Bullying Forum – Geelong
Bullying – A Community Issue
Learn about the health and wellbeing effects of bullying
Venue: Sacred Heart College, Geelong (Enter from Aphrasia Street)
Speakers:
- Dr Chris Hickey ( Deakin Professor )
- Dr Ann Chirnside ( Local GP)
- Mel Cooper ( Author of “The Young, The Anxious and the Clinically Depressed”)
- Tori Matthew Osman Newcomb SC yr 8 ( Student )
A panel discussion with question and answers from the audience will follow the speakers.
Local agencies will have displays on the night highlighting the services in the region for young people.
Head Space Barwon
Geelong Advertiser
SJC College
SHC Geelong College
Clonard College
St Ignatius college
Bullying or abuse…lets us call it what it really is. If an adult was to physically hurt another person, use obsene language or threaten another person we call it abuse. Physical abuse, verbal abuse, emotional abuse. But when it comes to kids we tend to down play their actions to a baby word “Bullying” Call it what it is. If an adult was to do any thing to another adult there would be serious concequences to thier actions. A law suit, a fine, jail, manditory group therapy, there would be some form of serious rebuke for their behaviour, but children get away with physical harm, serious emotional torment, threats and the list goes on. There are so many children we have lost to suicide and depression. We have got to start calling it for what it really is. These children who abuse other children have serious issues that are often a result of their home life or the way the are being treated or even encouraged by adults. These children need help and need to know the serious consequences to their actions. Schools are no longer a safe environment to send our children, more and more families I talk to are removing their children from school because the kids are being abused daily. I know that not all parents can homeschool their children but if parents know their child is being abused at school and they send them there everyday to cop the abuse, they are no better then the children abusing. A parent is supposed to provide a safe environment for a child to grow up, if school is not a safe environment then parents should seriously consider the alternative.
I will conclude with this. Call it abuse because that is exactly what it is and parents, if your child is being abused or if your child shows any apprehension to go to school, listen to them and do something about it, it is your resonsibility to keep them safe.