Letters to the Editor

 Friday, 09th December 2005

Lets Put a Stop to Bullying
 

SIR-

Half of all primary school children and a quarter of all secondary school children said they had been bullied in the last year. It's a horrific number. It shows that bullying remains part of school life despite all the work of teachers, parents and pupils in the last few years.

Bullying by e-mail and text messages seems to be the latest thing - and it means that bullying follows a child day and night. Even going home doesn't provide much of a break.

Worst affected are children with learning difficulties whom become the special target of bullies. Indeed, I'm told that the combination of learning difficulties and bullying is a major cause of truancy.

But I still believe that a school which aggressively tackles the problem can make a difference. This is a good time for every parent to talk to their child's school and ask them what they are doing about it.

Some say that bullying is just part of growing up; I think it’s about time we changed that attitude and worked with schools to bring about an end to bullying once and for all.
 

ENDS

  Stephanie Dearden

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Tooting

Notes to editors

1. If you would like to arrange an interview with Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Tooting Stephanie Dearden then please call 020-7771-2551 or 07985-649807 or 07754 583090
2. Official photographs here http://www.stephaniedearden.org/smd_mugs/index.htm