Do you think that bullying in schools is more today than it used to be?

Question

With all the advances in technology such as mobile phones and the internet, do you think that bullying at school age has got worse?

Answer 1

I left school in June (aged 16), and I had been bullied for 5 years there. It started with names, then being hit with sticks, then nasty messages and emails. There are more ways to bully now than there were before, because there is the internet and mobiles. The face-to-face stuff was the worst, because they would block me in a corner and start with the nastiness. I had no friends for two years, and for the remaining three they tried to take every friend I made. I could delete the messages and emails, and pretend they didn't exist, but the memories of being trapped in a corner and being beaten with sticks are much more painful. I would say that face-to-face encounters are worse, because you relive them. The mental scars of it are still there, and I can still see it as though it was yesterday.

Answer 2

When I was at school bullying was 'normal' you could even feel that the teachers 'allowed' bullying as it kept the kids 'in line' and all they had to do was control the bullies. However the punishment if caught stepping out of line for the bullies was much more severe and sometimes public.
Today my children are more aware that bullying is unacceptable and much more likely to say it is happening. There is no doubt that new technology has provided ways of bullying children when in the past they were safe (as in not near to the bullies). This is in effect an argument for not exposing children to ownership of technology at too early an age, unfortunately there is no actual age at which you could say it was the perfect time.
Today we live in a technologically driven world, we just have to be more aware of the benefits this brings and work harder to control the disadvantages.

I doubt if the actual amount of bullying in % terms has changed, there may even be more bullying in terms of actual numbers due to the increase in the population and opportunities but that may be difficult to prove. The good thing is there is a greater awareness, greater acceptance that it goes on and is not misguided teasing and a lot more individuals and agencies that can be called upon for help.
I also feel that parents are alot more willing to get involved if they think their children are victims of unfair treatment.

Answer 3

I think the level of bullying within our schools is the same as when I was a child in the 70/80’s. The only difference is the advances in technology, now these bullies can target the children when they are in their own home via mobile phone or on msn etc.

My daughter uses a site and three girls bullied her by leaving disgusting messages in her guest book, however the stupid girls let slip who they were. Three girls from the same school as my daughter used to attend. Let’s just say once the parents of the bullies read what vile disgusting comments their children had wrote the little sods soon stopped. Thankfully, the parents wanted to sort the problem out, as much as I did, not all parents are the same.

Answer 4

Yes, I was bullied big time at high school but I dont remember stories of children committing suicide because of bullying (although I certainly felt like it sometimes), plus there seems to be more of a beating culture now including the use of knives, I tended to get the odd punch, hair pulling and name calling.

Answer 5

I don't know about it being worse, but it's certainly more organised and covert now with mobile phones and the internet. Bullies can plan attacks with others or destroy someone's reputation without the victim even knowing about it.

Answer 6

It's about the same as it was 40 years ago. I was bullied when I was in school. No one did anything about it back then either. And it was not acceptable to shoot the bullies like it is now.

Answer 7

yes i do think it has got worse as a parent i have had to deal with my kids being bullied through text,msn etc at lease when we were kids it was all face to face and as a parent alot of being able to control your kids has been taken away schools are not allowed to punish the kids only detention so i feel that kids just seem to get away withit cause teachers cant disapline them and alot of kids that bully other their parent just cant be bothered to punish them and the schools dont really know how to deal with the problem

Answer 8

Queen pink cat i had the same thing happen to me that was done to oyur daughter yes call that school and work things out she might have no friend for like 6 mouths but things will get back to mormal in know time :) best of luck!

Kayla:P

Answer 9

no i don't think so really, just its in the media more for some reason. when i was in school people got picked on and they just got on with their lives. but today they seem unable to just think for themselves and think what others say is the truth. now i did have one fella in my class bullying me all the time and one day i just snapped and beat him up a bit and the teacher walked in and i thought crap after all this i am going to be in trouble. i didn't in fact i managed to even get the votes of the bullies for school union president for a second time.

Answer 10

No, bullying has always been there. The new technology has just provided another means of bullying.

Bullying used to be done in person for the most part and now it can be done by remote control.