will carry on to adulthood and beyond,causing bullying in the workplace which again is very common.I support what this young lady is doing wholeheartedly.
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