It seems that the majority of posters here have had very bad experiences with the school system. Anyone reading these posts would think that all school children are thugs in the making and should be avoided at all costs. I know a lot of parents from my own childrens public primary school and numerous other local schools and have not come across a single case of anything more than very minor bullying. I dare say it happens but is by no means common at least in primary schools.

My childrens school takes bullying very seriously and has a continuous program running from Kindergarten and reinforced every year that encourages the children to report every instance of bullying and it is addressed promptly every time. The older children know lots of the younger ones through a buddy system and I could not have imagined a nicer bunch of children. In fact the children are happy, well adjusted with plenty of self esteem - something that is not restricted to homeschooled childen.

The point is it is possible to address bullying in schools but it takes a committment from parents and teachers to make it happen. This may not work so well in high school but hopefully the children will know how to deal with it by then. Maybe I have been lucky and no doubt soem schools are worse than others but as far as I can tell bullying is not becoming an epidemic among our schools - in fact I believe it was far worse in my, my parents and grandparents generations when teachers either ignored or encouraged it. I know of no teacher nowadays who would tolerate or encourage bullying.

This thread has been very interesting. It is good to see actual discussion take place, rather than personal invective.

Sajo has a very good point to make. While bullying is a problem in schools and the workplace it doesn't mean we should throw in the towel and school all children from home. My niece and nephew attend primary school and both are doing well. Essentially shy children until they get to know you, they have not been targetted by bullies and I understand from my sister that the school has a program in place similar to that described by Sajo.

However, as a child I was subjected to verbal and physical bullying - I can only dream of what a difference home schooling would've made to me.

As with most issues there is no single answer. I agree with the posters who have found success with home schooling that they should have every support to continue. However, our public schools deserve every bit of support they can get - including support for programs to deal with bullying.

I don't believe kids have to be bullies - sure there are some very demanding kids, it is the responsibility of parents to ensure that their child isn't a menace to others.

I would be interested in ways to assist parents of bullies - my experience has shown that these parents tend to be bullies themselves (although not always).

Home education may be the answer for some but not for all.

Scout is right... wherever education occurs - at home or at school - it needs community support.

It is important to urge our politicians to consider all new regulations and laws carefully so that they don't inadvertantly adversely affect practices that are already achieving the goals such regulation or legislation seeks.

Beyond the administration of regulation regarding registration or similar of home education provision there is no support from any government department for parents choosing this option (for whatever reason). You are either within the system as the state sees fit to prescribe it, or you are on your own. It's difficult enough to homeschool already: regulation and legislation designed to protect school kids should not, through lack of forethought and consideration, penalise homeschooling kids.

Discussions such as this raise community awareness. Anything that raises awareness of bullying in the community, and any possible solutions, has merit.

Miacat wrote:

The culture of bullying is a serious “social ill”, an evil in transference rotating its depleted source; “anxiety, headaches, nausea, ulcers, sleeplessness, lack of confidence, isolation, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, flashes of anger and hostility”… to and fro - between victim and perpetrator.

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This sounds like the workplace these days. A problem for all of us. It seems the more technical education we get the less socially educated we are.

Chris 1
Quote "What a simplistic view of life you have Bosk. Sadly in the real world the streamlined simplified approach that you espouse does not happen, and even if it did would not be effective as most bullying goes undetected." A few points.
1) My "streamlined ideas" come not from a "simplistic" approaxh to discipline but from several years experience at both the primary and secondary level Chris. How's about you?
2) This approach HAS been adopted & has WORKED in a number of schools. I have seen bullying plummet from a serious problem to almost ZERO in a matter of months. The buddy approach as has been mentioned is also incredibly effective in reducing bullying.
3) Bullying is NOT undetected. I'm afraid you don't know what you're talking about. It is underreported but almost every teacher in a school KNOWS who the bullies are.
The sad fact is that bullying is caused by a poor home environment. Either a) Parents who ignore their child, either by choice or necessity & so if the child cannot get positive attention then he or she will try for some negative attention. Better negative attention than to be ignored.
Or b) the child is modelling himself/herself on the bullying seen at home.
Quite often bringing the child & parents in & getting them to realise the seriousness of the situation & the possible consequences if the child continues [i.e. this is what's happening & if it continues your child will be expelled] will, in many cases, put it right [especially if the bullying is caused through neglect]. But, if it doesn't then the school, I would argue, has a duty of care to protect the remaining children. That means kick out the bully! I'm sorry if you find the FACTS inconvenient Chris but such a policy has already worked.
More later.

Hi Bosk. My wife has her Masters in Education and is working towards her Doctorate. She is very experienced in the area of bullying. When I showed her your comment, she actually also said it was a simplistic view, and that schools and teachers often hide behind this ‘zero tolerance’ approach.
I must say you are displaying a great deal of anger at someone expressing an opinion contrary to your own.