BY REGINALD KANYANE
Taung- The pupils at Ebetsamang Primary School at Modimong village, near Taung were up in arms in a peaceful march in a quest to fight bullying at school.

Bullying is one form of which is detrimental to students’ well-being and development.

A 45 year-old teacher, Mildred Baisitse who was the organiser of this initiative said bullying affects many pupils including their concentration in class.

“School bullying is a type of bullying that occurs in an educational setting.
It can be physical, sexual, verbal or emotional in nature” she said.

Bullying is a common occurrence in most schools.

According to statistics, children experience bullying at some point during their school career regardless of grade level, socio-economic environment, gender, religion, or sexual orientation, bullying can happen to anyone.

A Grade one teacher who is also a motivational speaker said most vulnerable students from lower socio-economic backgrounds are more bullied than students from higher ones.

“School bullying may be more specifically characterized, and an intention to suggests that the harm caused by bullying is deliberate, not accidental.

“The long term effects of school bullying are numerous and can include sensitivity, anxiety and depression. All this affects the pupil and eventually drives him/her out of school” she outlines.

Recent statistics suggest that the majority of students will experience bullying at some point in their academic careers.

Baisitse said bullying is a common occurence in most schools and that is why they organised this initiative.

One of the students who took part in this initiative, Otshepeng Mothibi,13, who is a Grade 7 student said children who experience violence or aggression in the home, or are influenced by negative peer relationships, are more likely to bully.

“We need to stand-up against this nausea. Most students encourage bullying if not given proper education and support in anti-bullying techniques, so to all students, please let’s root-out this ailment and make sure all our schools are free from bullies” he said.

Baisitse said because of the low numbers of students who actually report incidents of bullying, thwarting the problem requires teachers to have a certain level of awareness, beginning with understanding bullying.
-TDN
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